Battle at the Lakes: Jack’s 16U Friday Night Elite

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to catch three games on the opening night of the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes. There were some intense matchups that left us with some standout performers. Here are the seven prospects who stood out to me the most!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560741"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWill is only a freshman, but is coming off of a season where he played major varsity minutes as Waconia's starting point guard. This experience is evident with the way he handles himself on the floor. He is a reliable ball handler and never looks rushed when pressured by defenders. Kirsch is also an elite shot creator and was connecting with some tough shots off the dribble. He looks very comfortable pulling up while playing at a fast pace, sometimes still contested by defenders. Will and D1MN start the weekend off 1-0 playing up a level. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649929"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560740"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eI did not get to see a whole lot of Dothan this past high school season as he was a part of a deep and experienced Totino-Grace roster, but the improvements he has made to his game since the fall were very impressive. I already knew that the 6'5” freshman has freakish athleticism, but the way he could handle the ball and create shots for himself really stood out to me. He was knocking down shots off the dribble, but also held down the paint with some nice interior plays on both sides of the ball. It looks like it is all coming together for Ijdadimbola and I cannot wait to see how he keeps developing. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca6499e2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1579886"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFinn was huge in Real Phenom's Friday night win, holding down the painted area for his team. He has great size as he stands at 6'5”, but moves extremely well. I saw him put the ball on the floor and pick up two transition assists and a transition layup off of a pass from a teammate playing at full speed. The Woodbury sophomore has great touch around the rim and was tough to stop when he got the ball in the paint. Norman also impressed me with how comfortable he looked knocking down a mid-range jumper. I really like what I saw out of Finn and believe he has a lot of potential as a prospect. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649a86"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617698"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eCole was one of the best shot creators I saw on the night and had a long list of ways he could gain separation to knock down a tough shot. He has pretty good size for the wing position and looked good putting the ball on the floor to get his shots off. He played off of the ball a decent amount as well, connecting with two catch-and-shoot three-pointers. I also saw him run in transition for an easy layup. Stern is another name to keep an eye on in the deep pool of young talent in the Eden Prairie system. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649b16"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1263163"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIt was fun to watch Shawn go to work down low versus a tough D1 Minnesota team and was finding major success with his back to the basket. The sophomore forward possesses a strong 6'7” frame and used that to his advantage by dominating smaller opponents when given the opportunity. He was able to convert finishes going to work in the post, as well off of offensive rebounds and in the pick and roll. Hammerbeck was a hard worker in the paint all game and is a big man I would want to have on my team. It is easy to see why he is ranked as a top-10 player in South Dakota's 2025 class. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649ba8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jack Sawyer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bloomington Jefferson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Minnesota Heat Leo","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eI was able to see Jack play a couple times this past winter during the high school season and he looks like he has taken another step as a prospect. He mostly played off the ball as a wing, but showed flashes of what he can do with the ball in his hands. He had an impressive sequence in the first half, taking the ball coast-to-coast and finishing with a reverse layup. Sawyer is also a threat to score from the outside, as I saw him knock down a catch-and-shoot three with a strong contest. He connected with a pretty turnaround fadeaway jumper in the mid-range as well. Sawyer will be a prospect to watch in this 2025 class if he continues to make these types of strides as a player. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649cce"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Warren Seeley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oshkosh North","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"WI Blizzard Hawley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWarren was on fire from beyond the arc in Wisconsin Blizzard's Friday night win. The 5'10” guard was never the tallest player on the floor but was able to take the game over with his perimeter shooting presence. Early in the game, he was doing most of his damage in catch-and-shoot situations on the wing. After he saw a couple fall, I saw him pull-up in transition for another shot from deep. He also heavily impacted the game with his consistent ball handling and was a huge part of his team's victory. Wisconsin Blizzard has a 1-0 record heading into day two. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645f8ca649dd3"} /-->