Battle At The Lakes: Max’s Post Standouts
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Seven frontcourt prospects who impressed in the games I watched over the weekend at Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes! Kyle Jorgensen MN #8 C #1 HEIGHT 6'9" POS C CLASS 2024 View Player Boost Profile Download Image Kyle…
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Continue ReadingSeven frontcourt prospects who impressed in the games I watched over the weekend at Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes!
Kyle had a quiet game when I watched on Saturday morning, but responded in a big way on Sunday when matched up against a 7 footer with a handful of D1 offers. Despite the tall task Kyle wasn’t shying away from the challenge, and instead looked to go right at his matchup. Jorgensen was aggressive looking to get to the basket, able to post up on the block or put the ball on the floor and drive. He had a couple early finishes and a trip to the FT line, but then he really started to get going. Kyle began expanding his game out to the perimeter, draining a few threes in the first half and forcing his man to chase him all over the floor. In the second half he also knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers off the dribble, showcasing impressive footwork to get into his shot at 6’8-6’9. Very unique player with the skills he possesses at his size.
Playing alongside a point guard with great vision, Daniel was feasting out of the pick & roll on Sunday. He used his strong frame to set good screens and free up his point guard before rolling to the hoop. At 6’7 he showcased good coordination and footwork to catch on the move and then finish in one smooth motion. You’ll never really see Daniel force up bad shots or make unforced errors as he’s a high IQ big man who consistently makes the right plays. Showed some mobility getting out in transition for a dunk as well.
Highlights
Will opened up a lot of eyes in Minnesota with his production against D1 Minnesota’s 16u and 17u teams. At 6’8 he’s strong, skilled, and pretty agile allowing him to hurt opposing defenses in a number of ways. Most bigs either lack the strength or quickness to shut him down, which allowed him to alternate between scoring with his back to the basket, while also creating shots with his ability to drive or cut from the perimeter. Showed some explosive ability with a handful of dunks in the two games I saw, while also limited a high major big in one of those games. He’s one of the most efficient finishers in the Midwest who seems to put points on the board just about any time he touches the ball in the paint.
Bradey is a monster in the paint at the high school level. Standing close to 7 feet tall with a strong frame, there aren’t many defenders who stand a chance of stopping him on their own. He had a monster 48 point game on Friday night, and had two more productive showings in the games I watched. The lefty was doing most of his work from dump-off passes or drop-steps on the block, but showed he can do a bit off the dribble as well. Had a really impressive drive from the top of the key going behind his back before using a tight crossover to split two defenders and get to the rim. He’s also a standout volleyball player, and it showed with his ability to explode off the floor quickly for dunks or blocks.
Thomas was a rebounding machine on Sunday morning in a win for Minnesota Fury. He kept so many possessions alive for his team with his grit and effort on the glass. Thomas had a lot of success either rising up with two hands to secure an offensive board, or just get a piece of the ball to tip it out and have one of his guards chase it down. That effort led to extra chances that were key down the stretch in a close game. He was also setting hard screens on the perimeter that were freeing up his guards to make plays off the dribble. Wasn’t putting up huge scoring numbers but was efficient with the chances he got around the basket using his strength to finish through some contact.
Perhaps overshadowed on a loaded Lakeville North team this past winter, Andrew is one of those players I think is a lot better than many realize. The shot wasn’t falling in the first half (and it wasn’t for both teams either), but he started to heat up in the second. There was a stretch where he just drained 3 or 4 threes in a row to take his team from trailing and give them a lead in a close game. Hand in his face? It didn’t seem to matter once Quam got into a rhythm. Minnesota Select loves to utilize him on the block because he has the footwork to go to work with his back-to-the-basket, but also has the feel and vision to sense a double-team coming and quickly locate the open man with an accurate pass.
Highlights
Brandon is a really unique player with some of the things he can do at 6’7. He’s very light on his feet at his size, which allows him to play a little inside and a little on the wing. I thought he did a nice job of moving his feet with smaller forwards/wings on the perimeter, but also utilizing his strength to hold his spots in the paint against some big frontcourt players. In the game I saw against Sanford Sports he finished with 12 points, working hard for putback buckets in the paint, while also showing his ability to create off the dribble in the half-court and in transition. Strong finisher inside who also has a quick release from beyond the arc.