Battle at the Lakes: Saturday Top Performers (MN)

A run through of some of the top players Saturday from the Battle at the Lakes at Wayzata High School!

Abe Anderson of Starks Elite (Minneapolis Southwest). I heard Abe referred to as a gunner with his touch and he was surely that knocking out deep threes to beat the Titans by 20 plus. Abe is high level confident in his touch and when he gets hot he’s as good as anybody shooting the ball if he has the space. Abe also has a one hander in the lane that he makes over the top in a unique but special way. He’s a 2025.

Charlie Bern Charlie Bern 6'4" | PF East Ridge | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Fury (East Ridge). Bern has a lot of qualities that make him tough for forwards to defend: he’s strong at 6’5, he’s agile, gets off his feet well, and Bern is educated and smart as a basketball player. A Crossfire team missing four players to prom were not able to move with Bern at all so he was able to actively score 16 points including a lob finish, an open floor dunk, and a corner three. Bern has played well throughout the spring looking ready for a big jump as a senior.

Owen Chervestad Owen Chervestad 6'0" | PG Red Lake County | 2025 State MN of West Central United (Red Lake County). A name we learned this weekend was that of Owen Chervestad Owen Chervestad 6'0" | PG Red Lake County | 2025 State MN who not only hit a game winner to beat the Heat, but scored 12 points in that game while also handling and dishing out four assists. Owen gave WCU the guard depth for an advantage versus the Heat who could not get three guys on the floor to stretch out to defend the trio of Owen, Caiden Swenby Caiden Swenby 6'3" | SG Fertile-Beltrami | 2024 State MN and Justin Courneya Justin Courneya 6'1" | PG Win-E-Mac | 2024 State MN .

Thomas Cusciotta of Bigg Nation Elite (Minnehaha Academy). TJ scored 20 against Wisconsin Elite as he was the Nation player that the small Wisconsin kids could not close out to and cause discomfort. And when they over closed, TJ attacked the cup and finished some touch looks over the aggressive contesting rim defenders. When his team needed a shot Cusciotta was the player that had the ball scoring four threes and 7 of 15 shots overall.

Luke Graff Luke Graff 6'3" | SG Holy Family | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Comets (Champlin Park). In the face of struggle Saturday morning Graff was one player that maintained composure and played quality basketball. He seemed to take the role of pushing the basketball later in the game, his touch led to 12 points and he was a player the Lightning players had trouble taking space from.

Grayson Grove Grayson Grove 6'9" | PF Alexandria Area | 2024 State #206 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota (Alexandria). Heck of a day for Grayson Grove Grayson Grove 6'9" | PF Alexandria Area | 2024 State #206 Nation MN . He finished up his official visit to the University of Minnesota, joined his teammates in the morning making four of five shots for eight points with eight boards, grabbed eight more boards and scored four more times in the afternoon game, and then went and announced his college decision that evening as Grayson will be a Gopher! And his team went 3-0.

Daniel Molhoek Daniel Molhoek 6'7" | C Edina | 2025 State MN of Minnesota Select (Edina). When Select beat the Crusaders to go 3-0 on the weekend it was one of the most complete games I’ve seen Daniel play. He started strong with three scores but as the game moved on Daniel finished off possessions with three late second half scores at the rim moving off the ball to catch and complete. Daniel used his 6’7 broad shouldered size to score an important 15 on 7 of 11 shooting.

Peyton Podany Peyton Podany 6'3" | SG Anoka | 2025 State MN of Minnesota Select (Anoka). What makes the Select 16s so tough to guard? They have five guards that all can take the ball and make plays. When their guards put away their own selfish desire to be the guy with the ball they have looked unstoppable this spring. Podany was a great example of this Saturday scoring 13 points highlighted by making all of his foul shots and creating five makes for others. And hey, want the ball as a guard, go get a defensive rebound and then turn and push. Podany did that eight times.

John Troolin John Troolin 6'3" | SG Cambridge | 2024 State MN of Minnesota heat (Cambridge). One of the best shooters I’ve seen this spring has been Troolin who has surely grown a couple inches now getting his shots off over the top of the wing defenders. He knocked out four threes but also used the mid-range game to climb his total up to 23 points against West Central United . He made 9 of 14 attempts in that game.

Shaun Wysocki Shaun Wysocki 6'7" | SF Rochester Century | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Lightning (Rochester Century). Another day where I felt that Shaun Wysocki Shaun Wysocki 6'7" | SF Rochester Century | 2024 State MN was one of the best players on the floor and one of the best prospects in the building. And this is a stacked event! Shaun is about 6’6, explosive and a lefty that is comfortable with the handle attacking in the halfcourt. He’s also an explosive playmaker in a way that usually only D1 talents are. His opening second half minute of back cut to catch and score, high flying block, catching a lob dunk, and poking away the ball for a turnover versus the Comets was a crusher for the opponent.

Azayah Washington Azayah Washington 6'2" | PG St. Cloud Apollo | 2025 State MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (St. Cloud Apollo). Swinging between main ball handler and the two, I liked the role Washington played balancing scoring and moving the ball the way his team needed him to. Washington also did a strong job pressuring the basketball full court leading his team’s defensive disruption. Plays his role well with this team.

Dylan Zimmerman Dylan Zimmerman 6'5" | SF Moorhead | 2024 State MN of ECI (Moorhead, MN). D1 Minnesota 16s are a good team but they are pretty small in facing a 17s group especially at the second guard or wing spot. At 6’5 Dylan Zimmerman Dylan Zimmerman 6'5" | SF Moorhead | 2024 State MN completely took advantage scoring in the paint against his opponents and shooting over the top. He made four threes getting constant clean looks and then went at the rim for the rest of his 20. Throw in four assists and Zimmerman was a player that the sophomores could not defend.