Heat Meg Vang: Saturday Standouts
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I was in the gym this Saturday for the Minnesota Heat Meg Vang Invitational at Wayzata High School. Here were the eight prospects who stood out to me the most in the action I was able to catch. Chan Malith…
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Continue ReadingI was in the gym this Saturday for the Minnesota Heat Meg Vang Invitational at Wayzata High School. Here were the eight prospects who stood out to me the most in the action I was able to catch.
I was able to see Chan play a little bit last summer and he really impressed me. He really stuck out to me once again this weekend, leading MN Lace Up to a 2-0 record on the day. His game is very versatile and he was making impact plays on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he does not shy away from contact inside, as he has a knack for being unfazed by larger defenders when he is attacking the basket. He can also step out and hit shots from the perimeter, off the dribble or off the catch. On top of that, Malith is an excellent athlete and showed off his jumping ability with some big time rejections and on-ball defense.
Ater just finished up his senior season at Austin, but will now be a member of the 2024 class at a prep school next year. The 6’4” guard looked levels above the competition this weekend and dominated when he was on the floor. Ater is a freak athlete, being able to rise above the defense for finishes and is also able to throw down momentum changing dunks in space. Manyoun thrives in creating shots for himself off the dribble. He’s able to break his defender down in isolation to get to the basket and can knock down some tough shots from the outside. Ater has so much potential as a prospect and I would not be surprised if his recruitment heats up in the coming months.
Randy is such a gifted scorer and was going to work in Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota Heat Hoyt. The 6’2” combo guard is as smooth as they come and he has the innate ability to get separation in isolation with his basketball IQ and quick change of direction. He knocked down some pretty mid-range jump shots off of the dribble and had a huge second half. McClendon had some full speed transition finishes, as well as a deep pull-up three to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation. Randy is so fun to watch when he is feeling it from all three levels.
Highlights
Gideon Cooper Gideon Cooper 6'6" | PF Fridley | 2024 State MN
Gideon Cooper Gideon Cooper 6'6" | PF Fridley | 2024 State MN
Gideon used his exceptional length and athleticism to dominate the boards all game. The 6’5” forward has a very lanky frame and could snatch rebounds over opponents with his long wingspan. He found most of his scoring success in the paint, converting several second chance baskets. He has the ability to finish inside with either hand and even threw down a two-handed slam in transition. Cooper moves extremely well for his size and impressed me running up and down the floor. He was also an interior presence on the defensive end, picking up some blocks and regularly altering opponents’ shots.
Matthew Mobagi Matthew Mobagi 6'3" | SF Mound-Westonka | 2025 State MN
Matthew Mobagi Matthew Mobagi 6'3" | SF Mound-Westonka | 2025 State MN
Matthew was flying around the floor, making plays on both offense and defense. He is one of the taller players on his team, so he played in the paint for most of the game defensively. Offensively, he provides a little bit of everything and impressed me with the way he could create looks for himself and teammates. Mobagi also used his long wingspan to make an impact as a rebounder, then was able to push the ball up the floor, instantly creating a transition opportunity. On one occasion, he grabbed a defensive board, then came down and converted on a pretty full speed off-hand finish at the basket.
Connor was one the best shooters I saw all day and every shot he put up looked like it was going to go in. He has near perfect mechanics and each shot that he shoots looks the exact same. He did most of his damage in catch-and-shoot situations but also showed a little bit of what he can do creating for himself putting the ball on the floor. He took advantage of defenders’ slow close outs and needed to be accounted for at all times. He also converted on a nice contested take at the basket. Bangs always looked confident with the ball in his hands.
Highlights
Manyok Deng
Manyok Deng
Manyok’s game is very versatile and he has a unique combination of size, athleticism, and scoring ability. He is a very confident shooter and was letting it fly after using some creative moves to gain separation using the dribble. He was also lethal in the catch-and-shoot and was always ready for a pass from a teammate to get a shot off. His intensity on the floor was fun to watch as well, as he brings 100% effort on both sides of the ball. The Champlin Park junior also showed flashes of what he can do pushing the ball up the floor to create transition opportunities.