NHR State: Top Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which prospects boosted their stock at the annual NHR State tournament? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamal Woods -- PG -- Start Strong </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After some really solid performances at Prep Hoops Circuit tournaments this spring, Woods was able to start June off with more excellent play. In terms of pure scoring skills, I would put Woods up against many other top prospects. It doesn't matter how opposing teams attempt to guard the PG, chances are he will find a way to score. He is a very good ball-handler and passer, too. Even if his shot isn't falling, Woods can still find ways to impact the game positively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reggie Williams -- CG -- E.A.T Hoops</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams isn't going to wow you with his physical attributes. He is just 6 feet tall and doesn't stand out amongst other high-end athletes. However, once the ball is tipped off, the combo guard doesn't let his physical stature limit him in the slightest. Williams is an electric scorer. If given an inch of space, Williams is going to get a shot off and it is probably going in. In addition to his skills offensively, Williams also made some really great plays on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jade Morgan -- SF -- Minnesota Select </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After going back and watching the tape on Morgan from this past weekend, I can confirm that he lives up to his top 60 ranking. The small forward's versatility on both ends of the court is extremely impressive. Offensively, he is a true three-level scorer. He uses his combination of size and skill to get buckets in a multitude of different ways. On defense, Morgan can guard multiple positions. He does a nice job using his quick feet to stay in front of shifty ball handlers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1617731' first='Cole' last='Stern'] -- SG -- Minnesota Select </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching a prospect take over a game is one of my favorite things to see. In a matchup this past weekend, Minnesota Select's Stern took over on both ends of the court. Late in the game with his squad trailing, Stern flipped a switch. He started making outside shots and was able to drive past defenders for easy layups. On the other end of the floor, Stern played with effort. He was able to pressure the opposing squad into a handful of critical mistakes. Stern's performance at the NHR State tournament this past weekend no doubt qualifies him as a top stock riser. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1617786' first='Nigel' last='Caldwell'] -- SG -- Gain Elite </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell was undoubtedly one of the best scorers in the gym this past weekend. The Gain Elite shooting guard knows how to get to his spots and score with ease. He has a mechanically smooth jumper from the mid-range and from beyond the three-point arc. He also is slippery when attacking the basket. He gets downhill in a flash and has the ability to finish at the rim over taller players. Caldwell was great all weekend at the NHR State tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874834' first='Drew' last='Hjelmeland'] -- F -- SW Minnesota Stars </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I thought that Hjelmeland really separated himself from the competition at NHR State. The forward checks off many boxes. He has upside athletically, is big for his position, is a true two-way player, and plays with a high-IQ. While some of his plays around the bucket were very impressive, I thought that the most outstanding part of Hjelmeland's game was his ability to read a defense. The forward has no issue taking whatever the defense is giving him. Hjelmeland has the smarts to diagnose what is happening and then the skill to execute. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->