Hard Work Finals: Minnesota Guard Standouts
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Seven Minnesota guard prospects who impressed over the weekend at the Hard Work Region Finals! Mitchell Dewey HEIGHT 5'10" POS PG CLASS 2024 Mitchell Dewey School: West Central Area Club: West Central Wildcats Mitchell was a new name for me,…
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Continue ReadingSeven Minnesota guard prospects who impressed over the weekend at the Hard Work Region Finals!
Mitchell Dewey
Mitchell Dewey
Mitchell was a new name for me, and in the two games I watched he was on fire from beyond the arc. He was capable of swinging the momentum of the game with his ability to knock down 2 or 3 threes within a few minutes, putting points on the board in a hurry for his team. With a dominant post player drawing a ton of attention around the basket, Mitchell did a nice job of constantly moving off the ball to find himself in pockets of space to get off a shot. Capable of catching on the move and quickly getting squared up to elevate for his jumper.
When Max’s jumper is falling, there’s not much you can do to stop him. He’s that gifted of a shot creator as he has a shifty handle to create separation, and then lifts off the floor making it hard for opposing guards to get a good contest if they were able to close down the space. Found success getting to his spots in the mid-range, but also showed blow by speed to get all the way to the rim. At 6’1 he closed out the semi-finals win in style by exploding off the floor and throwing down a dunk over a contesting defender. Defensively he impressed with his on-ball effort, as he can sit deep in a stance and apply consistent ball pressure. Forced a key turnover late in the game in the 16u championship that helped his team come away with the win.
Highlights
When his team needed him most, Maxwell stepped up. In the 17u championship game Sanford Sports went on an early run, and Woods responded by taking the game over for Fury. No one could match his quickness with the ball in his hands, so he was constantly able to get to the rim and finish or draw fouls. Absolutely fearless attacking up against size, and his explosive athleticism allowed him to just hang in the air and finish in impressive fashion. Hit a handful of outside jumpers as well. Started off overtime by splitting two defenders and exploding to the basket for a clutch lay-up. D1 football commit that can absolutely take games over on the hardwood as well.
Alvin had a strong showing on Friday night using his quickness to attack the basket for Minnesota Heat . Going up against a talented Starks Elite team, he was able to make plays off the dribble as there wasn’t a defender who could match his quickness on the ball. Has a lightning quick spin move going at the rim, and showcased impressive body control for some tough lay-ups in traffic. It looked like Starks Elite was going to run away with the game, but Alvin’s consistent effort on both ends of the floor helped make things interesting for a little bit in the second half.
Brogan is one of the hardest working players you’ll find. He just never takes a play off, and because of that he rarely has a bad game. Shot isn’t falling? No problem. Brogan will just make up for it with his defense and constant fight over 50/50 balls. In the games I watched defenders knew they had to try to keep him going right, but couldn’t stop him from getting to the basket with his left hand where he’s so skilled at extending to finish away from his body and touch it in off the glass while going full speed. Can go right into a shot blockers body and still maintain his balance while scoring with the left hand. Talented passer who draws a ton of extra attention to the paint when he drives, allowing him to kick it out to his open shooters. One of the fastest players in Minnesota.
Highlights
Tyler ended up picking up his first D1 offer from North Dakota after the weekend, and it’s easy to see why as he’s grown physically and skillfully over the past year. At about 6’5, the shooting guard is a major threat from beyond the arc, but has improved in his ability to get into the paint and make plays off two feet. Able to take advantage of his size over smaller guards by getting into the lane, stopping on two feet, and knocking down a turnaround jumper that is nearly impossible for opposing guards to get a good contest on. Against Minnesota Select he had success attacking the basket off the dribble while also getting out in the open floor for some more finishes.
Dylan had a nice game helping lead his WOTN past The Next Level Basketball Academy on Saturday afternoon. He’s a strong and physical guard, and used his frame to get to the basket for some tough finishes in traffic. Most guards at the high school level just don’t have the strength to slow him down, and he’s so good at playing through contact. Also did a nice job of keeping his eyes scanning the floor while driving, allowing him to make plays as a facilitator when the defense started to collapse on him in the paint.