Mile High Madness: Minnesota New Names to Know
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It’s been a fantastic Saturday in Denver as we have learned a lot of new talented names that college coaches should learn about. Tyler Beckwith Tyler Beckwith 6'5" | SF Farmington | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Select (6’5 Forward…
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Continue ReadingIt’s been a fantastic Saturday in Denver as we have learned a lot of new talented names that college coaches should learn about.
Tyler Beckwith Tyler Beckwith 6'5" | SF Farmington | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Select (6’5 Forward of Farmington). When Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson 6'4" | SG Lakeville South | 2024 State MN flung a lob over his shoulder on instinct and Tyler caught the ball in stride and threw down a nasty two hander I was caught off guard. It was his second nasty dunk of the game showing the type of agility that makes him a player that can play both forward spots. Beckwith is your 6-7 rebound a game, 3-4 bucket a game worker that has also shown the ability to defend threes as well as fours for Select.
Ryan Beckwith Ryan Beckwith 6'2" | SG Farmington | 2025 State MN of Northstar Titans (6’2 Guard of Farmington). It was a great day for the Beckwith family Denver and that didn’t even include sightseeing in the mountains! Ryan spent his morning scoring 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting in one of the more aggressive scoring games I’ve seen. When I say aggressive, Ryan led a Titan group flying up the floor waiting to attack a bad transition defense and they did it with a ton of success.
Dwayne Bryant Dwayne Bryant 5'10" | PG Mankato East | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Nice (6’1 Guard of Mankato East). Yet another reason I think the Cougars are going to have a special year is a player like Dwayne Bryant Dwayne Bryant 5'10" | PG Mankato East | 2024 State MN , a very good guard that will provide depth to a deep team. He handled the Nice team very well nearly upsetting one team and then blowing out another squad. Bryant had ten points, five assists, and did a really nice job moving the basketball so Nice could consistently find quality shot attempts.
Nathan Firle Nathan Firle 6'9" | C New Ulm | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Nice (6’9 Big of New Ulm). I walked into the gym and a college coach instantly asked me who the 6’9 guy for Nice was. Considering it was a college coach I was instantly curious. Walking to the gym I saw Firle and had to see how he moved. Firle moves very well. His shoulder turns and his movement off the ball to putbacks was better than 8 out of 10 bigs that you will see on the court. He grabbed 14 rebounds and I honestly believe there were about three or four more that he could have got to. He’s a lefty that shoots it confidently, Nathan had a spin move off the dribble that shocked me, and all around this is a top 50 level prospect in the Minnesota 2024 class. Nathan has that much potential at 6’9. Scored 13 a game last year and after what I saw today, this is a legit 6’9 forward prospect that could have a really bright future.
Tate McDonald of Minnesota Select Fuerte (6’2 SG of Waconia). McDonald’s one dribble pull-up jumper in overtime gave Select Fuerte the go-ahead basket beating a Colorado Collective team that has a pair of D2 offered players. He scored 13 points giving his team a second option to Andrew Quam Andrew Quam 6'5" | SF Lakeville North | 2024 State MN , and Tate came up big late when his team needed a clutch score. McDonald was the fifth starter for Waconia last year and he will have an even bigger role as a senior.
Deidrick Taylor Deidrick Taylor 5'10" | PG Thomas Edison | 2024 State MN of Real Phenom Ivan (510 PG of Minneapolis Edison). How do you score just three times and make a huge impact? You run a transition attack that gets yourself nine assists, you ball pressure the team into 6-7 turnovers, and you grab eight boards that you quickly push the ball the other way for scores. Taylor was so disruptive one way, and so quick the other way that the opposing coach from Texas lost his cool with two technical fouls and was thrown out of the gym. Taylor has his team in the quarter-finals after also beating Colorado Roughriders.