Breakdown Fall League: Week 3 Star Underclassmen

This is now the fourth varsity season for Jayden and he continues to add and improve on many traits in his game. The sophomore guard is one of top facilitators in the state and was doing a great job of finding teammates for good looks. He was also finding success scoring himself, creating space from him and his defender with his elite ability to change direction. This Hopkins lineup looked really good pushing the pace, previewing what we may see a lot of this upcoming season. Moore and Anthony Smith Anthony Smith 6’0″ | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN will make up one of the top backcourts in the state and should be a top ten team in AAAA to start the year. 

Cedric was also a player that impressed me in week 1 and looks ready for a breakout sophomore season. His ability to create using the dribble and get shots off quick makes him so difficult to defend. He is very twitchy, being able to play at different speeds and change direction in a flash. He is not just a shooter though, as he was also finding teammates on kick out passes when the defense would crash and converting on finishes in traffic. Tomes is a top three prospect in this 2026 class and now holds offers from Minnesota and Iowa State. 

Dothan is ranked as the number 1 prospect in this 2026 class and showed exactly why on Sunday. He stands at 6’6” and is an exceptional athlete, allowing him to take off and finish over defenders around the basket. He has also shown steady improvements to his perimeter game, now being able to pull-up off the dribble in the mid-range or from beyond the arc with a hand in his face. Ijadimbola is listed as a four-star prospect nationally and holds offers from Minnesota, Iowa, and Iowa State heading into his heavily anticipated sophomore season. 

Tian continues to show the tools to be a successful guard at the next level and turned in a noteworthy performance on Sunday. He was effective working off the ball, putting himself in good positions for passes from teammates for makes, whether it was for a catch-and-shoot three or a cut to the basket for a layup. He came away with some loose balls and deflections, staying active off the ball defensively as well. Chatman is surrounded by a lot of great scorers for the Eagles, but will provide value with his ability to handle the ball against pressure and defend at a high level during his sophomore season. 

Bennett was a player that I was very impressed with during the club season running with the top Minnesota Fury 15U team, but it was nice to see him be a difference maker at the varsity level on Sunday. He provided some perimeter scoring for East Ridge, knocking down several shots from deep, some from a couple steps beyond the arc. He seemed to be Tomes’ first option in drive and kick situations, where the sophomore guard would then get a shot off before the defender could close out. Skinner and Jackson McAndrew Jackson McAndrew 6’10” | PF Wayzata | 2024 State #152 Nation MN may be the only players that I have seen get shots up that quick in catch-and-shoot opportunities. 

Jason was showing off his lightning quick burst and speed on Sunday. The sophomore guard loves to push the pace of the game and was finding success speeding to the rim for finishes in transition. He also showed off his agility in the half court, blowing by defenders on the way to the basket where he could make a tough layup or kick the ball out to a teammate on the perimeter. Johnson also gives great effort on the defensive end, being able to match up with the opponent’s lead guard. Jason and this Cretin-Derham Hall team are young, but have a lot of potential. 

This was my first time seeing Tre play at the varsity level and he showed major flashes of the player he could soon become. He is only in the 8th grade, but was flying around and making plays for Hopkins. He looked pretty confident with the ball in his hands, as I saw him convert on a fast break layup and attempt a look from beyond the arc. He impressed me most with his intensity on defense, doing a great job of helping teammates and getting hands in passing lanes for deflections. Moore is likely still a year or two from making a major impact at the varsity level, but I really liked what I saw on Sunday.