Minnesota State Tournament: Max’s Day One Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Minnesota boys basketball state tournament got kicked off yesterday, and these are seven of the prospects who impressed from the quarterfinals matchups I watched!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560835"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In a low scoring matchup every possession counts, and Tian makes this list because of the handful of offensive rebounds he came up with over the course of the game. He was aggressive attacking the offensive glass and battling for possession, and that fight led to a handful of extra chances for his team to put points on the board. As a sophomore he's already a trusted ball handler, tough/versatile defender, and a scrappy finisher inside. Also had a key assist late in the game as he dribbled coast-to-coast before dumping it off at the last second for a big two points.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2126102"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Jaeden provided an offensive spark off the bench for DeLaSalle in a win over Orono. After missing his first three shots of the game, he used a four point play to get himself going. Throughout the game Udean hit contested three after contested three, while also drawing fouls on two more three point attempts in the second half. Udean just has a knack for hitting tough shots, and it's made possible by the amount of elevation he gets on his jumper. There's just no limit to his confidence on the offensive end of the floor, and that showed as he put up 26 points to help his team advance to the semi-finals.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2365712"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Ray may be committed to play college football, but he can make plays on the hardwood as well. He's tough as nails and plays bigger than his listed height, and that was much needed against the length of Orono. His strength and sized helped alter shots around the basket while he also pulled in 9 rebounds. Ray always seemed to be in the right spots to come up with steals and boards, and his physicality helped make it difficult for Orono to get low-post touches.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Owen Bockenstedt","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Eagan","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Owen scored just 9 points in the three section games leading into yesterday's matchup with Park Center, but stepped up to help lead Eagan to the upset win. In 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e0 minutes of playing time he scored 15 points and grabbed 6 boards, including a couple of clutch plays down the stretch. Late in the game he pulled in an offensive board and went back up for two points. Another clutch play saw him handle it up the floor, draw in a defender, and kick it out to an open shooter for three points. On the defensive end his size was key in helping Eagan clog the paint and keep PC away from the rim. At 6'5 he was protecting the rim and did so while only picking up 1 foul over the course of the game.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1284138"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Minneapolis South just didn't have an answer for the size advantage that [player_tooltip player_id='1284138' first='Grayson' last='Grove'] had inside. With the strength he's added since last season, the Minnesota commit was battling for deep position, and fighting through contact to finish inside. Also showed some quickness off the floor with an alley-oop dunk on his way to 26 points. With his size advantage also came dominance on the glass. Grove pulled in 14 rebounds and was limiting any second chance opportunities for South.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1572690"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Chase showcased his versatile game as he nearly dropped a triple-double to help Alexandria advance to the semi-finals in Class AAA. At 6'8 he has size combined with a versatile skillset that allows him to contribute in a number of ways. He was seeing over the top of the South defense and zipping in passes to open teammates at the rim to rack up 8 assists. Thompson showed he can handle the ball in the open floor, and when doing so you always see him scanning the floor looking to set up a teammate to score. Three point shooting threat as well. Finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the win.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1560864"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Breck rolled to a quarterfinals win last night, and JP didn't miss a shot in his 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e0 minutes of play. With how talented his team is, JP isn't always going to get a lot of looks, but he makes the most of his chances. Musoke cuts hard off the ball to open up scoring opportunities inside, and although he only attempted one three last night, he's an outside shooting threat at 6'6. The consistently productive sophomore finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in the win over Waseca.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fb64adbeaaf"} /-->