#NHRState: Max's Post Standouts

Seven post prospects who impressed in the games I watched at the NHR State Tournament!    I watched Andrew earlier in the spring and came away impressed, and this past weekend against a tough [program_tooltip program_id='2422572' first='D1' last='Minnesota Gold'] team he stood out once again. At times matched up with one of the top ranked players in the state's 2025 class, Andrew was producing at a high level in the paint. He's an "old school" big man who goes to work with his back to the basket, able to create angles with his footwork or play with physicality to get deep post position. Showed he can finish over 6'8+ size with comfort. Also showed some touch with a turnaround jumper along the baseline. Defensively he does a nice job of holding his ground on the block and was pulling in rebounds in bulk.     There may not have been another prospect in attendance with the level of potential Kam has. He stands at 6'9 with a solid frame, and moves so fluidly at that size. Kam was able to pull in a rebound and handle the ball coast-to-coast to get to the rim, and was comfortable getting into a pull-up jumper off the dribble. Gets solid elevation on his shot as well, making it difficult to contest. In the two games I watched Kam threw down a handful of dunks, was a rim protecting threat, and had some fluid attacks off the dribble. Has the combination of size, athleticism, and budding skillset that makes him an intriguing prospect moving forward.     Blake already holds offers from South Dakota and Augustana, and it's easy to see why. At 6'8 he has a long and lanky frame, with the versatility to play in the paint or out on the perimeter. In the two games I watched Blake was comfortable popping out and knocking down threes, but also controlled the paint as a shot blocker defensively. I like the effort he puts in when running the floor, and his offensive game never seemed forced. He made smart plays with the ball, and did a nice job of utilizing shot fakes to get guys in the air before attacking the rim. Produced with efficiency while playing up at the 17u level.     Cooper had his Select team in it until the very end against a [program_tooltip program_id='2075808' first='Powerhouse' last='MN'] that finished 2nd in the 16u bracket. Cooper just couldn't be stopped around the basket, utilizing his 6'5-6'6 frame to finish everything inside. Throughout the weekend he did a nice job of creating good looks by stepping in from the dunker spot, or fighting for offensive boards. Also has a smooth stroke to step out and hit the open three. Cooper moves well at his size which allows him to defend against wings when Select goes with a bigger lineup.     Luke has some nice tools to work with, and was producing at a high level while playing 17u against the Minneapolis Reapers. At 6'9 he has a big frame that immediately sticks out, and he isn't afraid to play with some physicality inside. He had a big size advantage, and was providing a big target for entry passes before turning and finishing. Showed the touch to finish off the glass even while constantly being bumped by smaller players. Will have to work on his conditioning as he was having a hard time keeping up with the faster pace of play, but was very productive in half-court settings.     Austin was producing on both ends of the floor for [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] vs Power Circle. During the first few minutes of the game he had already blocked two shots to go along with a pair of finishes around the rim. Has a strong and mobile frame which made him a pick & roll threat, as he has the coordination to catch and finish in one fluid motion. Austin works hard to move his feet out on the perimeter, and does a nice job of walling up to protect the rim inside. Also boasts a 4.1 GPA off the court.     [player_tooltip player_id='1572690' first='Chase' last='Thompson'] suited up with [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United'] over the weekend, and helped them force overtime against a tough MN Laceup team. When he checked into the game, there was just another level of intensity and the pace of play seemed to pick up a bit. If Chase got a lane to attack, he was going to put the ball on the floor and drive hard to the rim. Can elevate off one foot or play off two feet to go up balanced through contact. Was fighting for rebounds and powering his way back up for second chance buckets. Impressed with his mobility on the defensive end to slide into position to make plays as a shot blocker.

Seven post prospects who impressed in the games I watched at the NHR State Tournament!