Minnesota Freshman Showcase Team 1 Prospects

Ryan Schmidt September 11, 2024 @ 10:27 AM

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/Nu4YsLc0n3c?si=BTJoCqcVgExWPQ6D </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='2559428' first='Taaj' last='Whitlock'] - Whitlock was one of the most impressive 2028 Freshman at the showcase. Whitlock has advanced skills with the ball in hands, you can see his older brother's skills in him, and also plays a bit different. Taaj has excellent size for a guard at six-foot-two-inches, and with his quickness, he's very difficult to guard on the perimeter. Always Whitlock looked locked in ready to shoot and was impressive with his shot creation skill. As Whitlock gets older each year it'll be interesting to see his growth and maturity in his game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2560481' first='Iye' last='Fuye'] - I've gotten the chance now to see Fuye play a couple times. The six-foot-two-inch Maple Grove wing has the body type where you can see large growth and gains in ability. He moves well enough vertically, and on the perimeter his length can really bother opponents.    Elias Brana - Brana as a POA defender can twist up opponents. Brana at five-foot-eight-inches, moves very well laterally in match-ups. Uses speed with the ball to advance up the court. Quick hands to get deflections. Brana shot motion looks pretty smooth as he rocked into a deep 3-pointer in the second half.    [player_tooltip player_id='2382519' first='Eston' last='Bethel'] - The five-foot-seven-inch Bethel made his lay-ups, and at his height and age, it's just a key to being effective. The Fergus Falls Freshman solid quickness, and keeps his head up to attack.    [player_tooltip player_id='2548138' first='Ethan' last='Lieberman'] - The six-foot-two-inch Lieberman moves well for his age and size, definitely seems to be an able secondary ball handler as he gets older. Lieberman showed off deep range in his second game knocking down back to back 3-pointers. Good defensive awareness poking out a steal on a fast break chance for his opponent.