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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126108' first='Jack' last='Thelen'] - The 2027 seven-foot sophomore center showed off his summer improvements versus Bemidji Saturday in STMA's 73-61 win. As a freshman it was clear early Thelen struggled with the pace of play of Varsity level basketball. That is no longer an issue. Another difference I saw Thelen used his size to his advantage. Thelen showed off a bit of back to basket scoring with a left hook move, in the future however I'd like to see better positioning getting closer to the basket. Another little wrinkle was his passing, especially inside close to the basket.</p>
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<p>Three 2025 seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2103351' first='Jordan' last='Holm'], Hudson Hochsteadler, and [player_tooltip player_id='1586882' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'] will be a very formidable trio for the Knights. The backcourt combo of Hochsteadler and Johnson give STMA a very stable duo while Holm spread the floor to shoot 3's. Johnson showed a strong mid-range presence versus Bemidji while Hochsteadler hit a couple 3-pointers.</p>
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<p>A couple seasons ago [player_tooltip player_id='2103379' first='Jackson' last='Soroko'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125143' first='Brayden' last='Dollard'] as Sophomores suffered through a tough year at Monticello as the Magic won just one game. For 2024-25 they started the year off with a 72-53 win over Delano behind their two seniors.</p>
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<p>The six-foot-two-inch combo guard Dollard scored 23 points while hitting three 3-pointers and the six-foot-seven-inch forward Soroko had 18 points. Soroko in June/July showed a lot of growth in his game playing AAU with the Minnesota Comets. The upward momentum seems to be continuing for him.</p>
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<p>Monticello also got a solid contribution from 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2140576' first='Carson' last='Deibele'] who scored 17 points while hitting four 3-pointers. The six-foot-three-inch Deibele is a good athlete who went straight from starting quarterback for the Magic to the basketball court.</p>
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<p>Cannon Falls 2025 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1874846' first='Gavin' last='Johnson'] is off to a great start for them as well as he had 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks in their opening win versus La Crescent-Hokah 78-58. Johnson is a long six-foot-five-inch wing that has lots of point guard skills.</p>
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<p>Other Performances</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126460' first='Donte' last='Branch'] - 23 points versus Columbia Heights in 88-55 win</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121382' first='Noah' last='Stencel'] 34 points and [player_tooltip player_id='1617713' first='Harrison' last='Lupkes'] 32 points for Princeton versus Hermantown in a 95-87 win</p>
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<p>Griffin Pohlen, 2028 Freshman from Delano scored 22 points in his Varsity debut.</p>
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Jack ThelenJackThelen
7'0" | C
Maple Grove | 2027 StateMN
- The 2027 seven-foot sophomore center showed off his summer improvements versus Bemidji Saturday in STMA's 73-61 win. As a freshman it was clear early Thelen struggled with the pace of play of Varsity level basketball. That is no longer an issue. Another difference I saw Thelen used his size to his advantage. Thelen showed off a bit of back to basket scoring with a left hook move, in the future however I'd like to see better positioning getting closer to the basket. Another little wrinkle was his passing, especially inside close to the basket.
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Jack
Thelen
7'0" | C
Maple Grove | 2027
State
MN
- The 2027 seven-foot sophomore center showed off his summer improvements versus Bemidji Saturday in STMA's 73-61 win. As a freshman it was clear early Thelen struggled with the pace of play of Varsity level basketball. That is no longer an issue. Another difference I saw Thelen used his size to his advantage. Thelen showed off a bit of back to basket scoring with a left hook move, in the future however I'd like to see better positioning getting closer to the basket. Another little wrinkle was his passing, especially inside close to the basket.
