Breakdown Summer Series: New Names to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are the new players that we learned about at the Mankato event on Saturday? Here are those names!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423235' first='Owen' last='Birkholz'] of Minnesota Valley Lutheran (2027). Really enjoyed the steady play, two way positive results that Owen gave as MVL picked up a nice win over St. Peter 59-50. Owen handled, created, scored a team high 14 points, totaled five assists and pressured the St. Peter ball handlers and also worked the passing lanes well. MVL won 11 games last year and they bring back all but one player from their rotation. Owen appears to be the engine and on floor leader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815228' first='Carter' last='Dale'] of St. Peter (2026). With [player_tooltip player_id='2815371' first='Owen' last='Potts'] playing the load that Dale had to shoulder for his team was large. [player_tooltip player_id='2815210' first='Parker' last='Maloney'] boards and scored naturally, but when it comes to ball handling, distribution/starting the offense, defending opposing playmakers and backcourt scoring, that was Dale's massive job. And he did it well. This is the type of experience that is huge for Carter because when Potts is back, he, Owen and Parker have a great chance to be an outstanding trio. Carter gave his team 11 points, six boards and four assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2403777' first='Soren' last='Lilly'] of Braham (2027). One of my biggest weekend takeaways is that Braham is a deeper team than expected and a more athletic team than expected (they have several multi-sport guys being recruited in football). Lilly is coming off of a 17 point, nine rebound per game all conference sophomore season and we watched him total 12 points and seven rebounds making 6 of 9 shots. This is a 6'3 wing with a fantastic mid-range lefty touch. If he gets a dribble or two middle chances are the shot is going. Also very good attacking on balance to that left side and flashing middle against the zone/sleepy man help defense he is a tough player to stop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garett Lidke of Braham (2026). Garett is more football prospect than basketball: he is a quarterback that is being recruited to play college football just like [player_tooltip player_id='2369272' first='Tyler' last='Eklund'] (27 points per game hooper as a junior who is also being recruited locally in hoops) and Eric Duvernay are. On the hardwood Lidke is a 6'4 frontcourt player that defends, scores in the paint, and rebounds in bulk. We saw him grab ten boards against JWP in a running time game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cyrett Long of Waseca (2026). Long was a JV player last year as a junior but Waseca has [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] back as well as role players (seniors) Ethan Hiller and Wyatt Hager returning from last year's state runner-up. The Jays will need some more scoring punch and against East, Long provided that with four makes on his way to a 13 point game. He then had three scoring possessions against Austin. There is more experience and growth needed but Long showed some signs of being able to support. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560869' first='Banyaan' last='Omot'] of Austin (2026). Omot is a long armed, long limbed, aggressive right hand hard charging, try to dunk everything 6'6 forward. If you look at his film from this 17u season with the Lightning, and this past winter with the Packers, it's full of baseline cutting, one/two dribble right side attack finishes. Omot has potential and when he physically matures in more strength to match his length and pop, you could hear good things from him down the line in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->