GPA: Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best of the best when it comes to the Great Plains Alliance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2524653' first='Dawson' last='Hofer'] of the [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] (Holdingford, 2027). [player_tooltip player_id='2524653' first='Dawson' last='Hofer']'s combination of size at 6'5, his strength that makes everybody think he is a big time football player, and the agility that makes people think he's surely a three sport standout gave him a physical edge against every opponent he faced. Throw in the skilled combination to attack, and make a move in the lane to get space to finish, and Hofer wasn't stopped this weekend. At his size Dawson has to have one of the better first steps that opposing forwards have to deal with plus he's always balanced to finish. We saw Hofer score 22 in the first game, and then 24 points and 14 rebounds in the semi-final, and his team went 4-0 on the weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560811' first='Collin' last='Johnson'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Reyes (Lakeville South). In a 20 point win over [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 16s, [player_tooltip player_id='1560811' first='Collin' last='Johnson'] was outstanding. He had 21 points, four boards and four assists, and he made 8 of 12 shots but it was the run of baskets that really impressed. Johnson opened the game with five three-pointers made, but he took a bad shot and was consistently moving the basketball to get his teammates high percentages as well. Then in the second half, Johnson was attacking the juniors-to-be to score at the rim to get the rest of his 21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2815217' first='Logan' last='Junkermeier'] of Minnesota Rise (Fairmont, 2026). The 6'10 big man returned from a broken wrist last winter and he hasn't looked back. He put together a nice junior season and since he's joined the Rise, Logan has looked better every weekend. This past weekend we saw Logan put 16 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and four assists in an all around game to defeat the SSA SD White team. Junkermeier's turn and finish in the lane was quality and the face-up touch was good with a few face-ups plus we saw it when Logan was finishing possessions at the foul line. His aggressiveness to the glass and to contest/blocking shots was even more impressive. One SSA player talked some trash so not only did Logan chase down ad block the shot, for the first time we saw Logan let the opposition know where the shot was going. Plus Logan moved the ball out of the post very well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2823917' first='Gunner' last='Liebl'] of Southwest Minnesota Stars (Dawson-Boyd, 2026). At this point I think we have to expect that [player_tooltip player_id='2823917' first='Gunner' last='Liebl'] more times than not is going to come away with the win. No matter who the opponent is. We saw him win a state title in March, we saw him lead the Stars to three wins in April, and this past weekend he led them to three more wins in St. Cloud only this time they beat the second ranked Comets. Liebl is stronger than most guards, he handled this winter, but he also has the size to be a scoring guard. Every time he went left to the pull-up was deadly. Over and over. One of the toughest mid-range touches you will see.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560827' first='Kale' last='Misegades'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] (Henning, 2026). When Henning gets their season started next year I think we can definitely talk about [player_tooltip player_id='1560827' first='Kale' last='Misegades'] as a top ten candidate for Mr. Basketball. Misegades has the incoming resume for it to happen: a great career covering four years already, he took his team to state last year, he's earned and accepted a scholarship to play college basketball, and this weekend we watched him make clutch shots against a top team (North Dakota Phenom). Even in an ugly game when the Comets beat the Wildcats, Kale was the best player on the floor making just enough game winning plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->