Prep Hoops 2k25: Dre, Shay, Loos and More

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How did some of the younger talent do at Prep Hoops 2K25? We give you some of our headliners today from last weekend! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dre for 30</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of my biggest internal player debates is about [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] from [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] and Richfield High School. There is no debate that Collins is one of the best juniors in the state of Minnesota, his play with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] and Select has proved that. When you go against d2 scholarship offered players from South Dakota and physically overwhelm them making 12 of 17 shots for 30 points the proof is obvious. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My internal questions are.... how high should I be thinking with this 6'4 explosive athlete?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D2 prospect? No question. That's not the debate. The debate is, can Collins continue to play this way for the next 12 months while continuing to improve the skills to be a division one prospect? I think he has the potential to do so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All State 16U player? Easily. Second team player? No question. First team player? I think it's definitely trending that way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2394170' first='Alex' last='Loos'] Backs Up Hype</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Minnesota Lighting took the court at the 17u level to play [program_tooltip program_id='2075449' first='East' last='Metro Bounce'] I ran through the usual names and they all computed but then thought.... 45? They don't have a 45. But he looked familiar. So in true basketball investigative reporting fashion I ran over to the Ellerbusch Leadership party and asked.... 45?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2394170' first='Alex' last='Loos']! Oh yes! The Goodhue All State Sophomore-to-be. How did Alex look? Like an All State player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='2075449' first='East' last='Metro Bounce'] has a lot of good players entering their senior year and we just gushed about the athletic talents of [player_tooltip player_id='2465510' first='Mark' last='Graff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2822606' first='Noah' last='Carlson'] (Mahtomedi). But Loos is something different. Faced up one on one against Graff in the corner Loos - despite being two years younger - had the strength to rip through and the strength to leverage Graff off his line, and then off his attempt to score at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loos is a good athlete, he is strong with outstanding balance and body control, and he's skilled. Has the skills to attack and separate, and certainly Loos can shoot it. Alex knocked out four threes on his way to a 22 point, nine of eleven shooting game playing up two grades. And Alex is coming off of a season where he scored 20 points a game shooting 48 percent from the field with over six boards a contest leading his team to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Shay The Leader</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to spring/summer stock risers [player_tooltip player_id='1956268' first='Shay' last='Jackson'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] and Totino-Grace surely fits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to players that have made a big impression with their improvement and consistency [player_tooltip player_id='1956268' first='Shay' last='Jackson'] certainly fits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've seen this 5'10 hooper/baseball player have an excellent 16u season including his 16 points, five assist performance against Hoop City. The quickness of his attack and balance of his steady decision making once in the paint have consistently been strong. And I think I like his consistency of ball pressure effort even more! But my favorite part, the leadership. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finding a good leader in high school basketball is tough. Most kids aren't mature enough for that role and the ones that might be mature enough can often be too selfish with their play. And more potential young leaders just can't back up what they are saying themselves with their own production. But when it comes to Shay he plays hard and plays unselfishly, does those things consistently, and because of that his team follows his lead. It's been a lot of fun to watch this 16u season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Quick Hitters</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140590' first='Cody' last='Benson'] shot 58 percent from the floor and 46 percent from the arc last winter as a sophomore and I can see why, he's a full throttle guy that wins possession battles more than he loses because of that effort. Good decision maker that seems to always produce. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] was the third scoring option for Richfield last year and he handled that role very well. With Select he's had the second scoring option role on the floor for good parts of games and Select is surging which is a good sign as he moves into a bigger role this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2136339' first='Adryan' last='Miller'] seems to produce every time I sneak in the gym. Using that skill that he developed as a young guard and now putting it to use as a 6'5/6'6 forward, the opposition has a tough time moving with him with bigs up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2052332' first='Trey' last='Theis'] is a player that every high school coach and every spring/summer coach should love to use. He plays hard, brings good character to the team, and he finds ways to contribute. If it's game that might be tough for Trey to get a lot of shots off creatively no problem, he will play the worker role off the ball just find. And he will always put effort on the glass like he did grabbing ten boards in the win over Hoop City. Theis also defended the ball screen against a D2 offered guard very well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2433515' first='Kolby' last='Thompson'] will be one of the tougher players to individually match-up with this winter. He's so shifty and comfortable with the handle that figuring out his next move is tough on the legs of defenders. Throw in the range - hit four threes on four attempts having a perfect shooting game against Hoop City - and it makes Kolby even tougher to defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->