Section 2AAAA Player Profiles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graduation hit Section 2AAAA pretty hard. But this is still a top section with a lot of good teams and players. Who are the top returning players? We give you 21 of them today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prior Lake</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2635710' first='Colten' last='Gunderson'] (2026). Colten scored 9.4 points a game as a 6'7 junior post last year. He's a Northern Iowa football commit at wide receiver with a 90 miles per hour fast ball on the baseball field. Hoops.... he's good there too and it's like his third sport! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126466' first='Kobby' last='Sambrew'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley']). Sambrew scored 8.2 points per contest last year as a sophomore. This is 6'6 frontcourt player that does move his feet pretty well, and he has the potential to step forward as the top Prior Lake scorer and rebounder this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2433515' first='Kolby' last='Thompson'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']). If Kobby isn't the leading scorer for the Lakers it could be this guy, [player_tooltip player_id='2433515' first='Kolby' last='Thompson']. Thompson scored 5.2 points per game last season and his quickness with the ball, and high level of creation with skill, we think Thompson should have a big junior year. The returning group of Gunderson, Sambrew, Kolby, [player_tooltip player_id='2052332' first='Trey' last='Theis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560857' first='Zach' last='Christofferson'] make Prior Lake the 2AAAA favorite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb Francois (2026). Caleb scored 9.6 points per game as a wing shooter/scorer last year making the Skippers a deeper team than expected. Francois is an Iowa State football commit that is the leading returning scorer for Tonka. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121339' first='Anthony' last='Ortiz'] (2026, Hoop Habits). Ortiz is a strong, aggressive scoring guard that did more and more as the 24-25 season moved forward. He averaged seven points per game as a junior and after a strong off-season, Ortiz will move to the forefront as a key player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560540' first='Willie' last='Wright Jr'] (2028, [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley']). Wright started his freshman year as a reserve guard on the varsity when Isa El-Amin was hurt. Wright moved to the JV full time when El-Amin back but Wright was a trusted fill in and should step into a nice role this winter as a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eden Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560851' first='Hamze' last='Yusuf'] (2026, Hoop Habits). Hamze scored 17 points a game last season and was one of the toughest guards to keep in front all of his junior year, and 17u season. A player that I think will have a chip on his shoulder this winter and have a strong season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2119596' first='Cooper' last='Fahning'] (2026, Real Phenom). The 6'8 EP big man averaged 6.3 points and seven plus rebounds a game last year. He then moved into his 17u season and was..... outstanding. Defending the ball off the ball screen, defending the ball in the paint, rebounding, contesting/blocking shots, scoring back to the basket with touch, and facing up to hit jumpers. That was Cooper this 17u year earning 17U All State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2137323' first='Carter' last='Pulrang'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans']). Carter is a confident looking shooter who is in a great spot with the EP seniors mentioned above: Cooper can set the screens, be the face up big and do things in the paint, Yusuf can be the attacking playmaker, and Carter can catch all their passes and knock out shots. He scored six points a game as a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shakopee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] (2027, Hoop Habits). The stage is set for a huge season for Luke. The Sabers lost their top six scorers to graduation and Luke is coming off of an outstanding 16u season with Hoop Habits. Luke is one of the elite shooters in the state, let's just get that out of the way. But he's also confident, more agile and explosive than expected so he does get to a first step quick, he does get up the floor to transition score, etc. Scored 5.8 points per game as a sophomore and should be the main scoring weapon this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton'] (2027). When Shakopee was playing Wayzata at state, it was Betton playing 17 minutes in that crucial semi-final two score loss. Blake scored four points a game as a sophomore and his role will be much bigger this year, but Blake is also one of the elite linebacker prospects in his class (and when I say class I mean Minnesota, the Midwest, and maybe even the entire nation). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2417389' first='Jake' last='Courts'] (2027). Staying with the football-basketball pairing at Shakopee, Jake is a quarterback and backcourt player as a two spot standout. Courts played in some varsity games last year as the 10th man for Shakopee, but most of his time was o JV last year. This year the Sabers will need Courts and others to take a nice step forward on the hardwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chaska</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley']). Tyler is coming off of an excellent 16u season with [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley'] and a quality sophomore year. I think Tyler is one of the smartest players in the state of Minnesota and a point guard I would want to play with if I was a high school hooper. Last year he averaged 10.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals a game a season ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126143' first='Kalin' last='Jochum'] (2027). Kalin is the second leading returning scorer for Chaska having scored 7.4 points a game as a junior. The 6'3, 210 pound wing is a baseball standout that is also a good basketball player and Chaska will need him to knock out jumpers but also use that size to score around the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2839785' first='Evan' last='Atkinson'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Antl). The 6'3 wing is a smart, hard working player that was a part of that Fury system that once again used team first basketball to win a ton of games. Evan scored 7.2 points a game as a junior and is due for a strong senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waconia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560741' first='Will' last='Kirsch'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley']). Kirsch had a 23.4 point per game junior season and he's already had four strong scoring/play making varsity seasons (I'd love to give you the four year total but the Waconia staff didn't report the box scores enough to give you a total). Kirsch is one of the best shooters/scorers in the state and is due for a motivated, monster senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2447537' first='Jaxen' last='Holmlund'] (2026, Minnesota Swish). Jaxed started for the Cats a season ago averaging six points a game plus leading the team in rebounding and blocks. Holmlund is a 6'4 hard working player that should have a big senior season in every way a hard working player can. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2421469' first='Colton' last='Henke'] (2027). The junior-to-be had some explosive shooting games last year knocking out five threes against Hopkins and seven threes against St. Louis Park. Scored six points a game as a sophomore and should pair nicely with [player_tooltip player_id='1560741' first='Will' last='Kirsch'], Alex Kirsch and [player_tooltip player_id='2140622' first='Henry' last='Wisniewski'] to give the Cats a better year than many are expecting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chanhassen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140561' first='Benett' last='Barger'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']). Barger is a long, agile 6'4/6'5 scoring wing that averaged 11 points a game as a sophomore and he should step forward and have a big year as a junior. Barger has really big potential with agility, size and skill and if he has a big year of growth, I think we are going to be talking about him as a solid D2 recruit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560782' first='Kolby' last='Christl'] (2026, WOTN). A steady combo guard that came of the bench for Chan last year scoring six points a game and playing a good role. He's been with WOTN during the spring/summer season and this year we think he could be a double figure scoring steady senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560777' first='Nathan' last='Ramler'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Reyes). Ramler is a 6'5, 225 pound frontcourt player that had a strong season with Fury Reyes after scoring six points a game for Chan last winter. Ramler is also a quarterback prospect with great size and one of the hardest working players I saw this 17u season. Rebounds, defends the post, finishes in the paint, etc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->