“Prep Hoops Expo: The Junior Stock Risers”

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What juniors really seemed to up their stock with not only their play on Sunday but the work they have put in? Here is our list!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2834228' first='Justin' last='Ebbers'] of Park of Cottage Grove (6'4). Ebbers showed one of the quickest and most powerful shoulder turns in the paint I have seen. He played aggressively in each competition including a ton of rebounds throughout the day. Showed off some range on his touch as well. Last year Justin was a 5th starter/6th Man on a veteran Park team and he gave them seven points a game and I think that role/those numbers can greatly increase. Had very good numbers for Elevate Skills this 16u season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126166' first='Jaylan' last='Hynes'] of Totino-Grace (6'3). The [player_tooltip player_id='2126166' first='Jaylan' last='Hynes'] I saw yesterday is the player that I first saw and thought.... this young man has such a high ceiling. There was a first half stretch where Jaylan started the game with a steal into a lay-up followed by a made three followed by a physical dunk. And while doing that, Hynes changed the game on defense with his help, with his pressure, with a couple deflections, and a steal. Then in half two Jaylan had a two basket run that gave us the entire repertoire that could be: a three, a pull-up, a transition finish, an attack contested finish, an active off ball score, and a fall away. And he does this without taking a bad shot, and while moving the ball, and while defending in a way that all of his teammates followed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860672' first='Jameson' last='McCarthy'] of Southwest Christian (6'7). We talked about Jameson coming into the event. To rewind, he was mostly a junior varsity player last year but had a strong 16u season, he is 6'7, and he is skilled. Yesterday we saw McCarthy set the screen and role to catch and finish multiple times and he opened teammates with a number of good screens. Jameson had an impressive one on one transition finish and he finished that confidently. McCarthy took jumpers confidently and I loved how he moved up and down the floor in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] of Shakopee (6'2). In the spring we saw Luke score in some ways at 16u that screamed something different. In June we saw Luke in camps and with his high school team score in consistent, confident ways that screamed, something different. We watched Luke assemble his own 16u Shakopee team in July and go at some of the best 16u teams in the state scoring against teams that knew Luke was the guy to stop. Then he wins a three point contest, he wins a three on three, impressed in St. Cloud, and he shows up this week at the Showcase and was knocking down threes in ways that can only be compared to guys that rank with the best. Luke also attacked to finish, showed some of that pop off with a dunk, and a quicker first step than I had seen. [player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] is different, and I look forward to seeing what is next. Special shooters like Luke have traditionally gone to the best level in the past, we will have to see what the future holds for Luke as he keeps working. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] of Shakopee (6'6). When [player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] touched the ball in the paint yesterday, it was over. It was like watching a college man show back up at high school and dominate in the alumni game. At one point I think he had five post baskets in seven possessions. I said it at this event last year and I will say it again now, when [player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] catches deep on the block it's as automatic a finish as you will see from bigs in this state. The strength, the footwork, the touch, and the quickness of the turn, it's all outstanding. When you add in that Taban can set a great screen and either catch on the way to the rim, or fade to the wing and catch to shoot it, or put it on the deck and do good things, it makes Taban an even better prospect. When Taban mixes in the post game with the pick and roll game with the face-up perimeter stuff, the ways he can score on you in a game is nearly unmatched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2877054' first='Asher' last='Wieberdink'] of Central Minnesota Christian (6'7). As a frosh Asher averaged 14 points and seven boards a game. As a sophomore Asher averaged 19 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game. He's a preseason All Class A pick coming into the season and a player that I think most should know coming into the season. And that was before Sunday. Asher showed at the Expo that laterally he moves very well at his size as he's always getting length on players. Switched off on ball screens really well too slowing down or stopping guards forcing the ball to move. A good passer, aggressive to his offense but smart with it, and he attacked bigs really well to score. Even better, he was aggressively dunking to finish plays in transition and from the dunker spot </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->