Minnesota Select: The Ten Best – Select Way

Minnesota Select has had a few different eras of basketball. Today we take a moment to run through the ten best player in their program history both at the start, and in the modern era.

When you talk Minnesota Select you have to know that they were the first AAU team in Minnesota that players looked to. This was an era where everybody or just about everybody tried out to play for the best team in the state and the best of Minnesota represented the state on one team. Mark Klingsporn got it started and at one point Ken Lien purchased Minnesota Select and had some very good teams as well.

Sean Kruger then bought Minnesota Select and formed the program into the top five level group in the state they are consistently right now.

So to honor Select, we give you the modern era top ten first, and look back at the past to give you ten more names.

Eli Cave (BSM). Cave really stepped forward as a 17u player and continues to get better and better as a pro overseas. Currently a pro in South America. Played at St. Mary's and Minot State

Tyler Flack (Lakeville North). The former North standout then went to South Dakota and was a key forward for USD in the Summit.

Nolan Groves (Orono). The most recent one was Groves who finished his 17u season with Select. He was the Minnesota Player of the Year last year and is now at Texas Tech.

Drew Guebert (Eastview). After a strong high school career Drew was a USF standout and he now coaches for the Cougars.

Tyree Ihenacho (Prior Lake). Tyree was a division one recruit out of high school heading to North Dakota and he finished his career in the Big Ten last year at Washington.

Mike Muscala (Roseville). Mike became a star in the Patriot League with Bucknell and then went to the NBA for 11 years with five years in OKC and five in Atlanta.

Nuni Omot (Mahtomedi). Omot developed later but when that last year he took monster steps for at Select and then with Mahtomedi. Omot ended up playing the bulk of his college career in the Big XII at Baylor.

Pharrel Payne (Park of Cottage Grove). One of the best paid bigs in the transfer market this past spring, Payne is now at Maryland. He's been a four star recruit that went from Minnesota to Texas A&M, and now at Maryland.

Carson Shanks (Prior Lake). Shanks went from Utah State to North Dakota to Loyola Chicago and is now working for the New York Knicks. A division one big man that had coaches all over the Minnesota Select games.

Leo Torbor (Park Center). One of the most athletic guards in recent 17u seasons, Tobor went to San Jose State in the Mountain West and is now at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Malik Willingham (Waseca). Malik was one of the best D2 players in the nation right now leading his team to a national title as a first team All American.

Sam Jacobson (Park of Cottage Grove). The 1994 Mr. Basketball in Minnesota took the Gophers to the Final Four before being drafted by the Lakers and also playing for the Warriors and Timberwolves.

Luke Jimenez (Redwood Valley). After a standout high school career Luke played for years for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Rob Mestas (Minneapolis Roosevelt). Mestas was the 1995 Mr Basketball and then he went to Miami of Ohio and took the Hawks to the NCAA Tournament.

Jared Nuness (Hopkins). The Royal guard was a standout guard that went to Valpo and played on the famous team that beat Ole Miss in the NCAAs on the buzzer beater.

Mitch Ohnstad (Faribault). The 1996 Mr Basketball played three seasons with the Select 17u team before heading to Cal Poly and then the Minnesota Gophers. Currently a coach for Select.

Joel Przybilla (Monticello). The Minnesota Gopher lottery pick played for the Trailblazers and Bucks during a long NBA career.

Kyle Sanden (Thief River Falls). A 6'11 standout that picked Minnesota as North Carolina was making phone calls and he spent four years with the Gophers before having to medically retire.

Brent Solheim (Rochester JM). The frontcourt talent gave West Virginia four years and he took JM to state before leaving for college.

James Ware (Hopkins). The recent Park Center state championship coach was a player for Colorado State and Texas Tech after high school.

Ben Woodside (Albert Lea). A guard that had a fantastic career at North Dakota State and is a legend after his college career.