Holiday Week Prospect Grades - 2027s

We break down the film of several top juniors from holiday week!   [player_tooltip player_id='2417091' first='Isiah' last='Boyer'] of Becker (5'10). [player_tooltip player_id='2417091' first='Isiah' last='Boyer'] has been one of the stories of December. He is averaging a team high of 21.3 points with four boards, 4.6 assists and two steals a game shooting 49 percent from the field, 43 percent at the arc and 76 percent at the foul line. Boyer has the quickness to get into spaces, the toughness to win when those spaces are closed up, and the skills to find teammates or make shots himself. A player that is healthy and making a big impact.   Prospect Grade: At 5'10 there are only so many that will go college wise but when you are tough, productive and compete, you can open doors. I can see Boyer being a very good MIAC player and he's off to a great start.   [player_tooltip player_id='2139200' first='Joe' last='Courneya'] of Win-E-Mac (6'2). Scorer. Has put up a combined 94 points in his last three games. Teams are coming at Joe with all the attention so he has to find ways to score for his team that are a bit more complicated. The work he's put in allows him to do that as Joe is hitting a lot of college length threes because two guys come to him off the ball screen. He's also making jumpers in small windows because both defenders come with him. The 30+ games come with scores at the rim and Joe finds crafty ways to do that but as a prospect it's the range and small window makes that are big.   Prospect Grade: The high school resume is there, when we get to 17u will the three point percentages going to be there? If they are, all those D2 schools that show up at all the weekly Minnesota events will start to show interest as a 6'2 shooter.   [player_tooltip player_id='2126455' first='Peyton' last='Gholson'] of Rosemount (6'1). In the 23 point game against Washburn earning Rosemount a 3-2 record, Gholson scored in ways that really had a different aspect to them. One was one of the quickest crossovers changing the direction on the defender that you will see. The quickness with the basketball from the move into creation is not common. The other non common item was the ability to hit jumpers in small windows. At 6'1 you have to be able to get shots off against help defenders/closing defenders that are going to get bigger with every increase in level. And when you see Gholson hit jumpers like that multiple times, it opens the eyes.   Prospect Grade: If I am a D2 team Peyton is on my radar to see soon to see if his abilities would work on your team. And if there are MIAC teams willing to play a guy immediately - have you seen what JJ Semanko is doing? - I would get on Gholson and hope those D2s don't pursue.   [player_tooltip player_id='2524777' first='Lanadreon' last='Goodwin'] of Benson (6'8). Goodwin is listed at 6'8 and in the highlight videos his length just pops off the screen. Long stride runner that glides up the floor, laterally has the mobility to be taught how to be a really good defender and he can get length everywhere on his man, on the man he switches to, or moving to his help. That length grabs boards off the rim and can get shots over bigger players when he faces them because of the length and quick bounce. Good bounce as well and is starting to show some skill advancements as well.   Prospect Grade: everything depends on his skill development and how consistent he is as a halfcourt defender getting that length to things, but Goodwin has rare agility and length with height, that usually results in a scholarship at some kind.   [player_tooltip player_id='2527105' first='Jameson' last='McCarthy'] of Southwest Christian (6'7). The 205 pound forward is scoring 13 points a game as a part of a Southwest frontline scoring 46 points a game on average. McCarthy just had 22 points and nine boards in a win over MCA and so much of it was done looking at the rim, moving to the rim, running to the rim with the ball. At 6'7 you don't need to handle like the 5'10 guards on the list, you just need a comfort to be a face-up skilled guy going by other bigs (who are mostly slower than the guards of course) and Jameson looks to be that.   Prospect Grade: Skilled, good size, making strides as a player, that is what you want in a 6'7 player. You can't limit guys like that when they are showing they are improving. So if you are an NAIA, a D2 looking at a developing kid, or a MIAC that wants a 4.0 student, this is your guy. Type of kid that should be in front of local coaches who flood events like Comets Shootout, the Battle at the Lakes, the Twin Cities Takedown, 2k26, Great Plains Alliance, the Scheels League, and the regional finals, and the type of kid that should get a lot of options with his potential at those levels.   Will McQuay of White Bear Lake (6'1). The first thing that grabbed my attention in this game against Mounds View was the quick release on the jumper and the form. We have no idea what the percentages are but not many players get the release that quick and the form that tight. Also hustled his way to score off ball for his 15 points.   Prospect Grade: a first look as a 45 second video is not enough to make any type of evaluation but the shooting form is memorable.   [player_tooltip player_id='2140617' first='Geno' last='Ward'] of Holy Family (5'10). In Boyer you have a hard charging quick player that does a lot. By comparison, Ward has similar quickness but what sticks out to me is the vision, and the shifty change of direction to get to the next move, to the step back, and to the lane attack. A floor leader for Holy Family that hits 40 percent of his threes, averages five assists a game and scores ten a game while delivering to three others who score in double figures.   Prospect Grade: I look and see a shifty player that would be a really good MIAC lead guard that will likely have a lot of high academics on him (which could lead to outside of state high academics).

We break down the film of several top juniors from holiday week!