Max’s Weekly Minnesota Prospect Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the prospects who stood out in the games I watched this past week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2916849"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b312408498"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Going up against a strong Southwest Christian frontcourt on Wednesday, Mekhi was a key reason why Minnehaha came away with the win. As just a freshman he doesn't shy away from contact, and plays with impressive grit and physicality down low. If he caught anywhere near the basket, Mekhi was looking to power his way to the basket, even when defended by 6'6-6'7 upperclassmen. Abner is relentless on the glass on both ends, and is did a nice job of preventing low-post touches on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2447536"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b31240850d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jed took over in the second half to keep his team in the game against Minnehaha Academy. At 6'6+ he showcased impressive mobility and fluidity in the open floor, able to go coast-to-coast on multiple occasions for transition finishes. Jed was able to create some easy scoring opportunities with his hard cuts off the ball, threw down a pair of dunks, and showed impressive body control to finish in traffic. Jed finished the game with a team high 26 points, showing some inside-out ability at his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3469543"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b31240855a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With [player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'] transferring to Richfield, Jordan has stepped up as the go-to guy for Hope Academy this season. On Thursday night Jordan scored his team's first 12 points of the game against Waseca. Despite the loss, he showed flashes of what he can do as a long and athletic 6'4 wing. He was crashing the offensive glass hard for some second chance opportunities, showed a nice mid-range game, and can defend a number of spots with his long frame. Gets nice elevation on his pull-up jumper making it tough for opposing wings to contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ethan Hiller","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Waseca","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b312408602"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] out injured, Ethan stepped up in the win for Waseca on Thursday. His off-ball movement and effort in transition helped lead to a handful of easy buckets in the first half. He was jumping passes for steals, beating defenders with backdoor cuts, and attacking the basket hard. In the half-court he kept the ball moving with zip out on the perimeter, and picked his moments to attack when the defense was slow to rotate. Very efficient performance in the big win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2404942"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b312408652"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Know for his high flying dunks and physical post play, King showed a different side to his game on Friday night. The 2027 forward came out and hit his first five three point attempts of the game enroute to 33 first half points against Minneapolis Camden. It didn't matter if there was a hand right in his face, James just wasn't missing. Although he cooled down a bit as the game went on, King added in some face-up jumpers from around 12 feet, getting the elevation to shoot over the top of length. He scored a career high 42 points in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2821845"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b312408697"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malik showed why he's the current #1 in Minnesota's 2029 class on Friday night. Yes he had the three dunks showcasing his imposing blend of size, explosiveness, and strength as a freshman. But he also showed intriguing skill on the ball, weaving through defenders for coast-to-coast finishes in impressive fashion. He occasionally gets caught trying to do too much, but the way that Malik was getting past smaller defenders off the dribble was impressive to watch. Martin also added in a three and a nice fadeaway jumper showing promising shooting touch. He finished with 32 points in the loss to Hiawatha.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2561052"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699b3124086da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You don't see many guys in that 6'6-6'7 range with the shooting touch [player_tooltip player_id='2561052' first='Chase' last='Maetzold'] possesses. When left open from three, you just feel so confident that his shot will connect. On Friday night he was active off the ball, setting screens and popping out to the perimeter looking for catch-and-shoot opportunities. Defenders knew he was a threat to shoot, and on one occasion Chase was able to blow by a hard closeout for a nice baseline dunk. Defensively he added in a pair of blocks and was disrupting/altering shots all game long in the win over BSM. Will be one to watch moving forward as he continues to grow into his frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->