Class AA State Tournament Prospect Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The prospects at the Class AA State Tournament this week are going to be impressive. Know these names!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Signed</strong>/<strong>Committed </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118459' first='Carson' last='McMichael'] of Blake (Macalester)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1951088' first='Luke' last='Roschen'] of Goodhue (Southwest Minnesota State).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] of Waseca (North Dakota State football).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1601069' first='Roman' last='Voss'] of Jackson County Central (Minnesota Football).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560751' first='Weston' last='Rowe'] of Jackson County Central (South Dakota State Football).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560779' first='Ashton' last='Olson'] of Albany (6'3). Olson returned from the state title team as a key reserve and the growing veteran along with returning starter [player_tooltip player_id='2447860' first='Braeden' last='Justin'] (6'1 guard scoring 12.6 a game). Olson has taken a huge step forward scoring almost 19 points a game leading Albany back to state. A smart passer, a good attacking scorer and a very good perimeter shooter that has grown a couple inches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Juniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samuel Afagwu of Pequot Lakes (6'6). Afagwu is a nice interior presence scoring over ten a game and rebounding strong. He sets solid screens, scores with a soft touch, plays with physicality, and always positions himself properly on the defensive end. A part of a big Patriot frontline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2527108' first='Jaxson' last='Austin'] of Albany (6'3). Austin watched his brother Zeke and the Huskies win a title last season and now they are at state with a title run of their own. Austin is scoring almost 16 points a game as a 6'3 guard that can hit shots but also be a playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2127213' first='Tollef' last='Birkeland'] of Pequt Lakes (6'5). Birkeland might be the best prospect that this state is just waiting to see consistently. Injuries have hurt his regularity but not lately. This skilled and athletic 6'5 guard/wing is really good with the ball coming off a ball screen as a shooter, attacker, or passer, and he is that classmate that seems to be able to do whatever sports task that is put in front of him. Scoring 17 points a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2416947' first='Ayden' last='Green'] of Minnehaha Academy (5'11). It's always been hard for shorter guards (in college terms, not life terms) to separate themselves as prospects against the many of their size, so what has Green been able to do?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First off, I think two things really come to mind and that is the high level of competing you get from Green who is a tough player. The second is decision making and court IQ that we have seen from Green. Ayden is averaging 17 points, 5.6 assists and two steals a game. But what also separates is that 40 plus percent three point shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140680' first='Owen' last='Roschen'] of Goodhue (5'11). Owen is a player that I really like because he competes, he is skilled and plays a smart team game within himself. Scores 15 points a game but has a 17u season and a senior season to show what more he can do as a scorer and playmaker within the framework.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2426406' first='Cypress' last='Thiel'] of Perham (6'3). Thiel is that Perham player that exploded for a 48 point game this season setting a new school record. He is a 20 point per game scorer that can hit threes in bulk but has some pop going to the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2436914' first='Kellen' last='Troup'] of Minnehaha Academy (6'8). Troup is one of the fastest rising prospects in the state of Minnesota with his 6'8 size, his scoring 20 a game, his skilled touch at that size, and his agility in that big frame. Troup is pushing for Class AA First Team All State status and is looking like one of the top prospect names of the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sophomores</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560478' first='Isaiah' last='Farrell'] of Perham (5'11). The second leading Perham scorer at 14.5 a game, and the point guard running the team. Farrell is a quick and aggressive attacking player that is also a good ball pressuring defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2394170' first='Alex' last='Loos'] of Goodhue (6'3). Loos is a player I am really high on. Scoring 21 points a game within a good system and doing it with high percentages. A very good shooter with the chance to be a special shooter but also a very good athlete that defends the other team's top guy with some physicality. Surely a top ten player and prospect in his class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gus McKenna of Pequot Lakes (6'7). The front court player with a tough touch leads one of the biggest front lines in small school Minnesota hoops. McKenna can hit the three, he can back you down and score with the baby hook and everything in between. A true up and comer in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3046506' first='Blaise' last='Rowe'] of Jackson County Central (6'3). The shooter that JCC goes to when they need a jumper, Rowe is the third leading scorer for JCC at just under ten a game and the player that will be the key part of their hoops future. AA teams need to locate Rowe this week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2396393' first='Cody' last='Ryan'] of Goodhue (6'6). Cody is the biggest Goodhue player so he plays the five and he does it well. Defends strong in the post, good rebounder and scores around the basket the way they need him to, but Cody can face up and play well too. He is a good shooter on a team that needs his size more than his shooting, but he can shoot it too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Freshman </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2916849' first='Mekhi' last='Abner'] of Minnehaha Academy (6'5). Abner talks on defense in ways most freshman don't. Abner gets to help spots and contesting post spots more than most high school basketball players do. And Mekhi has moved into high school hoops and focused on working hard and helping his team win as opposed focusing on highlight plays and immaturity. College coaches will notice that. Averaging ten points and six rebounds next to Troup and off to a great start as a player and prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2838884' first='Trameill' last='White'] of Blake (6'3). Another frosh that is helping his team win, that is White. The 6'3 lefty freshman has become better and better and is a big reason that Blake is the Cinderella at state. White had the career high 24 points to upset Holy Family in the playoffs, he scored 16 at North and 18 to help the Bears beat MCA in the section final. Developing rapidly at the right time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8th Grade</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2419994' first='Carter' last='Cupito'] of Minnehaha Academy (6'0). It's far too early to start talking prospect status for a middle school guard at six feet but what we can talk about is the special type of production from a varsity guard in 8th grade! Carter is scoring 12.3 points a game shooting over 38 percent at the arc with a matured understanding at a young age. The next five-year-big-number-total guard for the Minnesota future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->