Minnesota State Tournament Thursday Standout Prospects

[player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker'] - In November just before the season kicked off I receive an email subjected titled [player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker'] #5 Apple Valley, and the body said, “Be sure to watch this talented player.” My response, I've written about Trey, and have done highlights. I was impressed by Parker and Parker's ability because as a junior the 2026 senior guard averaged 17 points per game while shooting 39.3% on 224 3-point attempts. 224 attempts are more than half of Parker's shot attempts. Parker followed his junior season up, increasing his scoring average to 22.8 points per game and is making 40.7% of his 3-point attempts. Parker increased his 3-point shot volume to 307 attempts making 125 3-pointers this season.   Leading a #7 seeded Apple Valley team against 5-time in row 4A State Championship game and returning champs Wayzata Parker gave the Eagles enough, 17 points and 5 3-pointers made out of 8 attempts. Then Thursday night Parker got open when it seemed to matter most, hitting 3 3-pointers on his way to 23 points in another Eagles win to advance to the Championship Game Saturday against Chaska.   Parker stays moving on offense to re-position and look for good looks on the perimeter making the most of every shot. Parker will come off screens and curl, or space on 2nd chance opportunities and let the ball fly.    [player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] - The Chaska 2027 guard shot 1 for 8 and scored 3 total points Thursday night and was the most important player on the floor for Chaska and Tartan. Tuesday  I wrote a text to someone that said, “Chaska can beat Tartan,” and I sincerely believed that when I wrote it. That belief was in how Forrest has been Chaska's lead point guard since he was an 8th grader. He's still the only 8th grader at 14U I've seen get double teamed immediately and for an entire game.   Forrest's impact is felt from bringing the ball up the floor on nearly every position, controlling pace, and securely making sure his team gets into the offense they want to run. Forrest's impact on defense is simply amazing from a six-foot-two-inch guard. After hounding Tartan's top scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2560499' first='Kevin' last='Wilson Jr.'] into a 3 of 13 shooting first half, Tartan tried to use screens to get slower forwards on Wilson, or Forrest on longer and taller front court players. This strategy didn't work in either form.   One of the biggest plays from Forrest wasn't a pass that got him an assist, a steal, or a block, which by the way, as a weak side helper look out because Forrest makes fantastic recovery blocks. The play was the last possession of the first half with Chaska trailing by one point. Forrest set a brush screen for 2029 rising freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='2841981' first='Jed' last='Keenan'] that led to a 3-pointer to give Chaska a 2-point lead going into half. The key to the play wasn't even that Forrest set a screen, the key Forrest's awareness was to get Chaska a super quality look before the half.   [player_tooltip player_id='2126143' first='Kalin' last='Jochum'] - The 2027 six-foot-three-inch forward for Chaska who is a high-level baseball prospect was a key player again. Jochum uses good strength inside defensively to not get pushed around, and stepped up offensively from the perimeter making 3 of 4 3-pointers Thursday. At times Jochum looked a little reluctant to shoot from the outside even turning down a couple open looks but Jochum who is a high percentage 2-point FG shooter stepped up big.   [player_tooltip player_id='2124212' first='Jaylen' last='Goergen'] - The six-foot-three-inch 2026 Tartan guard had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals for the Titans. Goergen is a good athlete, and a strong left hand finisher. Early in the 2nd half he had a five point swing and a key lay-up that kept the game close for Tartan.   [player_tooltip player_id='2419997' first='Gio' last='Horton'] - The 2029 freshman guard for Apple Valley was huge against Wayzata Tuesday off the bench with 15 points, and Thursday his 9 points were just as important. Horton made two big 3-pointers on offensive rebounds to give the Eagles a huge boost. Another possession when Horton had a decent look from the perimeter he drove baseline and dumped a pass to [player_tooltip player_id='2416949' first='Tyrese' last='Hutton'] for an open lay-up.   [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'] - The six-foot-four-inch 2027 DeLaSalle guard is having another very good State Tournament run. Thomas put his name securely on the map last year powering The Islanders as a sophomore and now as a junior has led them in both of their opening games. Thursday Thomas scored 24 points and consistently put the ball down from the perimeter driving to the rim attacking the Richfield defense. In transition Thomas gets up and down quickly and attacks the basket hard.   [player_tooltip player_id='2835654' first='Nathaniel' last='Clifford'] - The six-foot-four-inch 2027 Richfield forward was key for them against DeLaSalle especially since [player_tooltip player_id='2574749' first='Gideon' last='Horne'], who was key against Sartell fouled out. Clifford hit three big 3-pointers from the corners and grabbed 5 rebounds, 3 offensive for Richfield. Against Sartell while not scoring made his presence felt with 7 rebounds.   Best in Class A Quarters   [player_tooltip player_id='1560810' first='Daulton' last='Bauer'] of Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton scored 39 points against Cherry while [player_tooltip player_id='2386616' first='Gavin' last='Bauer'] scored 32 points. They got the free throw line 30 times behind to the two of them in their 81-72 win.   Cherry 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2126128' first='Isaiah' last='Asuma'] scored 33 points on 14/26 shooting and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1601068' first='Noah' last='Asuma'], Gophers committed baseball prospect, had 28 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 11/21 against JWP.   The only Minnesota Mr. Basketball Top 5 Finalist left in the State Tournament [player_tooltip player_id='1560827' first='Kale' last='Misegades'] led Henning over Upsala 61-45 scoring 35 points while shooting 14/24 from the floor. The 2026 senior also grabbed a game high 16 rebounds while handing out 3 assists, blocking 2 shots and securing 2 steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='2840083' first='Brodie' last='Metzger'], a 2028 six-foot-four-inch forward led Hills-Beaver Creek over Southland 72-69 and had a massive two-footed two-handed slam in the 2nd half that sparked HBC. Metzger was 8 of 15 shooting, hitting three 3-pointers for 24 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2400265' first='Jamin' last='Metzger'], a 2026 six-foot-five-inch forward committed to USF for football as a quarterback scored 21 points, was 9 of 13 from the floor and grabbed 10 boards.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DWW8-cWCWmy/ </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='2842383' first='Sam' last='Rupnow'], a 2026 senior guard, powered Liberty Classical all season and led them to State. The six-foot-three-inch guard scored 28 points Thursday on 11 of 22 shooting including 4 of 7 from 3. Although Liberty Classical lost 85-63 to Red Lake County Rupnow had a huge season and was the main reason for Liberty Classical all year.   Will Gieseke - The 2026 senior guard for Red Lake County scored 25 points and shot 11 for 11 from the floor. The six-foot-one-inch senior also had 9 assists along with 8 rebounds and 4 steals to power RLC to victory.

Trey Parker Trey Parker 6'3" | SG Apple Valley | 2026 State MN - In November just before the season kicked off I receive an email subjected titled Trey Parker Trey Parker 6'3" | SG Apple Valley | 2026 State MN #5 Apple Valley, and the body said, “Be sure to watch this talented player.” My response, I've written about Trey, and have done highlights. I was impressed by Parker and Parker's ability because as a junior the 2026 senior guard averaged 17 points per game while shooting 39.3% on 224 3-point attempts. 224 attempts are more than half of Parker's shot attempts. Parker followed his junior season up, increasing his scoring average to 22.8 points per game and is making 40.7% of his 3-point attempts. Parker increased his 3-point shot volume to 307 attempts making 125 3-pointers this season.