Twin Cities Takedown: The Saturday Prospect Rundown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We give you a rundown of talent from the Twin Cities Takedown on Saturday. Guys that made a name for themselves that we need to beat ready for the rest of the 17u season and next winter during the high school season! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140686' first='Quinn' last='Bjerketvedt'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] (Hopkins). Spots will be open in the Royals line-up and they need guys that shoot the ball. Quinn looks like a guy that can shoot the ball. He had quickness in front of him and he muscled it for scores or shot over that quickness for scores. A 16 point game on 7 of 12 shooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2575638' first='Izayah' last='Cook'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] (Sauk Rapids-Rice). This weekend we saw a step of basketball maturity from [player_tooltip player_id='2575638' first='Izayah' last='Cook']. Izayah has an advantage of height, agility and explosiveness 19 nights out of 20 against who he is against. And when he uses those gifts with the face-up skills he has, he's very tough to stop. In the past we saw Cook settle for too many contested jumpers and not take advantage of those gifts, but he took advantage of those gifts this weekend! We saw Cook push his team to a 40 point win over Powerhouse scoring on 9 of 16 shots for his 21 points plus nine rebounds. Cook has the ability to be a scholarship player and we are seeing it as he leads the Heat. And if this becomes consistency, look out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126472' first='Owen' last='Counce'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] (Osseo). The first thing I saw when I walked into the gym on Saturday was Counce scoring 26 points and leading [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] to a commanding win over [program_tooltip program_id='2821775' first='Buffalo' last='Legacy']. Counce is playing with a certain confidence right now that the best players compete with. He's leading the team with his decision making and his playmaking, but also scoring for his team too. Surely one of the top stock raisers of the weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2139200' first='Joe' last='Courneya'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United'] (Win-E-Mac). Joe is going to be one of the state leaders in scoring next year. He's grown a few inches and looks way stronger, and with that he was able to get to a balanced shot against Elevate whenever he wanted. This is a player that has already scored over 1,700 career points and he had 26 points on 10 of 15 shooting with six threes made. The range is there too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2834228' first='Justin' last='Ebbers'] of Elevate Skills (Park of Cottage Grove). [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United'] could not deal with the 6'5 post game of Ebbers. He got position, held it, caught and used every trick in his bag to lead his team to a one point win. Ebbers is strong but I think he's tougher than actual strength and he used those items to score at times. Justin also has post moves with good foot work, great hands, he uses the fake well, and that arsenal led to a 16 point game on six of eight shooting plus four of four foul shooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2400077' first='Eli' last='Hegle'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2821775' first='Buffalo' last='Legacy'] (Buffalo). Hegle has some of the strongest legs and core of any senior, and he uses that to control guards all over the court. The way Buffalo spaces and moves around the half court both player and ball, they can get mismatches and isolations for players all over the place. And Hegle took advantage of those post isolations with a ton of good moves, touch shots, and everything else to get 26 points vs the Fury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860115' first='Tyrone' last='Moore'] of Powerhouse Minnesota (Tartan). A 6'3 wing with some potential, he moves well, defends, used the dribble well to get to an attempt, and a guy that could play a nice role for Tartan next year. Played some varsity this year, some JV, and could be a very good player as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2829793' first='Avynn' last='Ryba'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United'] (Northern Freeze). Let's add a name to the list of outstate talents you should know and that is [player_tooltip player_id='2829793' first='Avynn' last='Ryba']. Ryba is 6'5 and 215 pounds of strength and effort that Elevate didn't really want to get hit by. A double-double of 15 points on 7 of 12 shooting with a dozen boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] of Elevate Skills (Totino-Grace). Elevate doesn't get the win against WCU without AJ. You can look at points all you want and he had his three buckets but it was the ball handling as the point forward making the right choice, it was the nine boards, it was the five assists, and it was the confidence and toughness both ways that led to the victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joe Varner of Powerhouse Minnesota (Tartan). A tough, tough guard that will get up in you and defend you with a big effort. Lateral quicks and the strength to control guys. Also a pretty good shooter. He was the lone Tartan junior in the regular varsity rotation playing the 8th Man role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->