Upper Midwest Finals: The Best of 17u

<p>[program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] beat [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] 84-83 in overtime led by [player_tooltip player_id='2140675' first='Owen' last='Brezinski']. Brezinski was one of the weekend stars of 17u!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brezinksi's Moment</h2>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] and [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] met in the finals this weekend competing in a game that lived up to it's potential. It was back and forth throughout but the biggest difference maker was [player_tooltip player_id='2140675' first='Owen' last='Brezinski'].</p>   <p>Owen, who led Lakeville North in scoring this season, is a full effort non-stop competitor any time you watch him play. He's recorded double-doubles because of his rebounding efforts, he's always battling to the front of the rim and Owen will work to lock down other top players regularly. For us he is the type of player we expect that at some point gets a few options to play division two basketball. </p>   <p>After this past weekend, those options could come quicker (11 Northern Sun teams were in the building this weekend to watch the top players). </p>   <p>Usually when you see Owen he is scoring in an assortment of ways: attacking other forwards for scores, transition runs, putbacks, etc. This weekend he did that, and in the title game Owen surely did that shooting 9 of 11 to score his 24 points. In addition, Owen showed off the perimeter jumper knocking out four of five threes. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] Production</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] is such an interesting player prospect to me. Right now in high school Collins is 6'4 and about 190 pounds. There are guys here and there that can jump with him, there are guys here and there at forward that can run with him, there are guys here and there that are as strong as him, but rarely do you find a team that has a guy that can match all of those things when it comes to defending Dre. </p>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] is a very good team but like everybody else, they don't have a guy that can limit what Collins can do either. This physical athlete went for 24 points and 13 rebounds highlighted by 8 of 9 foul shooting in the title game (also had 21 points and eight boards in the win over Heat Morgan that we saw). </p>   <p>How does the game of a player like Collins translate to the next level? That's where things get more complex because at the next level of scholarship ball just about every team has multiple guys at 6'4/190 that can jump and have strength to defend a guy like Collins. This is where the skill level improvements from Collins are important and what we saw with the touch at the foul line, and the dribble attack moves are a good sign. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gunderson Impresses</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2845899' first='Jack' last='Gunderson'] stands 6-foot-4 and he plays high school basketball for East Ridge High School. It looks like he was a junior varsity a player a season ago and a guy that based on what we saw this weekend, could take a nice step towards being an impact senior. </p>   <p>Gunderson knocked down several first half jumpers that had Heat Morgan within a score of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] Fuerte at the half. His confidence and vocal statements after each basket made a lot of people take notice of his range and touch. </p>   <p>Select was able to limit Gunderson in the second half but he still had an 18 point, seven rebound game making seven of nine shots with three threes made. If some of that confidence and energy can be channeled into consistent production I think he could be very good for the Raptors. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Upper Midwest Finals Notes</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2052332' first='Trey' last='Theis'] had an 11 point, 10 rebound double-double for the Fury in the final game. He opened the contest with a three and was second best player for the Fury in that title game with 11 points, ten rebounds and four assists. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140700' first='Tyrece' last='Hagler'] of Select (Richfield) had four threes on the board in the title game before some fans had even sat down to watch the game. His shooting binges separate him from other players. He hit five threes in the title game and had an 18 point explosion in the semi-final first half. </p>   <p>Once [player_tooltip player_id='2858361' first='John' last='Omoyeni'] was able to get on the court and compete against Select, he was all business. I loved the straight forward, no nonsense approach we got from John playing with Heat Morgan: just did his job working hard with his strength and length. Had a 16 point game on seven of nine shooting against one of the best teams in the state. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2424180' first='Grant' last='Hansen'] of the Fury (Orono HS) is a player that is starting to catch the eye as well. Everybody knows he can shoot but he looks stronger, has grown some in height and man does this Spartan compete. Love his efforts on defense and the sheer will he competes with. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2421164' first='Ryan' last='Miskowicz'] of Eagan and [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Sabin has the type of postgame that could make him a nice prospect at a few different levels. Ryan has taken very good strides with the back to the basket comfort and the ability to fluidly make a move to produce consistently. We saw him score 18 points in a one point win over Drive Pro from Iowa. </p>   <p>Speaking of Eagan, another player that we have seen locally is Tanner Mulkern playing with Elevate Skills. Mulkern has had a brilliant 17u spring shooting the ball and he should pair with the also improving Miskowicz very well next season. Miskowicz, Mulkern and Don Knox all return to the Cats with experience. </p>   <p>Another confident shooter/scorer we saw this weekend was [player_tooltip player_id='2426406' first='Cypress' last='Thiel'] from Perham and [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United']. Cypress looks like he's grown an inch since the state tournament and he played with a ton of confidence against Elevate scoring 18 points. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2491720' first='Alex' last='Stueven'] of HLWW/[program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] might truck his way to several 30 point games next year. His combination of strength, touch and skill has him scoring in big numbers every 17u weekend. Stueven led the Heat to the Elite Eight including a 22 point game to beat Select Lernell. </p>

Minnesota Fury beat Minnesota Select 84-83 in overtime led by Owen Brezinski Owen Brezinski 6'5" | SF Lakeville North | 2027 State MN . Brezinski was one of the weekend stars of 17u!