GPA: The Best of 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The GPA is well known for its D2 attendance. Who from the 2027 class really stepped up to play at a high level? And of these players, which 2027 talents should D1 schools take a look at for now, and/or for the future? Let's have a look! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2824358' first='Nicholas' last='Taylor'] of Minnesota Lightning (Lanesboro). The 6'8, 210 pound forward is a 4.0 student and a five star defender in the paint. When it comes to shot blockers in Minnesota, Taylor is THE BEST. Sure there might be better shot blockers in the post walling up here and there, but Taylor does that well AND he is incredible as a help side shot blocker. Think Jaden McDaniels in this regard in Minnesota high school hoops. That is how good Taylor is at the job. We saw him block 18 shots over a three game span! Add in the rebounding, add in the explosive finishing at the rim, throw in that Nick can hit that mid-range jumper and you have a player with great potential. We are talking about a guy closing in on the top ten prospects in the class of the state! Yes D2 schools are on him and he will have great options there. But the rare abilities that we see from Taylor with that effort, timing and length on defense, we have to wonder if he won't get a D1 shot someday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126466' first='Kobby' last='Sambrew'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Goring (Prior Lake). Sambrew is the type of player that over time he just wares on you, and he out works you. In a four minute stretch, or a 12 minute stretch, you might not get the full thoughts of what Sambrew can do. But as he runs rim to rim over the course of 25, 28, or 30 minutes a game, Kobby continues to out-work people to get his eight baskets, eight rebounds, and a team victory. That is what Sambrew has done all spring, that is what Sambrew did all weekend to give Fury Goring the weekend title, and when schools watch him in July - yes the D1 interest is there - that is what they will see him do over the course of a full game then as well. Sambrew is physically gifted as a strong and agile 6'6/6'7, but it's his work ethic over the course of a full game is what makes him special and unique. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans'] (Anoka). When college coaches from D1 ask about Minnesota bigs there are a few names we keep giving them that are still available. The short list of names now includes Bryce who was compared to a version of Kyle Jorgensen this weekend (the Colorado State center) and I love that comparison. D2s love him and hope he goes to them and based playing opportunity that is a great idea, but low major D1s have 15 roster spots and are losing bigs to the mid major level in bulk. There are openings for a [player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] at a core strong 6'9 and we think the D1s will or should give him a look. When you talk about touch with range, low post footwork and hands, and the ability to pass the ball in the high post and low post, Bryce is the most all around skilled big in the state. While he is not a high major player, he does fit the type of big the Gophers like to use and if their staff was still at Furman or Drake, I could see them looking strong at Gaustad for those levels. That is the type Bryce showed us he is this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140606' first='Ethan' last='McGrath'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] (Eastview). I think 6'3 [player_tooltip player_id='2140606' first='Ethan' last='McGrath'] is going to be very good. The name may have slipped the cracks because he was injured the first week but this really smart, tough and high effort player has returned, and this week he was a big reason that Fury Goring won the title. Ethan is the top returning Eastview scorer at just under double figures and this 17u season he has shot the ball really well from the perimeter. Ethan made three threes in the title game scoring 15 points but he also defended well and grabbed seven boards with that toughness. Ethan is going to have a big senior year and you can expect a quick prospect rise, there were a ton of D3 schools watching him this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2424180' first='Grant' last='Hansen'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] (Ororno). You want your best players to perform in the biggest games, [player_tooltip player_id='2424180' first='Grant' last='Hansen'] did just that. His defensive fight locked down the Comets guards and he did a solid defensive job in the title game as well, especially the first half. How about offensively? Hansen had 18 points with eight boards shooting 6 of 13 with four threes in the title game, and Grant had 21 points and seven rebounds in the semi-final with four threes highlighting the 8 of 11 shooting. When you score 39 points with 15 boards in the Final Four while running the offense and shooting 14 of 24 with seven triples, you have put in a high level effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->