Look Back at 2027’s at 14U

<p>June 2023 14U Minnesota basketball players just finished 8th grade and each one was about to start their freshman year's of high school in 3 months. This Prep Hoops NHR State 14U championship game featured a number of top prospects in the 2027 class. Here is a breakdown of what I said back then and where they are now and what to expect for their senior seasons.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozAdRO2xNlo </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'] is a six-foot-seven-inch 2027 guard from Cretin-Derham Hall that played with Team Herro this past summer. Unfortunately Schlagel hurt his knee this summer and currently I don't know his availability for his senior year. Schlagel last summer committed to Nebraska for college and he's been consistently Minnesota's Top 3 prospect in the 2027 class since the first rankings in the fall of 2023. In August of 2023 I wrote Schlagel opens the game up with his shooting ability and keeps defenses honest with slashing. These two traits remained and Schlagel just got better and better at both. Then Schlagel showed advanced footwork and technical skill, and that ability continues to shine as he's aged.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126117' first='Malachi' last='Hill'] is a five-foot-eleven-inch 2027 guard from Totino-Grace and played last summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB where he led them in scoring average per game in 3SSB Circuit events. “Lightning quick first step, has good passing skills and aggressive finisher” is my 2023 write-up. Hill's maturity as a shooter has been his biggest improvement, either from beyond the 3-point arc or hitting shots in the mid-range.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reels/DS2ruNbjqnZ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'] is a six-foot-four-inch 2027 guard from Maple Grove, [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB and is committed to Wisconsin. Ann at this time was just a few months away from playing meaningful minutes at Maple Grove as a freshman displaying ability to shoot from beyond the arc even in pressure situations. Ann always displayed good ability as a defender on the perimeter and a player that could easily mesh with teammates and give his team whatever they needed. Ann has growth over the years with strength and good ability to take whatever a defense gives him. Operating as a secondary ball handler this season at Maple Grove we could get a glimpse into Ann being the primary ball handler and scorer.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTKNe_6rowo&t=16s </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126466' first='Kobby' last='Sambrew'] is a six-foot-six-inch 2027 forward from Prior Lake and played with [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Goring this past summer and is committed to UMD. Sambrew, another guy who was just shy of his freshman year, made an impact on Varsity because Sambrew is a consistent interior defender and can move on the perimeter that uses his length well. Sambrew over the years has developed more and more in his game and showed with Fury Goring to be a very effective four man scoring double figures consistently and showing range on his shot.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2052332' first='Trey' last='Theis'] is a six-foot-seven-inch 2027 forward from Prior Lake, [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Zurn and is committed to play college basketball at Minot State. Theis at a young age displayed advanced glue player ability passing the ball, defending, and being a connective tissue for a team. Theis showed he could play the stretch four position early and can operate well at the elbow. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126113' first='AJ' last='Taban'] is a six-foot-six-inch 2027 forward from Totino-Grace and [program_tooltip program_id='2451994' first='Elevate' last='Skills Development']. Taban has garnered himself a number of D3 offers this summer and has come along very nicely as a prospect since he was an 8th grader. Taban displayed a long reach and soft hands which carried over as he grew and developed, especially his perimeter shooting ability. Taban does a little bit of everything on the floor, offensively and defensively and is certainly a player that raises your team's floor.</p>    <p><br></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Jaylen Hynes is a six-foot-three-inch 2027 Totino-Grace guard that played with [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] P32 this past summer. Hynes as an 8th grader played a little of Varsity at Minneapolis South and in the summer of 2023 he showed he was an aggressive slasher that was an accurate outside shooter. In the State Tournament last spring Hynes displayed he still has that spot-up shooting ability and made a number of 3-pointers for Totino-Grace in their run at the 3A State Title. Hynes displays ability as secondary ball handler and has good passing vision.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'] is a six-foot-four-inch 2027 wing that transferred recently to We Are United, a prep school in Missouri, and he played with them for AAU this past summer after being with [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'] for a number of years. Thomas as an 8th grader showed potential as an attack guard with good athletic ability and by the time Thomas was ending his freshman year at DeLaSalle he was one of the toughest guards to keep out of the paint. This past state tournament Thomas was still consistently getting into the paint, scoring at the rim and making plays happen for The Islanders being one of their most important offensive players.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] is six-foot-three-inch 2027 point guard from Chaska and finished up his AAU basketball life playing with [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB. Forrest committed to South Dakota State recently. In 2023 I called Forrest the top incoming Freshman in Minnesota and Forrest was coming off starting at Chaska his entire 8th grade year. At his young age Forrest showed advanced vision as a passer and was already a plus defender with his instincts and athletic lateral ability. Forrest last season at Chaska showed up big for the Hawks, increasing his scoring average by eight points, and was the leader of their Class 4A State Title team.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cYUDDfx6x9I </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126458' first='Luke' last='Schroeder'] is a six-foot-three-inch 2027 Shakopee guard that played with Hoop Habits UAA. In 2023 Schroeder showed great ability as a 3-point shooter despite in 2023 being only five-foot-nine-inches. Schroeder's role then for Team Tyus was to spread the floor and he played well off the ball, and Schroeder has grown figuratively and literally over the years. As a lead attack guard Schroeder's deep shooting ability continued while he could handle the ball more and finish more consistently at the rim. Schroeder is committed to Concordia St. Paul.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126450' first='Gavin' last='Walter'] is a six-foot-four-inch 2027 guard from Champlin Park and Hoop Habits UAA that was committed to the University of Northern Iowa but after a coaching change Walter has reopened his recruitment. Then and now Walter showed good court awareness and an ability to shoot from beyond the arc. Walter ever since that summer had good size for guard, could handle the ball enough, is a solid passer and range on his shot.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126442' first='Bennett' last='Cizadlo'] is a six-foot-six-inch 2027 wing from Maple Grove and played with [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Zurn. Cizadlo then was already six-foot-four, and getting on the rim and had guard skills as a forward. Cizadlo displayed solid mechanics with his jump shot and as he's mature Cizadlo has improved and become more accurate as a shooter. Cizadlo is committed to Concordia St. Paul.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126455' first='Peyton' last='Gholson'] is a six-foot-two-inch 2027 guard from Rosemount and Hoop Habits UAA. Gholson at the time showcased himself as a solid secondary ball handler and had range on his shot which both have developed making a lead ball handler and good perimeter shooter. Gholson leads Rosemount in scoring and assists, and is their floor leader.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2113031' first='Eli' last='Herzog'] is a six-foot-one-inch 2027 Chaska guard and Hoop Habits UAA guard. Herzog displayed ability as a team defender at a young age and developed over a couple seasons playing significant minutes on Varsity for Chaska. Herzog plays well off the ball and with Hoop Habits this summer displayed an ability to attack from the perimeter while also being a high level 3-pointer shooter after hitting a high percentage for the Hawks. Herzog has D3 offer from Hamline.</p>

June 2023 14U Minnesota basketball players just finished 8th grade and each one was about to start their freshman year's of high school in 3 months. This Prep Hoops NHR State 14U championship game featured a number of top prospects in the 2027 class. Here is a breakdown of what I said back then and where they are now and what to expect for their senior seasons.