The Minnesota Expo - the Senior Stock Risers

You won't come across many basketball events where individual focus is the main item but I think we all understand that is what an Expo really is. You need to play well within the team structure but eyes are on the individual as opposed to teams that are pick-up teams for a day. So who really took a monster step forward in my eyes this weekend? Here are those names!    After watching Willie closely this weekend, he's even better than I thought. And I was pretty high on him from his previous 12 months of work. I've always thought he would make a great D3 lead guard for a really good D3 but man, in addition to that, I could see an NAIA offer coming his way for sure. And I would say there are about ten to fifteen kids that will still commit to D2s, most of them on partials, Moore is a guy I would consider for that. There are about 7-8 PGs that I think I would be higher on Moore than at this point that are listed above him.     I was very impressed with how well Knox moved at 6'6. And what I mean is, laterally Knox is very fluid, he is quick off his feet to finish and board, Donjae runs really well, and he is does that in a strong frame. That is the first part in being a guy that I think should fly up our charts, and on the white boards that are in the offices of many coaching staffs. The next part is seeing that movement lead to consistent numbers. We saw that this weekend, seeing it in fall league and next winter will be big. And if that happens, I think he could be a top spring signee (assuming somebody doesn't step in in the next month).     This young man has a college sports future in something. I don't know how good he is for the North Polars football team but I have to believe he helps them in some way. Believe he plays end or receiver and I look at him and think edge rusher. On the court, he looks to be every bit as physically advantaged compared to others that a 6'4 strong and athletic guy can be. This is a top 100 prospect in his class at least and maybe a top 75 prospect.     This night be the stock riser of the event. When I tell you that I think this young man could help a D2 team someday, I am not kidding you. Maybe it would take some time at a different school first, or maybe it will just take this winter, I am not sure. But what I can tell you is that all that work ethic and smart play we saw with [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'], that was there this weekend and joined by a physical, aggressive, and explosively athletic competitor. Do not be surprised to see the slashing finishing of Duis close to that top 50 soon, Logan has grown in a lot of ways over the summer and into the fall.     At 6'7 with a hard charging aggressive approach, DePoint lands in the category of a guy that I could see get a serious up-tick in his recruitment, and get a massive rankings boost. I don't have a mental tape measure but he looks easily 6'6 and maybe 6'7 like listed here. Scored a dozen a game last year at AHA and if he rebounds, attacks off ball, and shows the skills that we saw this weekend, DePoint will be a player recruited at a much higher rate than people expected.     Eddie had a good previous 12 months playing with Big Lake and the [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans']. A solid player. But this weekend at the Expo I think we saw a little bit more. Reinert physically did things we haven't seen before in the way he rebounded, defended, went to the rim, and just moved as an athlete. He looks a bit bigger and stronger, and more fluid with the ball. Closer to a top 100 prospect in this class than top 200.     When we talk rankings boost, Markus will be in the top few when it comes to guys flying from one spot to the next. At 6'5/6'6, agile and aggressive, this is a double double guy that could also be a very good defender. Markus led Osseo in rebounding last year and if he plays to his potential he will do that, and being of the top scorers on the team this winter.     And finally [player_tooltip player_id='2569252' first='Langston' last='Huffman']. He will be the biggest stock booster at the event as this is a top 75 area player in his class if not higher. In fairness, Huffman was never supposed to be ranked so low, that was an oversight. But an oversight that gave us a chance to look closer at the incredibly precise way he plays with the basketball. The court reads and decisions made from Huffman leading to high percentage success as a guard is really eye opening. He might be one of the higher percentage guards out there that scores 20+ ppg .

You won't come across many basketball events where individual focus is the main item but I think we all understand that is what an Expo really is. You need to play well within the team structure but eyes are on the individual as opposed to teams that are pick-up teams for a day. So who really took a monster step forward in my eyes this weekend? Here are those names!