Meg Vang Invitational Standouts Pt. 2

<p>The Meg Vang invitational took place last weekend at Forest Lake High School, and Prep Hoops was in attendance to catch two days worth of action. With some of the state’s top talents and programs in attendance, these are seven names who stood out.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957623" first="Kaden" last="Doram"] (6’2 2021 W, Sizzle-Caldwell 17u)- </strong>Having to play in the post for a Sizzle team without a true big man, Kaden wasn’t able to use his slashing ability from the wing to put up numbers offensively. However, his defensive efforts are what earn him a spot on this list. In the two games I caught, Kaden had to match up against four potential D1 prospects in the 2022 class, giving up about half a foot in height to all of them. Kaden did a great job at contesting everything in the paint to make every shot difficult, he took multiple charges, and used his athleticism to compete for rebounds over size. One sequence that stood out saw Kaden contest a jumper, grab the defensive board, go coast-to-coast to finish, and then hustle back and take a charge on the defensive end. An explosive athlete who gives constant effort on the defensive end.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958360" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] (6’5 2022 W, MN Fury-Wilde 16u)- </strong>When Mekhi got aggressive and decided to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, there wasn’t much opponents could do to stop him. The powerful wing prospect proved to be too strong around the hoop, powering through contact and finishing over length to put up some solid scoring numbers. In a win over Sizzle-Caldwell 17u, Mekhi further impressed by knocking down a trio of three point shots in the second half, and if he can continue to stretch the floor like that, it’ll only further elevate his stock as a prospect.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957156" first="Austin" last="Klug"] (6’4 2021 SG, Minnesota Warriors)- </strong>I’m now seeing Klug listed at 6’4, and the long and poised guard put on a clinic with his jumpshot in the one and a half games I caught of his. Playing with his Caledonia team in the tournament, we got a glimpse of what his role will be this winter. Austin was lighting teams up with his outside shot, both off the dribble and running off screens with his hands ready to catch and shoot. Klug was hitting from well beyond the arc, and that range opened up his ability to get by his man and pull-up from 15 feet. If he continues to play like he did in these games, him and [player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"] will form one of the most dangerous duos in the state.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850715" first="BJ" last="Omot"] (6’6 2022 W, D1 Minnesota 16u)- </strong>The upside for BJ has always been there, and this summer it’s started to turn into consistent production. Defensively BJ ranks among the state’s elite, swatting shots off the backboard, moving his feet on the perimeter, and showcasing his versatility guarding nearly every spot on the floor. Offensively BJ has the length and athleticism to finish over defenders around the rim, or pull-up off one or two dribbles from mid-range and hit at a consistent rate. Add in his smooth stroke from beyond the arc, and he’s a player that D1 coaches will be keeping on their radar.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957131" first="Cal" last="Greene"] (6’6 2021 W, MN Fury-Zurn 17u)- </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957131" first="Cal" last="Greene"] continues to show why he’s a top-20 ranked prospect in the 2021 class, with a strong 6’6 frame and impressive athleticism for a player his size. In a win for Fury he threw down two powerful dunks on the baseline, cutting hard to beat his man and receiving the pass before elevating. Outside of that Cal was able to overpower the smaller wing defenders guarding him, elevating for easy finishes around the rim. Cal was one of the biggest stockrisers last winter, and has now been putting up strong performances for a team filled with scholarship talent.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850721" first="Benard" last="Omooria"] (6’1 2022 PG, D1 MN Prospects 17u)- </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850721" first="Benard" last="Omooria"] has been excelling in his role with D1 Minnesota Prospects’ 17u squad running the offense with poise and making defenders pay for giving him too much space from the perimeter. In a game against Sizzle UAA, Omooria knocked down a handful of threes off the catch, and showed off solid elevation on his pull-up from mid-range. Add in an impressive block on the defensive end, and it was a solid night for the Osseo product.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850737" first="Maddox" last="Alipate"] (6’1 2022 PG, MN Fury-Wilde 16u)- </strong>Against two quality opponents, Maddox excelled in his role as Fury’s floor general. A strong and agile lead guard, Maddox found success penetrating the defense where he was continually able to kick out accurate passes to open shooters or go up and use his body to shield off defenders and finish. As always, Maddox was a vocal leader for his team, and provided constant effort and ball pressure on the defensive end. He won’t always be a big number scorer, but Maddox’s skillset and effort allow him to impact the game in so many ways.</p>