Big-School Section Section 1 Top Forwards

Matt Bigelow

October 20, 2020 @ 03:00 PM

It’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top forwards from the big schools in Section 1 [player_tooltip player_id="774763" first="Teyghan" last="Hovland"], Austin Hovland was a predictable breakout candidate this time a year ago and he was good as a junior, helping the Packers claim another Section 1 title. Now he moves up the food chain as something of a go-to guy. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the inside-outside game to cause a lot of problems for people. He’s an athletic slasher who can blow by bigger defenders on the wing, but also the size and toughness to elevate and finish against smaller guys. And his versatility on the defensive end of the floor is perfectly put to use in Austin’s defensive scheme. [player_tooltip player_id="891901" first="Ahjany" last="Lee"], Byron Lee boosted his national profile significantly over the summer playing with D1 Minnesota, and the growth in his game over the last year and a half has been astronomical. He was a solid player for the Bears last year, but to this point in his high school career, the production hasn’t yet matched the potential. He averaged about eight points and nine rebounds last year (plus four blocks) - expect those numbers to jump in a significant way and for Byron to win a bunch of games. [player_tooltip player_id="774771" first="Avery" last="Mast"], Lakeville South Mast broke out last year for the Cougars, averaging 13 points per game and providing strong all-around play. He’s a big, athletic swingman who can create his own shot off the dribble, play off the ball, rebound on both ends and defend at least three positions. If he makes that typical sophomore-to-junior jump, look out. [player_tooltip player_id="1071109" first="Ty" last="Tuckner"], Rochester John Marshall Tuckner was solid as a junior for the Rockets, representing a bright spot on a team that averaged just over 50 points per game. Tuckner is a physical post player who doesn’t back down from a challenge, consistently establishing post position and working to finish. He’s got good footwork and soft touch around the rim, and his defensive awareness is a big positive. [player_tooltip player_id="850718" first="Evan" last="Dushek"], Owatonna Dushek is one of the top forwards in the 2022 class and coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 20 points per game while providing double-doubles on a consistent basis. He’s such a tough player to slow down because he’s multifaceted offensively in his ability to score inside or out. He offensive rebounds, he’s a strong finisher and he’s so efficient. The Huskies have the talent to jump into that contending mix with Lakeville South and Dushek is a big reason why. [player_tooltip player_id="958680" first="Kyle" last="Hrncir"], Farmington Hrncir was excellent as a sophomore, averaging 11 points per game for a Tigers team that won 11 games. He showed over the summer on the grassroots circuit that he’s capable of taking a big step forward and being one of the best players in the South Suburban, as he’s an active, athletic forward who can impact the game in a variety of ways. He’s solid on the inside, finishes at a high rate and can do damage with or without the ball. [player_tooltip player_id="774732" first="Riley" last="Mahlman"], Lakeville South Mahlman sets the tone for a strong Lakeville South defense, as his size and toughness in the paint is critical to the team’s success. He’s a beast on both backboards and his ability to set solid screens frees up his teammates. And when he gets deep paint touches, he finishes at the rim with ease.