The 17U Spring Stock Raisers

As I glanced through the 17 and Under records I started thinking about top spring stock raisers in Minnesota. Who are they and what have they done? That is today’s article as we grab one from each team and tell you why we think they are a stock raiser.   [player_tooltip player_id="1143876" first="Nick" last="Burke"] of WOTN (Southwest Christian). Why? This young talent can score and score in a lot of ways. I think he’s going to be one of the metro scoring leaders next year based on what I’m seeing. Scored 20 a game last winter, this spring he’s hitting at the arc in a big way plus touching in shots around the cup contested or on the move. [player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"] of Minnesota Heat Grow (Minneapolis North). Why? Remember last spring when we did our own Minnesota Open Period re-watching games from the 2019-20 winter as a spring way to highlight kids? Loved Butler then and love him even more now. The 6-foot-5 lefty has range, agility, good passer, and better ball handler than we knew. Lewis Cargoer of Team Get Shook (Osseo). Why? The Osseo 6-foot-6 forward has used his length and quick lateral steps to provide some of the best defensive efforts I’ve seen this spring. The frame of Cargoer is perfect for a long and active power forward. Potential is bigger than I originally thought. [player_tooltip player_id="958702" first="Buom" last="Jock"] of D1 Minnesota Prospects (Mankato West). Why? Jock isn’t just an explosive athlete on the wing, for the D1 Minnesota Prospects he’s been an explosive 6-foot-5 athlete that is using his athletic ability to make constant effort plays. It’s not just attacking, floating, and scoring, Jock has been using that ability to chase down consistency. [player_tooltip player_id="1071191" first="Kabine" last="Kaba"] of Gain Elite (Park Center). Why? My best way to explain how Kaba is playing is by saying he is doing things that we’ve seen [player_tooltip player_id="927793" first="Ariel" last="Bland"] do in the past, for Gain Elite. Just a constant around the rim using his quick jump to board, contest, block, touch in shots, and finish. The 6’6/6’7 forward will go to a prep next year and then I think we could hear some big things. [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"] of Howard Pulley (Columbia Heights). Why? When we talk to people about what they saw watching the Panthers they talk about two things: the ability of Holloman of course and the absolute competitive fight of [player_tooltip player_id="958648" first="Hassan" last="Kamara"]. We saw it last summer, this winter, and it’s coming out in bunches this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"] of Minnesota Fury Wilde (Morris Area). Why? This is kind of an obvious choice but for me it needs to be said again. At 6-foot-8 Loge is a player that has more low post skill than most that we’ve seen in a long time. His all around offensive game has us thinking he can certainly play mid-major for sure. [player_tooltip player_id="850731" first="Ayden" last="McDonald"] of Grassroots Sizzle (Hibbing). Why? The two games I watched Sizzle play this year it was McDonald who seemed to take control of the ball and often dictate the movement of a highly successful offense. The 6’3, 6’4 leader has me thinking he has the ability to play at a high level than people think. [player_tooltip player_id="850711" first="Joshua" last="Ola-Joseph"] of D1 Minnesota (Osseo) Why? The motor. We’ve seen so much more motor from Ola-Joseph and with motor comes consistency. The way 6-foot-6 Ola-Joseph is rebounding, competing, and finishing in one of the most athletic bodies in this state has us thinking big things. Mid-major certainty. I think at some point the high-majors will come too. [player_tooltip player_id="958652" first="Makuei" last="Riek"] of Minnesota Heat Mac (Rochester Mayo). Why? One of the surprises of the spring has been the 6-foot-6 shooting/scoring ability of [player_tooltip player_id="958652" first="Makuei" last="Riek"]. He’s shown the type of potential that scholarship programs look for. The confidence ranks with the best. I think there is D1 potential to him. [player_tooltip player_id="958669" first="Kenji" last="Scales"]/[player_tooltip player_id="958715" first="Pharrel" last="Payne"] of Minnesota Select (Eastview/Park of CG). Why? We tried to keep this at one per team but sadly it was tough to pick here. The 6’9 Payne looks to have the low post ability/agility that high majors want from their bigs and 6’1 guard Scales is scoring/shooting in a confident way that should certainly earn him scholarship chances. Tyler Swanson of Minnesota Lightning (Lakeville South). Why? The Lakeville South guard has been hurt so it’s been great to see him playing freely with the Magic leading them to wins in 18 of 21 games. His creative abilities has been essential to what the Lightning are doing each game. Comfortable handle, great vision, scoring in double digits on average. [player_tooltip player_id="958639" first="Johnny" last="Tennyson"] of Minnesota Comets (STMA). Why? I was thinking [player_tooltip player_id="958646" first="Jasper" last="Hedin"] here as well although he was hurt last event I watched so I am going Tennyson and I am happy to do so. Tennyson’s versatility makes him one of the more versatile guards in Minnesota. He handles, knocks down shots, never forces, and it a great passer. Big fan of how the 6-foot-4 guard helps his team run such an efficient offense. [player_tooltip player_id="958681" first="Brayden" last="Williams"] of Rise (Owatonna). Why? Brayden is one of the better guards in the state. Quicker than I though and most certainly the 6-foot-3 Owatonna guard has more creative juice than I was expected. Very quick in and out of his move and great control, his skills are much higher end than I thought. D2 caliber scholarship player.