NHR 15U State: Most Active Wings

<p>NHR State brings teams and programs from all over the state of Minnesota for an opportunity to compete for the label of the best team in the state. There were tons of talented players in the gym at this tournament, and this article focuses on the talented wings that were competing at the 15U level.</p> <p><strong>Waylon</strong> <strong>Erlandson</strong>- 6’2" wing/guard- D1MN Prospects/Edina</p> <p>Waylon showed off this weekend. He came up clutch in the 15U championship game with a great drive and finish out of a left-to-right crossover. However, Waylon can do more than just score off the dribble. He moves really well without the ball as he does a good job of doing things like flashing to the high post or relocating to the corner to get himself open. He clearly has a good feel for the game and has been taught the fundamentals of the game. His jumper has good touch too. His release is quick and he gets good arc on his shot from deep. His next step is to grow more comfortable with playing in pick-and-roll situations since that is such a big part of today’s game, both in high school and higher levels. His skill level is already very good and it will only get better, making him an interesting scoring wing to keep an eye on.</p> <p><strong>Kyan Blomquist</strong>- 6’3" wing- Minnesota Rush/Becker</p> <p>Kyan has the frame of a linebacker or a tight end, but he’s got the skill level to go along with it. His end-to-end speed is what caught my eye first as he had multiple scores where he’d rebound the ball then he simply beat the other team down the floor to the rim. His strength allows him to take hits and bumps without being pushed off his path as well as finish through contact. His strength and speed allow him to be a versatile defender as he can defend forwards in the post or move his feet on the perimeter against faster guards. Kyan will benefit greatly in developing more comfort in his outside shot so that he can force defenders to step out on him.</p> <p><strong>Carrson Schweim</strong>- 6’2" wing- MN Fury Muir/Mankato East</p> <p>Carrson is a wing that can flat-out shoot the ball. He always had his feet and hands ready on the flight of the ball and he has a smooth motion that allows him to get his shot up quickly. He consistently knocked down multiple threes in each of the games I watched. He moves well without the ball, as good shooters do, and he’s a willing passer when his shot is taken away from him. On the opposite side of the ball, Carrson was consistent. He plays without fouling and moves his feet well to take away driving lanes. I want to see him develop his mid-range jumper as he already has great mechanics and it will provide him with another shot to score the ball.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1438524" first="Mason" last="Neitzel"] </strong>- 6’1" wing- MN Select McCoulough/Mayer Lutheran</p> <p>Mason has a crafty playstyle. He showed that he can shoot the ball both on the catch or off the dribble. He had multiple attacks off of ball screens that were efficient and quick. I liked how confident he was in his ability to score the ball. On the other end, Mason is really good off the ball. He does a good job of stunting on drives in the gap and his hands are always active. He’s strong for his size so he can hold a box out and go grab a rebound when his team needs him to. His next step is to improve his touch around the rim so that he can add some diversity to his scoring skillset.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288816" first="Dawson" last="Bunke"]</strong>- 6’5" wing/forward- MN Select Altenhofen/Rushford-Peterson</p> <p>Dawson is a pretty unique prospect. He’s got great size and is a very mobile player that showed how comfortable he is playing on the perimeter. He has a jump shot that is so mechanically sound. He has a high release point, good balance, and a pretty arc. He shoots the ball at a really high clip off the catch and it’s so hard to contest thanks to his size. He showed that he can step inside and post up for scores as well. On defense, his length helps him alter shots and keep opponents in front. I want him to work on his ability to handle the ball since he’s got good mobility and a good jumper. If he can add a handle and be more comfortable playing like a guard, he could be an exciting prospect to watch out for.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>