Minnesota Top 250 Expo – The 2022 Preview

<p>The Top 250 Expo is this weekend in Wayzata and the Prep Hoops staff is excited for the event.  Who will be there from the senior class?  We get into that now!</p> <p>One of the best shooters at the event will be [player_tooltip player_id="958678" first="Evan" last="Bearth"] of Park of Cottage Grove.  The 6’4 wing was a key piece for Minnesota Select this season. </p> <p>The Minnesota had a great summer and a key reason for that 31 win run was the play of lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="958810" first="Collin" last="Bonow"] of Lewiston-Altura.  Bonow is a steady orchestrator.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958742" first="Terrence" last="Brown"]. The Columbia Heights ball handler.  The Beyond Ball playmaker. The guy that must have a deal with Fresh Coast Hoops as he’s got a new video out every month.  See him again this weekend!</p> <p>Southwest Christian combo forward [player_tooltip player_id="1143876" first="Nick" last="Burke"] had a great year with WOTN.  He scored as a three, he scored as a four, and at Wayzata he will likely score from all over the floor. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850729" first="Muja" last="Burton"] is a steady, consistent performer for Columbia Heights who has been putting up double digit numbers for three years.  Now it’s his turn to headline the Expo. </p> <p>A player who had a fantastic summer is [player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"], the Minnesota Heat/Minneapolis North 6’5 do it all wing.  Butler was seen playing four different spots this summer!</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="960335" first="Liam" last="Carney"]’s first impression was made at the Expo some time back when he was handling and scoring for his team.  That continued with Heat Grow all 17u season. </p> <p>Another do it all player at the event will be [player_tooltip player_id="958847" first="Leroy" last="Fairbanks IV"] from Cass Lake-Bena.  He’s an all state candidate, previously all state honored player that can play with his back to the basket or face up and attack.  </p> <p>One of the most explosive players at the Expo will be [player_tooltip player_id="958675" first="Hakeem" last="Ford"] from Minneapolis Southwest.  Ford is 6’6 and coming off a 17u year where we really started to see him develop.  </p> <p>This event will be a great chance to see what Two Harbors big number producing guard [player_tooltip player_id="962237" first="Trent" last="Gomez"] can do on a big stage.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958650" first="Jon" last="Haakenson"]’s last dozen months of basketball has been impressive.  He took Maple Grove to the state semis and was one of the best defenders in 17u over the four month period. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="958666" first="Donnavin" last="Hinsz"].  The 6’6 Hinsz will be one of the more explosive players at the event.  Hinsz of course has the size but he’s also a strong defender with his lateral steps, he boards, and Hinsz finishes at a high percentage.  Top prospect for the Columbia Heights Hylanders this winter. </p> <p>Want shooters?  That’s [player_tooltip player_id="1143875" first="Gabe" last="Jobe"] from Edina.  Jobe scored 20 a game for Edina last season and the 5’10 rifleman is ready for another big run. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850712" first="Malcolm" last="Jones"] might be the best center I’ve ever seen get this under recruited at this point in the year.  This is a 20/10 big school producer with skill and feel.  The Prior Lake big was more productive than his brother was at this time of his career and his brother is now at Iowa State!  Call this kid if you need size! </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="850734" first="Cohen" last="Kellogg"] is one of the several good Orono guards and wings that could make for a fun winter for Barry Wohler.  Kellogg has a deep handle and a nice perimeter touch plus he plays with intensity.  </p> <p>An up and coming big?  Let’s go with Stephen Kresti of Spring Lake Park.  He had a really nice 17u year and should have a much bigger role this winter. </p> <p>This event is a great chance for college coaches to get a look at the great improvements that Carrington and [player_tooltip player_id="958693" first="Carmello" last="McNeal"] have made to their games over the summer.  I was very impressed with how they played on and off the ball, how they defended full and half court, and how they scored for Gain Elite.  </p> <p>Entering the season, [player_tooltip player_id="958848" first="Ty" last="Morrison"] looks to be the Preseason Class A Player of the Year.  He’s a versatile 6’5 guard that led his team to state last season.  This weekend at the Expo he will likely show everybody why we expect big things from him. </p> <p>This event will have some of the best senior bigs in the state.  We already talked about [player_tooltip player_id="850712" first="Malcolm" last="Jones"].  Two more that have had D1 offers are 6’9 [player_tooltip player_id="850714" first="Brady" last="Nicholson"] of Chaska and 6’8 [player_tooltip player_id="850704" first="Elvis" last="Nnaji"] of Hopkins.  Nicholson has a big frame with a great touch while Nnaji is physically advanced and plays really hard.  I feel that Nnaji is a high major big and a nationally ranked top 250 player. </p> <p>Speaking of explosive, that’s Park Center forward [player_tooltip player_id="958757" first="Cody" last="Pennebaker"], a 6’5 athletic player that scored 20 a game last year at St. Francis and is a big reason that Park Center enters the season at number one in Class AAAA.  </p> <p>Today [player_tooltip player_id="958669" first="Kenji" last="Scales"] was offered by Sioux Falls.  USF was at everything he did this summer and now the point guard has them watching close.  Could others be watching Scales this weekend at the Expo?  We think so!</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1143877" first="Jamari" last="Walker"] is another guy people are anxious to see. The 6’6 forward works hard on the defensive end and is a double-double guy from Park of Cottage Grove.</p>