Jack’s Week 7 Weekend Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the seven prospects that impressed me this past weekend in Week 7! I caught Faribault at Maple Grove on Friday, as well as Orono vs Rochester Mayo and Chanhassen vs Westonka on Saturday at the West Metro Clash in Waconia! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1579885"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb1229"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nolan made his Mr. Basketball case even stronger this past weekend, exploding for 43 points in a win over Rochester Mayo. This was his third 40+ point performance this season, as he is averaging over 30 points per game. He is too strong and skilled for defenders to handle, being able to get downhill whenever he wanted. He is always under control on his drives and finishes, possessing great footwork to work around opponents for easy scores. He was also very efficient scoring on the perimeter, connecting on looks from three and in the mid-range. Groves has been on a different level this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617766"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb1287"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keegan caught fire from beyond the arc in a win over Faribault on Friday, breaking the Maple Grove school record for three-pointers in a game, connecting on ten of them. He was making the defense pay for leaving him with the slightest amount of room from the perimeter, pulling up off the dribble and getting looks off quick in the catch-and-shoot. The 2025 guard was pulling up from deep, showing extreme confidence from the first few minutes. Harney finished the game with 32 points, adding to his breakout senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617724"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb12ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">John played a great game in a win over Westonka, totaling a game-high 28 points. I believe that this was also a career-high for the senior wing, as he could not miss on Saturday. He connected on six three-pointers, punishing the defense everytime they helped off of him. He was letting it fly with no hesitation, providing his team with momentum and energy after every make. Schmidt has a strong 6'5” frame and used that to attack the paint hard, converting on some tough finishes around the basket as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2115655"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb1306"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was the first time I had seen Ryan since the summer and it appears that he just continues to improve. He still looks like one of, if not the best rim protector in the state, using his long 6'9” frame to send every shot back that came his way. After a few blocks, opponents stopped trying to get a shot off anywhere in his vicinity. His offensive game still looks pretty raw, but there were many flashes of what it could be. Kreager had a couple nice moves in the post and is a great finisher when he gets around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1760312"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb1340"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Riley was making highlight plays all over the floor in the win over Westonka. Johnson's athleticism has taken a huge step forward this season and it was on full display with a high flying pin block on an opponent in transition and a two-hand throw down in the second half. He was also hitting on shots from beyond the arc, creating looks for himself using the dribble. The Augustana commit also looks very improved as a facilitator, hitting teammates with accurate passes for open shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2417626"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb137b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I saw Will a couple of times during the summer and he was a pleasant surprise in a tough matchup with Orono. The 6'4” wing has a very versatile skill set and brings a lot to the table for any team he is a part of. He is a scrappy defender, flying around the floor making plays. He can handle and create on the perimeter, being able to go to work when putting the ball on the floor. The junior is also a major threat from beyond the arc, knocking down three triples on his way to 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1585944"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678e8d1fb13b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Max has been a scoring machine for Westonka this season, scoring 24 on Saturday to boost his season average to just over 19 points per game. He has been great at scoring from both inside and from the perimeter this year. He did not have his best shooting day from the outside, but the defense still had to be aware. He was using his strong 6'5” frame to work inside, converting on several tough finishes through contact. Kraay also picked up some big blocks protecting the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->