Jaylen Ma’ki Knight
Jared Rainey, 6’1 PG (Minnesota Heat-Nelson) — 2019
A very smart player who pairs his high IQ with a considerable amount of skill. He was easily the best player on the floor during a first round shellacking of Universal Athletics Academy. Rainey was the primary playmaker in that big W, and scored a game-high 20 points while coming away with a slew of assists, too. He’s certainly one of the best players in this tournament.
Carson Schoeller, 6’9 PF (Minnesota Fury-Kaupa) — 2019
His sheer size alone makes him a striking prospect, and at 6’9 he’s able to stretch the floor and can a 3-ball, or he can just dominate smaller opponents in the paint (which he was doing regularly against Iowa Prep Black). The Prior Lake junior told me after the game he has no offers. By summer’s end, that should change.
Luke Paulsen, 6′ PG, (Minnesota Fury-Kaupa) — 2019
Wayzata has themselves a solid junior point guard, and he was flashing some blow-by ability, that paired with his good court-vision made him a big-time playmaker. His defensive instincts were on point during an opening night shellacking of Iowa Prep Black. And he can shoot it, too, Paulsen canned two 3s in that 21 points win.
Zachary Kloos, 6’2 SG (Minnesota Fury-Kaupa) — 2019
Minnesota Fury won their opening game by 21 points and came away with countless steals in the win, Kloos was one of the defensive catalysts for the team in that one. He was turning that defense into offense, and finished with a co-team-high 13 points in that win. He finished athletically and creatively at the rim, and can shoot it, too.
Nate Shikenjanski, 6’1 PG (Minnesota Fury-Kaupa) — 2019
He exploded in the second half of Fury’s opening night win, going for 10 points in the final 20 minutes, and swiping one steal after another. The 6’1 guard went up for a breakaway jam after one of his steals, and was painstakingly close to landing it before it bounced off back-iron. Still, he’s showed some nice lift, and certainly has some next-level athletic ability.
Trevor Boge, 6’4 G/F (Iowa Prep Black 17U) — 2019
This intriguing Iowa wing played on a stacked North Linn squad last season, and may have gotten lost in the shuffle a bit with superstars Jake Hilmer and Ryan Miller leading the charge. But Boge is able to run the show for this Iowa Prep Black unit, and has some nice height and length that allows him to be a playmaker on both sides of the floor. He was shooting it well in an opening night loss to MN Fury, and netted a team-high 12 points for Iowa Prep.
Jaden Hamilton, 6’4 F (North Dakota Attack 16U) — 2019
A true inside/outside threat from a very good North Dakota Attack unit, Hamilton stepped out and hit a 3-ball in the first half of his team’s win over Rip City, and spent the second half using his lengthy and tall frame to score around the rim. He’s long enough to make things difficult for opponents defensively.
Josiah Jordan, 6’3 SF (Minnesota Select-Kock 16U) — 2020
He’s just got a nose for the ball, and was doing a little bit of everything for his squad during a Sweet 16-clinching win over Iowa Prep on Saturday morning. Jordan came away with a slew of blocks and offensive rebounds, using his great length and high motor to make things very difficult for the opponents. He was scoring it, too, and finished that game with a co-team-high 12 points.