Spring Open Period Preview – 2021 Center

<p>The 17u seniors-to-be.  It’s their time, regardless if they can take the court this spring or not.  College coaches, we ask that you please check the video available to you and get to learn what they players can do. </p> <p>Today we give you our list of centers college coaches should know, in Minnesota’s junior class.  Players that would be competing on 17u teams with some of the best teams on several different circuits. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Attention High Major Programs!</strong></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"]</b> – a 7’0 center from Minnehaha Academy and Grassroots Sizzle</p> <p>Comparison –  Think Joel Pryzbilla as a high school shot blocker and then mix in some Tayshaun Prince skill/frame and there you have one of the top two prospects in the entire nation for this senior class.  </p> <p>Why Chet Over Others? Heard of him at all?  At this point Chet would be picked above ALL others in high school basketball’s 2021 class. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Attention D1 &amp; D2 Programs!</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774868" first="Chance" last="Fazio"]</strong> – a 6’11 center from Fergus Falls and West Central United. </p> <p>Comparison –  Chance actually looks like Brock Bertram but his game is closer to where James Streeter was in high school before James moved on to walk-on and then play at the D1 level. </p> <p>Why Chance Over Others? The progress that Fazio has made in the last twelve months has been fun to watch live and in some video.  A huge frame with a nice touch.  </p> <p><strong>Francis Nwaokorie</strong> – a 6’7 center from Champlin Park and Minnesota Fury </p> <p>Comparison –  Francis has parts of his game that are low post crafty, low post balanced, low post touch of [player_tooltip player_id="846104" first="Dain" last="Dainja"].  And he also has some of the Odell Wilson type of game too.  And if you add together the Dain and Odell height and average them out you have Francis so it works! </p> <p>Why Francis Over Others? Some of the best low post footwork and hands in this class, Francis is seemingly always on balance getting to his turn with a pysical score. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"]</strong> – a 6’8 center from Duluth East </p> <p>Comparison –  In looking at the video (only a bit available to me) I thought Jim Warmack of East Grand Forks in the past, some Peter Kruize too (big from St. Peter). </p> <p>Why Noah Over Others? Noah was so steady this year for a good Duluth East team.  So solid.  Drew attention from the rest of the time and opened so much up.  A really strong season. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>On That Scholarship Radar</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774732" first="Riley" last="Mahlman"] (6’9) of Lakeville South.  Riley would be a D1 basketball prospect if he wanted to be but he’s a highly rated football player headed to Wisconsin.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774843" first="Andrew" last="Nerud"] (6’9) of New Prague. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957202" first="Tristan" last="Pekula"] (6’7) of Royalton. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="957201" first="Liam" last="Sytsma"] (6’8) of Pelican Rapids. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="774757" first="Bastian" last="Swinney"](6’7) of Edina. One of the top 50 players nationally at his position in football, several high major offers with crystal ball picks to Cal. </p>