Youtube is not really the best way to evaluate players.. I realize I have to see them many games before I could give a somewhat educated evaluation. But I looked at some of these kids.
The East Ridge trio of Ben Carlson, Courtney Brown Jr, and Courtney's brother, Kendall.
Zeke Nnaji
Terry Lockett
Dawson Garcia
Tyrell Terry
Jalen Suggs
I have seen enough of Matt Hurt in blurbs to be convinced that he can play.
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, EVEN IF YOUR OPINION DIFFERS!!!! YOU GUYS SEE SO MUCH MORE OF THESE GUYS THAN I DO AS I JUST WATCH A FEW MINUTES OF EACH ON YOUTUBE OR PLACES I CAN FIND VIDEO.
The kid I like the best is Jalen Suggs in the 2020 class... That kid is going to get better and better. I think football will help his strength and court toughness.. Tre Jones had a spectacular game against Suggs' team, I know.. Jones was guarded by other guys besides Suggs, a lot of times, based on what I saw... Jones is so darn consistent and just a great player.. Love that kid as a ballplayer but he is a 2018 Duke commit so I digress.
Suggs can do it all and is good off the bounce and shooting the jumpshot... Like his defensive presence on the perimeter for as young as he is now... Still a LONG LONG way to go and lots of room for growth in his game..
The kid that surprised me most in how much I like him as a player is Zeke Nnaji(2019).. He is REALLY LONG and springy.. He may be listed as a center but what I saw, his game is more of a power forward in the future. Good footwork but again, I just saw highlights. Has gained weight and looks stronger though still very thin looking.. He gets himself square to the bucket and can run the floor like a deer.. Surprised that his shot looks pretty good. Would love him as a Gopher recruit as a 6-8, 6-9 PF.
Ben Carlson(2020) - lots of skill for a big... Saw more on him with the team as I could not find a lot of footage on his highlights, which is actually better for me... Rather see him integrated with the team.. Definitely a good prospect..
Carlson's teammate, Courtney Brown Jr(2019). I did not know what to expect when I saw him on tape. To me, he looks much better facing the basket from the outside. Definitely more a SF type, IMO. Got some size and length but I would like to see him against better competition, nationally, to get a better feel for his game.
Courtney's brother, Kendall, has to be one of the top HS freshmen(2021) in the state of Minnesota.. Got the handles as well as athleticism and a good decision maker for that age. His height may be interesting to watch as he is 6-5 already.. Looks like a wing to me but handles the ball well enough to play PG in HS, anyways. Still pretty early to determine much but offseasons will be big to see where he rises in the charts nationally. Got some serious potential, in just the little I saw.
Dawson Garcia(2020).. An interesting and tall prospect.. Looks like he runs the court well for his size.. I think he is 6-8 or 6-9 and a bit over 200 pounds. Prior Lake maybe?? Based on the video I saw, I think he likes to play outside more than inside.. One of the things he will need to work on is that he "shows the ball" a bit too much when he shoots outside. If he keeps that up to college, he will get the ball swatted out of his hand.. He got away with it on tape because of inferior competition. Did not like the quality of competition on tape so I would have to see him against better kids. A lefthander. Mind you, he is a sophomore so he has a long ways to go...One to keep an eye on.
Terry Lockett(2020).. Has a smooth shot.. Needs to get stronger but again, really really young.. If he shares the genes with the other Locketts, should be a very good one.
Tyrell Terry(2019) - This kid is a good player and may be one of those late developers that comes on to play above players ranked ahead of him.. Solid PG.. Good defender and has good court vision and sense.. Assists from Terry to Kalscheur is probably going to be called out FREQUENTLY by game announcers the rest of the year.
THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY TALENTED PROSPECTS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND I DO HOPE WE CAN KEEP THE BEST SO THEY PLAY IN GOPHER UNIFORMS. Again, I wish I was in the Cities as I would spend a ton of time in HS gyms to watch these kids. The short videos I have seen of these kids tells me the state has a lot of good kids coming down the pike.. many I did not see or list, as well.
The East Ridge trio of Ben Carlson, Courtney Brown Jr, and Courtney's brother, Kendall.
Zeke Nnaji
Terry Lockett
Dawson Garcia
Tyrell Terry
Jalen Suggs
I have seen enough of Matt Hurt in blurbs to be convinced that he can play.
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, EVEN IF YOUR OPINION DIFFERS!!!! YOU GUYS SEE SO MUCH MORE OF THESE GUYS THAN I DO AS I JUST WATCH A FEW MINUTES OF EACH ON YOUTUBE OR PLACES I CAN FIND VIDEO.
The kid I like the best is Jalen Suggs in the 2020 class... That kid is going to get better and better. I think football will help his strength and court toughness.. Tre Jones had a spectacular game against Suggs' team, I know.. Jones was guarded by other guys besides Suggs, a lot of times, based on what I saw... Jones is so darn consistent and just a great player.. Love that kid as a ballplayer but he is a 2018 Duke commit so I digress.
Suggs can do it all and is good off the bounce and shooting the jumpshot... Like his defensive presence on the perimeter for as young as he is now... Still a LONG LONG way to go and lots of room for growth in his game..
The kid that surprised me most in how much I like him as a player is Zeke Nnaji(2019).. He is REALLY LONG and springy.. He may be listed as a center but what I saw, his game is more of a power forward in the future. Good footwork but again, I just saw highlights. Has gained weight and looks stronger though still very thin looking.. He gets himself square to the bucket and can run the floor like a deer.. Surprised that his shot looks pretty good. Would love him as a Gopher recruit as a 6-8, 6-9 PF.
Ben Carlson(2020) - lots of skill for a big... Saw more on him with the team as I could not find a lot of footage on his highlights, which is actually better for me... Rather see him integrated with the team.. Definitely a good prospect..
Carlson's teammate, Courtney Brown Jr(2019). I did not know what to expect when I saw him on tape. To me, he looks much better facing the basket from the outside. Definitely more a SF type, IMO. Got some size and length but I would like to see him against better competition, nationally, to get a better feel for his game.
Courtney's brother, Kendall, has to be one of the top HS freshmen(2021) in the state of Minnesota.. Got the handles as well as athleticism and a good decision maker for that age. His height may be interesting to watch as he is 6-5 already.. Looks like a wing to me but handles the ball well enough to play PG in HS, anyways. Still pretty early to determine much but offseasons will be big to see where he rises in the charts nationally. Got some serious potential, in just the little I saw.
Dawson Garcia(2020).. An interesting and tall prospect.. Looks like he runs the court well for his size.. I think he is 6-8 or 6-9 and a bit over 200 pounds. Prior Lake maybe?? Based on the video I saw, I think he likes to play outside more than inside.. One of the things he will need to work on is that he "shows the ball" a bit too much when he shoots outside. If he keeps that up to college, he will get the ball swatted out of his hand.. He got away with it on tape because of inferior competition. Did not like the quality of competition on tape so I would have to see him against better kids. A lefthander. Mind you, he is a sophomore so he has a long ways to go...One to keep an eye on.
Terry Lockett(2020).. Has a smooth shot.. Needs to get stronger but again, really really young.. If he shares the genes with the other Locketts, should be a very good one.
Tyrell Terry(2019) - This kid is a good player and may be one of those late developers that comes on to play above players ranked ahead of him.. Solid PG.. Good defender and has good court vision and sense.. Assists from Terry to Kalscheur is probably going to be called out FREQUENTLY by game announcers the rest of the year.
THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY TALENTED PROSPECTS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND I DO HOPE WE CAN KEEP THE BEST SO THEY PLAY IN GOPHER UNIFORMS. Again, I wish I was in the Cities as I would spend a ton of time in HS gyms to watch these kids. The short videos I have seen of these kids tells me the state has a lot of good kids coming down the pike.. many I did not see or list, as well.
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