What’s happening Ballislife fam? I simply wished to offer a fast introduction of myself, as I’m the most recent member to affix the Ballislife editorial workforce. My title is Rodger Bohn and I’ve been masking basketball full time for the previous 17 years. I’ve carried out work with Rivals.com, DraftExpress, and am nonetheless contributing at SLAM. I additionally personal and function an NCAA Licensed Scouting Service and seek the advice of with three NBA groups.
I used to be the assistant director of Ohio Basketball Membership (previously Cleveland Basketball Membership) for 5 years on the Adidas circuit and this system nonetheless has produced extra NBA gamers than anybody within the state of Ohio. I’ve born and raised in Cleveland (have it tatted throughout my physique), however the journey that’s the sport of basketball has taken me to numerous cool spots {that a} poor child from CLE would have by no means imagined going. I hung out dwelling in North Carolina (all all through Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), Norfolk, and Houston (working for John Lucas). My newest cease in life is Minneapolis.
Amidst the insane climate and flight chaos that we had on this nation, I used to be one of many casualties. After masking the Tarkanian Basic in Las Vegas, I had plans of capturing to Atlanta and Chicago to cowl just a few different highschool video games. Sadly, that didn’t work out and I needed to reroute all of my journey to easily make it again to Minneapolis for Christmas. Moreover, I hoped to make it to South Carolina for submit Christmas occasions, however flight cancellations didn’t make it worthwhile for me to actually simply roll down for a day or two.
That being stated, this introductory piece goes to be on a number of the native Minnesota expertise that I’ve seen over the previous three weeks. January goes be a fairly loopy journey month for me, so I’m undoubtedly going to have rather more on the nationwide degree for Bilateral readers transferring ahead.
Listed below are just a few of the highest guys who I’ve seen in Minnesota submit Christmas:
Casmir “Money” Chavis, 6’3, PG, Park Heart HS (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), 2024
The main scorer (20 factors per sport) for the very best workforce within the state, Chavis has been getting it carried out way over his workforce’s official 5-0 report displays. His squad has high quality wins over each Minnesota Prep and West Oaks Academy (FL) of the Grind Session, however video games needed to be counted as “exhibitions” attributable to Minnesota state guidelines. Chavis, who was the main scorer for J-Sizzle 17U on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, is a lockdown on ball defender who’s an elite finisher and regularly growing playmaker. Sitting at No. 48 within the newest Ballislife FAB 50 nationwide rankings, Chavis and Co. are the favorites to repeat as state champions in Minnesota.
Nolan Winter, 6’10, PF, Lakeville North HS (Minn.), 2023
The state’s finest jumbo sized shooter, Winter is producing at a excessive degree for Lakeville North and his workforce’s success has adopted. The Wisconsin recruit is averaging 19.7 factors and 12.3 rebounds per sport for a 6-1 workforce that has solely misplaced to the state’s prime ranked workforce (Park Heart). The prototypical new age ahead, Winter makes use of his dimension in opposition to smaller defenders on the block, but additionally has the athleticism and agility to blow by slower defenders on the perimeter. Nolan will not be carried out rising but both, as his father (Trevor) is a real 7-footer who performed for the Timberwolves again within the day himself.
Jayden Moore, 6’0, PG, Hopkins HS (Minnetonka, Minn.), 2026
In the event you’ve adopted any semblance of center faculty basketball over the previous few years, you’re in all probability aware of Moore. He’s been enjoying varsity for one among Minnesota’s most storied packages since seventh grade. He additionally performed up two years for J Sizzle (Jalen Suggs’ AAU workforce) on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. An excellent heady PG, Moore can be a dynamic scorer, dropping 34 factors, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds within the Augsburg Vacation Basic. He already holds a West Virginia provide, has an excellent change of tempo, and has made himself a extra versatile guard with an improved jumper. Moore is sitting on the prime of Minnesota’s 2026 class and that doesn’t seem like altering anytime quickly.
Anthony Smith III, 6’1, combo guard, Hopkins HS (Minnetonka, Minn.), 2025
One of many extra improved guys within the state of Minnesota, Smith III is certifying himself as critical D1 prospect. He dropped 34 factors (together with 7 three pointers), six assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals on the Augsburg Vacation Basic. The D1 Minnesota product (performs on Adidas 3SSB circuit) is a critical shooter with no scarcity of confidence. Proudly owning a suggestion from George Mason, Smith is a man who could possibly be including a lot extra as soon as faculty coaches see the expansion in his sport throughout the dwell interval in April.
Jack Janicki, 6’5, SG, White Bear Lake HS (Minn.), 2023
Janicki may legitimately be the very best division one stroll on in America. Turning down greater than a dozen D1 affords, Janicki opted to go to Wisconsin as a most well-liked stroll on, and has the potential to play there straight away. The lefty capturing guard is exceptionally artful, scores the ball at a excessive fee with a restricted quantity of dribbles, and throws defenders off together with his change of tempo. He’s a fiery competitor who confirmed that he may maintain his personal on the nationwide degree operating with D1 Minnesota on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, and is trending to do the identical factor within the Large Ten at Wisconsin.
C.J. O’Hara, 6’4, SG, Park Heart HS (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), 2023
One of the versatile defenders within the state, O’Hara is the defensive catalyst for undefeated Park Heart. O’Hara proved himself to be a respectable D1 prospect together with his play in opposition to each West Oaks (FL) and Minnesota Prep, however has continued within the state highschool season by posting 20 factors per sport. The mixture of productiveness and defensive versatility that he affords make him the state’s finest unsigned perimeter participant within the class of 2023.
Kyle Jorgensen, 6’9, C, Minneapolis Washburn (Minneapolis, Minn.), 2024
Arguably the very best participant within the Minneapolis Metropolis League, Jorgensn is just having a monster begin to his junior season, posting 24 factors and 14 rebounds per evening. The expert large man has excellent footwork on the block, can step out and shoot it from three, and makes use of his body to complete via contact. Nonetheless below the radar, Jorgensen is beginning to appeal to curiosity from D1 packages all through the Midwest.