We go team by team and offer up the player that caught our attention the most this past weekend at the Prep Hoops Nationals. And why!
Northstar Titans Bertsch: Norbu Jenpa Norbu Jenpa 6'4" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN . Time for everybody to start chatting on the quality of Norbu Jenpa Norbu Jenpa 6'4" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN . He’s coming off of a 16 and six season at Prior Lake, and Norbu has been productive with whatever 17u he has played with. This weekend it was the Titans, I saw him with a Select team before I believe and with Real Phenom, whomever he’s playing with Norbu has been an active, confident scorer with touch. He scored 21 points a game this past weekend!
Who was watching? I believe I saw Northwestern (MN) and Morningside looking on. Felt like a few D2s maybe went to check on him but not sure I want to throw any program names out there (the domino effect of any D2 information 2025 parents see right now is wild).
Team Warwick : Griffen Goodbary Griffen Goodbary 6'10" | PF Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD . Goodbary is not strong in the core yet but when he gets into a college weight program and spends a couple years working with college trainers, he could really have a bright future. The agility, size at 6’10 and skill level is very strong. He has the type of skill, size and agility that high majors would look at, he is just not physical or strong at this point. But he could be in the future.
Who was watching? Head coaches from South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, St. Thomas and Minnesota all watched plus North Dakota had multiple assistants watching him.
Minnesota Select Koch: Jake Dedominces Jake Dedominces 6'1" | PG Irondale | 2025 State MN . Jake is a player that I think could be a heck of a scorer at the D3 level, and I do not think it would take long for them to find a solid spot in the rotation. He’s a pretty strong guard and his separation into an elbow jumper or 15 footer on the wing is outstanding. Scored 23 a game last year.
Who was watching? I feel like I saw Bethany Lutheran, UW-Superior, UW-Eau Claire, and a few others from D3, plus I saw a couple Northern Sun schools creep over and have a look at the Select Koch team.
North Dakota Phenom: Presley Peraza Presley Peraza 6'6" | PF Kindred | 2025 State ND . PHD offered their doctoral level knowledge about Peraza after the event speaking about his defensive contributions and his ability to do things athletically at 6’6 around the basket. Good athlete that explosively did things the video baseline guys enjoyed.
Who was watching? U of Mary has been there watching as they offered last month.
Minnesota Crossfire: Preston Thielke Preston Thielke 6'2" | CG Champlin Park | 2025 State MN . I try to avoid overdoing it but have to put it out there, Preston Thielke Preston Thielke 6'2" | CG Champlin Park | 2025 State MN is a scholarship kid. I think his ability to handle it for his team, to create for himself, to shoot at the arc as a 40% Club member, and have the toughness to finish at a 50+ percent rate going at the basket, is something only a few players in his class can do. He had a near triple double of 20 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds against ETG, the best players in Nebraska in his class!
Who was watching? Concordia St. Paul of course, they recently offered Preston a scholarship. I feel like I saw U of Mary, UMD, Minnesota State-Mankato, Winona State, Sioux Falls, and Bemidji State all over watching him. That of course could mean they watched his opponents multiple teams and he was there, but I have to believe some of those schools are having Preston Thielke Preston Thielke 6'2" | CG Champlin Park | 2025 State MN chats this week.
Minnesota Heat Academic: Cooper Carlson Cooper Carlson 6'1" | PG Minneapolis Washburn | 2025 State MN . The Washburn guard put up some strong numbers this weekend! Averaged 19 points and eight rebounds a game this past weekend and Carlson is an elite student that at 6’1 can play the shooting guard spot but also competes tougher than many at his spot.
Who was watching? Lots of D3s watching, felt like it was Hamline that caught my eye the most.
