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by Ryan James
The BREAKDOWN
(updated 3/6/2008)
This year's Minnesota class of freshman has really excited several people in the basketball world. There is a solid group of 2011 players who are bringing game on a nightly basis and its happening at several different levels.
Bloomington Jefferson point guard Marcus Alipate is the 3rd leading scorer at 8.4 a game for the Jaguars and he didn't start playing varsity until late January. Since that point Jefferson has won eight of their last 13 contests and they had started the year out at .500. Marcus has put up double figure numbers five times but its his ball-handling abilities as the point guard that has been so crucial.
Apple Valley also has a freshman who has been tearing it up on the floor and he didn't get the varsity go ahead until the second week of January. That player's name is Tom Schalk, and Tom scored 15.3 points per game in his first eight varsity contests. Those numbers include a 25-point performance against Rosemount.
Then there's three year Orono veteran guard Jordan Smith who is leading the Wright County Conference in scoring as a frosh with 17 points a contest. Jordan has been in double figures all but two games of the season and he produced a career high 30 in a win over Glencoe-Silver Lake.
Hopkins forward Marvin Singleton (pictured) is getting minutes with the top team in state because at 6-foot-4 Marvin is already a physical presence. He's putting up 7.5 points a game for the Royals and he's produced double figures seven times.
Mayer Lutheran has a 6-foot-5 forward named Jake White who has really had an impressive freshman campaign. He's put up 11.5 points per contest along with six rebounds a game. And last week Holy Family got a real good look at White who put up a career high 27 points with 12 boards.
Here are 12 young players who have stuck out as freshman this year.
- Marcus Alipate Bloomington Jefferson
- Shelby Moats Waconia
- Kyle Noreen Minnesota Transitions
- Cole Olstad Plainview-Elgin-Millville
- Jameson Parson Eagan
- Tom Schalk Apple Valley
- Marvin Singleton Hopkins
- Jordan Smith Orono
- Ben Thiry Braham
- Estan Tyler St. Paul Johnson
- Jake White Mayer Lutheran
- Freddie Young Brooklyn Center
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