I went to see Bloomington Jefferson vs Benilde last night, some observations:
Freitag: Very impressive athlete, strong, can shoot it, good handle, good passer. Can score with both hands. He also spent much of the game bitching at his teammates. It was clear that many on his team didn't care for him, and the whole vibe was not good. Granted, he doesn't have a whole lot of talent on his team and it can get frustrating, but there's a way to do it that doesn't tear everyone down. I understand why Johnson has cooled on him. I'd like his talent on the team, but the rest of the package doesn't seem worth it. Maybe Fleck?
Jalen Wilson, Benilde: 24/7 has him as a 4 star , the #1 rated recruit in the MN class of 2025,, and the 16th ranked SG in the country. He's not the most impressive looking athlete, pretty small in the upper body, not a lot of explosive quickness or lift, but he's about 6'7 and does a lot of things well. Very good shooter, handles it well, very hard-nosed, plays hard on defense, and he's a good team guy. They play him more underneath as more of a 4 or 5 on their team, but that's where they need him.
Jaleel Donley, point guard, Benilde: Class of 2025: I think I saw him rated as #5 for that 2025 class in MN. The guy is about 6'1 and has a great handle and really quick. Hard to say about his shot, haven't seen enough, but he can get it off any time he wants. Great crossover move and fun to watch. The thing is, he's probably about 140 lbs, so he'll
have to gain some weight, but the guy can play.
Christian Wiggins, class of 2026: This is a 9th grader, about 6'3, who can really shoot it. He had 6 3pointers in one game this year and has a sweet shot. He also plays really hard on defense and has the type of frame that will put on some weight and muscle.
Former Gopher Damian Johnson is coaching the Benilde team, and I hope the other Johnson is spending some time over there, that's a fun team to watch, with some of the best young talent in the state. And shooters Ben!!