The NCAA Live period is nearly upon us. With the evaluation period for college coaches limited to one weekend this spring (May 15-17), there has yet to be an opportunity for unsigned seniors, as well as members of the classes of 2027-2029, to get in front of Division I coaches. In preparation for the live period, several events are taking place throughout the country, and there was nothing better in the upper Midwest than the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes.
Held throughout Minneapolis, the Battle at the Lakes brought teams together from every shoe circuit to create a competitive balance between circuit teams and independent squads. The Minnesota-based company featured over 100 teams in each of the 15U-17U divisions from throughout the region. Ultimately, it was Adidas 3SSB power D1 Minnesota that ran the table, going undefeated in the 16U and 17U age divisions.
Prep Hoops founder Nick Carroll (who doubles as a state champion coach at Twin Cities power Totino-Grace) and his staff assembled an outstanding event that blended names that we wanted to evaluate with new names emerging on the radar.
Having already examined the top performers from the event (which included juniors KJ Wilson and Keller Hertz Barnett), here are some of the other rising juniors who stole the show at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes:
Khaliq Austin, 6’4″, PG/SG, The Pack 16U, 2028
The most heralded player to come out of North Dakota in recent memory, Khaliq Austin, has created a ton of buzz this spring, and it didn’t stop at Battle at the Lakes. While he started off a little slow, Austin showed why he is considered such a special product in his final game with a 37-point, 13-assist, 12-rebound performance.
Austin plays with great pace for a bigger point guard, has effortless range, and is incredible at making reads out of ball screens. Already owning an offer from North Dakota, countless high majors have reached out and stated they will be evaluating Austin during this weekend’s live period.
Jamir Davis, 6’1″, PG, D1 Minnesota 16U, 2028
A player who has consistently improved since the first time I saw him, Jamir Davis, proved to be the perfect backcourt mate to KJ Wilson for D1 Minnesota. Able to play either guard spot if needed, Jamir hit open threes off the ball, was an elite finisher in transition, and showed he could facilitate when used as a primary ball handler.
Toss in the two-way ability he brings to the table, and you see why he will be one of Minnesota’s more interesting names in 2028.
Musunguindiji Mwenentanda, 6’7″, SF/PF, Hoop Habits 16U, 2028
An incredibly productive forward, “Mus” got it done inside and out for Hoop Habits at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes. The long-armed big man was downright insane with his ability to finish with either hand, provided a shot blocking presence at the rim with his length, and showed the ability to shoot threes from the corners with his feet set.
The brother of Golden State Valkyries guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, “Mus,” has the tools to be next up and has the right mentor, being coached by former NBA first-round pick Troy Bell.
Jonas McCreary, 6’7″, SF, D1 Minnesota 16U, 2028
Playing during the high school season for a loaded DeLaSalle squad that reached the state title game, Jonas McCreary showed a lot more on the circuit running with D1 Minnesota.
The swingman is a big-time athlete with solid length, shot the ball well with his feet set, and finished over the top of bigs in the paint. Jonas is still flying a bit under the radar, but is a serious wing prospect who is just scratching the surface of what he could become.
Becker Samaha, 6’9″, PF/C, The Academy 16U, 2028
Having gotten to watch Becker Samaha against the best teams in both Minnesota (D1 Minnesota) and North Dakota (The Pack) at the 16U level, I had the opportunity to see what the Michigan big could do against high-level competition, and he shined.
Samaha possesses a great frame, plays through contact at the rim on both ends, and embraces higher-level competition. It was my first time checking out Samaha, and you could certainly see all of the tools of a prospect to watch who produces at a high rate.
Sully Felberg, 6’8″, PF, Team Warwick 16U, 2028
Considered by some to be the top sophomore in South Dakota, Sully Felberg showed that he belonged with the Upper Midwest’s best 2028 prospects at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes. The big-bodied forward is great at playing through contact, is a ridiculous passer finding cutters from the high post, and shoots it well enough from three.
Felberg is another prospect not many have laid eyes on in person, especially coming out of South Dakota, but he will attract plenty of college programs during the live period.
Editor’s Pick
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