Success on the field and the hardwood – Part I

Continuing with the multi-sport athlete theme, if you want to follow some of the top football players in the state this winter, check out what these seniors can do on the hardwood. Not just great high school football players, these athletes will be lighting up scoreboards around the state this winter. I will also be highlighting the top football/basketball athletes in the 2023 class in the next handful of days. Basketball rankings are courtesy of prephoops.com. [player_tooltip player_id="49822" first="Trejuan" last="Holloman"] <strong>Cretin Durham Hall DB 1st ranked PG</strong> The Michigan State commit is a stat stuffer at point guard on the basketball court. His quickness and athletic abilities make him just as likely to put up double-digit rebounds or assists as he is points. On the football field, his sideline-to-sideline speed, length, and ability to support the running game are just a few of the traits that make Holloman one of the top defensive backs in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="18423" first="Chase" last="Carter"] <strong>SMB DL 2nd ranked PF</strong> Carter – a Michigan State football commit – can wreck offensive game plans from the defensive end position. Usually demanding a double team, his athletic ability stands out. As he puts more weight on his frame, he should succeed in the Big Ten. The son of Gophers’ basketball legend Randy Carter, Chase averaged six points a game last season on the star-studded Minnehaha Academy squad. I am not sure if Carter is playing basketball this season. [player_tooltip player_id="18425" first="Mekhi" last="Collins"] <strong>Mankato West DB/WR 5th ranked SG</strong> Collins was a deep threat on the outside on one of the top offenses in the state. His length and speed made him next to impossible to cover one-on-one. His size also allows him to be physical off the line of scrimmage and on contested balls. Collins does a little bit of everything on the basketball court. He protects the rim, attacks the rim on offense, and has three-point range with his jump shot. [player_tooltip player_id="116205" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] <strong>South St. Paul ATH 4th ranked PG</strong> Last season, Dodd led or nearly led the Packers’ basketball team in points, rebounds, and assists. Early in the season, he was nearly averaging a triple-double. This season, he is off to an excellent start for the undefeated Packers, averaging 19 points a game. The North Dakota State commit did it all on the football field. He was the team’s biggest threat at receiver, ran a lot of option and Wildcat quarterback, and was a physical ball-hawking defensive back. [player_tooltip player_id="116189" first="Kristen" last="Hoskins"] <strong>Alexandria WR 12th ranked PG</strong> One of the top overall football players in the state, the Minnesota football commit, has been mentioned as one of the fastest players in the Gophers’ recruiting class. He has some of the best feet on a receiver in this class. On the basketball court, he is one of the leading scorers playing in the backcourt for the as of now undefeated Cardinals. [player_tooltip player_id="49819" first="Teigan" last="Martin"] <strong>Mayer Lutheran TE 4th ranked PF</strong> Martin is a physical tight end who not only will block you up, he also has a great set of hands, making one of the best catches of the state playoffs. He is strong enough to rack up pancake blocks but is athletic enough to split out wide and run effective routes. On the court, Martin is a versatile big. He can score in the post and knock down a three-ball. [player_tooltip player_id="116213" first="Puolrah" last="Gong"] <strong>Mankato East WR 12th ranked SF</strong> Gong was an athletic, deep threat on the football field. He just picked up his first basketball offer from Kirkwood Community College and, early in the season, is one of the top scorers on the team. He set the school record for touchdown catches in a season. His speed allows him to get great separation and his length makes fifty fifty balls ever in his favor – sorry for the cheesy Hunger Games reference. His outside shooting makes him tough to defend with a front-court player. His length and athletic ability allow him to get into passing lanes and create havoc on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id="18539" first="Blake" last="Rohrer"] <strong>Woodbury WR 16th ranked SG</strong> Like Gong, Rohrer is a tough match-up on offense. He has the length of a front-court player but the range of a guard. Not just a shooter, Rohrer can get to the rim and find teammates like a point guard. The senior is not only the typical fifty-fifty ball basketball player in football cleats – although he can do that too, he runs crisp routes and can get separation with his speed and footwork. [player_tooltip player_id="49836" first="Justin" last="Wohlers"] <strong>Lake City QB 23rd ranked SF</strong> I feel like a broken record, but Wohlers length and shooting ability make him effective on the inside and the perimeter, both as an offensive and defensive player. He already has a four three-pointer game on his resume, and we are just getting started with the basketball season. Wohlers is a dual-threat quarterback with a big arm. He can push the ball downfield and make things happen when the play breaks down. [player_tooltip player_id="49832" first="Mitchel" last="Jaskowiak"] <strong>Glencoe-Silver Lake RB 22nd ranked PF</strong> Jaskowiak is an excellent one cut-and-go running back. He runs taller than some might like, but that helps with his long-striding style. Just because his center of gravity is not as low as some running backs, the senior is still tough to bring down and has a mean stiff-arm to boot. He is an explosive jumper on the basketball court who has a good transition game. He can score from anywhere on the court. <strong>Best of the rest</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="116188" first="Tony" last="Nelson"] <strong>Tracy-Milroy-Balaton OL 20th ranked C</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="18424" first="Mario" last="Sanders"] <strong>Minneapolis North WR 38th ranked PG</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="18426" first="Haydn" last="Stay"] <strong>Princeton ATH 30th ranked SF</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="18442" first="Drew" last="Berkland"] <strong>Wayzata DB 28th ranked PG</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49841" first="TJ" last="Chiabotti"] <strong>North Woods RB 42nd ranked PG</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49821" first="Spencer" last="Alvarez"] <strong>Columbia Heights TE 25th ranked PF</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="116215" first="Kyle" last="Haas"] <strong>Prior Lake QB 36th ranked PG</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="18435" first="Nick" last="Ojile"] <strong>Spring Lake Park DL 34th ranked SF</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49827" first="Zach" last="Jorgensen"] <strong>Fairmont QB 41st ranked SG</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="22924" first="Jack" last="Behning"] <strong>Lester Prairie WR 40th ranked SF</strong>