The scholastic live period has officially begun. With the NCAA cutting down the evaluation period that D-I coaches can observe high school prospects to one weekend (May 15-17) in 2026, the scholastic live period is paramount to high school players' recruiting in today's transfer portal era. While many states go with a more traditional approach by hosting high school team events, the state of Minnesota joined forces with North Dakota and South Dakota for an individual event, and the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase was born.
MBCA Chairman Tom Critchley and his staff brought together the top 110 or so players from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and the Dakotas under one roof at the state-of-the-art, brand new White Bear Lake Gymnasium. Drills got the event going by Catalyst Training and former Wisconsin forward/overseas pro Jared Berggren, followed by a night of live action that had players fighting for scholarships with D-I coaches littered throughout the baselines.
In the free-flowing format, there were a number of players who helped themselves in the eyes of college coaches, but here are six in particular who stood out to us on opening night of the MBCA Showcase:
Packed house of college coaches at MBCA pic.twitter.com/Y11MgvcWuY
— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) June 13, 2026
Ahmed Nur, 6'9", SF, Hopkins HS (Minn.), 2027
Fresh off of winning MVP at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp and picking up eight big-time offers (SMU, Providence, Georgia Tech, Alabama, UNLV, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, Florida State) in the last 24 hours, Ahmed Nur made the journey back to Minneapolis and put on a show at the MBCA Showcase.
The versatile wing utilized his height (nearly 6-foot-10) to shoot over smaller defenders, created space with his snatch crossover on his pull-up, and converted in the paint with his length. Ahmed locked up his spot as the top 2027 prospect in Minnesota (where I have had him for years) and is approaching five-star status nationally.
Khaliq Austin, 6'4", PG/SG, Bismarck HS (North Dak.), 2028
There may not have been a more electric half of basketball at the MBCA Showcase than that of Khaliq Austin in the first half of the opening game Friday night. He poured in an effortless 19 points in the first (5 3-pointers) while playing out of position (he is a natural lead guard).
Austin's ability to finish with creativity, play on or off the ball, and shoot it consistently from three made him the best combo guard the event had to offer on day one. Holding D-I offers from programs in the Dakotas, many more are expected to join the party by the conclusion of MBCA.
Vincent Cronin, 6'7", SF/PF, Edina HS (Minn.), 2027
Constantly expanding his game, Vincent Cronin proved why he's one of the most unique players in Minnesota's 2027 class. The freak athlete can do virtually any dunk imaginable, is gaining consistency as a 3-point shooter, and truly embraces playing through contact.
Cronin has been rapidly picking up mid-major offers and will see his recruitment explode this summer due to his ability to impact the game in so many ways.
Kobby Sambrew, 6'6", SF, Prior Lake HS (Minn.), 2027
The ultimate competitor, Kobby Sambrew, brought it on both ends every possession at the MBCA Showcase. He stepped up to guard Ahmed Nur, finished through contact in the paint, and constantly put pressure on the defense with his explosive straight-line drives.
Already holding D-2 offers, Sambrew made the most of his opportunity in front of D-I coaches on Friday night.
Gus McKenna, 6'8", SF/PF, Pequot Lakes HS (Minn.), 2028
One of the more interesting names in Minnesota's 2028 class, Gus McKenna, has had an absolutely outstanding spring and carried over that momentum to the MBCA Showcase. The stretch forward displayed his effortless range from the 3-point line, moved with grace on the perimeter, and utilized his length to make an impact on the defensive end.
Still flying under the radar, McKenna's 14-point, 10-rebound outing against the state's top prospect (Ahmed Nur) proved that he can hold his own with anyone in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Matthew Johnson, 6'4", SG, St. Louis Park HS (Minn.), 2027
Coming off an outstanding high school season, Matthew Johnson has been one of the hottest names in Minnesota's 2027 class and showed why at the MBCA Showcase. The lanky guard was super smooth with his drives to the rim, was a willing shooter from 3-point range, and surprised me with his ability to facilitate for others.
Having picked up an offer from Wyoming in the past two weeks, Johnson certainly helped himself with his play Friday evening in White Bear Lake.
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