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.
We already took a look at the top 2027 prospects, the best in the class of 2028, and the top overall performers that Battle at the Lakes had to offer earlier this week. Here are a few of the lesser-known players who really helped themselves over the weekend.
Jumair Wright, 6'1, PG, Hoop Habits 16U, 2028
Though he may not be the biggest guy, Jumair Wright was in attack mode every time he had the rock in his hands at Battle at the Lakes. He was a constant scoring threat who could get downhill, excel out of the pick-and-roll, and finish at the rim despite his slender frame. Putting up huge numbers in the Minneapolis City League as a sophomore, he will enter his junior campaign as the favorite to win City League Player of the Year.
Zeke Gilbert, 6'5, SF/PF, D1 Minnesota 16U, 2028
One of the better athletes at the 16U level, Zeke Gilbert showed he could change the dynamic of a game at Prep Hoops. He utilized his long arms on both ends of the court, was an outstanding cutter, and kept plays alive on the offensive glass all weekend long. Making the move to Minnesota power Cretin Derham Hall, Gilbert is one of the more interesting two-way players in the state's rising junior class.
Gus McKenna, 6'8, SF/PF, Minnesota Comets 16U, 2028
One of the fastest-rising players in Minnesota's junior class, Gus McKenna, showed what he could do as an inside/outside threat at the Battle at the Lakes. Against D1 Minnesota, he was able to stretch the defense well beyond the 3-point line, constantly produced at a high rate, and used his height to finish in the paint. Hailing from tiny Pequot Lakes, Minn. (pop. 2,395), McKenna showed that he can play up to the level of competition against the best that the event had to offer.
Kobby Sambrew, 6’5, SG/SF, Minnesota Fury 17U, 2027
A no-nonsense player, Kobby Sambrew simply got it done at Battle at the Lakes. He utilized his size to post smaller defenders, knocked down open 3-pointers, and was a constant threat on the offensive glass. Sambrew's consistent level of production has already firmly placed him on colleges' radars, and he's definitely a name you will be hearing more about.
Eric Bakke, 6'10, C, D1 Minnesota 16U, 2028
Having played JV as a sophomore at Maranatha Christian, Eric Bakke showed the upside you look for in a developmental big at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes. The agile big man was outstanding running the floor, finishing above the rim, and showed that he could be a shot-blocking presence when he got his motor going. There is still a ton of work to do, but the tools are certainly there for Bakke to become an interesting prospect down the line.
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