I know the list came out earlier this month, but since Marshall Bjorklund is on the list i thought i would post it on here.

5 Finalists

Marshall Bjorklund - Sibley East - Going to North Dakota State
Kevin Noreen - Minnesota Tranistions Charter School - Going to Boston College
Trevor Gruis- Ellsworth
Dyami Starks - Duluth East
Jacob Thomas - Columbia Heights


Looks like Noreen is the favorite to win it since he is averaging like 36 points and 16 rebounds a game for Minnesota Transitions.

But Marshall Bjorklund goes to high school where i went and the kid can play ball. He's averaging 25 points and 15 rebounds a game. His footwork is unbelievable and he probably will be a starter for NDSU. Not to mention he brought Sibley East to the High School State Tournament for the first time in a long time so got to get him a shout-out. If it wasn't for the Gophers already having Colton Iverson he would probably be going their to play for Tubby. So if the Sibley East Wolverines advance past the first round in the Tournament you guys should watch him play on tv. If they make it i'll let you know what time so you guys can tell me what you think.

www.maxpreps.com/athletes/PzsSC4KFCU25MF...rshall-bjorklund.htm

I only know a little bit about a couple of these guys.

Did you guys see the StarTrib story on Noreen? Pretty interesting read. It kind of put me off on him.

MN Transitions beat E.C.H.O. Charter 156-33 in 2007. Most of those E.C.H.O. kids didn't get into playing organized basketball until joining the high school team and I'm guessing that's a similar situation with several of the other schools MN Transitions plays. I'm sure Noreen is good, but it's hard to know how good.

I've also seen Gruis, who's heading to play at my alma mater, The University of South Dakota (which is hell of a lot better school than Augustana @ CW). I watched him play No. 1 MACCRAY in the Section 3A finals. He's tall (6-foot-9), but pretty soft. I saw a little guard rip a crucial rebound out of his hands and he seemed to get pushed around more than he should have for being the biggest dude on the court. He did hit some clutch free throws to send Ellsworth to state, but he didn't even look like the most talented player on the court that game.

I'm hoping to be able to watch some of the state tournament and would like to see what the other three finalists have to offer. The kid I'd most like to watch is Apple Valley eighth grader Tyus Jones. It sucks they didn't make the tourney.

Well you guys won't be able to see Marshall Bjorklund play high school basketball as we suffered maybe the worst lost in our high school history losing to braham 60-59 thanks to a ref who decided he should pick who wins the game.

Granted our team gave up a 20 point lead with 6 minutes to go the refs should never decide who wins the game at the end with a phantom foul.

YWG wrote:
USD = Boooooo!!!!!!

I live in Apple Valley and went to see Tyus Jones play a few weeks ago. He's a 13 year old starting on varsity. Holy crap, he's amazing. He reminded me of a younger Rajon Rondo, but with a better shot and worse defense (Rondo is obviously a stud defender.) They are saying he could be one of the best MN Prep ballers ever.

He averaged about 17 points and 9 assists per game this year.

Here's the first article that came up about him on a quick google search:

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ellso006/3101spring2010/2010/03/eighth-grade-basketball-player-from-apple-valley-receives-national-attention.html