Minnesota high school boys basketball: Meet the top forwards

See the top forwards in the 2023-24 season in Minnesota high school boys basketball

Author:
Jack Butler, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 14, 2024 1:27 PM EST

Minnesota high school boys basketball is full of talent in the 2023-2024 season, and SBLive is highlighting the top players by position group.

We posted the guards last week, and now we look at the top players in the frontcourt.

MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES

The following athletes will be included in our "Who is the top forward in Minnesota high school boys basketball?" poll to be posted later today. Our lists and polls are intended to be fun and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned.

Benilde-St Margaret's vs DeLaSalle Dec20-22 Jon Namyst62

Zavier Hayes, senior, Richfield

Richfield coach CJ Armstrong called Hayes’ position “The Glue.” Hayes can play positions one through four, and he’s averaging 16 points per game, eight rebounds, seven assists and one steal.

“We wouldn't be as successful without his presence,” Armstrong said. “He makes others better and his teammates look to him and up to him. He is my coach on the floor, so I often expect more even when he's doing it all.”

Isaiah Johnson, senior, Totino-Grace

Johnson is signed to play at the Miami (FL), and she’s shown why this season by averaging 19 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game on the defending Class 3A state champions.

Dylan Zimmerman, senior, Moorhead

Earlier this season, Zimmerman surpassed the 1,000-point mark to become just the 14th Spud basketball player of all time to reach this mark. He is averaging 19.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and he is shooting 38 percent from 3-point range.

“Dylan has provided a consistent scoring threat for our team all year long surpassing the double-digit mark in 17 of 19 games,” coach Matt Ellingson said.

Jack Robison, senior, Lakeville North

Robison is a University of Wisconsin-Madison signee. He is on the Mr. Basketball watch list, and he is a top 150 recruit in the class of 2024, according to 247sports.com. Robison is averaging 24.2 points per game, 5.4 rebounds on 53 percent field goal shooting.

“He is an outstanding two-way player who can score in a variety of ways and typically guards our opponents top player,” Lakeville North coach John Oxton said. “Jack is a great leader in our program, on and off the court.”

Colton Benson, senior, New Ulm

Benson is a prolific scorer, and he has had games of 40, 41, 46 and 47 points over the last two seasons. He is our school’s all-time scoring leader by a wide and widening margin. Dennis will play ball next season at MSU-Mankato. He is averaging 27.3 points per game this season.

“Colton is a special player that can take over a game at any time,” New Ulm head coach Matt Dennis said. “He is too strong to be guarded by most guards and quick and shifty to be guarded by a big man. He makes our team go. He is a big reason why we have won our conference in back-to-back seasons with a chance to do it again.”

Jackson McAndrew, senior, Wayzata

One of the top players in the country, McAndrew led Wayzata to a Class 4A title last season, where he scored 25 points in the title game. He is currently averaging 23.2 points per game this season.

McAndrew is a 6-foot-9 forward who has a silky shot, and he can put the ball on the floor. He is committed to Creighton.

Jonathan Mekonnen, senior, Eastview

Mekonnen is an explosive athlete for the Lightning. Last season, he led them to the Class 4A semifinal, where he had 19 points. He’s averaging 20 points per game this season, according to stats submitted to MNbasketballhub.com. Mekonnen is committed to Colorado State.

Tyler Wagner, junior, Totino-Grace

Wagner is a solid piece for a Totino-Grace team that is full of talent. He’s averaging 11.7 points per game. He has offers from North Dakota and Bryant.

Koi Perich, senior, Esko

A star on the football team, Perich is also a playmaker on the hardwood. He’s averaging 21.0 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game. Perich is signed to play football at the University of Minnesota.

“Koi is one of the fiercest competitors we have ever had,” Esko coach Derek Anderson said. “He has a unique blend of athleticism and strength that make him a tremendous basketball player. He will be our school's all time leading scorer because of these attributes.”

Dothan Ijadimbola, sophomore, Totino-Grace

Ijadimbola is one of the top sophomores in the country. He’s got offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota and Oklahoma. He’s averaging 13.2 points per game, according to stats submitted to MNbasketballhub.com.

Jalen Wilson, junior, Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Wilson is a smooth, 6-foot-7 forward averaging 20.5 points per game for the Red Knights. He scored a season-high 43 points in a game against Eden Prairie. He has an offer from Nebraska.

Henry Tschetter, senior, Stewartville

Tschetter is a leader on an 18-3 Stewartville squad looking to reach the Class 3A. He’s averaging 18 points per game, according to stats submitted to MNbasketballhub.com. Tschetter is a 1,000 career point scorer, and he’s been a starter for three straight seasons.

Sam Hondl, junior, Albany

Hondl helped lead the way for Albany’s Class 2A title last season. He scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win over Minnehaha Academy, and he scored 14 points with nine rebounds in the semifinal win over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

Jaxon Strinmoen, senior, Spring Grove

The 6-foot-5 senior is a threat to score over 20 points every game he plays. He helped Spring Grove to the Class 1A semifinals, where he scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists.

Drew Werkman, senior, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton

Werkman is now the leader of the defending Class 1A champion. He recently scored 33 points in a win over Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey. Werkman can operate from multiple places on the floor. He hit four 3-pointers in the win. He averaged 16.6 points per game in the state tournament last season.

Chiang Ring, senior, Park Center

Ring is a force in the middle of the paint for Park Center. At 6-foot-8, Ring brings a presence most teams don’t have. He’s averaging 17.5 points per game on 60 percent shooting. He is also rebounding 9.2 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game.

He is the best shot blocker in the state,” Park Center assistant coach Trent Witz said. “He has been the anchor in our defense. He protects the rim at an elite level. He has had 10 games where he has had over seven blocks this season. He is such a special talent because he has the ability to protect the rim and then play the perimeter and be a great 3 point shooter.”

Grayson Grove, senior, Alexandria Area

Grove almost led Alexandria to the Class 3A state championship. He scored 21 in the semifinal loss to Totino-Grace, and in the quarterfinal win over Mankato East he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Grove is signed to play at the University of Minnesota.

Chase Thompson, junior, Alexandria Area

Thompson has missed some time this season, but in his first game back he scored 31 points with seven rebounds and five assists. Thompson is the top rated recruit in Minnesota in the class of 2025, according to 247sports.com. He has an offer from the University of Nebraska.

Brady Wooley, junior, Orono

Wooley is also a top junior. He has offers from North Dakota and Yale. He’s currently averaging 14.3 points per game, according to stats submitted to MNbasketballhub.com.

Alex Lester, junior, Nevis

Lester scored 20 points in the Class 1A state quarterfinal last season, and he grabbed 10 rebounds. Lester impacts every game he plays in as Nevis hopes to reach the state tournament again.

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- Jack Butler | butler@scorebooklive.com | @Butler917