I saw positive comments on the Ivy Sports Board about the two Yale recruits from Minnesota by remember it well who said “Two of Minnesota’s top BB recruits (both from the same HS) have committed to play at Yale. Nolan Groves, Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year, Brady Wooley 3 star 6foot9 forward.” In addition to those two Courtney Wallace received an award as POY by the Pittsburgh Tribune and also by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This is essentially the POY for all of Western Pennsylvania. The PPG article is behind a pay wall but the link from the Tribune is attached below. The school Wallace played for is in the smallest enrollment in the 6 PA classifications, but he averaged a triple double this year. Neighborhood Academy’s Courtney Wallace named 2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Year | Trib HSSN
I didn’t know Brady Wooley committed, thanks for the update!
I read that Wooley committed, but is doing a prep
year.
Wallace will challenge to start as a freshman I think even considering his position. He and mullen/brathwaite will be quite a competition.
Groves will make a run at the 2 as well.
Wooley is an interesting project looking out one year.
Ogunyemi is physically ready tho the front court is crowded next year. He is longer than Townsend but has a similar toolkit and has some twitch. Will be a good apprentice
Looking forward he and celiscar can play together at the 3/4 if we keep them.
Need one to refine an outside shot but both have the capability.
They are elite athletes with size and strength at this level
The rest of the class is solid. I am encouraged tho we lose 2 of the best guards we have ever had.
It seems that next year he is attending a prep program yes. That means that he will be a freshman for the 2026-27 season, with his teammate Groves matriculating next year for 25-26. Might be wrong though.
Groves will make a run at the 2 this year as will Riley fox.
This team has serious young talent for this IL.
Be curious how it all shakes out. I also look for Samson to make a push.
Isn’t Simmons a lock to get most of the
mintues at 2? Or do you think he moves to
3? Nice problems to have.
I would describe Simmons as a small forward. Poulakidas was the shooting guard this past season. Fox seems like the returning replacement for John but great to have some competition for the slot.
Isn’t Braithwaite and Mullen the most likely starting backcourt? They played the most this year at the guard spots (though obviously there wasn’t much time to be had).
Fox will start and Simmons is not a 2.
Brathwaite is terrific.as is mullen
But so are the newcomers. You can play mullen at the 2 against smaller teams also or brathwaite
I watch more aau and hs games and tape than anyone I know. Nolan groves didn’t come to Yale to sit.
Will be some crazy competition.
I see small ball some also with maybe fox and groves and Simmons mixed in. Will be some interesting permutations esp given no power 4 games on calendar.
penciling guys in now is hilarious.
And I am a huge bull on Riley fox. But to do so is to ignore what’s coming and what was lost.
I recommend doing neither. Just did a deep dive last night on some tape in MN from groves aau coach.
wow.
Ps ogunyemi told me he didn’t come to sit either. Having coached against him for 2 yrs…I believe him😂
One add on for posterity… The thing that jumps out on groves is how strong he is.
When you lose an elite pg and go young I like 3 guard sets esp in a conf where lack of size doesn’t burn you.
Fox is also a weight room warrior and has stature.
I see some 3 guard small ball possibilities w Simmons/celiscar and Townsend.
I am a believer in Samson but you can have 4-5 floor spacers with all these pieces and dull the pain of losing a primary ball handler.
We do this often in grassroots bc we have too.
this is reasonable framing. I run programs in GA not MN but from my sources the state wasnt bereft of talent this year. it also shows on tape. i wasnt blown away last summer watching live but that was 2 games.
MN is still making inbounds from a birdie i know also…
Orono’s Nolan Groves was announced as the 2025 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year on Thursday and he will be playing college basketball at Yale next season. It marks 14 straight years that the best high school basketball player in the state will not be staying home to play for the Gophers.
| Year | Player | High School | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Nolan Groves | Orono | Yale |
| 2023-24 | Jackson McAndrew | Wayzata | Creighton |
| 2022-23 | Nolan Winter | Lakeville North | Wisconsin |
| 2021-22 | Trejuan Holloman | Cretin-Derham Hall | Michigan State |
| 2020-21 | Chet Holmgren | Minnehaha Academy | Gonzaga |
| 2019-20 | Jalen Suggs | Minnehaha Academy | Gonzaga |
| 2018-19 | Matthew Hurt | Rochester John Marshall | Duke |
| 2017-18 | Tre Jones | Apple Valley | Duke |
| 2016-17 | Tre Jones | Apple Valley | Duke |
| 2015-16 | Gary Trent Jr. | Apple Valley | Duke |
| 2014-15 | J.T. Gibson | Champlin Park | Omaha |
| 2013-14 | Tyus Jones | Apple Valley | Duke |
| 2012-13 | Tyus Jones | Apple Valley | Duke |
| 2011-12 | Tyus Jones | Apple Valley | Duke |
No one is higher on Groves than me. I selected the USA team for the April 26 Capital Classic and selected him. He has a conflict. He dropped 40 on some big-time players. My comments was who will start on November 7 and not aganst Brown in January and I am also mindful of the fact that James brings in 3 fresh ones after the first tv timeout. My starters are 5 of these 6:
Fox
Celiscar
Simmons
Aletan
Nick
Trevor
No question that Jordan and one of the above and a frosh come in at 15:58. There is also the pg conundrum. Do you have to start Jordan or Trevor at the point? I will back off from Riley will definitely start, but he will see 22 plus mpg.
You fellas are getting me excited for next year. Even without the freshman, that’s a damn good lineup vs a down (as of now) Ivy League. Townsend is the dream Ivy League player in this era.
Look at those commitments, the talent from MN… absolutely amazing to receive Mr. Minnesota HS basketball next year
thanks for the perspective
Wallace is the most underrated recruit in the league. Have you all watched his film? Seems like he was tucked away at a small school in PA, and nobody knew about him. Anyone know how James found this kid? Seems like our next gem
Tucked away in downtown Pittsburgh?? 
Maybe James looks at schools whose mascot is a bulldog?
kid is really good. he is a steal.
as noted above i saw him last summer on the circuit.
even sans groves it is an excellent class.
How did we find him? I read some article where there was a connection to the kid. One of our former players I think?