Future Stars on Display in Minneapolis

December 25, 2010 | From: Wolves Radio

By John Focke / @WolvesRadio

Coming up on January 8th the MN Timberwolves will be hosting their 15th annual High School Basketball Shootout, featuring the top HS teams from MN, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Jeff Munneke, the Shootout Director, calls this tournament a 'Labor Of Love' and each year works to make sure that basketball junkies from around the state get a chance to see some of the top teams going head to head.

"When we started this many years ago,' said Muneke, 'That's what we said we wanted to do, let's give something back to the basketball community.  With the resources we have we can help bring in these nationally ranked teams or top talent from around the region to play against Minnesota's best. We wanted to see how MN kids matched up with the best from around the country and they have fared very well.  In fact most years the MN teams come out on the top end.  It's not only a chance to see top MN talent but talent from around the region and from around the country.  They (fans) will get to see these kids on ESPN, & Big Ten network next year and eventually some of these kids go on to play in the NBA."

The Timberwolves Shootout has seen players like Kevin Love come through and post 41 pts 17 rebounds and 7 assists (an unofficial record that still stands according to Munneke)

Sebastian Telfair and his team from Abraham Lincoln in New York played here, as did Kings rookie standout Demarcus Cousins who said earlier this year of his memories of playing at Target Center, 'It was cold.'

Cousins played for Leflore HS (Alabama) and his team picked up a 71-55 win over Princeton, MN. Cousins line from that game, 11pt, 9reb and 4 steals, and said of the game "I didn't really have too good of a game, just know it was cold."

In addition to the number of NBA players who have come through the Shootout, a number of big time college players have as well including Kansas standout Josh Selby whose Dematha team fell to Hopkins 73-66 back in 2008.

This year fans will get to see a number of big-time recruits including Josh Oglesby from Cedar Rapids, IA, a Rivals.com 3 star recruit who has committed to play for Iowa next year as well as Ross Travis from Chaska who will be playing at Penn State next season.

For just $10 you get a full day of basketball and a ticket to an upcoming Timberwolves game and as Munneke said 'You can't go to a movie for ten bucks anymore! So for ten bucks, you get to see 4 great games, unbelievable talent, and that includes a Timberwolves ticket...I'm not sure there's a better deal around."

To see the full line up at the Shootout this year, or to get more information log on to www.timberwolves.com