Scouting Hopkins Royals Boys Basketball Prospects
Reviewing prospects from the Hopkins Royals Boys team after their first game against White Bear Lake in the win
Hopkins Royals (1-0)
Hopkins beat White Bear Lake 83-66 in their season-opening game on the road. Bringing in some impact transfers and an Elite carryover in talent, there’s a lot of positives to mention. I watched only the first half, but that was sufficient enough to evaluate the players.
Tre Moore (2028) 6’0” Point Guard
Moore is the #1 ranked 2028 quarterback in Minnesota. His on-ball defense was high-level with beyond elite lateral movement and reaction time, where he beats the ball-handler to their spot and turns them into a retreat or into plan B. I’m fair to say he could be one of the best pressure defenders and point guard defenders I’ve seen for a young guard. If he puts a little more size and meat to his frame, he could blossom into a special defender that could match with the best point guards in the country that possess size and explosiveness. He collected 5 steals and made things difficult for the offense.
Jayden Moore (2026) 6’0” Point Guard (University of North Dakota signee)
Jayden, the brother of Tre, is also a dual football and basketball stud. One of the top passing and scoring playmakers in the state, finished 19 points and 9 assists. White Bear Lake played a 2-3 zone with their speed, quickness, and skill disadvantage at the guard spots. Moore picked the zone apart with some beautiful passes, zipping them in the holes in the defense and soft touch passes in spaces that led to buckets. Did his normal bucket-getting using his blow-by ability to stop and pop. Finished in transition and from three. Jayden is Hopkins’ most important offensive player and the engine.
Ahmed Nur (2027) 6’9” Wing
Division I offers from West Virginia University, Arizona State University.
Nur looks different than his peers on the court in his length. Your eye is forcibly drawn into him and his presence. The nationally-ranked prospect was locked in defensively, sitting in an obvious stance and alert on positioning and ball and man awareness. It almost looked overly exaggerated, but it also led to 8 blocks and 1 steal. Needs to become more polished with finishing offensive opportunities, but his vertical, bounce, and hang-time looked special and frightening given he’s 6’9”. Will be one of the top shot- blockers in the state, and he’s off to a good start with 8.
Xavier Frelix (2026) 6’2” Guard
Offers from Concordia University St. Paul, Augsburg University, University of Sioux Falls, Minot State University
Frelix is a transfer in for his Senior year playing opting to play for a powerhouse program and top team. A offensive-favored player that is more skilled than athletic and explosive. An elite feel for the game, vision, passing and a knockdown shooter that can make jumpers in all facets of the skill. Very lethal shooter and extreme range which makes Hopkins a tough cover with Jayden Moore being able to create off the drive and find shooters. Frelix has top 3, and most likely the top catch and shoot knockdown and range in Minnesota from the teams and players I’ve seen in the state.
Anthony Byrd (2026) 6’8” Big
The transfer from Cooper High School, Byrd may be the X-factor and a highly-valued piece to the Hopkins season and success. He had a productive game 1 with a double-double scoring 18 points and grabbing an even 10 boards. Showed really good hands catching high-velocity passes and smoothly got the ball off the glass for finishes.
Kyree Nelson (2026) 6’4” Wing
Kyree is a transfer from Chicago, Illinois. Good positional frame with some athleticism to him. Scored 6 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals, so he was active and a productive asset off the bench. Entered the game in the first quarter, so looks to be an early rotation guy going forward. Very good and sound defender that looks to limit defensive lapses or getting beat by his matchup in general.
Eddie Walker (2027) 6’5” Forward
Walker was busy on the boards off the bench with 9 total rebounds with his attacking style and football build and demeanor. Moved around and played on the perimeter along with his activity in the paint. Crashed hard from the wing and created havoc as the ball went up. Flies around the court defensively, closing out hard and leaping to make a play on the pass. High effort, energy, and muscle off the bench.