Related: Minnehaha Academy Pulls Big Upset over Bronny’s Sierra Canyon at Target Center

But that’s what Holmgren is. So with his NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder (#2 seed in the West right now), in town for a Saturday night matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves (#1 seed in the West), Chet’s high school, Minnehaha Academy held a jersey retirement ceremony for the 21-year-old Minneapolis native.

Entire OKC Thunder organization shows up for Minnehaha Academy retirement ceremony.

I know the Wolves play a big regular season game against the Thunder tomorrow night but it’s hard not to love the support the OKC organization showed for ‘one of us’ Chet Holmgren on tonight. Except Josh Giddey, who they must’ve left back at the hotel to keep an eye on the team’s stuff.

Almost the entire OKC Thunder organization just pulled up to Minnehaha Academy in Minnesota for the high school jersey retirement of Chet Holmgren.

A special night for Chet, Minnehaha, and the entire Minnesota basketball community. pic.twitter.com/HP7i92AvBj

— Joe Doerrer (@jd3hoops) January 20, 2024

For good reason, the basketball world was excited about what 2023 #1 overall pick, Victor Wembenyama, would bring to the NBA this season, as a 7-foot something talent good enough to flip a struggling organization back onto a winning track.

But in the process, they forgot about Chet Holmgren, 2022 #1 overall pick who missed all of last season with injury. He’s been pretty impossible to forget about through 40 games this year. In take-two of Chet Holmgren’s league debut, he’s averaging 17.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and he’s now the betting favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

Chet Holmgren is definitely rookie of the year so far. He brought OKC a whole new dynamic. Crazy co-ordination and feel for the game for his build. Makes shots from everywhere. pic.twitter.com/kZ6y3nF2gI

— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) December 30, 2023

Wemby’s Spurs are in the gutter of the Western Conference while Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have the Thunder fighting with the Wolves near the peak. I love seeing Chet succeed, until tomorrow night and any other time he runs into the Minnesota Timberwolves during his career. In those games, I hope he plays terrible.

Related: Chet Holmgren Named Gatorade National Boys Basketball POY; First Ever From MN

Here is more local and national reaction to Holmgren’s jersey retirement and the support shown by his NBA teammates and the entire Thunder organization.

Very cool moment with ex-@Minnehaha_BBall standout @ChetHolmgren having his jersey retired at his high school tonight. Several @okcthunder teammates were in attendance as well. No surprise Holmgren continues to be a humble young star in the #NBA.@StribSports pic.twitter.com/pMBwvy6g05

— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) January 20, 2024

Congrats to Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren on his jersey retirement at Minnehaha Academy. Great energy in the building. Most of his OKC teammates came to show support. Thunder in town to play the #Timberwolves tomorrow. #Thunder pic.twitter.com/1E07P16Bak

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) January 20, 2024

Related: Are Minnesota Timberwolves on Pace for Best Season in Franchise History?

Chet Holmgren speech from his high school jersey retirement today pic.twitter.com/hYMQ33xg6H

— ChetMuse (@Holmgren_Muse) January 20, 2024

Thunder squad representing at Chet Holmgren’s high school jersey retirement tonight. ⬇️

Last month the team repped at Kenrich Williams’ high school jersey retirement. https://t.co/ypZbQA04oB

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) January 20, 2024

Chet Holmgren is a phenom. I was lucky enough to watch him and Jalen Suggs, just before society walked off a ledge in early 2020, play together vs Bronny Jr at Target Center from media row. I did not realize, at the time, just how special that night was.

Minnehaha Academy won in amazing comeback fashion and that in itself made the event well-worth the price of admission for the 17,000 in attendance. Now, just two years since that memorable night, Jalen Suggs earned 1st or 2nd team All-American honors (depending which voters you ask) while leading Gonzaga to a National Championship game. Oh, and he’s going to be a top-5 pick in what is seen as one of the deepest drafts in NBA history later this summer.

Chet Holmgren Gatorade National Player of the Year

And now, his partner in crime that night, Chet Holmgren, has been named Gatorade Boy’s Basketball National Player of the Year, becoming the first Minnesotan in the award’s history (1985) to earn the honor. Jalen Suggs presented the award to Chet, in surprise Zoom fashion.

The nation's best. @ChetHolmgren pic.twitter.com/20k4LJewed

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) June 9, 2021

A common question when asking about Chet Holmgren is “What can’t he do?” The 7ft. playmaker is dynamic on both ends of the floor and looks to take his talents to Spokane as a Gonzaga Bulldog. Congrats, @ChetHolmgren on winning the 2020-21 National Boys Basketball #GatoradePOY ???? pic.twitter.com/om6DtrZuVq

— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 9, 2021

Chet Holmgren was just named the @Gatorade National Player of the Year ???????? @ChetHolmgren pic.twitter.com/zT8DoqSRaw

— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) June 10, 2021

The 7-foot, 175-pound senior center led the Redhawks to a 20-1 record and the Class AAA state championship this past season. Holmgren averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.4 assists while connecting on 68.2 percent of his field-goal attempts. A McDonald’s All-American Game selection, Holmgren is the 2021 Naismith High School Trophy Player of the Year and the nation’s consensus No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2021. He concluded his prep basketball career with 1,567 points, 964 rebounds and 456 blocked shots.

Gatorade Press Release

Chet is the #1 national boy’s basketball prospect in 2021, according to 247Sports.com, and will follow in Jalen Suggs footsteps to Gonzaga. But there’s no doubt that the state of Minnesota has become a national recruiting hot bed for basketball. Hopefully we can stop sending them elsewhere once it’s time to leave the nest.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Does everyone remember Master P? Yeah, you know me…

If you don’t, you should take this time for a quick hip hop history lesson before we talk about his son, Mercy Miller, who’s a freshman playing varsity basketball at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. I’m not here to disrespect the rap legend that is Master P., but his kid is better at basketball than he was at hip hop.

Not business, though. Master P, the business man, is a genius.

6'4 freshman guard Mercy Miller showed out today! Made some big time plays on his way to 14 points in a win for Minnehaha Academy @mercymiller25

Full game highlights: https://t.co/XHurL3sXfz pic.twitter.com/XowhO4tcRC

— Fresh Coast Hoops (@FreshCoastHoops) February 28, 2021

6’4 2024 guard Mercy Miller put up 16 points in a win for Minnehaha Academy last night! @mercymiller25 pic.twitter.com/reFDqHQ6PZ

— Fresh Coast Hoops (@FreshCoastHoops) March 12, 2021

Ben Johnson offers Mercy Miller

So Mercy still has three full years left of high school so we’ll have a lot of time to watch him and Minnehaha Academy stomp on competition while they win three more Minnesota AAA basketball state championships. But after that, Ben Johnson has already offered him a scholarship to stay home and dawn the Gophers maroon and gold.

Ben said that he was going to start conversations and get to know these home state superstars earlier and more often. So, far he’s following through. The Minnesota offer isn’t Mercy’s first from a power-5 DI program. The Missouri Tigers offered him on April 1. His first DI offer was via Hampton University and he also holds an offer from Tennessee State, where his older brother Hercy will be a freshman in 2021.

The offers will be rolling in from here on out, however. We’ll see how Johnson holds up with the blue bloods on this one.

Blessed to have received an offer from The University of Minnesota. Thanks to Coach, Ben Johnson and the staff for believing in me !!! #Gophers ???????? All Glory to God ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/fOu6kpoe9x

— Mercy Miller (@mercymiller25) April 12, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

You would have thought Target Center was holding a Timberwolves playoff game tonight (lol) or maybe a massive concert for some well-paid superstar, who’s selling millions of records on iTunes. Lines traveled the length of every wall as kids and adults alike, waited to get the best seat possible to watch a… high school basketball game.

But, when Lebron James’ kid comes to Target Center next to a star-studded cast of future NBA hopefuls, weird things happen. When Minnehaha Academy took the Target Center floor tonight, to face off against Sierra Canyon of California, the hardwood was packed with names that we’ll see playing at blue-blood colleges around the country over the next handful of years.

Minnesota. The state of basketball. #ClashofChampions pic.twitter.com/r1Md8t8TYc

— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) January 5, 2020

The crowd was a sight for sore Timberwolves’ fan eyes. In an arena that’s struggled to fill the lower bowl for 15 seasons, it was impossible to think two high school teams could nearly pack the place from wood floor to the painted concrete 100’s of feet above… but that’s exactly what happened. Target Center was the place to be in the Twin Cities on Saturday night.

Nobody left disappointed, either. Minnehaha played one of their best games of the season when lights were the brightest.

Can't decide if it's more fun to watch Chet's block or Jalen's finish?@ChetHolmgren @JalenSuggs2020 @RedhawksAD @ChipotleTweets #ChipotleClashofChampions #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/Sxtedo8rJ5

— Who's Next (@WhosNextHS) January 5, 2020

Gonzaga doesn't have a football team but Jalen could be a D1 QB…?@JalenSuggs2020 @RedhawksAD #UnitedWeZag #ChipotleClashofChampions @ChipotleTweets pic.twitter.com/rQm9kQQuHk

— Who's Next (@WhosNextHS) January 5, 2020

CHET'S NOT SLOWING DOWN☠️@ChetHolmgren @RedhawksAD @ChipotleTweets #ChipotleClashofChampions pic.twitter.com/vfHIP5vdJA

— Who's Next (@WhosNextHS) January 5, 2020

Minnehaha actually took down a stacked Sierra Canyon team that rosters enough 5-star talent to make Duke jealous.

Chet Holmgren was an absolute force down low defensively. He made Sierra Canyon think twice before going down low for the entire game… or at least he should have made them think twice… They clearly never learned their lesson. Chet finished the game with 12 blocks. Yeah, 12 blocks. He finished with 10 rebounds and 7 points to go with it.

Suggs was even more dominant. He went off for 23 points and 12 rebounds. Defensively, he was a handful too, racking up 5 steals to go with his big game, offensively.

In limited playing time, Bronny James finished with just 5 points and 1 rebound. Remember, he’s a Freshman playing on a stacked prep school team out of California. His time will come for Sierra Canyon. Brandon Boston Jr, a 5-star commit to Kentucky, carried most of the load for the CA prep school, with 27 points and 8 boards to go with.

In a game that I thought might be a 20-point victory for Sierra Canyon, which only had 1 loss coming into this game, Minnehaha Academy flipped the script and pulled off a 20-point victory themselves. Impressive.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The main feature for Sierra Canyon isn’t their best player. He’s a freshman with the most famous basketball dad of all time… Lebron James Jr. Bronny James gets a decent amount of playing time on most nights but just like any freshman 15-year-old around the country, he’s inconsistent. Not only that, but he is surrounded by ballers. 

– Recruiting information via 247Sports.com

• Senior (#3) | BJ Boston | 5-Star (.9948) | Committed to Kentucky
• Senior (#23) | Ziaire Williams | 5-Star (.9984) | Committed to Gonzaga
• Soph (#10) | Amari Bailey | 5-Star (.9956) | Undecided
• Senior (#15) | Terren Frank | 4-Star (.9458) | Committed to TCU

So, Sierra Canyon is stacked with talent and they have only lost one game this season. It was earlier this week, when they went down vs another top high school team in the nation, Rancho Christian. But all of that talent certainly won’t go unmatched. Minnehaha Academy isn’t just the most talented team in Minnesota. They are comparable to any of these top teams around the country.

• Senior (#1) | Jalen Suggs | 5-Star (.9968) |Uncommitted
• Junior (#34) | Chet Holmgren | 5-Star (.9989) | Uncommitted
• Soph (#10) | Prince Aligbe | 4-Star (.9813) | Uncommitted

Minnehaha also employs Kaden Johnson, who’s a fine basketball player but even better football player. He is a 4-star in that sport and already committed to play at Wisconsin next year.

This matchup on Saturday night is part of a larger tournament, “The Redhawk Basketball Showcase“, that starts on Friday night at the Minnehaha Academy High School, where both of the teams from Saturday’s matchup will play the other two teams involved, Park Center and The Patrick School.

With all of the excitement surrounding this game, I am happy to say that Minnesota Sports Fan will be there to cover it as credentialed media. Our new high school writer, Ryan Schmidt (@streethistory on Twitter) and I will be both be attending the game, in that fashion! So, become a member to MinnesotaSportsFan.com right below this article and follow both Ryan and myself on Twitter so you don’t miss a moment!

The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Minnehaha Academy features an absolutely stacked front line of Jalen Suggs, Chet Holmgren, Prince Aligbe, Chase Carter, Donovan Smith and 4 Star football player Kaden Johnson, who just signed to play for the Badgers (football) yesterday. 

Suggs is the most well known out of this star-studded cast, as he has Overtime following him since 8th grade and is now covering every game of his Senior year.  The 2020 Senior is the #1 recruit out of Minnesota and #6 nationally, according to ESPN. All six schools he’s narrowed his list down to, are still in the running for his services come 2020.

Holmgren is a 7 foot unicorn that shoots the 3, blocks shots, and runs the floor like a gazelle. He’s been #1 in Minnesota for a while, but recently caught internet fire for crossing Steph Curry and dunking at a UA camp. He is #2 Nationally after last summer made evaluators shoot him up to a 5 Star.

7 footer Chet Holmgren hit Steph Curry with the SAUCE and then dunked it! #SC30Select @ChetHolmgren @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/xjHZxb4bus

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 6, 2019

Aligbe and Carter both have various Division 1 offers, including offers from Minnesota. Aligbe is another high-end recruit on the national scene too. He’s an extremely long, athletic kid, who projects as a good “3 and D” wing. Aligbe is a Top-60 recruit, via 247Sports.

Cretin-Derham Hall features 2022 top-ranked player in Minnesota Trejuan Holloman (according to Future150.com), a pair of 6’6 wing’s in J’vonne Hadley and Amari Carter, and shooter Curtis Jones,

Holloman has played with various Team USA camps in the summer, and when he was a freshman, he showed out at the CP3 camp. Future 150 rates him as a 4-star and he has offers from Minnesota, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Baylor, and Texas.

Hadley transferred from Mahtomedi to CDH for his Senior year. PrepHoops.com ranks him 13th in Minnesota overall. The 12 players ahead of him on PrepHoops.com prospect list have all committed to Division 1 schools. Hadley has offers from Colorado State, South Dakota, and a few other Mid-Major and high majors keeping tabs on him.

Jones has a serious stroke from the outside and could definitely help some up-tempo schools at the next level.

Overall, Cretin-Derham Hall did an excellent job at limiting Minnehaha and turning them over. The Redhawks committed 20 turnovers and they kept Holmgren to just 10 points on 7 shots mostly from tough defense by Hadley. Holmgren manage to make his presence felt on defense though, finishing with what I counted as 4 shots. Two of those were at the rim to deny lay-ups. One spectacular block came early in the first half on a beautiful lead pass by Holloman.

Jalen Suggs did his best to keep the Redhawks in the game and provided nearly half of Minnehaha’s points, scoring 30 in total with 5 made 3’s but he committed 7 turnovers. 16 of the 20 Minnehaha turnovers were steals by CDH, and Holloman secured 6 of those alone, while also providing 17 points and setting the table for the Raiders with a game-high 10 assists.

Ryan Schmidt | Minnesota Sports Fan

When someone says there’s no such thing as over-exposure, they obviously haven’t spent a winter in Minnesota. That saying is false. You over-expose your skin during cold streaks here and mother nature will laugh while said skin loses all feeling, turns black, and falls off.

Fortunately, for my fellow proud — potentially passive-aggressive — Land of 10,000 Lakes’ residents; our state’s recent publicity spike, created by Super Bowl LII, seemed to be immensely positive (no reported skin falling off).

Outside of frigid temperatures and the background checks (or lack thereof) for some security guards, hosting the big game went as smoothly as anyone could have hoped.

When it comes to the publicity arena, Stephen Curry is all the time, what Minnesota was during Super Bowl week. But, not even the most-educated marketing brains could have seen the combination the 2x NBA MVP would rock while visiting America’s greatest state (I’m talking about us, MN) for the country’s largest sporting event.

Butler and KAT All-Star teammate, Steph Curry, on the sidelines representing Minnehaha Academy. Photo found on Instagram… pic.twitter.com/XEqcieqbbH

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 4, 2018

Minnehaha Academy, located in Mendota Heights, had indication that Steph would be sporting the Redhawks apparel well before kickoff. A tweet from the School’s official Twitter account, from just before 4:30 PM CST on Sunday, suggested Curry would be supporting the private, Christian based school.

I spoke with Minnehaha Academy’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Sara Jacobson, on Monday, and she said the school was “proud and pleased to be represented by such a great athlete, on such a national stage.”

Good looking out, Steph. As you can see, Minnehaha Academy appreciates the gesture.

Just think of what we could have been if David Kahn wasn’t such a …. never mind.

But, the question still remained: why was Curry wearing the apparel of Minnesota’s own, Minnehaha Academy, during Sunday’s contest?

The method behind Steph’s clothing madness isn’t quite as intricate as his pregame ritual. The Chef mixed in one of his personal contacts to cook up his unique shoutout to Minnesota. In regards to who exactly Curry’s contact is, with ties to Redhawks? The Mendota Heights-based school is leaving it as it was described in this tweet. Plain and simple: The greatest shooter of all time is good friends with the spouse of a Minnehaha Academy alum.

With the school expanding no further on that realm, neither will I. As of February 5th, 2018, I’m a HUGE Redhawk fan. Their willingness to take time out of what is already the most dreaded work-Monday of the year, in order to talk to the over-caffeinated — Stephen Curry-loving — blogger, sold me.

Hey, Minnehaha Academy – I’m sorry it took this long for me to come around. You can blame the delay on my wonderful mother. For any new moms out there, don’t make the same mistake mine did. For the sake of your child’s future, stay woke:

To show off my new-found support for the Redhawks, it would seem appropriate that I go get myself one of those sweatshirts. If you too want the gear the pros wear, click here: Minnehaha Academy Bookstore Information.

As we saw a few months ago, hoodies that are associated with the State of Minnesota are prone to becoming huge fashion trends. So, get ’em while they’re still available. (Take note: chat with Johnny Minnesota = free plugs for you and your team — My DM’s are open)….. actually, this was an editor’s note. Johnny doesn’t talk in the 3rd person. He’d be cooler if he did, though:

Weeks later, many customers still waiting for Science Museum of Minnesota’s brontosaurus hoodie made popular by “Stranger Things 2.” https://t.co/9gzDdGc3zb pic.twitter.com/1VTKJ1CpGE

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) November 29, 2017

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com