Elliot Myszkowski Told D1 Prospects to 'Trust Yourself' and Young Ballers Everywhere Need to Hear It

Alright, listen up, because while we're always bleeding green and blue here in the Emerald City, sometimes a story from elsewhere just hits different, and this one's all about heart and grind. We're talking high school hoops, folks, and the summer is absolutely CRUCIAL for these athletes to grow. Whether it's camps or showcases, the top varsity ballers in southeastern Minnesota aren't slowing down, not for a second, even when school's out. And recently, some serious talent from that area put their skills on full display at the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase, a totally legit NCAA-approved Division I Scholastic Event. Out of 126 invited participants at White Bear Lake Area High School on June 12-13, a solid nine players hailed from southeastern Minnesota. That's big time! These kids went out there, in front of Division I, II, III, NAIA, and junior college coaches, playing five-on-five and three-on-three games. Talk about pressure, right?

The Minnesota Nine Who Stood Up

Let's dive into who these players are, because they're making waves. Incoming seniors Elliot Myszkowski from Mayo, Gavyn Lorenson from Lake City, Nick Taylor from Lanesboro, Will Thiemann from Triton, and Tate Goergen from Southland were all there. Plus, juniors Alex Loos from Goodhue and Grant King from Caledonia, Brooks Reichtzigel from Cannon Falls, and even sophomore Dexter Simmons from Stewartville. These guys, coming from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, were showing off everything they've got. Myszkowski, a 6-foot point guard, had a killer 2025-26 season, helping Mayo snag their first Big Nine Conference title since way back in 2000, and their first playoff win since 2020. That's a legacy builder, and he's an All-Conference player! His former Mayo teammates, Isaac Peterson and Reggie Parker, even hit up the event last year. Myszkowski said it was a "

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

fun time, and it was good to compete against some of the best guys within a four-hour radius." That kind of competition makes everyone better.

What "Trust Yourself" Really Means

Myszkowski was on Team 6, and yeah, they went 1-3 in the tournament. But you know what? He wasn't sweating the record. He played with coaches from Belle Plaine and Orono who "knew the game" and had experience. And his perspective on being there? He said it "means a lot" to represent Mayo. He knows it's "tough to get a lot of recognition when you live very far south from a lot of really good players who live in the Twin Cities. So, it felt good knowing that I was recognized." How real is that? Alex Loos, who finished as a Class 2A state runner-up with Goodhue in March, played with Reichtzigel on Team 8. Myszkowski and six other southeastern Minnesota players were the sole reps on their rosters, playing against each other. "It was still really fun," Myszkowski said. "We didn't really care how many games we lost. I mean, we just wanted to go out there and compete and have fun." But here's the absolute truth bomb he dropped, and every single young athlete, no matter the sport, needs to internalize this: "You have to trust yourself. You can't buy in the 'who's getting this and who's getting that,' and you have to follow your own journey, because there's a lot of guys there who have D-2 offers, and some who have D-1 offers, and when it's you going up against them, and you know you're not getting any of that, you have to just be oblivious to it, and trust yourself and play your game." He's been through this before, even doing the Prep Hoops Freshman Showcase a few years back. That's the kind of raw, honest talk that makes you a winner, no matter the score. These showcases are monumental for building skills, confidence, and getting eyes on these talented kids. What's next for these players? More grind, more growth, and continuing to trust their own journey. That's the real win right there.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.