With the boy's basketball season getting underway, the next few Saturdays will be jam packed with tournament action, the first of which will be Breakdown Sport's "Big 12 Classic". This new classic replaces what once was a handful of boy's games during the girl's Tip Off Classic and features six games between 12 of the state's top programs.
All Games At Cretin-Derham Hall High School on December 1st
11:00AM Lakeville North vs. Edina
The day starts off with a couple of AAAA schools matching up. The inside-out duo of Jack Middleton and Jacob Hutson will be Edina's main source of production. They combined for 22 ppg last season, and should take on even larger roles this year. It will be interesting to see who Lakeville North puts on the 6'9 Jacob Hutson down low. Tyler Wahl will be the difference maker for Lakeville North, and his ability to play every position for North will make him virtually match-up proof. Lakeville North comes in as the favorite, but Edina will be no pushover, and have a chance to make an early statement in this matchup.
12:45PM Perham vs. Minnehaha Academy
The second game of the day features two of the Class AA early favorites, with the defending champs Minnehaha Academy taking on Perham. Minnehaha will bring the star power at three different grade levels with junior Jalen Suggs, sophomore Chet Holmgren, and freshman Prince Aligbe. The three combined for 27 ppg last year, but all of them will take on bigger roles with one more year of experience under their belts. The size and athleticism could cause problems for Perham. Perham was a team that went 26-0 in the regular season last year, and returns some talented players of their own. Jenson Beachy will be their go to guy.
2:30PM Prior Lake vs. Park Center
The big storyline of this game will be the dominant big men from both teams, but the game could ultimately be decided by the frontcourts. Prior Lake features the most imposing front line in the state with Robert Jones and Dawson Garcia in the starting lineup. They'll face up against Park Center's stud Dain Dainja, who could very well be the best post in the state regardless of class. Park Center will also run with the experience and athleticism of upperclassmen Tommy Chatman, Khari Broadway, Emmanuel Tamba, and Detavius Frierson. Prior Lake's point guard Sam Nissen could be a big difference maker, with his ability to shoot from distance and feed his posts. This match-up has future State Tournament implications, and should make for a great game.
4:15PM Wayzata vs. Cretin-Derham Hall
Wayzata and CDH face off next in a rematch of last year's State Quarterfinals. Cretin-Derham Hall dominated in last season's matchup, but this year is another story. Wayzata returns a lot of high level talent with both experience and youth. Jacob Beeninga will be the star at point guard, with young talents Camden Heide and Kody Williams also playing important roles. CDH returns loaded with talent as well, but this will be the first regular season game for a team filled with newcomers. Jaeden King is looking like a stud and one of the state's elite scorers for this season. Freshman point guard Trejuan Holloman is looking like a national level talent, but he will be faced off against the experience and skill of senior Jacob Beeninga. Amari Carter, Curtis Jones, and Karsten Broadley will also play roles for CDH. Will CDH be able to rebound after losing a stacked 2018 class? Is Wayzata capable of competing with Hopkins in March? This game could very well answer those questions.
6:00PM East Ridge vs. Hopkins
Likely the premier match-up of the night is East Ridge vs. Hopkins. A traditional powerhouse in Hopkins taking on an East Ridge squad which has progressively built themselves up into a state contender over the past few seasons. Both teams are filled with high level college prospects, so I'll start with East Ridge. East Ridge features likely the best trio in the state with Courtney Brown, Ben Carlson, and Kendall Brown who are all capable of putting up 20 points a night. Kendall Blue, Zach Zebrowski, and Drew Adams are quality role players. Zeke Nnaji and Kerwin Walton will be Hopkins' studs, and will be matched up against Carlson and one of the Brown brothers. Jalen Dearring, Andy Stafford, Dane Zimmer are all scholarship level players as well. Andre Gray off the bench will be relied upon to provide an offensive spark when both teams go to their reserves. The winner of this game will likely take over the state's number 1 ranking, and should go down to the wire.
7:45PM Eden Prairie vs. DeLaSalle
The Big 12 Classic ends with a bang as traditional AAA powerhouse DeLaSalle faces off against Eden Prairie and their loaded class of juniors. The point guard matchup here is intriguing as Tyrell Terry and Drake Dobbs are both Division 1 talents. Tyrell Terry is a do-it-all floor general for DeLaSalle, while Eden Prairie's Drake Dobbs is as tough as nails and can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. The size of Jamison Battle for DeLaSalle against Austin Andrews, Connor Christensen, and Ariel Bland will also be exciting to watch. Both teams feature a combination of star power, depth, and experience that make them state title contenders in their respective classes, and this game will be a great way to cap off an event loaded with talent.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
Team Preview: Breck
After a year that saw Breck finish with a 15-9 regular season record while playing a very competitive schedule, the Mustangs look to regroup and make a strong playoff push in 2018-19. They graduated some key pieces from last years team in Josh Roddy, Eric McDavid, and Jefferson Slocum, but return with a solid group that is ready to compete in the IMAC.
Their key player will be 6'5 forward David Roddy. David is one of the best players in all of Minnesota, and perhaps the most physically imposing. At 6'5 and about 245 pounds, David is nearly unstoppable inside without bringing a double team. Combining with his brute strength is great athleticism and footwork. He can score with his back to the basket, but also take defenders off the dribble using his quickness and ball handling. When he gets around the basket, he is an extremely explosive player who is capable of throwing down monstrous dunks off of two feet. David had a monster junior season which saw him put up a little over 25 ppg despite facing constant double teams. As a senior he'll likely put up similar scoring numbers, if not even greater, while continuing to open up scoring opportunities for his teammates by drawing in help defenders.
Benefiting from the attention David garners will be Joey Ganley. The 6'3 forward returns for his final season after averaging 12 ppg as a junior. Ganley does well to move off the ball when attention drifts to Roddy, allowing him to get a lot of good scoring opportunities. He is a solid athlete who possesses solid length as a 3/4 at the AA level, where he is able to defend multiple positions as well as pull in some rebounds.
Handling the ball for Breck will be sophomore Jaren Morton. At about 5'9, Jaren is a lightning quick guard with a good handle on the ball. He uses his quickness to be a pest on defense, where his active hands create a lot of turnovers and fast break opportunities for his team. As a freshman he was seen as more of a facilitator and role player in the offense, averaging 6.8 ppg. This season he could step up as the third scoring option for the Mustangs, and he'll have the green light to start being more aggressive and use his agility to find his own shot more often. His play with the Howard Pulley organization on coach Ken Maxey's 15u squad gave him a good experience playing alongside a lot of talented players, which will help him transition more easily into the high school season.
Besides those three mentioned, Breck doesn't return much else in terms of experience. Jimmy Koch has the chance to be effective as a freshman. Although he rarely played, he was on the varsity roster as just an 8th grader, which shows the potential and skill he possesses. He played with Howard Pulley's 14u team this past spring/summer. Alex Demaris will be a junior this year, and he brings good size at 6'5. He'll offer a second option to play center outside of David Roddy. Julian Bergerson saw minutes sparingly last season, but the 6'3 junior offers more length to the lineup, and should be a solid contributor this season.
As a first impression, there doesn't seem to be a lot of depth on this year's Breck team. But with a player like David Roddy, there doesn't necessarily need to be. Great players are always known to make others around them better, and David has the ability to do just that. With a few good players surrounding Roddy, this Breck team has a chance to make a good run in the AA playoffs, and potentially be a state ranked team.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 20-6
Predicted Scoring Leaders: David Roddy 28 ppg
Joey Ganley 15 ppg
Jaren Morton 10 ppg
Their key player will be 6'5 forward David Roddy. David is one of the best players in all of Minnesota, and perhaps the most physically imposing. At 6'5 and about 245 pounds, David is nearly unstoppable inside without bringing a double team. Combining with his brute strength is great athleticism and footwork. He can score with his back to the basket, but also take defenders off the dribble using his quickness and ball handling. When he gets around the basket, he is an extremely explosive player who is capable of throwing down monstrous dunks off of two feet. David had a monster junior season which saw him put up a little over 25 ppg despite facing constant double teams. As a senior he'll likely put up similar scoring numbers, if not even greater, while continuing to open up scoring opportunities for his teammates by drawing in help defenders.
Benefiting from the attention David garners will be Joey Ganley. The 6'3 forward returns for his final season after averaging 12 ppg as a junior. Ganley does well to move off the ball when attention drifts to Roddy, allowing him to get a lot of good scoring opportunities. He is a solid athlete who possesses solid length as a 3/4 at the AA level, where he is able to defend multiple positions as well as pull in some rebounds.
Handling the ball for Breck will be sophomore Jaren Morton. At about 5'9, Jaren is a lightning quick guard with a good handle on the ball. He uses his quickness to be a pest on defense, where his active hands create a lot of turnovers and fast break opportunities for his team. As a freshman he was seen as more of a facilitator and role player in the offense, averaging 6.8 ppg. This season he could step up as the third scoring option for the Mustangs, and he'll have the green light to start being more aggressive and use his agility to find his own shot more often. His play with the Howard Pulley organization on coach Ken Maxey's 15u squad gave him a good experience playing alongside a lot of talented players, which will help him transition more easily into the high school season.
Besides those three mentioned, Breck doesn't return much else in terms of experience. Jimmy Koch has the chance to be effective as a freshman. Although he rarely played, he was on the varsity roster as just an 8th grader, which shows the potential and skill he possesses. He played with Howard Pulley's 14u team this past spring/summer. Alex Demaris will be a junior this year, and he brings good size at 6'5. He'll offer a second option to play center outside of David Roddy. Julian Bergerson saw minutes sparingly last season, but the 6'3 junior offers more length to the lineup, and should be a solid contributor this season.
As a first impression, there doesn't seem to be a lot of depth on this year's Breck team. But with a player like David Roddy, there doesn't necessarily need to be. Great players are always known to make others around them better, and David has the ability to do just that. With a few good players surrounding Roddy, this Breck team has a chance to make a good run in the AA playoffs, and potentially be a state ranked team.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 20-6
Predicted Scoring Leaders: David Roddy 28 ppg
Joey Ganley 15 ppg
Jaren Morton 10 ppg
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Wisconsin Week In Review: Week 1
This is the start of a weekly series where I will be highlighting some of the top performances and games in the state of Wisconsin throughout the week. Though the quantity of games wasn't quite there due to Thanksgiving, there were definitely some noteworthy performances.
Feel free to nominate players for recognition in future weeks by tagging @FreshCoastHoops on Twitter, and listing the player's name, school, and stats from their game(s) that week.
(All stats courteous of wissports.net)
Kaleim Taylor (6'3 G Milwaukee Academy of Science)- 31.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg
Feel free to nominate players for recognition in future weeks by tagging @FreshCoastHoops on Twitter, and listing the player's name, school, and stats from their game(s) that week.
(All stats courteous of wissports.net)
All State Team Week 1 (5 players, 1 MVP)
(MVP) Qwan Jackson (5'8 2020 G Milwaukee Lifelong Learning)- 56 ppg
Last year's leading scorer took no time at all to get back into mid-season form, dropping 50+ points in each of his team's first two games. After averaging 42 ppg as a sophomore, Qwan started off the season on Tuesday night scoring 54 points in a 97-56 win over Milwaukee Early View. He continued that hot start on Friday night, leading Lifelong Learning to a 129-41 victory of Kenosha Reuther behind his 58 point game. Qwan made 27 of 38 free throws on the week, and knocked down 9 three pointers.
Last year's leading scorer took no time at all to get back into mid-season form, dropping 50+ points in each of his team's first two games. After averaging 42 ppg as a sophomore, Qwan started off the season on Tuesday night scoring 54 points in a 97-56 win over Milwaukee Early View. He continued that hot start on Friday night, leading Lifelong Learning to a 129-41 victory of Kenosha Reuther behind his 58 point game. Qwan made 27 of 38 free throws on the week, and knocked down 9 three pointers.
Kaleim Taylor (6'3 G Milwaukee Academy of Science)- 31.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg
Kaleim Taylor is on a mission to solidify himself as the best point guard in the state, and he made a statement in the opening week of play. He started up the season leading MAS to a victory Tuesday night behind 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kaleim followed that performance up with 33 points against a talented Homestead squad.
Freeman Jackson (6' 2019 G Green Bay West)- 29.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg
After a solid junior year, Freeman came back firing on all cylinders for Green Bay West. In just 22 minutes against Algoma, Freeman went off for 40 points on 10 three pointers. On Saturday Freeman continued his scoring spree, dropping 19 points in a loss to Manitowoc Lincoln. Freeman is shooting 67% from the field so far.
After a solid junior year, Freeman came back firing on all cylinders for Green Bay West. In just 22 minutes against Algoma, Freeman went off for 40 points on 10 three pointers. On Saturday Freeman continued his scoring spree, dropping 19 points in a loss to Manitowoc Lincoln. Freeman is shooting 67% from the field so far.
Karter Thomas (6' 2020 G Oshkosh West)- 37 ppg, 7 rpg, 7 apg
One of the better junior guards in the state, Karter Thomas dominated in Oshkosh West's opening game. The physical guard was on fire, finishing with 37 point, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in a good all-around game. Oshkosh West won 74-59 over Madison West.
One of the better junior guards in the state, Karter Thomas dominated in Oshkosh West's opening game. The physical guard was on fire, finishing with 37 point, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in a good all-around game. Oshkosh West won 74-59 over Madison West.
Jaylon Gentry (5'8 2019 PG Brown Deer)- 29 ppg
After his brother graduated, Jaylon is taking over as the main guy for Brown Deer, and made that evident by dropping 29 points against Destiny in the final game of the Fresh Coast Classic. He'll be a force in the Woodland Conference this season.
After his brother graduated, Jaylon is taking over as the main guy for Brown Deer, and made that evident by dropping 29 points against Destiny in the final game of the Fresh Coast Classic. He'll be a force in the Woodland Conference this season.
Team of the Week
Milwaukee Washington- Last year's Division 2 runner up started off their season with a statement victory over Racine Park. They knocked off Park, one of the top teams in Division 1, by a final score of 68-54. Washington went on a big run to end the game, proving that they have the ability to beat any team in the state. The Purgolders were led by senior Deontay Long with 19 points and sophomore Mike Foster's 17 points. Nine other players scored in the win.
Upset of the Week
Milwaukee Rufus King 86-Arrowhead 67
Early in the season it an be hard to find definite upsets, due to not having a clear idea on just how good each team really is. In this case, Milwaukee Rufus King had a big statement win over a solid Arrowhead squad at the Fresh Coast Classic. Stats were unavailable at the time of writing this, but Milwaukee King has a lot of players capable of producing, and this victory could springboard them into a very successful season after a few rough years.
Early in the season it an be hard to find definite upsets, due to not having a clear idea on just how good each team really is. In this case, Milwaukee Rufus King had a big statement win over a solid Arrowhead squad at the Fresh Coast Classic. Stats were unavailable at the time of writing this, but Milwaukee King has a lot of players capable of producing, and this victory could springboard them into a very successful season after a few rough years.
Sleeper of the Week
Kyran Gaines (6'6 2019 F Milwaukee Madison)- Kyran Gaines gained notice in the Milwaukee City Conference last season earning 1st Team All Conference, but is still a big sleeper throughout the state and on the recruiting scene. Matched up against Shorewood at the Fresh Coast Classic, Kyran almost outscored their entire team by dropping 33 points in a 76-38 win. He found success scoring inside, was perfect from the line at 11-11, and knocked down two shots from beyond the arc in the win.
Freshman of the Week
Armani Jones (5'8 2022 G Milwaukee Academy of Science)- 19 ppg
Armani Jones started off his high school career with a bang, catching fire from deep to drop 31 points in a win over Milwaukee Collegiate Academy. He was 5-7 from beyond the arc, and found success inside as well. Against Homestead his production slowed down a bit, but his 7 points as a freshman against a quality team were still impressive. Armani should be an exciting backcourt partner alongside talented junior Kaleim Taylor.
Armani Jones started off his high school career with a bang, catching fire from deep to drop 31 points in a win over Milwaukee Collegiate Academy. He was 5-7 from beyond the arc, and found success inside as well. Against Homestead his production slowed down a bit, but his 7 points as a freshman against a quality team were still impressive. Armani should be an exciting backcourt partner alongside talented junior Kaleim Taylor.
Other Games/Performances of Note
Martin Luther defeats East Troy 73-68
Homestead bests Milwaukee Academy of Science 94-75
CJ Brooks (5'10 2019 G Horicon)- 45 p, 13 r, 4 a
AJ Vukovich (6'5 2020 SF East Troy)- 27 points
Dalton Banks (6'2 2020 G Eau Claire North)- 26 points
Ryan Waddell (6'1 2019 G Homestead)- 26 points
© 2018 Fresh Coast Hoops
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Team Preview: Minneapolis North
The Minneapolis North Polars lose a lot from last years loaded time, but once again come back with a squad ready to make a run to state. North graduated their top two scorers in Odell Wilson IV and Tayler Johnson, who had been mainstays in the Polar lineup for years. They also suffered a tough loss in the transfer of talented freshman Tre Holloman, who started at point guard as an 8th grader for North. Despite these losses, Minneapolis North has a promising looking squad with a good mixture of experience and youth.
North has a trio of very good senior guards this year, the first of which we will talk about is Eli Campbell. He is arguably the top senior in the Minneapolis City conference, and has a chance to be a star on this North team after missing a lot of time last year with injuries. Eli had a productive AAU season with Grassroots Sizzle and will come back hungry for a big season. He is a small but shifty point guard whose quickness makes him a hard cover for defenders.
The next up on the list of experience guards is Nasir El-Amin. He carries a target on his back with the El-Amin name at North, but he more than backs it up with his play. Nasir was a consistent scorer at 8.5 ppg as a junior, but absolutely exploded for 37 points against the eventual D2 Wisconsin State Champions Kaukauna High School. Along with his scoring ability, Nasir will bring poise and leadership to a team that will have to rely on some young players to contribute early on.
Third on the senior trio is Omar Brown. Omar is a high level football player, who translates his athleticism to the basketball court. He is one of the top defenders in the senior class, and will often be found guarding the opposing team's top player. He averaged 4.5 ppg as a junior, but that number could rise as he sees an increased role on offense following the loss of three starters. Omar's athleticism and length makes him a hard over when he gets aggressive taking the ball to the rim.
Joining the seniors will be a couple of talented underclassmen. Willie Wilson is one of the state's elite freshman, and will be a dangerous member of the Polar lineup. He has solid length for a guard with the potential to keep growing past his already 6'2 frame. He has shown great athleticism and a high vertical which was evident in some of his dunks at the Twin Cities Under The Radar event. He dominated at the JV level as an 8th grader while also averaging 6.6 ppg in his varsity time. Willie is a talented scorer, and will continue to improve while expanding his role as the season goes on.
Sophomore Davon Townley is another one of Minnesota's premier players in his class. He brings good size at 6'6 to replace Odell Wilson inside, but is a much more athletic player. He has a solid three point shot to stretch the floor, with the quickness to blow by bigger defenders. When he gets in the open floor he's not afraid to try to dunk on someone's head as he always goes to the rim with authority. Davon Townley will be an extremely tough matchup for AA schools as not many teams will have someone that can match his size, let alone his athleticism too. He also gives North the size needed to compete with some bigger class schools.
The bench is where Minneapolis North will really need some guys to step up. The aforementioned five players are really the only experienced players North has coming back, so the bench will be relatively new to varsity competition. Clifford Brown saw minutes sparingly as a freshman, and with off-season improvements could be a key guy off the bench as a sophomore. Ar'mon Dalton is a senior who got minutes in a few games last season, and brings some solid size at 6'2. DeMeiko Anderson and Rio Sanders were two 2022 players who were featured in the TC Under The Radar showcase listed as Minneapolis North players, so they could be some names to watch for as well.
Overall, Minneapolis North will feature one of the top lineups in Class AA, and will likely remain the favorite for another City Conference title. North will face arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the state, consistently playing much bigger schools and out of state powers (Hopkins, Milwaukee Washington, Eden Prairie). Their starters will be able to take them far in the playoffs, but in order to have a shot at the state title, they will need to have a few bench players step up and provide big contributions. Coach Larry McKenzie is one of the top coaches in the state and is known for his ability to get the best out of his players, so it should come as no surprise when Minneapolis North has another successful season.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 19-7
Scoring Leader Predictions: Eli Campbell 16 ppg
Nasir El-Amin 14 ppg
Davon Townley 12 ppg
Willie Wilson 11 ppg
North has a trio of very good senior guards this year, the first of which we will talk about is Eli Campbell. He is arguably the top senior in the Minneapolis City conference, and has a chance to be a star on this North team after missing a lot of time last year with injuries. Eli had a productive AAU season with Grassroots Sizzle and will come back hungry for a big season. He is a small but shifty point guard whose quickness makes him a hard cover for defenders.
The next up on the list of experience guards is Nasir El-Amin. He carries a target on his back with the El-Amin name at North, but he more than backs it up with his play. Nasir was a consistent scorer at 8.5 ppg as a junior, but absolutely exploded for 37 points against the eventual D2 Wisconsin State Champions Kaukauna High School. Along with his scoring ability, Nasir will bring poise and leadership to a team that will have to rely on some young players to contribute early on.
Third on the senior trio is Omar Brown. Omar is a high level football player, who translates his athleticism to the basketball court. He is one of the top defenders in the senior class, and will often be found guarding the opposing team's top player. He averaged 4.5 ppg as a junior, but that number could rise as he sees an increased role on offense following the loss of three starters. Omar's athleticism and length makes him a hard over when he gets aggressive taking the ball to the rim.
Joining the seniors will be a couple of talented underclassmen. Willie Wilson is one of the state's elite freshman, and will be a dangerous member of the Polar lineup. He has solid length for a guard with the potential to keep growing past his already 6'2 frame. He has shown great athleticism and a high vertical which was evident in some of his dunks at the Twin Cities Under The Radar event. He dominated at the JV level as an 8th grader while also averaging 6.6 ppg in his varsity time. Willie is a talented scorer, and will continue to improve while expanding his role as the season goes on.
Sophomore Davon Townley is another one of Minnesota's premier players in his class. He brings good size at 6'6 to replace Odell Wilson inside, but is a much more athletic player. He has a solid three point shot to stretch the floor, with the quickness to blow by bigger defenders. When he gets in the open floor he's not afraid to try to dunk on someone's head as he always goes to the rim with authority. Davon Townley will be an extremely tough matchup for AA schools as not many teams will have someone that can match his size, let alone his athleticism too. He also gives North the size needed to compete with some bigger class schools.
The bench is where Minneapolis North will really need some guys to step up. The aforementioned five players are really the only experienced players North has coming back, so the bench will be relatively new to varsity competition. Clifford Brown saw minutes sparingly as a freshman, and with off-season improvements could be a key guy off the bench as a sophomore. Ar'mon Dalton is a senior who got minutes in a few games last season, and brings some solid size at 6'2. DeMeiko Anderson and Rio Sanders were two 2022 players who were featured in the TC Under The Radar showcase listed as Minneapolis North players, so they could be some names to watch for as well.
Overall, Minneapolis North will feature one of the top lineups in Class AA, and will likely remain the favorite for another City Conference title. North will face arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the state, consistently playing much bigger schools and out of state powers (Hopkins, Milwaukee Washington, Eden Prairie). Their starters will be able to take them far in the playoffs, but in order to have a shot at the state title, they will need to have a few bench players step up and provide big contributions. Coach Larry McKenzie is one of the top coaches in the state and is known for his ability to get the best out of his players, so it should come as no surprise when Minneapolis North has another successful season.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 19-7
Scoring Leader Predictions: Eli Campbell 16 ppg
Nasir El-Amin 14 ppg
Davon Townley 12 ppg
Willie Wilson 11 ppg
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Fall Season Breakout Players
From the more under-the-radar players, to some of the state's big names who look to be taking a big leap in production this season, I highlight eleven players who broke out in the fall season. Leagues included: Grassroots Sizzle and Breakdown Sports Fall Leagues
Ronnell Porter (5'7 PG St. Paul Central)- The most dominating player offensively in the Grassroots Sizzle Fall League was Ronnell Porter. After watching Ronnell play against Ryan Larson and Calvin Wishart last season, I knew he could hoop. The growth in his game heading into his senior year however was astounding. No matter who he was matched up against, he was getting buckets in a variety of ways. He was nailing three pointers, getting fast break buckets off of turnovers, and driving to the hoop while finishing around opposing forwards. Ronnell was a 12 ppg scorer for Central last season, and if fall league is any indicator, he could see that average rise to nearly 20 ppg as a senior.
Peter Anderson (5'11 PG Prairie Seeds Academy)- Heading into the fall season, I had never heard of Peter Anderson, but from the first game I watched I was impressed. His squad was facing off against a Grassroots Sizzle team led by Jalen Suggs and Dain Dainja. Peter took on the challenge of guarding Jalen, and proved to be a menace on the 5-star caliber guard. Peter held him to just a few buckets in half court play, and managed to force a few turnovers with his scrappy defense. As the weeks went on, Peter proved to be a threat offensively as well. He excels at getting to the rim, and possesses an uncanny finishing ability with the finesse he puts on his layups. Every time Peter stepped on the court he put on a show, and was one of the most exciting players I watched this fall. Colleges need to start taking notice in Peter, and he could help lead Prairie Seeds Academy to a much more successful season than many are expecting.
Detavius Frierson (6'4 W Park Center)- Last year social media was filled with Jarvis Omersa's dunking. This season, expect to see a lot of Detavius Frierson. This player is a FREAK athlete with the skill to match. I hadn't seen much of Detavius before this fall after he struggled with an injury as a sophomore, averaging about 4 ppg. Detavius has been stepping up as an energizer and vocal presence for Park Center, and was a catalyst in their undefeated campaign in the Breakdown Sports Fall League. Outside of Dain Dainja, Detavius was their go to scorer, and he even hit the game winning shot in overtime against Eden Prairie. Detavius can get to the rack with ease, and when he gets the space to elevate in the open floor make sure to grab your popcorn because he's going to put on a show.
Tyree Ihenacho (6'2 SG Prior Lake)- Tyree's fall season was unfortunately cut short by what appeared to be a hand/wrist injury, but he made a good impression in the time that I was able to watch him. An athletic shooting guard, Tyree made his presence felt attacking the rim for a Prior Lake team that is better recognized for their height. He's a new transfer to Prior Lake, and his athleticism should make him an instant contributor for a Prior Lake squad that figures to be in contention for the Class AAAA state title.
M'Akil Weems (6'4 F Tartan)- More of a role player on last year's Tartan squad, M'Akil looks ready to be a major contributor on this year's team. The 6'4 wing/forward is extremely athletic and is a great finisher around the rim. On a Tartan team that doesn't possess the height of most AAAA teams, M'Akil will be called upon to defend inside, and he looks ready to do that. He was a shot blocking presence that wasn't afraid to challenge players at the rim with his length and leaping ability. M'Akil's dunks made him one of the most exciting players to watch this fall, and he looks due for a breakout senior year.
Donavan Smith (5'9 PG Minnehaha Academy)- Though often the smallest player on the court, Donavan Smith can get buckets with the best of them. The freshman guard only appeared in a couple of games at the Grassroots Sizzle Fall League, but made his presence felt in that limited time. After the transfer away of Terry Lockett, Donavan will be called upon to have a bigger role for Minnehaha this season, and he looked up to the task during fall league play. He is extremely quick, has a great handle, and can knock down threes from anywhere with his Steph Curry-like quick release. Donavan will do a great job stretching the floor for Minnehaha, and should be a big contributor in their attempt for a third straight state title.
Qentrell Douglas (6'1 G Brooklyn Center)- After Brooklyn Center lost countless key players to the new Minnesota Prep Academy, Qentrell Douglas will be called upon to carry a strong offensive role for a young team needing to find an identity. In the two games I watched in the Breakdown Sports Fall League, Qentrell was strong attacking the rim, and was finishing at a high percentage. He averaged about 8 ppg last year, and could have that total double as a senior as he will be called upon to be the go-to guy for the Centaurs.
Andy Stafford (6'4 W Hopkins)- I expected Andy Stafford to be a good player for Hopkins, but I didn't expect him to be as dominating of a player that he was during fall league play. Andy fit in from the jump with his new school, and was unstoppable driving to the rim against some of the state's elite teams. He has a very impressive reverse layup as well as the ability to finish with either hand in traffic. Combine that with his size and athleticism, and Andy could have a much stronger season than I had originally expected out of the SMSU commit.
Andre Gray (6'2 G Hopkins)- Andre played for the lower level teams at Hopkins as a freshman, so I didn't know entirely what to expect out of him. From the very start Andre was an impressive offensive talent. His ability to create his own jumpshot was very advanced, and he was able to knock down the mid-range and three pointers quite consistently. Andre also showcased his athleticism and the ability to finish above the rim and challenge taller defenders.
Kendall Brown (6'7 PG East Ridge)- Kendall is a player that is recognized nationwide as one of the top point guards in his class, but I didn't think he would dominate as much as he did playing alongside such talented teammates. Kendall showed off the ability to score from any where on the floor, with an improved three point shot, a nice pull up mid-range, and off course his explosiveness to finish around the rim. His improvements in the offseason have him looking like a third player for East Ridge who could potentially average around 20 ppg this season.
Jaeden King (6'5 SG Cretin-Derham Hall)- Lights out. That's how Jaeden played on offense this fall, absolutely shredding opposing defenses and putting up big scoring numbers every game I watched of his. After averaging 14 ppg last year, he looks ready to take a massive leap on that average as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the state. His three pointer is still deadly, his quick first step opens up his mid-range and driving, and he looks to have increased explosiveness evident in his strong dunks at the rim. With Jaeden looking as good as he does, don't be surprised to see CDH remain a contender in Class AAAA.
Ronnell Porter (5'7 PG St. Paul Central)- The most dominating player offensively in the Grassroots Sizzle Fall League was Ronnell Porter. After watching Ronnell play against Ryan Larson and Calvin Wishart last season, I knew he could hoop. The growth in his game heading into his senior year however was astounding. No matter who he was matched up against, he was getting buckets in a variety of ways. He was nailing three pointers, getting fast break buckets off of turnovers, and driving to the hoop while finishing around opposing forwards. Ronnell was a 12 ppg scorer for Central last season, and if fall league is any indicator, he could see that average rise to nearly 20 ppg as a senior.
Tyree Ihenacho (6'2 SG Prior Lake)- Tyree's fall season was unfortunately cut short by what appeared to be a hand/wrist injury, but he made a good impression in the time that I was able to watch him. An athletic shooting guard, Tyree made his presence felt attacking the rim for a Prior Lake team that is better recognized for their height. He's a new transfer to Prior Lake, and his athleticism should make him an instant contributor for a Prior Lake squad that figures to be in contention for the Class AAAA state title.
M'Akil Weems (6'4 F Tartan)- More of a role player on last year's Tartan squad, M'Akil looks ready to be a major contributor on this year's team. The 6'4 wing/forward is extremely athletic and is a great finisher around the rim. On a Tartan team that doesn't possess the height of most AAAA teams, M'Akil will be called upon to defend inside, and he looks ready to do that. He was a shot blocking presence that wasn't afraid to challenge players at the rim with his length and leaping ability. M'Akil's dunks made him one of the most exciting players to watch this fall, and he looks due for a breakout senior year.
Donavan Smith (5'9 PG Minnehaha Academy)- Though often the smallest player on the court, Donavan Smith can get buckets with the best of them. The freshman guard only appeared in a couple of games at the Grassroots Sizzle Fall League, but made his presence felt in that limited time. After the transfer away of Terry Lockett, Donavan will be called upon to have a bigger role for Minnehaha this season, and he looked up to the task during fall league play. He is extremely quick, has a great handle, and can knock down threes from anywhere with his Steph Curry-like quick release. Donavan will do a great job stretching the floor for Minnehaha, and should be a big contributor in their attempt for a third straight state title.
Qentrell Douglas (6'1 G Brooklyn Center)- After Brooklyn Center lost countless key players to the new Minnesota Prep Academy, Qentrell Douglas will be called upon to carry a strong offensive role for a young team needing to find an identity. In the two games I watched in the Breakdown Sports Fall League, Qentrell was strong attacking the rim, and was finishing at a high percentage. He averaged about 8 ppg last year, and could have that total double as a senior as he will be called upon to be the go-to guy for the Centaurs.
Andy Stafford (6'4 W Hopkins)- I expected Andy Stafford to be a good player for Hopkins, but I didn't expect him to be as dominating of a player that he was during fall league play. Andy fit in from the jump with his new school, and was unstoppable driving to the rim against some of the state's elite teams. He has a very impressive reverse layup as well as the ability to finish with either hand in traffic. Combine that with his size and athleticism, and Andy could have a much stronger season than I had originally expected out of the SMSU commit.
Kendall Brown (6'7 PG East Ridge)- Kendall is a player that is recognized nationwide as one of the top point guards in his class, but I didn't think he would dominate as much as he did playing alongside such talented teammates. Kendall showed off the ability to score from any where on the floor, with an improved three point shot, a nice pull up mid-range, and off course his explosiveness to finish around the rim. His improvements in the offseason have him looking like a third player for East Ridge who could potentially average around 20 ppg this season.
Jaeden King (6'5 SG Cretin-Derham Hall)- Lights out. That's how Jaeden played on offense this fall, absolutely shredding opposing defenses and putting up big scoring numbers every game I watched of his. After averaging 14 ppg last year, he looks ready to take a massive leap on that average as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the state. His three pointer is still deadly, his quick first step opens up his mid-range and driving, and he looks to have increased explosiveness evident in his strong dunks at the rim. With Jaeden looking as good as he does, don't be surprised to see CDH remain a contender in Class AAAA.
© 2018 Fresh Coast Hoops
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Team Preview: Minnehaha Academy
The Minnehaha Academy Redhawks faced adversity last season, but still managed to dominate Class AA, winning their second straight state title. After an explosion in the school, they were left without a home court, but still managed an impressive 22-4 regular season record. The Redhawks will lose veteran starters Javonni Bickham and Lorenzo Smith to graduation, which will be two big holes to fill. Javonni was the size down low for the Redhawks, and will be playing Division 1 basketball at Denver. Lorenzo was a sharp shooting guard who provided poise and leadership. Star 2020 guard Terry Lockett has also transferred to a school in Ohio. With these three losses, how do the Redhawks stack up this season?
Minnehaha returns five-star point guard Jalen Suggs for his fifth season on varsity. Just a junior, opposing fans are patiently waiting for Jalen's graduation to escape his longtime domination over their teams. With Jalen at the helm, the Minnehaha Redhawks will always be in contention for the state title. The freakishly athletic guard has been dominating Minnesota basketball since the 7th grade, and next season will likely be a similar sight. Jalen is extremely effective at driving to the rim, absorbing contact to draw fouls while still having the body control to finish in the most difficult of situations. His drives to the rim often draw the attention of multiple defenders, allowing him to kick it out to one of many sharpshooters on the Redhawks' squad. Aside from the star-power of Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha features a plethora of other standout players.
Suggs will be joined by classmate Kaden Johnson. Kaden is one of the top football recruits in the whole state, but may also be a division one caliber basketball player. He is an exceptional athlete, and standing at 6'4 he has the size to go along with it. Kaden Johnson is one of the top defenders in the state, while also bringing solid offense to the lineup. He averaged 7.6 ppg as a sophomore, while putting up games of 24 and 20. Kaden will provide consistent production and defensive effort for one of the most talented teams in the state.
Replacing Javonni Bickham down low will be sophomore center Chet Holmgren. Chet is a long 7' center, who will likely be ranked among the nation's elite once more 2021 rankings come out. He is an extremely skilled shot blocker, with his 7'6 wingspan allowing him to keep his distance from offensive players to avoid fouling. Playing with Grassroots Sizzle's 17u squad on the UAA, Chet has experience playing against older and stronger competition, which will help him transition easily into the high school season. After averaging 7.1 ppg as a freshman, Chet will look to increase his production even further as he slides into the starting lineup for the Redhawks. He will give Minnehaha the size to dominate at the AA level, and compete with the big AAAA schools as well.
Minnehaha adds even more talented youth with two of the top freshmen in the state in Prince Aligbe and Donavan Smith. Prince is among the nation's top wing prospects, while Donavan is one of the elite shooters in Minnesota's freshman class. Prince has great potential due to his size and athleticism, as he continues to polish on his skillset. Perhaps most impressive in his play is his passing ability. He has displayed great vision as a young player, and has dropped some dimes that even Magic and LeBron would be proud of. He was an offensive threat off the bench last season averaging 5.5 ppg as just an 8th grader, a number that should increase along with his playing time this season. Donavan should see increased playing time this season as well. Last season Minnehaha would draw up situational plays for him to come in and take a three point shot. His ability to spread the floor will give him more opportunity on the court as a freshman.
Siegel Howard will return as a senior to provide valuable minutes off the bench, along with a veteran presence to a young team. Minnehaha had a lot of young talent on the junior varsity team last season, with multiple players who could make the jump to varsity and contribute immediately.
The one potential problem for Minnehaha is their depth. They have the starting lineup to compete with anyone in the state, but their overall success could come down to which bench players can step up in times of need. Overall, Minnehaha has the talent to be the top team in the state regardless of class, and looks primed to win their third straight state title. There will be some competition in class AA, but Minnehaha has the experience and skill to make it happen. Look for Minnehaha to make some noise this upcoming season.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 22-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Jalen Suggs 19 ppg
Chet Holmgren 14 ppg
Kaden Johnson 12 ppg
Prince Aligbe 12 ppg
Minnehaha returns five-star point guard Jalen Suggs for his fifth season on varsity. Just a junior, opposing fans are patiently waiting for Jalen's graduation to escape his longtime domination over their teams. With Jalen at the helm, the Minnehaha Redhawks will always be in contention for the state title. The freakishly athletic guard has been dominating Minnesota basketball since the 7th grade, and next season will likely be a similar sight. Jalen is extremely effective at driving to the rim, absorbing contact to draw fouls while still having the body control to finish in the most difficult of situations. His drives to the rim often draw the attention of multiple defenders, allowing him to kick it out to one of many sharpshooters on the Redhawks' squad. Aside from the star-power of Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha features a plethora of other standout players.
Suggs will be joined by classmate Kaden Johnson. Kaden is one of the top football recruits in the whole state, but may also be a division one caliber basketball player. He is an exceptional athlete, and standing at 6'4 he has the size to go along with it. Kaden Johnson is one of the top defenders in the state, while also bringing solid offense to the lineup. He averaged 7.6 ppg as a sophomore, while putting up games of 24 and 20. Kaden will provide consistent production and defensive effort for one of the most talented teams in the state.
Replacing Javonni Bickham down low will be sophomore center Chet Holmgren. Chet is a long 7' center, who will likely be ranked among the nation's elite once more 2021 rankings come out. He is an extremely skilled shot blocker, with his 7'6 wingspan allowing him to keep his distance from offensive players to avoid fouling. Playing with Grassroots Sizzle's 17u squad on the UAA, Chet has experience playing against older and stronger competition, which will help him transition easily into the high school season. After averaging 7.1 ppg as a freshman, Chet will look to increase his production even further as he slides into the starting lineup for the Redhawks. He will give Minnehaha the size to dominate at the AA level, and compete with the big AAAA schools as well.
Minnehaha adds even more talented youth with two of the top freshmen in the state in Prince Aligbe and Donavan Smith. Prince is among the nation's top wing prospects, while Donavan is one of the elite shooters in Minnesota's freshman class. Prince has great potential due to his size and athleticism, as he continues to polish on his skillset. Perhaps most impressive in his play is his passing ability. He has displayed great vision as a young player, and has dropped some dimes that even Magic and LeBron would be proud of. He was an offensive threat off the bench last season averaging 5.5 ppg as just an 8th grader, a number that should increase along with his playing time this season. Donavan should see increased playing time this season as well. Last season Minnehaha would draw up situational plays for him to come in and take a three point shot. His ability to spread the floor will give him more opportunity on the court as a freshman.
Siegel Howard will return as a senior to provide valuable minutes off the bench, along with a veteran presence to a young team. Minnehaha had a lot of young talent on the junior varsity team last season, with multiple players who could make the jump to varsity and contribute immediately.
The one potential problem for Minnehaha is their depth. They have the starting lineup to compete with anyone in the state, but their overall success could come down to which bench players can step up in times of need. Overall, Minnehaha has the talent to be the top team in the state regardless of class, and looks primed to win their third straight state title. There will be some competition in class AA, but Minnehaha has the experience and skill to make it happen. Look for Minnehaha to make some noise this upcoming season.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 22-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Jalen Suggs 19 ppg
Chet Holmgren 14 ppg
Kaden Johnson 12 ppg
Prince Aligbe 12 ppg
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Breakdown Fall League Top Performers Week 4
Every week I'll be recognizing some of the top performers that I was able to watch at the Breakdown Sports Fall League. A lot of the top schools and players participate, making it one of the top fall leagues in the Midwest! Check out some of the players who played well in week four below.
Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins 2019)- After missing the first three weeks of the league on college visits, Zeke made his presence felt in his return to the Hopkins lineup. After a big junior season, Zeke has come back taller and stronger, and used this size to bully Farmington in the post. Seemingly every time Zeke touched the ball inside, he was going to score or go to the free throw line. Despite the increased size, Zeke still has his outside shooting ability, knocking down a few threes in the game as well. He looks the part of a matchup nightmare, and will be extremely difficult to stop this season.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall 2019)- Jaeden continued his strong fall season with a strong outing versus St. Louis Park. The Western Illinois commit missed his first few threes, but caught absolute fire in the second half, knocking down four or five in a row. His increased vertical was evident once again on the fast break, as he was able to throw down some transition dunks in both games he played. After averaging around 12-13 ppg last season, Jaeden looks like he could nearly double his average as a senior with his lethal shooting and new explosiveness inside.
Detavius Frierson (Park Center 2020)- Detavius wasn't putting up huge scoring numbers like the first two guys on this list, but his constant energy helped Park Center knock off two likely state contenders in East Ridge and Eden Prairie. After struggling with an injury as a sophomore, Detavius has emerged as a major player for Park Center, evident in his ability to drive and finish around the rim with a soft touch on his layups and powerful dunks. On the defensive end, Detavius is a constant disruption both on ball and communicating with his team. His energy is contagious and helped Park Center go on huge runs against East Ridge. In double overtime versus Eden Prairie, Detavius used his quick first step to get to the rack and score the game winning layup.
Anthony Rayson (St. Louis Park 2019)- A strong body inside, Anthony bullied his way to a productive game against Cretin-Derham Hall. At 6'6 Anthony was a constant threat inside, and was getting buckets on putbacks and post scores. Light on his feet for his size, Anthony surprised me with an attempted poster dunk over a defender (it didn't go in, but the explosiveness was impressive nonetheless). St. Louis Park loses some big names from last season, but Anthony looks ready to pick up on the lost scoring.
Qentrell Douglas (Brooklyn Center 2019)- One of the few upperclassmen remaining at Brooklyn Center put in a couple of good performances on Sunday. Qentrell had a lot of success attacking the basket, and was the main scoring option for this young BC squad. Despite the fast paced and energetic play style of Brooklyn Center, Douglas played with a controlled demeanor. Early signs point to him being a catalyst for any Brooklyn Center success this year as they go through a bit of a rebuilding stage.
Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins 2019)- After missing the first three weeks of the league on college visits, Zeke made his presence felt in his return to the Hopkins lineup. After a big junior season, Zeke has come back taller and stronger, and used this size to bully Farmington in the post. Seemingly every time Zeke touched the ball inside, he was going to score or go to the free throw line. Despite the increased size, Zeke still has his outside shooting ability, knocking down a few threes in the game as well. He looks the part of a matchup nightmare, and will be extremely difficult to stop this season.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall 2019)- Jaeden continued his strong fall season with a strong outing versus St. Louis Park. The Western Illinois commit missed his first few threes, but caught absolute fire in the second half, knocking down four or five in a row. His increased vertical was evident once again on the fast break, as he was able to throw down some transition dunks in both games he played. After averaging around 12-13 ppg last season, Jaeden looks like he could nearly double his average as a senior with his lethal shooting and new explosiveness inside.
Detavius Frierson (Park Center 2020)- Detavius wasn't putting up huge scoring numbers like the first two guys on this list, but his constant energy helped Park Center knock off two likely state contenders in East Ridge and Eden Prairie. After struggling with an injury as a sophomore, Detavius has emerged as a major player for Park Center, evident in his ability to drive and finish around the rim with a soft touch on his layups and powerful dunks. On the defensive end, Detavius is a constant disruption both on ball and communicating with his team. His energy is contagious and helped Park Center go on huge runs against East Ridge. In double overtime versus Eden Prairie, Detavius used his quick first step to get to the rack and score the game winning layup.
Anthony Rayson (St. Louis Park 2019)- A strong body inside, Anthony bullied his way to a productive game against Cretin-Derham Hall. At 6'6 Anthony was a constant threat inside, and was getting buckets on putbacks and post scores. Light on his feet for his size, Anthony surprised me with an attempted poster dunk over a defender (it didn't go in, but the explosiveness was impressive nonetheless). St. Louis Park loses some big names from last season, but Anthony looks ready to pick up on the lost scoring.
Qentrell Douglas (Brooklyn Center 2019)- One of the few upperclassmen remaining at Brooklyn Center put in a couple of good performances on Sunday. Qentrell had a lot of success attacking the basket, and was the main scoring option for this young BC squad. Despite the fast paced and energetic play style of Brooklyn Center, Douglas played with a controlled demeanor. Early signs point to him being a catalyst for any Brooklyn Center success this year as they go through a bit of a rebuilding stage.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Team Preview: DeLaSalle
DeLaSalle's reign as six-time state champions in Minnesota's Class AAA came to an end last season, at the hands of an upset to Columbia Heights. Disappointed in the result, yet motivated by it at the same time, the Islanders will be returning hungry to get back to their winning ways. DeLaSalle graduated a handful of their main contributors including new Minnesota Gopher Gabe Kalscheur. The Islanders will also be faced with the task of replacing Division One offered Malik Lamin down low, who has transferred to Hillcrest Prep School in Arizona for his senior season.
Despite the losses mentioned, DeLaSalle returns with a talented lineup once again. The Islanders will be led by Stanford commit Tyrell Terry at the point guard spot. Tyrell has been a mainstay in the Islanders lineup for years, and is the top senior point guard in the state. He runs a fast paced offense, constantly looking to push the ball up the floor when possible to create easy scoring for himself or his teammates. A talented distributor, Tyrell will also be called upon to create more for himself this season. He averaged 17 ppg as a junior, and will likely be an even more prolific scorer as a senior to replace some of the scoring that was lost with Gabe Kalscheur. Tyrell's ability to do a little bit of everything on offense will cause fits for opposing defenders, and he will be an extremely dangerous player this season.
Returning alongside Tyrell will by 6'7 sniper Jamison Battle. The lefty wing is arguably the top three point shooter in the state, and has one of the smoothest strokes you'll ever see. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches because of his height and ability to stretch the floor. Put a taller defender on him, Jamison will take him outside where he can shoot or use his quickness to drive by him. Put a smaller guard on him, and Jamison has the ability to use his size and touch to score inside. He was a 14 ppg guy last season, a number that should increase as he will now be in his second year playing for DeLaSalle.
With Terry and Battle providing leadership and experience, the Islanders will also feature some talented young players. Cade Haskins is one of the state's elite sophomore prospects, and will feature heavily in the lineup after transferring from Washburn. The 6'5 wing, much like Battle, is a torch from beyond the arc. His shooting helps open up other facets of his game, making him a dangerous weapon on offense. He was averaging 12 ppg as a freshman before transferring schools mid-season. Another talented sophomore in the rotation will be the explosive Keijuan White. At just 6' tall, Keijuan is capable of throwing down powerful dunks and was a force on the JV squad last season. He may be the bounciest sophomore in the state and could be a very dangerous player if his skills on the court continue to develop.
Joining a talented group of guards will be Kameron Givens. The senior guard saw limited playing time on varsity last season, but has shown great improvements in his game and should play a bigger role this season. He's a very quick player who can use his athleticism to contribute on both sides of the ball. He'll provide solid production and consistent effort for the Islanders. Fellow senior Julian Wright will also be among the rotation of guards at Coach Bledsoe's disposal. Julian is a very athletic guard, and a state qualifier in track. His athleticism translates well to the defensive side of the ball. He saw some minutes off the bench last season, and should see more after an AAU season with Howard Pulley. Former Park Center guard Amir Whitlock joins the Islanders via transfer. He'll help give DeLaSalle vast depth at the guard spots. Class of 2020 Andrew Irvin is another guard who could see time on varsity after a strong JV season as a sophomore.
With the loss of Malik Lamin to a transfer, junior Jalen Travis will see an increased role down low. The 6'7 center uses his strength to manhandle opposing players, while featuring a soft finishing touch on his inside shots. Jalen was nearly unstoppable at the JV level last year, and will look to bring some of that production to the varsity level. He'll give DeLaSalle the necessary size to compete with the elite AAAA teams in non-conference play.
Coach Travis Bledsoe will go into his second season at DeLaSalle with another loaded lineup. The combination of talent and experience in his lineup will make the Islanders the early favorite to win the AAA state championship. Once again, The Island will be home to one of the most talented and well coached squads in all of Minnesota, and will be able to compete with any team in the state.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 22-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Tyrell Terry 20 ppg
Jamison Battle 19 ppg
Cade Haskins 12 ppg
Despite the losses mentioned, DeLaSalle returns with a talented lineup once again. The Islanders will be led by Stanford commit Tyrell Terry at the point guard spot. Tyrell has been a mainstay in the Islanders lineup for years, and is the top senior point guard in the state. He runs a fast paced offense, constantly looking to push the ball up the floor when possible to create easy scoring for himself or his teammates. A talented distributor, Tyrell will also be called upon to create more for himself this season. He averaged 17 ppg as a junior, and will likely be an even more prolific scorer as a senior to replace some of the scoring that was lost with Gabe Kalscheur. Tyrell's ability to do a little bit of everything on offense will cause fits for opposing defenders, and he will be an extremely dangerous player this season.
Returning alongside Tyrell will by 6'7 sniper Jamison Battle. The lefty wing is arguably the top three point shooter in the state, and has one of the smoothest strokes you'll ever see. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches because of his height and ability to stretch the floor. Put a taller defender on him, Jamison will take him outside where he can shoot or use his quickness to drive by him. Put a smaller guard on him, and Jamison has the ability to use his size and touch to score inside. He was a 14 ppg guy last season, a number that should increase as he will now be in his second year playing for DeLaSalle.
With Terry and Battle providing leadership and experience, the Islanders will also feature some talented young players. Cade Haskins is one of the state's elite sophomore prospects, and will feature heavily in the lineup after transferring from Washburn. The 6'5 wing, much like Battle, is a torch from beyond the arc. His shooting helps open up other facets of his game, making him a dangerous weapon on offense. He was averaging 12 ppg as a freshman before transferring schools mid-season. Another talented sophomore in the rotation will be the explosive Keijuan White. At just 6' tall, Keijuan is capable of throwing down powerful dunks and was a force on the JV squad last season. He may be the bounciest sophomore in the state and could be a very dangerous player if his skills on the court continue to develop.
Joining a talented group of guards will be Kameron Givens. The senior guard saw limited playing time on varsity last season, but has shown great improvements in his game and should play a bigger role this season. He's a very quick player who can use his athleticism to contribute on both sides of the ball. He'll provide solid production and consistent effort for the Islanders. Fellow senior Julian Wright will also be among the rotation of guards at Coach Bledsoe's disposal. Julian is a very athletic guard, and a state qualifier in track. His athleticism translates well to the defensive side of the ball. He saw some minutes off the bench last season, and should see more after an AAU season with Howard Pulley. Former Park Center guard Amir Whitlock joins the Islanders via transfer. He'll help give DeLaSalle vast depth at the guard spots. Class of 2020 Andrew Irvin is another guard who could see time on varsity after a strong JV season as a sophomore.
With the loss of Malik Lamin to a transfer, junior Jalen Travis will see an increased role down low. The 6'7 center uses his strength to manhandle opposing players, while featuring a soft finishing touch on his inside shots. Jalen was nearly unstoppable at the JV level last year, and will look to bring some of that production to the varsity level. He'll give DeLaSalle the necessary size to compete with the elite AAAA teams in non-conference play.
Coach Travis Bledsoe will go into his second season at DeLaSalle with another loaded lineup. The combination of talent and experience in his lineup will make the Islanders the early favorite to win the AAA state championship. Once again, The Island will be home to one of the most talented and well coached squads in all of Minnesota, and will be able to compete with any team in the state.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 22-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Tyrell Terry 20 ppg
Jamison Battle 19 ppg
Cade Haskins 12 ppg
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Breakdown Fall League Top Performers Week 3
Every week I'll be recognizing some of the top performers that I was able to watch at the Breakdown Sports Fall League. A lot of the top schools and players participate, making it one of the top fall leagues in the Midwest! Check out some of the players who played well in week three below.
Dane Zimmer (Hopkins 2019)- The 6'7 big man is known for his consistent contributions among a talented lineup. This week against Lakeville North, Dane had his best performance that I have seen out of him to date. He was scoring in a variety of ways with layups off of cuts to the rim, put backs off of offensive rebounds, and knocking down a few threes. Dane also had a nice dunk in the first half after a nice cut inside. On defense Dane did a good job to slow down Tyler Wahl inside at times, an extremely difficult assignment.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall 2019)- Jaeden King has continued his dominance as the go-to guy for Cretin-Derham Hall this fall season. He was his usual self from distance, knocking down a handfull of threes in a variety of different ways. Jaeden has also continued to show off his increased vertical by throwing down four dunks, including a windmill on the fast break. With his ability to score from anywhere on the court, combined with his length and athleticism, Jaeden has been looking like a guy who could average close to 25 ppg as a senior!
Kendall Brown (East Ridge 2021)- On a court full of talent, Kendall looked like the best player on the floor this weekend. The 6'7 nationally point guard took over offensively, scoring in a variety of ways. He was hitting his jump shot as well as showing off his explosiveness in finishing around the rim. With his newly improved skillset and athleticism, don't be surprised if he makes it three East Ridge players averaging near 20 ppg this year.
Dawson Garcia (Prior Lake 2020)- Faced with a tough matchup against Dain Dainja and Detavius Frierson, the versatile power forward still got buckets against Park Center. Dawson had the ability to stretch the floor and knock down three's as a 6'10-11 forward, while also getting it done inside and off the dribble. Dawson was a major threat on both ends of the court with his combination of length, athleticism, and perimeter skills.
Dain Dainja (Park Center 2020)- Faced with playing against Prior Lake's twin towers and five star forward Matthew Hurt, Dain continued his strong fall play. His ability to score in the low post against size is nearly unstoppable without bringing in a double team. He also showed off the ability to create his own shot off the dribble from the perimeter, with handles extremely rare in someone his size. Dain is one of the most unique forward prospects in the country, and he showed no problem excelling against multiple division one offered players.
Dane Zimmer (Hopkins 2019)- The 6'7 big man is known for his consistent contributions among a talented lineup. This week against Lakeville North, Dane had his best performance that I have seen out of him to date. He was scoring in a variety of ways with layups off of cuts to the rim, put backs off of offensive rebounds, and knocking down a few threes. Dane also had a nice dunk in the first half after a nice cut inside. On defense Dane did a good job to slow down Tyler Wahl inside at times, an extremely difficult assignment.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall 2019)- Jaeden King has continued his dominance as the go-to guy for Cretin-Derham Hall this fall season. He was his usual self from distance, knocking down a handfull of threes in a variety of different ways. Jaeden has also continued to show off his increased vertical by throwing down four dunks, including a windmill on the fast break. With his ability to score from anywhere on the court, combined with his length and athleticism, Jaeden has been looking like a guy who could average close to 25 ppg as a senior!
Kendall Brown (East Ridge 2021)- On a court full of talent, Kendall looked like the best player on the floor this weekend. The 6'7 nationally point guard took over offensively, scoring in a variety of ways. He was hitting his jump shot as well as showing off his explosiveness in finishing around the rim. With his newly improved skillset and athleticism, don't be surprised if he makes it three East Ridge players averaging near 20 ppg this year.
Dawson Garcia (Prior Lake 2020)- Faced with a tough matchup against Dain Dainja and Detavius Frierson, the versatile power forward still got buckets against Park Center. Dawson had the ability to stretch the floor and knock down three's as a 6'10-11 forward, while also getting it done inside and off the dribble. Dawson was a major threat on both ends of the court with his combination of length, athleticism, and perimeter skills.
Dain Dainja (Park Center 2020)- Faced with playing against Prior Lake's twin towers and five star forward Matthew Hurt, Dain continued his strong fall play. His ability to score in the low post against size is nearly unstoppable without bringing in a double team. He also showed off the ability to create his own shot off the dribble from the perimeter, with handles extremely rare in someone his size. Dain is one of the most unique forward prospects in the country, and he showed no problem excelling against multiple division one offered players.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Team Preview: Park Center
Park Center entered last season with high expectations, though ultimately falling short of a state tournament appearance. They were led by guard Jarius Cook, who has since graduated and will be playing at North Dakota State this season. Though there will be a large whole to fill in terms of scoring lost with Jarius, Park Center certainly has the talent and depth to fill that void. Bringing back a large number of key contributors, along with some young talent, Park Center will be one of the early favorites to win the AAAA state tournament.
Though Park Center is a team that will be known for its depth, they feature some star power with junior big man Dain Dainja. Dain is arguably the top big man prospect in the class, and a nationally top 100 ranked prospect. Standing at 6'8, Dain combines brute strength in the post with guard-like ball handling and footwork. His footwork down low is well beyond his years, and his handles are something not commonly seen among players his size. He has the potential to dominate games down low against defenders of any size, and will be able to take larger opponents outside where his outside game will be difficult to guard for a post. Dain will be the anchor down low while a plethora of talented guards handle the perimeter for the Pirates.
The Park Center Pirates also return star guard Tommy Chatman for one more season. Standing at 6'3, Tommy combines good length with an arsenal of scoring moves which make him a big threat on offense. He has a dangerous pull up jumper but can also score by getting to the rim. As is common with Park Center players, he likes to push the ball in transition and is unselfish with his ability to dish the ball to an open teammate under the hoop. Tommy has multiple Division 2 offers, and has Division 1 potential if he can prove himself in front of the right coaches. He will combine with Dainja to form a potent inside-out duo.
Senior Khari Broadway and junior Detavius Frierson will be found out on the wing for Park Center. Khari is one of the top senior guards in the Twin Cities area, and put up just under 12 ppg as a junior. He is a big time scoring threat among an offense that shares the ball very well. Khari also possesses the size and athleticism to defend and force fast break opportunities. Junior Detavius Frierson could arguably be the best dunker in the state. He was seen at the Twin Cities Under The Radar event getting his head up to the rim on some of his dunks, showing off a Dennis Smith-like vertical. He has been extremely dangerous in transition, as well as driving to the hoop in a half court set during fall league play. At 6'4 with his kind of athleticism, Detavius could be a walking highlight for the run-n-gun Pirates, and looks set for a breakout junior season.
The deep pool of talent continues from there for the Pirates. 2020 guard David Ijadimbola returns for an increased role after a solid sophomore season averaging 4.4 ppg. The talented guard is a top 50 junior in the state, and will provide valuable minutes. Emmanuel Tamba is another guard who will play significant minutes for Park Center. He averaged just under 7 ppg last season as one of the key bench performers on a loaded team.
Park Center has a handful of other returning varsity players that are ready to contribute, as well as some talented newcomers and JV call ups. The Pirates' fast paced offense will be hard to stop for opposing teams, and their depth at the guard positions will allow them to push the tempo for long stretches. They will go into the season with high expectations of making the state tournament, and ultimately taking home the AAAA title.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 23-3
Scoring Leader Predictions: Dain Dainja 18 ppg
Tommy Chatman 17 ppg
Khari Broadway 12 ppg
Detavius Frierson 11 ppg
Though Park Center is a team that will be known for its depth, they feature some star power with junior big man Dain Dainja. Dain is arguably the top big man prospect in the class, and a nationally top 100 ranked prospect. Standing at 6'8, Dain combines brute strength in the post with guard-like ball handling and footwork. His footwork down low is well beyond his years, and his handles are something not commonly seen among players his size. He has the potential to dominate games down low against defenders of any size, and will be able to take larger opponents outside where his outside game will be difficult to guard for a post. Dain will be the anchor down low while a plethora of talented guards handle the perimeter for the Pirates.
The Park Center Pirates also return star guard Tommy Chatman for one more season. Standing at 6'3, Tommy combines good length with an arsenal of scoring moves which make him a big threat on offense. He has a dangerous pull up jumper but can also score by getting to the rim. As is common with Park Center players, he likes to push the ball in transition and is unselfish with his ability to dish the ball to an open teammate under the hoop. Tommy has multiple Division 2 offers, and has Division 1 potential if he can prove himself in front of the right coaches. He will combine with Dainja to form a potent inside-out duo.
Senior Khari Broadway and junior Detavius Frierson will be found out on the wing for Park Center. Khari is one of the top senior guards in the Twin Cities area, and put up just under 12 ppg as a junior. He is a big time scoring threat among an offense that shares the ball very well. Khari also possesses the size and athleticism to defend and force fast break opportunities. Junior Detavius Frierson could arguably be the best dunker in the state. He was seen at the Twin Cities Under The Radar event getting his head up to the rim on some of his dunks, showing off a Dennis Smith-like vertical. He has been extremely dangerous in transition, as well as driving to the hoop in a half court set during fall league play. At 6'4 with his kind of athleticism, Detavius could be a walking highlight for the run-n-gun Pirates, and looks set for a breakout junior season.
The deep pool of talent continues from there for the Pirates. 2020 guard David Ijadimbola returns for an increased role after a solid sophomore season averaging 4.4 ppg. The talented guard is a top 50 junior in the state, and will provide valuable minutes. Emmanuel Tamba is another guard who will play significant minutes for Park Center. He averaged just under 7 ppg last season as one of the key bench performers on a loaded team.
Park Center has a handful of other returning varsity players that are ready to contribute, as well as some talented newcomers and JV call ups. The Pirates' fast paced offense will be hard to stop for opposing teams, and their depth at the guard positions will allow them to push the tempo for long stretches. They will go into the season with high expectations of making the state tournament, and ultimately taking home the AAAA title.
Regular Season Record Prediction: 23-3
Scoring Leader Predictions: Dain Dainja 18 ppg
Tommy Chatman 17 ppg
Khari Broadway 12 ppg
Detavius Frierson 11 ppg
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Breakdown Fall League Top Performers Week 2
Every week I'll be recognizing some of the top performers that I was able to watch at the Breakdown Sports Fall League. A lot of the top schools and players participate, making it one of the top fall leagues in the Midwest! Check out some of the players who played well in week two below.
Matthew Hurt (Rochester John Marshall 2019)- One of the top players in the country put in a performance proving worthy of his five-star status. Against Hopkins he scored his team's first 15 points, including going on a 9-0 run to start the game. Matt put in his usual display of high arcing threes, inside scores off the dribble, and threw down three big dunks in the game despite garnering constant attention from the Hopkins' defense. Check out his highlights from that game below.
Matthew Hurt (Rochester John Marshall 2019)- One of the top players in the country put in a performance proving worthy of his five-star status. Against Hopkins he scored his team's first 15 points, including going on a 9-0 run to start the game. Matt put in his usual display of high arcing threes, inside scores off the dribble, and threw down three big dunks in the game despite garnering constant attention from the Hopkins' defense. Check out his highlights from that game below.
Andy Stafford (Hopkins 2019)- Once again returning to this list is 6'4 wing Andy Stafford. With Zeke Nnaji and Kerwin Walton both missing, Andy took over on offense against two top 10 AAAA teams in Prior Lake and Rochester John Marshall. He put in his usual display of strong finishing around the rim, and showed great footwork to get off his shots against Prior Lake's big men. To cap off his great performances, Andy threw down a couple of nice dunks, including one off the drive in a half court set. Keep an eye out for his highlights dropping soon on YouTube.
Robert Jones (Prior Lake 2019)- The 6'10 Denver commit put in a nice performance against Hopkins in his opening game. He displayed his usual soft touch in the post, as well as his ability to run the floor to create fast break dunks. Robert has developed good patience down low, with a good step-through move to get off easy lay ups. He looks much improved going into his senior year, and should be very productive for this loaded Prior Lake squad.
Jalen Dearring (Hopkins 2019)- As a newly transferred in point guard, Jalen has transitioned well into his role as Hopkins' floor general. He pushed the ball up the floor a lot to create good looks for his teammates, and created a lot of open layups with his ability to throw deep passes to teammates running the floor in transition. On offense, Jalen was hard to guard due to his quickness and handling, and created some good looks for himself off the dribble. He even showed the ability to finish inside over opposing forwards. Highlights of Jalen coming soon.
Dain Dainja (Park Center 2020)- The junior big man continues to dominate down low in fall league play, showing why he's one of the most recruited forwards in the 2020 class nationally. His footwork in the low post matched up against Wisconsin commit Tyler Wahl was fantastic, showcasing a variety of moves to get off a clean shot. He hit a few nice fadeaways, threw down a monster dunk on the first possession, and showcased his handles by driving from the wing for some lay-ins. On defense Dain was an imposing presence, blocking a few shots and altering others.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Breakdown Fall League Top Performers Week 1
Every week I'll be recognizing some of the top performers that I was able to watch at the Breakdown Sports Fall League. A lot of the top schools and players participate, making it one of the top fall leagues in the Midwest! Check out some of the players who played well in week one below.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall)- The 6'5 Western Illinois commit came ready to play versus one of the top teams in the state in Eden Prairie. He started off with a few buckets and an assist to force an early timeout, and kept that pressure on the whole game. Since last season he has gotten even more athletic, with a noticeably improved vertical. He used this to throw down a couple of huge dunks on his way to a win over Eden Prairie.
Jaeden King (Cretin-Derham Hall)- The 6'5 Western Illinois commit came ready to play versus one of the top teams in the state in Eden Prairie. He started off with a few buckets and an assist to force an early timeout, and kept that pressure on the whole game. Since last season he has gotten even more athletic, with a noticeably improved vertical. He used this to throw down a couple of huge dunks on his way to a win over Eden Prairie.
Andy Stafford (Hopkins)- The new transfer to Hopkins is already making his presence felt on his new team, as he had a strong offensive outing against East Ridge. He had a few nice reverse layups and a dunk to cap off the game. His off-ball movement created a lot of good looks for him. He helped lead Hopkins to a win over highly talented East Ridge.
Kerwin Walton (Hopkins)- Kerwin comes back for his junior season a more complete and aggressive player. With his team losing three starters, Kerwin was looking for his shot more than I had seen him do last season. He is more than just a catch and shoot player, Kerwin showed the ability to create his shot off the dribble and get the rack as well. His shot wasn't falling much in the first half, but he took over in the second to help his team get the win over East Ridge.
Tyree Ihenacho (Prior Lake)- More of an under the radar player in Minnesota, Tyree proved to be a very productive wing for Prior Lake. He excelled at slashing to the rim off the dribble, and with some off ball cuts that got him some easy looks to score. His speed and athleticism is a good compliment to the size that Prior Lake brings to the post. He capped off the day with a posterizing dunk that I'm sure many have seen on social media already.
Detavius Frierson (Park Center)- I knew that Detavius could be in for a productive season after seeing some action off the bench last year, but he had a huge impact against Wayzata. His athleticism combined with Park Center's ability to create turnovers will be special to watch this year. He had a handful of breakaway dunks in the second half, and was a dangerous weapon among an already talented team.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Team Preview: Hopkins
The Hopkins Royals are a consistent force in the state of Minnesota. They always seem to be loaded with college talent all the way down the roster, and are usually one of the favorites to win state. Last year the Royals ultimately fell short of accomplishing their goal of a state title, and lost some key players to graduation. Joe Hedstrom is now playing for the Wisconsin Badgers, Anthony Davis is at Williston State, and key bench players DJ Davis and Akeen Woods are both gone as well. Highly rated 2020 Blaise Beauchamp has also been lost due to transferring. With all of these losses, how will coach Ken Novak Jr. and the Royals respond?
It starts down low with top 35 national recruit Zeke Nnaji. Zeke is an athletic 6'11 forward, who has the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting. He has an offer from Kentucky, which is enough to let anyone know just how talented of a player he is. As a junior Zeke averaged 19.4 ppg, a number which could increase as a senior. Zeke is a force on the glass on both ends of the floor, which leads to a lot of putback buckets for the Royals. Any team contending for a state title typically has a star player that can take over a game, and Zeke has the potential to do so as a senior. With Zeke drawing a lot of focus inside, it will open up a lot of space for the talented guards of Hopkins.
The success of Zeke Nnaji will be assisted by junior guard Kerwin Walton. Kerwin is one of the top shooters in the state, and can catch fire on any given night. His shooting will be used to stretch the floor, creating space inside for Nnaji to work with. Kerwin was a double figure scorer last season, and could push his numbers up towards the 18-20 ppg mark as a junior. After a strong AAU season, he could come back with a more complete game, becoming a threat off the dribble and not just a shooter. He will play a crucial role in replacing the numbers lost from Anthony Davis and Beauchamp.
With the two previously mentioned players being the only returning starters for Hopkins, who will step into the other three spots? Insert senior Dane Zimmer. The 6'7 forward will step into the lineup to replace Joe Hedstrom's production, after being the Royal's sixth man last year. Dane brings heart, hustle, and intelligence to the floor, and will take on a leadership role as a senior. After averaging 9 ppg and 6 rpg last season, Dane will be a workhorse down low, pulling in rebounds and scoring off of putbacks. Dane's presence will help keep opposing defenses honest when focusing on Nnaji, and will ultimately play a big role in Hopkin's success overall.
A couple of newcomers to watch for include newly transferred Andy Stafford and sophomore Andre Gray. Andy arrives from Minnetonka, after previously attending Hopkins. He is a legit D2 prospect who averaged 9 ppg last season. Stafford brings a solid 6'4/6'5 frame to the lineup, and will compete for a starting spot. He will combine with sophomore Andre Gray to make up for the loss of Anthony Davis at the shooting guard spot. Andre played at the lower levels for Hopkins last season, developing his game with his classmates. He is a skilled guard with good athleticism and size, and is considered a top 10 player in the state for his class. Unknown as to what his immediate role will be on varsity, he has the potential to be yet another scoring threat for this talented squad.
Replacing Blaise Beauchamp at the point guard spot will likely be incoming transfer Jalen Dearring. Jalen is one of the top senior guards in the state, and comes to Hopkins after a strong junior year at Minnetonka which saw him average 16.6 ppg as the lead guard. Also competing for minutes at the point guard spot will be sophomore Jaelen Treml. Like classmate Andre Gray, Jaelen is one of the top guards in the state for the 2021 class, and could be an instant impact player in his first year on varsity.
Quick guard Josh Fogel and and the athletic Calvin Harris will likely contribute solid minutes off the bench for Novak's squad. Fogel is a lightning quick 5'6 point guard who can play a major role on defense. He can be a pest on opposing guards, picking them up full court and disrupting the flow of their offense. Harris is a long and and bouncy forward, with potential to be an energizer off the bench. He is capable of throwing down powerful dunks, and is a shot blocking presence on defense. Both split time on JV and Varsity last year, and will look to be solid contributors as seniors.
Hopkins will sport a fresh but talented starting lineup, filled with scholarship level college prospects. They have a combination of size and skill, and are able to stretch the floor with great three point shooting. But relying on a starting lineup alone would make it extremely challenging to make a state title run. I believe that Hopkin's success as a team will largely depend on the impacts that their bench players can have. Will they contribute consistent defense? Will they pick up scoring when the starters are struggling? Will they provide energy and communication both on the floor and on the bench? If they can do all of these things, the Hopkins Royals will be hard to bring down come March.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 24-2
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Zeke Nnaji 22 ppg
Kerwin Walton 16 ppg
Jalen Dearring 14 ppg
Dane Zimmer 12 ppg
Friday, October 12, 2018
Team Preview: Racine Park (WI)
After a successful campaign last year that saw them come up one game short of the state tournament, Racine Park returns with high hopes of bringing a state title back to Racine. Though they lost a few talented players due to graduation and transfer, Park returns a highly talented lineup with a lot of length and experience.
The headliner for Park will be their do-it-all forward Nobal Days. The 6'9 big man has been a mainstay in the Panther lineup since he was a freshman, and will be hungry for a state birth after coming up just short multiple times. Nobal is one of the best interior defenders and rebounders in the state, and makes things extremely difficult for opposing offenses with his ability to block and alter shots inside. Unique for his height, Nobal also has the ability to run the fast break after getting a defensive rebound, while also having the vision to throw long outlet passes to streaking teammates. Though he won't put up huge scoring numbers, Nobal does have a versatile offensive game, which requires defenses to focus on him from beyond the arc and inside the paint. His most dangerous attribute is his passing, where he has the ability to drop dimes from the low or high post areas to cutting teammates. Nobal's ability to contribute in all areas on the court makes Park a dangerous team.
The top scorer for Park the past two seasons has been Larry Canady, and he will likely make that three straight years as a senior. The dangerous offensive talent has averaged double figures his entire career with Park, and will lead the offensive charge for the Panthers once again. He has solid length at the guard spot standing at 6'2 with long arms, which gives him the ability to finish at the rim or pull up over defenders from the mid-range. Laryy doesn't force anything offensively, and when he gets going he is near impossible to stop without double teaming him. On the flip side, Larry is one of the top on-ball defenders in the state, always taking the challenge of guarding the opposing team's top guard/wing. Look for him to push 20 ppg as a senior.
Providing even more length for Park will be senior forward Richie Warren. Standing 6'5 and long, Richie is a good compliment alongside Nobal in the post. He is a solid finisher and rebounder, having averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg while shooting over 70% from the field. Ricky Canady also returns for his third year on the varsity squad, and will likely step in to a full time starting role. He is very strong and physical, and uses his body well to defend and finish through contact. He is a good piece who can do a bit of everything for Park. Zyiere Carey will look to round out the starting lineup. The senior guard is a big time offensive threat with his athleticism and shooting. He returns after averaging 8 ppg as a junior while shooting 44% from deep. Zyiere is a spark who can provide instant offense when he gets going.
Stevie Henderson is another talented junior on this Panther squad. At 6'2 he brings some length and athleticism to the rotation, and will contribute heavy minutes after averaging 2.3 ppg as a sophomore. Other than the six mentioned, Park doesn't return any players that saw many minutes on varsity. They will have to rely on junior varsity call-ups or some freshmen talent to provide quality minutes off the bench. If they can find that depth, they will be an extremely hard team to beat come the playoffs.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 18-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Larry Canady 20 ppg
Zyiere Carey 11 ppg
Nobal Days 10 ppg
The headliner for Park will be their do-it-all forward Nobal Days. The 6'9 big man has been a mainstay in the Panther lineup since he was a freshman, and will be hungry for a state birth after coming up just short multiple times. Nobal is one of the best interior defenders and rebounders in the state, and makes things extremely difficult for opposing offenses with his ability to block and alter shots inside. Unique for his height, Nobal also has the ability to run the fast break after getting a defensive rebound, while also having the vision to throw long outlet passes to streaking teammates. Though he won't put up huge scoring numbers, Nobal does have a versatile offensive game, which requires defenses to focus on him from beyond the arc and inside the paint. His most dangerous attribute is his passing, where he has the ability to drop dimes from the low or high post areas to cutting teammates. Nobal's ability to contribute in all areas on the court makes Park a dangerous team.
The top scorer for Park the past two seasons has been Larry Canady, and he will likely make that three straight years as a senior. The dangerous offensive talent has averaged double figures his entire career with Park, and will lead the offensive charge for the Panthers once again. He has solid length at the guard spot standing at 6'2 with long arms, which gives him the ability to finish at the rim or pull up over defenders from the mid-range. Laryy doesn't force anything offensively, and when he gets going he is near impossible to stop without double teaming him. On the flip side, Larry is one of the top on-ball defenders in the state, always taking the challenge of guarding the opposing team's top guard/wing. Look for him to push 20 ppg as a senior.
Providing even more length for Park will be senior forward Richie Warren. Standing 6'5 and long, Richie is a good compliment alongside Nobal in the post. He is a solid finisher and rebounder, having averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg while shooting over 70% from the field. Ricky Canady also returns for his third year on the varsity squad, and will likely step in to a full time starting role. He is very strong and physical, and uses his body well to defend and finish through contact. He is a good piece who can do a bit of everything for Park. Zyiere Carey will look to round out the starting lineup. The senior guard is a big time offensive threat with his athleticism and shooting. He returns after averaging 8 ppg as a junior while shooting 44% from deep. Zyiere is a spark who can provide instant offense when he gets going.
Stevie Henderson is another talented junior on this Panther squad. At 6'2 he brings some length and athleticism to the rotation, and will contribute heavy minutes after averaging 2.3 ppg as a sophomore. Other than the six mentioned, Park doesn't return any players that saw many minutes on varsity. They will have to rely on junior varsity call-ups or some freshmen talent to provide quality minutes off the bench. If they can find that depth, they will be an extremely hard team to beat come the playoffs.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 18-4
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Larry Canady 20 ppg
Zyiere Carey 11 ppg
Nobal Days 10 ppg
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Team Preview: Cretin-Derham Hall
In 2018, the Cretin-Derham Hall "Showtime Raiders" team put together one of the most exciting seasons in Minnesota High School history. With Daniel Oturu swatting shots into the bleachers, Sy Chatman putting defenders on a poster seemingly every game, Ryan Larson dropping enough dimes to fill a piggy bank, and Jaeden King draining threes from NBA range, the Raiders went on to win the AAAA state championship in historic fashion. Although going into the season as one of the favorites to win the title, no one would have expected it to come off of an alley-oop dunk at the buzzer (a play which would go viral after making Sports Center's Top 10 Plays).
With a senior dominated lineup last season, many thought that the Raiders would go through a bit of a rebuilding stage this upcoming season. But Jerry Kline has a reloaded lineup ready to prove that they are once again state contenders. With a lot of new faces to the team, it will be interesting to see if they can emulate some of last season's chemistry.
The lineup will start with lone returning starter Jaeden King. The 6'5 sharpshooting guard will be crucial in providing leadership and experience for an otherwise unfamiliar team. After averaging 14 ppg as a junior, Jaeden will once again be a top scoring threat for the Raiders, and will be useful at opening up space for his teammates due to his ability to spread the defense with his shooting range.
New to the lineup will be incoming transfer Trejuan Holloman, the talented 2022 point guard. Tre has the talent, athleticism, and size to follow in the footsteps of Tre Jones, Jalen Suggs, and Kendall Brown as Minnesota's recent 5-star point guards. Coach Jerry Kline will likely be putting a lot of trust into the talented freshman to run the point for Raiders, as he has the ability to make plays for himself and his teammates on both ends of the court. As just an 8th grader Trejuan averaged 10.7 ppg at Minneapolis North, a number that will likely go up as he handles the ball for the fast paced Raiders.
Fellow transfers Karsten Broadley (Fosston) and Curtis Jones (Minneapolis South) will add varsity experience to a rather inexperienced team. Karsten is a Division 2 offered talent who will bring some size to the Raider lineup as well as double digit scoring and consistent rebounding. Curtis Jones will provide another scoring threat (16.5 ppg last season) among a talented group of guards, and may handle some of the ball handling alongside Tre Holloman.
2020 wing Amari Carter was a role player off the bench last season and will look to push into the starting lineup as a junior, where he has the potential to have a breakout season. Amari brings good length and athleticism to the floor, with the ability to play the 1-4 positions. Peter Udoibok and Danny McGraw will provide size off of the bench for the Raiders. Tristan Lee is an athletic 2021 guard who played well for the JV team last season, and could see solid playing time on the varsity squad this season. 2020 guard Tyson Schilling is also a new transfer who could contribute time at the guard position with his athleticism.
The Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders will return with talent and athleticism, but the question remains about how the new team will mesh together. Will they be able to take down conference rival East Ridge on the road to state? Will the new pieces adjust to not being the main guy on their team? With all of these questions at hand, only time will tell how the Raiders will perform in the 18-19 season. Last year's "Showtime" chemistry will be tough to emulate, but many are confident that Coach Jerry Kline can push his Raiders into state contention yet again.
Predicted Regular Season Record: 21-5
Predicted Scoring Leaders: Jaeden King 20 ppg
Trejuan Holloman 16 ppg
Karsten Broadley 13 ppg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)