2016 Timberwolves Shootout Preview
On Saturday morning and afternoon, a pair of teams from Iowa will be traveling up to Minneapolis to take part in the 20th annual Timberwolves Shootout, held at the Target Center. We preview those two games below. 9:15am: Council Bluffs…
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Continue ReadingOn Saturday morning and afternoon, a pair of teams from Iowa will be traveling up to Minneapolis to take part in the 20th annual Timberwolves Shootout, held at the Target Center. We preview those two games below.
9:15am: Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln vs. Champlin Park (MN)
About Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln: The Lynx are ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, out to a 6-0 start after being arguably the most surprising team in the state last season with a 19-4 year, falling one game short of the state tournament. CBAL is led by big man Tony Bonner, who has been dominant so far this season, posting averages of 22.3 points and just under 10 rebounds. He’s shooting 63% from the floor. The Lynx put a number of quality perimeter shooters around Bonner, with Kyle Crowl (16.8 points, 47.8 3P%), TreVonte Jones (12.0 points, 53.8 3P%) and Devin Logan (7.2 points, 50.0 3P%). The Lynx will need to have the jumpers falling against a very good Champlin Park team to have a shot at pulling out a big win.
About Champlin Park (MN): The Rebels are ranked No. 5 in Minnesota’s Class AAAA (biggest schools). After going 31-1 last season, they lost a trio of standouts in J.T. Gibson (Nebraska-Omaha), Jeremy Johnson (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Marty Hill (Northeast Community College). The cupboard was far from bare, however, with a pair of Rivals150s back in the 2017 class – McKinley Wright and Theo John. Wright is the straw that stirs the drink for the Rebels, averaging 19 points, five assists and nine rebounds, in addition to being a high-level defender. He holds offers from Iowa State, Illinois and Kansas State, among others. John is a man on the interior, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds. He holds Minnesota, Iowa, Marquette, Nebraska and Illinois offers. The Rebels have gotten quality play out of 2017 guards Brian Smith and D.J. Hunter, and 2016 wing Aaron Kloeppner.
Key Matchup
Tony Bonner vs. Theo John. Bonner has been a star this season for the Lynx, but this will be his toughest task to date. John is a nationally ranked prospect with an edge in quickness and length. Bonner will need to limit John’s productivity on the interior and on the glass for the Lynx to have a shot at coming away with a win.
Top Prospects
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln: Tony Bonner (6’8″, PF, 2016), TreVonte Jones (6’0″, PG, 2016), Kyle Crowl (6’1″, SG, 2016)
Champlin Park (MN): Theo John (6’9″, C, 2017), McKinley Wright (6’1″, PG, 2017)
The prediction: CBAL struggles from the perimeter in the NBA arena and McKinley Wright paces a powerful Champlin Park attack in a Rebel win.
12:45pm: Iowa City West vs. Maple Grove (MN)
About Iowa City West: The No. 1 team in 4A, West has been an Iowa powerhouse for years now. The Trojans are loaded with talent, but suffered a significant setback right before the holiday break when 2016 forward Tanner Lohaus suffered a dislocated ankle and tore two ligaments in his ankle. The Northern Iowa commit was averaging only 8.5 points, but is a glue guy for the Trojans who does a lot of the little things that make them so dangerous. A timetable for his return has not yet been established. The Trojans are making their second trip to Minnesota this season, dropping a game to Apple Valley in early December, 72-64. 2017 point guard Connor McCaffery (Iowa commit) was sensational in that game, scoring 28 points against the Gary Trent-led Eagles. He leads the Trojans in scoring at 16 points a game. Fellow 2017 guard Devontae Lane adds 13 points a night and is one of the best perimeter defenders in the state. 2016 forward Wali Parks (11.5 points, 6.7 rebounds) is an athletic playmaker who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. 2019 small forward Patrick McCaffery is among the top players in his class nationally. He’s been coming off the bench so far this season, but with the Lohaus injury, he’ll need to become more assertive on the offensive end. 2016s Nate Barnes, Alex Henderson, Dallas Majors and David Pederson provide depth and experience for the Trojans.
About Maple Grove (MN): The Crimson are ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA, behind a balanced attack that features five players averaging in double figures. Reed Nikko, a Missouri signee, anchors the paint for the Crimson, with a quartet of talented guards and wings around him. 2017 guards Brad Davison (Nebraska, UNI offers), Tywhon Pickford (the Crimson’s leading scorer) and Jack Hutchison (Montana State, Sam Houston State offers) are all ranked among the top 20 2017s in Minnesota by Northstar Hoops Report. Senior guard Taron Pickford is the last remaining piece of the talented group. This is a talented team that is among the elite in Minnesota.
Key Matchup
Connor McCaffery vs. Brad Davison. McCaffery was sensational in West’s earlier trip north against Apple Valley, and the Trojans will need him to have another big effort in this one. Davison is a talented lead guard with the ability to score from everywhere, and he’s a very good facilitator. McCaffery coming out with a positive result from this matchup would go a long way towards a West win.
Top Prospects
Iowa City West: Connor McCaffery (6’5″, PG, 2017, Iowa), Devontae Lane (6’0″, G, 2017), Wali Parks (6’5″, F, 2016, Indian Hills Community College), Patrick McCaffery (6’6″, SF, 2019), Alex Henderson (6’2″, G, 2016)
Maple Grove (MN): Reed Nikko (6’9″, C, 2016, Missouri), Brad Davison (6’3″, PG, 2017), Taron Pickford (6’0″, PG, 2016), Jack Hutchison (6’1″, SG, 2017), Tywhon Pickford (6’4″, SF, 2017)
The prediction: Connor McCaffery has another dazzling performance in the North Star State, and he gets enough help from Lane, Parks and company to overcome the loss of Tanner Lohaus. Coach Steve Bergman hasn’t been terribly happy with the way the Trojans have been playing so far this year, and I believe he used the break to get his group re-focused. This should be the game of the day in Minneapolis.