Battle at the Lakes: Saturday’s Best
On Saturday at the Collin Powell Center the Battle at the Lakes hit its pinnacle in terms of games played sun up to sun down. Pool play finished up, bracket play started, and Prep Hoops was there for all of…
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Continue ReadingOn Saturday at the Collin Powell Center the Battle at the Lakes hit its pinnacle in terms of games played sun up to sun down. Pool play finished up, bracket play started, and Prep Hoops was there for all of it. Who stood out? Here is our list talking players from Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Luke Anthony (Young Legends 17U/Wheaton North). Opened the game with D1 Minnesota hitting three treys and then despite being chased and denied Luke still found his way to 19 point on 13 looks including four treys overall. One of the best shooters we have seen in the first 24 hours of the Battle at the Lakes. Anthony was the guy that kept his team in the event Saturday night when he attacked through three Iowa Steam defenders and got TJ Smith a lay-up for the game winner. Luke was definitely one of the day’s top playmakers overall.
Terry Armstrong (Greenwood Elite). The 2019 talent has caught everybody’s attention. Why? He’s playing on both the 17U and 16U teams for Greenwood so everybody is seeing him and he’s by far the best player for his teams. Armstrong’s handling ability at 14 or 15 years old along with a no-nonsense passing ability that created chances for his teammates. Then there is the jumper. It doesn’t look super clean coming out of his hand but after wondering about it he nailed three treys with feet set to finish the game. So much backcourt skill in a 6-foot-5 body at a young age.
Craig Beaudion (IL Icemen/Whitney Young). The ND Phenom didn’t have a guy that could move with Beaudion so he slashed his way to 19 points missing only one shot for the game. Craig sprinted up the wing to score a couple treys and the rest of his 8-9 field goal shooting was on the move with rapid pace.
Jameson Bryan (Warriors/Eastview). Facing the pressure of athletes from St. Louis Bryan scored seven points in the final 2:30 showing he has no problem taking the ball and getting needed results late. There were turnover issues down the stretch but there was also a huge three-pointer sunk as well as two, yes TWO sideline out of bounds lob sets from the Warrior four man to their 5-foot-10 guard at the rim and with nobody near him Jameson finished both. Made the plays late to get the win.
Cody Carlson (TP Pride/Duluth East). This young man should be on the radar of scholarship programs. His high school lists him at 6-foot-9, Cody runs quite well at that size and he’s fairly quick off his feet. One of the best rebounders in his class as Cody will release from his area to locate boards and he is mean in collection. Swings the elbows some and is aggressive when pulling the ball in. Also has a nice shooting touch for a big with some decent range.
Wyatt Carr (ND Phenom/Hazen). This was maybe the best game we’ve seen Wyatt play and a game that likely gets him the NSIC attention we expected. He has one NSIC offer and after scoring 29 points including five treys against a team of Chicago athletes he could get more. Wyatt shot with range, shot with consistency, and shot with a pretty touch. Made 11 of 17 attempts and battle for seven rebounds. Looked really good at the arc, off of one dribble, and finishing against smaller wings trying to bump him.
Junub Char (TNE). The 2018 guard’s mentality of attack is something to see. He comes down hill hard and will switch his plan of attack to a pull-up in seconds. Kind of guy that can explode for point production in game changing ways. Love his two or three dribble push into a balanced jumper from distance.
Ishmael El-Amin (D1 MN/Mpls North). His ability to score in transition ranks with the best. He’s fantastic getting to the corner and getting feet set, Ishmael down hill gets the angle and finger rolls, and he’s good with the hard at an angle running with the ball. Missed only one shot against Young Legends scoring 15 including two treys.
Spencer Hockert (Alexandria/Comets K). Hockert scored 11 against the Swish early, opened the second half with two quick treys, scored 21 for the game. Alexandria kids are always skilled and coached well and Spencer is a guy you have to gameplan for at the arc or he can change the game like he did today. Made some plays with the bounce into space against a late reacting defense too.
Cody Holt (ND Phenom). The IL Icemen had one big to try and work against Cody and the North Dakota big put him on the bench early. Holt is a solid, well built player you would think plays football at a scholarship level plus he had 20 points and eight boards finishing at the front of the rim ignoring little players trying to swat. Made 9 of 15 field goals.
Matthew Hurt (D1 MN/Rochester JM). His demeanor is so enjoyable to watch. Always an even keel. He was the one guy in the game that was consistent. Spread out his dozen points picking his spots but only needing nine shots for his dozen. Opponents didn’t have a guy that could move with him and that had size. Scored in the post, attacking with a dribble, and off the ball. Plus he timing as a shot blocker is way undervalued.
Bailey Kale (WI Playground Warriors/La Crosse Central). Hit three treys in the first half, scored on three possessions going to the cup in the second half, finished with 15 points, and handled the ball in a very steady way for Playground throughout the game. Such an excellent compliment to Kobe King because Bailey can handle when you want Kobe in a scoring role and he’s a quality shooter when playing off the ball.
Jace Klinker (MN Ice/Woodbury). A 2016 playing with players a year younger Klinker has had a nice spring with the Ice. Late in the game with TP Pride Klinker scored on quick attacking reversals and open floor finishes five times down the stretch of a close game. His finishing was the deciding factor in a win in bracket play.
Noah Kreger (Comets K/Litchfield). Noah is a strong PG that had no trouble with his change of direction to advance against the Swish followed by an initial entry. Much of the game he was the set-up man but late when the Swish was making a comeback Kreger knocked out four treys scoring 16 points for the game. Then to top things off he ran a perfect two minute offense keeping the ball away from the Swish with no shots released. In the second game of Saturday evening Noah hit four more three-pointers scoring 14 points and helping them advance past the Majestics. A shining moment for him with some UMACs watching.
Jake Kutina (Swish/Shakopee). Jake is another interesting Shakopee kid. Good with his feet set hitting attempts but I really liked him beating other wings with a dribble and then lifting into contact and touching shots in over the reach or off the glass. Hit double figures for Shakopee and looks like a guy the Sabers will lean on for points this winter.
Cameron Krutwig (Young Legends 17U/Jacobs HS). About 6-foot-9, 260 pounds, and very thick, Krutwig was immovable on the block. Battle his way to the spot he wanted and sat down for the catch. Scored four times early in the game dropping his hips into his guy to shift their weight and he finished from there. Had problems with the D1 Minnesota length in half two.
Luke Loehr (Warriors/Rosemount). There are guys that want to win and there are guys that will battle for whatever it takes to win. Luke is in the second category. In a good win over the St. Louis Majestics Luke had three late game rebounds that were crucial to his team’s win: 1) a d-board in traffic ending a possession, 2) a putback with two opponents on his arms that was a good ahead score, 3) a late game grab that eventually became another score. Tough kid who made the game winning plays.
Jordan Lynn (D1 MN Prospects/Mpls Henry). Lynn gave his team steals of all type: poke aways after pressure, passing lane jumps, help side thefts. Forced nearly double figure turnovers from division one guards himself. Also transitioned up the floor for double figure scores and the Playground Warrior guards didn’t bother him at all.
Goanar Mar (D1 MN/DeLaSalle). Started the Young Legends game shutting down his guy forcing difficult looks, he then scored on a duck-in in the post with a nice soft hook, hit a three, went on a two possession And1 run that changed the game’s momentum, grabbed seven boards, scored inside late, made foul shots, and totaled 19 points with 7 rebounds. In what was said to be the biggest game of pool play Goanar was the most efficient player on the floor.
Jordan McCabe (Playground Elite). Everything anybody has ever said about his handles is true. This six foot point guard has some of the quickest hands most have ever seen. He goes from a change of direction to a ball fake to an attack before the defender knows what happened. Love the quick releasing touch after a dribble attack move.
Robert McClain (Comets K/Red Lake). The Red Lake do everything talent was playing a decent game against the Swish and then he bounced over everybody for a putback and then had a board push into a buzzer beating And1. He played the role of pushing lead guard, finishing four man in a small line-up, top rebounder, and slashing finisher. McClain had 13 points and 11 rebounds overall. This is a guy with a ton of natural ability who has played every spot on the court in his life. With some skill work at the college level I believe he could be fantastic. Can’t forget, in the next game McClain was fouled at the buzzer with his team down two points. Standing all alone at the foul line McClain made both free tosses and sent the game into overtime which the Comets won.
Tywhon Pickford (D1 MN Prospects/Maple Grove). Pickford suffered a bad leg injury 11 games into the winter. Here were are five months later and he’s started to get some of that game back that had him leading Maple Grove in scoring last year. Today he scored 19 against Wisconsin Playground Warriors and the scores including a three, a couple quick bouncing putbacks, and his slashing scores into traffic. The knee doesn’t seem to be bothering him and when he gets all the way back into playing shape it will be nice to see how he’s playing. Good signs today. Loved when he moved laterally with Badger commit Kobe King, forced him to change directions, poked the ball away, dove for it, and got a timeout. Not many can do that against four star recruits, especially those coming off the injury that Tywhon did.
Dwayne Rose (Team Rose). Love the way Dwayne competes. He’s a strong guard that will outwork opponents on a possession by possession basis. Has a good build and great bounce that was on display when he bounced over two contesting defenders for one of the most physical cocked back dunks we’ve seen. Deep defensive stance that beats guys to the angles and either stops them cold or muscles them off their mark. Offensively we need to see him more but there is definitely an explosive part to him in space.
Steven Ross (IL Icemen/N Lawndale Prep). Hit three treys early in the wing over the ND Phenom and made another late on his way to 17 points. A transition sharp shooter for the Icemen.
Quinton Shields (Team Rose). Michigan had some good athletes but none of them could get in front of Shields as the initial defender or the helping defender. Too fast going down hill for anybody to stop at this tournament so far. Had eight baskets in space against Greenwood Elite and this is a guy I could see pushing the pace for a team that doesn’t spend much time in the halfcourt set.
Austin Slaughter (ND Phenom/GFRR). One of the most versatile players at the event, Austin, who has played power forward at times, had to play lead guard as the Phenom was missing all three of its lead guards. Austin, who is normally a wing, did a nice job keeping turnovers to a minimum despite playing Chicago athletes. He had seven points, seven boards, and five assists including a gorgeous spin move And1.
Adam Trapp (Playground Elite/Esko). Stepped on the floor and instantly the opponents wanted nothing to do with attacking the paint. Five guys became perimeter floaters and for seven straight possessions nobody tried to shoot within 15 feet. His frame being there changed how the other team played and it makes sense, he is 7-foot-2. It took high arcing tear drops for TNE to score on him. Offensively he has a nice lefty touch turning over right shoulder. When he develops the right hand with the other shoulder turn he will be unstoppable after getting position.