Gopher Team Camp: Sunday Notes
Minnesota’s Team Camp finished up Sunday afternoon with games all over the University campus and NHR was front and center to see as many teams as possible once again. This is what we saw Sunday. The Champlin Park vs Minnehaha…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMinnesota’s Team Camp finished up Sunday afternoon with games all over the University campus and NHR was front and center to see as many teams as possible once again. This is what we saw Sunday.
- The Champlin Park vs Minnehaha Academy 8am game was likely the best of the day considering the level of fight brought out of all of the players. This was the type of game that every improved because they were simply in the game. Champlin Park won (they won all six of their games this weekend) but the Redhawks gave them a good battle.
- Brian Smith‘s shooting was the biggest thing to take note on the scoreboard. When the Rebels too control was the time period he made three treys and a 17 footer as well in about three or four minutes time. Smith’s shooting has been a game changer all spring and now into the summer.
- The guy quickly pushing or snap rotating the ball to Smith was McKinley Wright. Wright’s Sunday play was exceptional in all ways. Really liked how he moved the ball to Smith and Theo John for several open looks, his loose ball/defensive rebounding battle reminds me of the way Bobby Jackson used to fight for balls, there were guys who tried to push and McKinley would stop them dead in their tracks with his ball pressure. Guys literally would change their angle or just slow down knowing they didn’t want to attack him. Wright was fantastic all weekend.
- Marcus Hill plays the worker role very well for his team. Had a couple huge late scores running the floor, catching or attacking, finishing after contact. Thought he did a great job as the cutter moving opposite of Wright and Smith plus he defended really well. Seems due for a big senior year.
- Theo John‘s interior game looks more refined. His low post moves look more comfortable as they are quicker and in better position so therefore John is more comfortable to shoulder turn or face-up and make a strong move to finish at the cup. He was so physical around the basket that he was able to get every post touch he wanted. Loved his sequence against Minneapolis North where he raced down to block a shot off the backboard and then sprinted the other way to catch an alley-oop from Wright.
- Jalen Suggs was really good against the Rebels not in a flashy way, but in a physical attacking matured way. The Rebels aren’t a team that allow much space so every basket has to be a physical fight through somebody and Jalen more than held his own in that way. When he got past the initial defender Jalen was able to both hit the mid-range shot or go at the rim, rise above the help defenders, take their contact, and score. Was really impressed how he played against matured defenders and showed he can grind out baskets against that type of defense.
- Really liked the way JaVonni Bickham battled inside against the three different Rebels who went against him. Was able to turn the corner from about 18 feet and in with his ball handling skills. He’s good enough with the dribble to make a move to get the edge and then strong enough to keep it after getting to the corner. JaVonni also showed off his ability to catch on the block, hold that position, and then make a strong move on balance using his fine touch to complete. His game against Champlin was one of the better ones I’ve seen him play. Was very motivated and it really helped him perform.
- Two guys that won games for their teams late with several late game free throws in one score games were Brooklyn Center’s Davonta Prince and Mound-Westonka’s Sage Griffin. Prince continues to impress with his added height and length, did a great job attacking all the different size and shape of players that attempted to defend him.
- Totino-Grace 6-foot-8 four man Rocky Kreuser is starting to get a lot of division one attention (Davidson, USD, Drake, NDSU, etc) and this weekend was a clear example why. Rocky has fantastic hands, range on his beautiful jumper, a workman like effort in everything he does including a fantastic out of area attack of boards, and a big body that gets up and down the floor well. This is a guy that could definitely see a lot of D1 attention come this July.
- 2020 Lu-Cye Patterson will enter ninth grade this September but the way he handles a team with confidence and direction makes you think he’s well beyond that in years. Has a no-nonsense approach when handling always reading the defense and sensing two passes ahead. Made a couple huge jumpers late in a way over Totino-Grace for his Brooklyn Center team and handled the ball down the stretch of the victory.
- Goodnews Kpegeol has grown to a legit 6-foot-5 and more of that vast potential was shown on Sunday. He had a memorable block at the end of the game with JM, Goodnews hit a couple threes using that length to go over the top of contesting defenders all weekend, and he was breaking down and getting past defenders three or four inches shorter than him. The 2018 guard has a lot of potential and he flashed what he could be several times.
- Columbia Heights caught my attention this weekend with their talent on three levels: Deundra Robinson in the backcourt, Chris Kelly at forward, Wendell Matthews up front. All three are going to be juniors and all three are talented. Robinson’s 20 point effort was key in beating Henry and his open floor dunk over a Henry reserve big is memorable. Robinson was racing up the floor for transition production constantly. Chris Kelly came down hill at Henry using his length to score 17 points over the top of Henry defenders. Chris rebounded well (seven) and played a very active game in all ways. Matthews is about 6-foot-6, long, and active up front. He scored seven times in the paint most of the time getting to the front of the rim and scoring after a dump-off or completing putbacks. Both Kelly and Matthews are nearly impossible to block out on the weakside when you think about the several guards that have to rotate to do it.
- Henry played a lot of guys this weekend getting all of their 16 players on the court. We got a look at several we liked. Lamar Wood had one of his best weekends of basketball ever playing as hard as we’ve seen. The 6-foot-7 and agile power forward had 18 points and eight boards versus Heights getting to spots in front of the rim in transition and in the halfcourt to catch and complete. As agile as Lamar is, it just takes him working hard away from the ball to get in good spots and he did that all weekend and his teammates rewarded him. If Lamar keeps playing this active both in the halfcourt and in transition good things will come his way.
- A guy I really liked for the Patriots was Demtri Sanner-Robinson, the player with all the hair who was seemingly everywhere. Demtri had 13 rebounds for his double-double against the Hylanders just cannonball exploding to rebounds with really no regard to who was near him. It was Dennis Rodman like the way Demtri fired to boards and then swung his elbows to clear, and then outlet the ball and fly the other way. The Patriots also got 14 each from Savion Scott and Jordan Lynn who will be a dynamic backcourt in the City this year.
- Courtney Brown Jr was a scorer on all three levels this weekend and the 6-foto-5/6-foot-6 three man put together a performance that will stick in our heads. Against Moorhead he had 26 points and 13 rebounds using a second jump to finish putbacks before the defense could react, a clean jumper to hit feet set attempts at the arc, liked the physical attacks extending to finish with power, and his spin move into a finger roll as well as his acrobatic completions were strong as well. Scored on all three levels and made foul shots and as that continues his stock will continue to lift.
- The jack of all trades player from East Ridge is Ben Franks. Need a guy to defend the top player? That’s Ben. Want a tough that won’t turn the ball over? Franks is your man. Boards? He will fight for them all day, had 8 against Moorhead. How about clutch foul shooting? Late in the game he put the Spuds away. Trusted worker.
- The Moorhead player we liked as was Maleek Harden, a long armed guard who seems to be young and with potential. Didn’t see his name on the varsity or JV roster last year so is likely a young talent. Scored double figures against East Ridge and was supported early by Alend Alemadi, and late by Cole Crompton and Ethan Hoff who each hit a couple late treys. All these guys were in double figures.