MN in Vegas: Sunday’s Top Ten
The Final night in Las Vegas was highlighted by tournament runs and big time performances. Race Thompson led the top individual efforts while the Minnesota Comets NY2LA championship was the top team accomplishment. Here is the final MN in Vegas…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Final night in Las Vegas was highlighted by tournament runs and big time performances. Race Thompson led the top individual efforts while the Minnesota Comets NY2LA championship was the top team accomplishment. Here is the final MN in Vegas Top Ten.
- Comets take the NY2LA Crown. The list of wins was very impressive. After winning the pool the Comets met up with the Minnesota Warriors, a game Minnesota hoops fans had waited all year for and we got it in bracket play in Vegas and it was an all timer. They then beat a much improved Select team, then beat a top three team from Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Swing. This means that the Comets, who will be ranked in the top five next week in the final rankings, have beaten two of the top three teams in Wisconsin this year (Swing and Playground Elite). They then finished their weekend beat the Las Vegas Prospects squad which is an EYBL team. In that final the highest Comet had eight points. A fitting end as nobody had big numbers, but all ten guys had contributed in equal ways.
- The Week Belongs to Race. If you were to pick the top individual of the week in Vegas it’s hard to look past 2018 Race Thompson. His game winner yesterday was one moment, his earning of three high major offers was another, there was his leading his team to a win up front when Jarvis Thomas and Joseph Hedstrom had to sit out, and then the 42 points he scored in the final game including a clutch buzzer beater to send the semi-final into overtime. Fantastic weekend for Race.
- Win 51. That is the final number of wins for the Howard Pulley Panthers, a ridiculous total. If you look at all the teams in the nation it’s a shoe-in that the Panthers are a top ten team nationally. Debate where all you want, I have no idea. I just know that this team took second place in the Bigfoot Hoops event falling to Seattle Rotary in the finals, another EYBL team, and they lost by a single point despite not having Gary Trent Jr or Theo John. Brad Davison took over the semi-final late with a deep trey and foul shots and then had 25 in the final. Brad, Isaac Johnson, and Tre Jones continued their consistent performances.
- D1 Minnesota on National TV. D1 Minnesota dropped the game to Garner Road in the sweet 16 which was a bitter ending. Garner Road then went on to play in the title game so there wasn’t much shame there and then D1 Minnesota got maybe the best consolation prize one could ask for, a national TV spot seen around the country. It was a nice promotion for the D1 Minnesota program talking about the Minnesota kids in many ways. The country got to know the young talent of Matthew Hurt, they saw Nathan Reuvers score 17, Ishmael El-Amin had another nice game, Goanar Mar did as well, and Jack Hutchison scored ten. Very fun experience for them, and for those in the Minnesota basketball community that play with these kids, coach them, or just know them. This is another squad that is definitely a top ten team in the nation when you look at results and consistency.
- Oturo Will Be Top 100. Or at least he should be. Daniel Otruo has more than proved he should move up in our state rankings, that he should move up nationally, and that he is another guy in 2018 that is showing that this will also be one of Minnesota’s best classes in the recent history of Minnesota high school hoops. Had 16 points and 14 rebounds in the second place game.
- Several Respectable Runners Up. You have Heat Vang taking second in the Bigfoot Platinum level (the next level after the one Pulley played in), there was Comets DLR grabbing a second in their bracket play, the Minnesota Eagles took second in their bracket, and I’m sure there were one or two others. Also, Fury Antl 16s made a quality run of their own.
- Vang Gang. The top Minnesota hash tag of the week, the Minnesota Heat made a run to their final, and like Powerhouse Minnesota the day before, got to play on the Jordan court with the special black floor, silver rims, and giant banners. Very cool experience for them and they made a run behind Chase Grinde, Sean Sutherlin, Parker Fox, Dominic Bledsoe, and the guy who really surprised, Zach Ojile. Fun run for the Vang Gang.
- 2018s Stepping up. We know Tre is a top 25 guy and likely a five star guy. We know Race Thompson is a top 100 guy and he may he even be more than that and any service that didn’t have him there will be stepping up quick. Don’t know if Daniel Oturo was ranked nationally many places but he will be in the next round of rankings without a doubt. Who else? Adam Trapp is in 1 or 2 rankings of top 100 or 150, and I think Gabe Kalscheur is listed in one of the rankings. The next guy who should get consideration is Jarvis Thomas. Jarvis played his tail off in July plus is starting to show a more consistent stroke. Add that with the explosion we know he has and he’s taken steps forward. And with these steps it could mean a national ranking and a definite top five spot in a very good Minnesota class.
- Fun Online of Thanks. I really like some of the messages that all of the kids and programs put up today about their love for their teams and fellow players. Really cool to read the guys that on the final day put out positive messages. A big stand up and round of applause for those that run these programs and take so much time out of their lives to help these kids. Great job Minnesota.
- We Are Elite. Minnesota Grassroots basketball makes runs all over because our coaches are better than most coaches from other states and our kids play better team basketball. This isn’t just smoke blowing, these are the words of other state’s coaches and reporters. From the shoe teams to the NY2LA and SPTS leagues, to the others at all levels, our teams earn a lot of respect for the way we play. It’s no coincidence that the state is getting these strong results.