Young Starlets of State Playoffs
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High pressure playoff games require players to make instant, excellent decisions in quick succession. Because experience helps accomplishing this so much easier, veterans tend to thrive in the postseason.
Flying in the face of that truth were numerous unproven, yet talented young players meeting the moment with vigor.
Illinois 3A State Champion Morgan Park leaned on several young starlets: Marcus Watson, Lamond Johnson, and Nimari Burnett.
IL 3A Semifinal
Facing a guard-driven Springfield Lanphier unit in the 3A semifinal, Morgan Park lost the state’s best upperclassmen, Ayo Dosunmu four minutes after jump. Dosunmu suffered a broken bone in his left heel. The unanticipated absence forced green freshman Marcus Watson into action.
Entering play Watson saw varsity action in three games. MPHS Head Coach Nick Irvin felt no reluctance to insert the unproven Watson because he believed in the young man’s capabilities.
“That’s the most Marcus (Watson) played all season,” said Coach Irvin afterwards. “He was waiting for his moment. When Ayo went down, he was looking like, ‘It’s my time, Coach. You need me now.’ And we did. That was a gutsy effort by Marcus.”
Frankly, Watson struggled in the first half. Lanphier Head Coach Blake Turner astutely applied pressure to the freshman point guard. It worked.
Watson coughed up three turnovers in the second quarter alone.
2020 PG Marcus Watson (IL) playing much better 2nd half. Steal. He had off reb/putback earlier. Really competent. 55-47 MP. 1:55 left
— Andrew Force (@AndrewForce8) March 17, 2017
After settling his nerves at halftime, Watson took charge like a seasoned veteran. He ripped free four steals, often facing Lanphier’s strongest players.
Watson plucked one steal from Yaakema Rose and another from Aundrae Williams. It is difficult to put into perspective the enormity of Watson’s contributions. Morgan Park would not have advanced over Lanphier with even an average game from the 125-pound freshman.
He gave up 65 pounds to the senior Rose and still managed to disrupt and distribute. In his fourth career high school game, Marcus Watson finished with a game-high six assists.
Sparkling IL 3A Final
Sure Nimari Burnett scored nine points in the semifinal, but this shooting star came into full view a day later.
Oak Park Fenwick and Morgan Park were squared in the final minute, 55-55.
When Burnett missed a game-winning three-pointer in the final second of regulation a normal teenager would be forgiven for pouting, for hanging his head. Doubt is inevitable in the strongest of hearts, but Nimari Burnett imagined immediate redemption.
Tall, kind-faced Burnett found himself dueling with Oak Park Fenwick’s star freshman DJ Steward in a State Championship game overtime. Foul accumulation removed Fenwick’s Jamal Nixon and Jacob Keller from the contest. Few moments in a high school hoopers career are bigger.
Unable to drive a car, Burnett drove Morgan Park to a Illinois state title with three overtime triples.
“Nimari (Burnett) loves the moment,” said Coach Irvin. “He’s been making big shots all year. … He had it rolling and I knew if he made it that would probably be the dagger for him. That’s how we play. It’s been a crazy weekend anyway, why not take it?”
The freshman scored 24 points in 30 minutes of play, still ostensibly a bench player.
While Burnett’s exploits earned him widely deserved praise, DJ Steward produced an astronomical game. Forget that he is a freshman for a second. Forget that Steward was attacking 6-foot-8 bigs in the paint.
Despite the difficulty of the shot, the size of the stage, Steward scored ALL 14 times he shot the basketball against Morgan Park. Steward recorded four free throws and an unimitable 10 of 10 from the floor.
The number barely makes sense, without considering the age and physical maturity of the participant.
National Examples
Playoff games are wonderful stages for breakout performances. A quick survey of PrepHoops analysts revealed multiple scoring explosions from young starlets.
From Michigan, sophomore “Harlond Beverly played a pretty good tonight in a semifinal loss,” said PrepHoopsMI Analyst Jeff McKinney.
Powers North Central narrowly knocked off Southfield Christian Thursday night. Despite the double overtime loss sustained by Southfield Christian, sophomore Harlond Beverly rattled off 23 points.
Congrats to Harlond Beverly on his All-M.I.A.C. 1st team selection. pic.twitter.com/hX7A4wL3ub
— SCS Athletics (@WeAreSCEagles) March 6, 2017
Floridian athletes are as highly coveted as any single state’s in the nation. Between football, basketball, and baseball the state routinely turns out elite competitors.