Midwest Live: Saturday Afternoon Take Five
The Midwest Live event brought together a strong group of teams from the Upper Midwest including a pair of 16U EYBL teams. Prep Hoops gives you the Saturday morning “Midwest Live: Take Five”.
Take One. Team Iowa has a couple of the best players in the state but 43 Hoops overcame those players for a balanced morning victory. Chris Kelly hit key threes, Deundra Robinson made the open floor his playground again with some explosive dunks, and Wendell Matthews finished several times inside easily as opponents couldn’t get off the floor with him quick enough. But Caleb Davis, a wing from Cretin-Derham Hall was most impressive.
Davis scored six times in smooth scoring ways bursting to the angle and then laying in off the glass before the defense could react. Davis looked every bit the type of player that can help CDH with scoring numbers next year. Hunter Strait is a top 5-6 kid in Iowa and Derrick Diggins too and both had 21 but the 43 Hoops balance was too much.
Take Two. The Minnesota Fury Defense. We may have to give them a trophy for what they do. I think the best sequence was a pair of transition scores after steals followed by Michael Jones and Charlie Jacob trapping the ball and forcing a backcourt violation. Eric Teidman is one of the state’s elite defenders, Spencer Rolland moves as well as any center in the state off of ball screens stopping the attack of guards, and Drew Galinson is a trademark Wayzata defender.
Take Three. The consistency at the 17U level of freshman guard Lu’Cye Patterson is quite amazing. He had 20 points with six rebounds and five assists controlling the pace of play and being selective with each attempt. Once he gets to the edge on a guy Patterson is so smart using his strength to separate and score or getting leverage on a guy while looking tangled to consistently get calls. His mid-range jumper is nearly automatic and Patterson is one of the best passers in Minnesota in my estimation.
Also, Mpls FAB beat Fury Antl with a running time mercy rule buzzer beating alley-oop from Devonta Prince. Adreone Sprinkles had 15 points on five shots (two threes and seven foul shots) and Trokon Massey was really good getting up the floor and vaulting to the rim for transition scores.
Take Four. I can see clearly see how Manny Jingco gave Stillwater 21 a game this winter and at one point was scoring a night. First off the Fury guard is bigger in height and muscle. Second, his crossover stepback as well as his feet set jumpers are worlds improved from last year. The young man has put a load of work into his game. Luke Siwek had 15 in the loss to FAB frustrating the FAB coaches whose players could not chase and get a hand up on the Rosemount player. Final note, Max Bjorklund looked more comfortable at point that I expected.
Take Five. Will Pottebaum of South Dakota Attack and Le Mars High in Iowa is one of the names to take note of from Saturday morning. He’s a physical 6-foot-3 guard that scored on the move with an And1 and maybe the play of the day when he attacked, spun back middle, and hit a pretty stepback. Those were physical attacking scores but Will also hit with feet set on a ball reversal and used a dribble to hit a three off a ball screen. Comfortable handling and his shot selection was strong.
The South Dakota Attack 17s will be just fine. Jaron Zwagerman has an interesting range of ability. He is a good mid-range jumpshooter and a fantastic offensive rebounder using his strength and all out effort to collect. Watching him offensive rebound is like watching Mike Alstott burst through a line and Jaron is a fantastic screener. Also really liked the shooting form of SF Roosevelt 6-foot-4 wing Jackson Reiff who did a great job getting open and then hitting with a pretty release