Midwest Live: Take Five
NHR is in Iowa this weekend for the Midwest Live event in Des Moines. The most eye catching result? The top Minnesota Fury squad beat the Tri State Steam into running team. That kicks off our Midwest Live Take Five!
Take One! Let’s take a little time to talk about Aidan Doherty of St. Louis Park and Minnesota Fury Wilde. This 6-foot-4 small forward does two things better than I expected: 1) he has a lot more explosive bounce than I expected, and 2) he plays every moment like he will be yanked off the floor if he doesn’t give results. Aidan made all seven of his shots in a blowout and they were all produced because this young man works his tail off playing active off the ball. His open floor one hand dunk over a guy and his hard cut to the rim blowing by a player to catch and nearly dunk were memorable.
Take Two. Deundra Robinson has the it factor. This young Columbia Heights/43 Hoops talent can straight go. I feel like he’s longer and taller than when I saw him compete last summer but that vertical bounce is still very much there. Robinson led undefeated 43 Hoops to another victory last night and it’s a tug of war when you try to pick if his offense or defense changed the game more. I would say his transition scores after a stop where the biggest part late!
Take Three. Charlie Jacobs can defend man! Yes Charlie made all but one shot last night and hit double figures. Let’s get that out of the way. But I loved the way the Totino-Grace guard defended. He is a beast working to cut off opponents on ball screens, his verbal communication is outstanding, Charlie is always in a deep stance, and his effort is top notch. Loved him defensively last night for the Fury.
Take Four. The Grassroots Sizzle 2 squad beat South Dakota Attack late Friday night led by the guard play of Lorenzo Smith, Reishaun Satar, and others. The Sizzle push up the floor was simply too fast for the Attack defenders. They could not keep the Minnesota kids in front.
Take Five. Shooters and Workers! I am still conflicted about what I liked better from the Fury Wilde squad, their defense or their shooters who knocked out nine threes in a running time game. Michael Jones hit one but it was 6-foot-6 Quinn Smith of Armstrong showing off his touch making three and Drew Galinson of Wayzata making a pair. Add Galinson to the defensive mix that is highlighted by the play of Jack Burger (Elk River) and Eric Tiedman (Jordan) at times. Notice all those coaches in the balcony? That was more than Michael Jones. Tiedman, who has visited Augustana a couple times, is also a key target because the kid can guard three and at times four spots plus he is relentless.