Battle at the Lakes: 1Nation is the 1Champion
The Battle at the Lakes culminated in what will rank as one the best games of the spring. 1 Nation knocked off Team Rush by a score in the Sunday afternoon final.
Ja’Kavien the MVP. Ja’Kavien Lewis is a compact, well built guard that brings the intensity that energizes those around him. He’s the type of point guard that leads with his fight and energy and his 1Nation teammates followed him all the way to the Battle at the Lakes title.
1Nation couldn’t find the formula in the first 28 minutes against Team Rush but late in the second half Lewis picked up his ball pressure on Ronnie Bell to force a couple tough shots and turnovers. Ja’Kavien’s steal and transition score was the play that opened the door for the 1Nation win and Ja’Kavien’s breakdown of the defense in the final ten seconds followed by a dish to Markeese Hastings became the game winner.
Lewis scored 16 points including a couple early threes, he dished out six assists, and grabbed four rebounds plus defended at a high level. It was an MVP like performance in every way. There are many mid and low major programs looking for a leader at the point spot and this is a guy they should look into. Now.
Make the Calls America. In the last two weeks Ronnie Bell has put together outstanding performances in the Jayhawk Invitational and the Battle at the Lakes. I’m not sure how many college coaches what the Silver Division of the Adidas Uprising but we can tell you that UMKC and Missouri State made the right call in offering him a scholarship. Based on what we saw this weekend, others soon will too.
In the Battle at the Lakes title game Ronnie Bell went at a high level ball pressure defender and knocked down 10 of 14 shots including two three-pointers and seven of nine foul shots for an efficient 29 points in a physical battle. Bell was able to move defenders with a textbook hesitation attack, his spin move left defenders frozen, and the step back later became a weapon as defenders feared the attack. Ronnie’s a 6-foot-1 point guard out of Kansas City and he’s a competitor you need to know.
The Modern Day Big Man Prospect. Six-foot-10 Yor Anei is what you want in a big man defender in major conference college basketball these days. He’s every bit of 6-foot-10 and has a wingspan that must stretch to about 7-foot-2. Anei protected the rim limiting the 1Nation size to low percentage results for most of the game and his lateral movement off ball screens stopped the Michigan guards from an approach. Yor moved off the ball screens with the right steps to cut the angle and had his arms out wide ready to deflect and intimidate.
Yor scored 15 points in the title game, grabbed 11 rebounds, and blocked six shots. Three of those swats came on one possession. He was offered by UAB and Denver last summer and I would imagine if he continues to play like he did yesterday the offer list will someday include several high major programs. Yor had 17 points, seven blocks, and the most physical dunk in traffic of the weekend clearing all his opponents like a wrecking ball.
1Nation standouts. Lewis was the catalyst but 1Nation’s 68-67 championship was a team effort. Markeese Hastings is out of Wyoming, Michigan and is a 6-foot-5 combo forward. His game winning play was a cut to the rim and a lift over Yor Anei to finish the weekend. Yor got a piece of the Hastings shot but Markeese vaulted to the rim physically and put just enough power on the release to complete the play. This was his final score on a 17 point, six rebound championship performance.
Guard Lamar Norman spent the semi-final exploding to the rim for numbers including a late game leaner that brought the gym to it’s feet. He was loose and fun in the semi-final but locked in and productive in the championship. Lamar made two early threes, attacked for two clutch scores late, and scored 17 supporting points in the title game. Has offers from Southern Miss, Oakland, Akron, Central Michigan, Detroit, and Toledo and that list will likely grow.
Avery Lewis was 1Nation’s clutch producer in the semi-final making big shots late for his 17 points. His favorite spot on Sunday was the corner three plus Lewis scored off the ball to catch and complete. Ronnie Bishop deserves credit for the championship game momentum turn as well with his three three-point makes bringing a double figure game within two scores.
Stock Up! Terrence Shannon Jr. Shannon is a standout on the court for Full Package but also a solid football prospect at Lincoln Park in Chicago. The son of a former overseas basketball player Shannon nearly helped Full Package pull off the upset and play in the Battle at the Lakes Final.
Shannon scored 25 points on 1Nation as the event champs couldn’t get a body on the 6-foot-5 forward throughout the game. Shannon was on full speed runs to the rim for active off ball scores (putbacks and cut completions) and he also put together the jumper off the weekend using a pair of crossovers and a head fake to move the defender and then hit a stepback.
Find Him, Please! The Minnesota Eagles are a high school team from Apple Valley who also play spring and summer basketball regularly. The majority of the team is 2018 talents but they added Mason Morse for many of the games and made it to the final four of the Battle at the Lakes event.
What makes this even more impressive was that Tre Jones was off in Atlanta showing he’s the best PG in the nation while Luke Martens and Spencer Rolland were in Iowa playing in a different event.
Without three of the school’s best returning players the Eagles still ran their system to well that they made the final four before the talent of Team Rush was too much. That said, Mason Morse was there to outwork South Dakota size for 22 points in the quarterfinal and Nathan Macho was likely the Eagles best all around player all weekend long. Macho scored inside and out and the team needed rebounding from him so he gave about 7-8 a game.
Then there is Ely. Ely Hendrickson. The blonde haired kid that every in Minnesota knows you have to get a hand up on or he will beat you. Ask everybody that faced him in the state tournament this year how important he was to Apple Valley winning a second title in three years.
Outside programs have to do their homework or he will crush you. Ely hit five threes against the Sanford Pentagon National Team and it was the game changer. He hit another four in the semi-final as well. And just when you say “he’s just a shooter” Ely jumps a passing lane and attacks defenders for a three point play. Let this be a lesson America, find Ely.
Mr. Consistent. Anthony Davis was seen by our staff four times this weekend and every time he played he performed. The Powerhouse Minnesota guard had one of the most explosive dunks of the weekend to cap things off but his biggest contribution is his improved shooting range and percentage numbers, his attacking finishes, and his consistency.
Prep Hoops Rapid Fire
- Kareem Ozier is a tough man to keep in front of. Finished on either side of the rim in the Butler Elite loss to Fury Antl.
- Manny Jingco made the game winner to beat Butler Elite as the Stillwater continues his consistently productive spring. Max Bjorklund on the feed.
- Josiah Strong is the shooter from Champlin Park who feasted off McKinley Wright feeds. Sunday he changed the game with D1 MN Prospects by making four these in five possessions.
- Gus Reede of Sanford Pentagon and Aberdeen Christian had his best scoring game of the weekend making five first half threes in the loss to the Minnesota Eagles.
- CDH forward Jake Prince will be successful in life because he works hard and finds a way to help. Every time I watch him play he’s always involved in some way.
- Dylan LeBrun had a great Saturday and then followed that up with a double figure game on Sunday. He started slow but gave his team a chance with a three, an And 1, and an open floor dunk. Dylan is from Flandreau HS in South Dakota.
- Michael Schaefer of Powerhouse/St. Cloud Cathedral had four NSIC schools watching him Sunday and he scored 14.
- If Cole Bergan keeps rebounding like this all spring and summer he will find himself signing in a good situation this fall. Cole is from the Pentagon National Team that finished in the quarterfinals.
- Niko Polydorou had a strong year for Minneapolis Southwest and he played well for the D1 Minnesota Prospects as well. Versatile kid who can play three spots, looks like he can guard three spots too. 13 and six against Powerhouse.
- Jordan Belka, this guy is consistent in so many ways. Mr. Consistent. Had 17 for Comets Servaty in a win over MN Rise.
- Great weekend for BBA Force out of Sioux Falls. They beat a top 12 team in Minnesota (Rip City), hammered a team from St. Louis, beat the Wisconsin Dynasty by three scores, and lost by four to an elite eight finisher. Respectable.
- North Dakota Phenom is one biggest teams at the event often playing 6-foot-10, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-5, and 6-foot-5 at the same time. Two good wins over Illinois teams, a tough game against a Wisconsin club, and then they lost by three to the best team from Wyoming.