Aspire vs Believe: TEN BEST
While Charles Bassey gave an efficient account of himself around the rim and Aspire’s massive frontline took advantage of Believe’s void in the paint, Nygal Russell was the engine that propelled Aspire to a 100-79 victory in the championship of the Memphis Classic.
Believe hung tough with timely second half 3-point shooting. Ultimately, the deeper Aspire’s post play and inside-outside was the overwhelming factor.
An unsung prospect, Russell scored at all three levels while simultaneously providing timely scoring during critical stretches. Bassey finished with a workmanlike 23 points and established himself as a high percentage threat in the trenches. While he still could evolve with a more polished post game, his versatility was on full display in Memphis as he even fired up a few three-pointers. Devin Cambridge scored 25 points (on the strength of five 3-pointers) for Randy Casey’s team, piloting the a second half perimeter game which enabled Believe to cut it to five at one point.
MVP performance: Nygel Russell, Aspire.
Everytime Believe engineered a threatening run, Russell was the source who would thwart it. His poise kept Believe chasing, as he drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the second half as Aspire swelled the spread to 12. A well-built guard who seizes any nooks and crannies in the defense, Russel kick-started Aspire with hard, thorough finishes at the rim.
Russell shouldn’t be lingering under the radar for too much longer, especially not after an MVP performance of this caliber. Entering the heavily-anticipated matchup, guard play had been pegged as Aspire’s lone uncertainty. Russell’s calming influence quelled the concern while also enhancing his own profile.
Best Offensive Performance:
Charles Bassey, Aspire.
With Believe featuring just one player above 6-feet-6 in Center Roberts Dembskis, the 7-foot-1 Charles Bassey needed to exploit the size advantage from the very start. He initiated the action with an extravagant two-handed dunk, a 10-foot jumper, and a traditional 3-point play in the opening seven minutes. Bassey scored 12 first half points and sustained his aggressive approach throughout.
With Believe leaning on effective guard play from Coulter Dotson, Malcolm Farrington, Jimma Gatwech, Will Bowser, Shamorie Allen, and of course Cambridge, Aspire knew feeding the post and was a necessity.
Best Defensive Performance: Nobody kept the basket sealed shut like Ousmane Ndim.
At 7-feet and 225 pounds, Ndim has the size and intimidation factor working in his favor. While Ndim had four blocks, he manipulated and altered the trajectory of countless others. His strength and aggressive, in-your-grill style helped steer clear the driving lanes for Aspire.
Best Coaching Decision: Casey Going to The Perimeter In Second Half
After knifing through defenders with relative ease and finishing with authority en route to a 30-point performance in the semifinal, Believe head coach Randy Casey utilized Devan Cambridge‘s vastly improved 3-point shooting stroke to keep Believe competitive.
Casey adjusted the game plan based on the glaring personnel difference. With Believe encountering difficulties with Aspire’s rim protectors, the perimeter assault paid dividends. Cambridge, often pigeonholed as a bouncy athlete or a dunker, proved he can thrive with his shooting as well.
Best Intangibles: Aspire’s backcourt
Paced by 6-foot-8 Joel Ntambwe (a transfer from oddly enough, Believe) Aspire’s ball movement and ability to pound the ball inside made a huge difference. The ball handlers kept turnovers to a very minimum, made heady decisions, and sacrificed their own shots in routinely feeding the post.
Best Aspect Of The Environment: Tanager Sports’ live stream of the game
With the game being shown through live online via Tanager Sports, many were primed to put on a show for those watching back home. The cameras were keying on every play and with an announcer handling the play-by-play, it had the feel of a college game.
With Ntambwe’s 11th hour transfer from Believe to Aspire, many in Believe’s 70+ student-athlete prep program were eager to see how the well-traveled point forward fared against his former program.
Best play: Lob pass to Bassey, 11:15 second half.
With a prospect of Bassey’s size and build, there is more than one advantage to getting him free in the post. As soon as the pass is lobbed, the defense collapses down.
As the ball soars, the defense honors the ball and defenders are constantly on their heels. Typically at the high school level, big men have difficulty scoring between a defender and the basket because they take a while to develop.
In this situation, Aspire has a highly skilled big man with the monstrous physicality required at the next level. It is both the simplest and most powerful play they have, one which gives them the highest percentage look. All you have to do is lob in there and whether it is a dunk or a simple lay-in, it is an easy look.
Best Under The Radar Performance: Roberts Dembskis
Believe’s 6-foot-9 forward/center plays with an edge and a toughness between the ears. Despite being rather undersized in the post, Dembskis was able to get into the lane and score on nifty reverse lay-ins. He showed nary a tinge of trepidation in battling for rebounds against Aspire’s physically imposing frontline. He also gave Believe a psychological lift with defensive toughness and sustained relentlessness in chasing 50-50 balls.
Best Underclassmen: Shamorie Allen, Believe Academy
After showing glimpses during Believe’s defeat of Tennessee Prep Academy in the semifinal, Allen again made timely plays and showed flashes of promise. While he’s a bit undersized and he needs to pack muscle onto his spindly 165-pound frame, the skill-set is certainly there.
Best Quote: “The size doesn’t really matter, the only thing that really matters is how hard you want to play. If you really want to put everything you got, you will get every 50-50 ball you can. I’m adjusting to the level of play here in the United States from Riga, Latvia. It’s two different basketball worlds.”- Roberts Dembskis