Salpointe Tip-Off: Top Performers Part 1
This thanksgiving break provided us with a lot of high school basketball to watch! One of the most exciting tournaments was the Salpointe Tip-Off. Teams were competing hard and here are the top performers from the tournament:
Evan Nelson G (Salpointe 2020):
Nelson played great, per usual, doing all of the things he normally does well. He shot the ball well, finished around the rim, was a great play maker, and played great on-ball defense. What surprised me is how much bigger Nelson has gotten this off-season. Last year, Nelson was on the skinnier side and many thought this would affect him in college. He has shown a big dedication and commitment to this game and to his body and has packed on some serious muscle.
CJ Cervantez G (Nogales 2019):
CJ was the best play maker at the event by far. He ran Nogales’s fast paced run and go offense perfectly. He was very successful at driving and kicking to the open man and got a lot of open shots for his teammates. He was also able to score the ball seemingly at will, by getting to the basket or knocking down one of his many three’s. CJ was super impressive and looks like he might be a sleeper in the 2019 class.
Mark Hunter G (Tucson 2020):
I love this kid’s game. He pushes the pace, fights for rebounds, and drives to the basket without any fear in his heart. Hunter had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals against CDO. I firmly believe that he is the heart and soul of that Tucson team, bringing a ton of energy to his team.
Trey Cox G (Ironwood Ridge 2020):
Trey looked very solid in the event. He is deceptively quick and makes all of the right reads. He doesn’t do anything super exceptional, but he always makes the right play. He is able to run Ironwood Ridge’s offense exactly how the coach wants him to, he plays smart defense, he makes the right passes/keeps the ball moving, and knocks down the open three when given to him. I really like how mature his game is.