Big 12 Classic: Top Role Players
The stars were out last Saturday at the first annual Breakdown Sports’ Big 12 Classic! From Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren, to Dawson Garcia and Robert Jones, the state’s top Division One prospects took the floor. But with all of…
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Continue ReadingThe stars were out last Saturday at the first annual Breakdown Sports’ Big 12 Classic! From Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren, to Dawson Garcia and Robert Jones, the state’s top Division One prospects took the floor. But with all of that talent, there can be some great role players flying under the radar. Here at Northstar Hoops we give you five role players who were key contributors to their teams’ performances.
Rayquan Valentin (6’3 2019 G, Hopkins)- Perhaps the most under-the-radar player on this list, Rayquan Valentin stepped into a starting role in Hopkins’ season opener, and left a lasting impression on me. He is an extremely unselfish point guard who understands his role on the team, and does whatever he needs to do to help his team succeed. He didn’t put up big numbers, but he filled up the box score in impressive fashion with 3 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Rayquan showed great vision on some drive-and dish passes, impressing with his ability to exploit gaps in the defense and kick it out to an open three point shooter. Rayquan is a player who never wasted a possession with a bad shot, but wasn’t afraid to take what was given to him. Another thing that stood out to me about Rayquan’s game was his ability to successfully feed Zeke Nnaji in the post with accurate and well timed passes. Overall his play helped Hopkins’ offense flow efficiently, and I look forward to seeing the progress Rayquan makes with Hopkins moving forward in his senior year.
Joshua Brown (6’3 2020 G, Park Center)- Park Center is one of the most exciting teams to watch in the state this year, and the reason for that is the fast paced offense and aggressive style of defense that they play. One reason they are able to play like that is the depth of guards on their roster. One of those guards who was impressive at last weekend’s Big 12 Classic was Josh Brown. Josh came off the bench and was an instant spark to the Pirate’s offense. He gives them an extra three point shooting threat with his quick release from range, and knocked down two three pointers in his time off the bench on Saturday. Josh also combines solid athleticism with his 6’3 frame to make him a defensive threat in Park Center’s aggressive scheme. That size adds to his versatility on defense, allowing him to guard multiple positions at the high school level and contribute to his team in as many ways as possible.
Donovan Smith (5’8 2022 PG, Minnehaha Academy)- Definitely a player to watch for in the future, Donovan Smith played an important role off the Minnehaha bench this past Saturday. Already one of the top three point shooters in the Twin Cities, Donovan can provide an instant spark of offense off the bench, and really helps to spread the floor for a team loaded with size and athleticism. He scored 9 points off a trio of deep shots, but perhaps more impressive was his defensive effort. He was picking up opposing point guards at the half court line and was a constant pest while trying to set up their offense. His quickness makes things extremely difficult for opposing offenses, and he looks to be a key piece off the bench in Minnehaha’s search for a three-peat.
Kameron Givens (6′ 2019 G, DeLaSalle)- A well rounded player in a loaded group of guards at DeLaSalle, Kameron makes the step up from the JV level to become a contributor on the state’s #1 AAA squad. In the season debut against Eden Prairie, Kameron delivered an efficient offensive performance that helped push his team to victory. Shooting 3-5 from the field, Kameron gave DeLaSalle 7 points while not turning the ball over at all. That efficiency will give him a lot of opportunities to succeed, and with his quickness and pull-up jumper he looks ready to take advantage of those opportunities. He knocked down a few catch and shoot chances with confidence, and made the right choices on when to take his shot and when to keep the offense flowing. That decision making allowed him to assist his teammates for scores 3 times on the day.
Karsten Broadley (6’6 2019 F, Cretin-Derham Hall)- The newly transferred Raider found himself coming off the bench in the season opener against Wayzata, but delivered perhaps the most efficient offensive performance for Cretin-Derham Hall. His versatility and smart shot selection saw him shoot 5-8 from the field, good for 12 points on the night. He showed the ability to step out and knock down the open three, and was dangerous driving to the hoop and using his 6’6 frame to finish with strength inside. Karsten pulled down 7 rebounds, including 3 on the offensive end to keep possessions alive for his team. In a guard heavy team, Karsten brings the necessary size to compete at the AAAA level, and his efficient performances, whether off the bench or in the starting lineup, will play a key factor in CDH’s success this season.