Boy’s Tip Off Classic: Five Standout Reserves
The stars were aligned at the Boy’s Tip-Off Classic, with countless Division One prospects on both courts. But a few players coming off the bench for their teams put in some impressive performances. Here at Northstar Hoops Report we detail…
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Continue ReadingThe stars were aligned at the Boy’s Tip-Off Classic, with countless Division One prospects on both courts. But a few players coming off the bench for their teams put in some impressive performances. Here at Northstar Hoops Report we detail five players who had strong games off the bench.
Keijuan White (6′ 2021 G, DeLaSalle)- After an electric freshman year on the Islander’s JV squad, Keijuan makes the jump to varsity as a sophomore. Receiving limited playing time in the first two games, Keijuan became a key contributor off the bench with Tyrell Terry and Kam Givens missing action against Wayzata. White was an immediate spark off the bench, using his quickness and vertical leaping abilities to attack the rim and finish with finesse. He also played a key role on defense, picking up opposing guards early and often, and really making things difficult on Wayzata’s ball handlers. Keijuan’s penetration provided a necessary compliment to Jamison Battle and his shooting, by providing 11 points off the bench.
Jimmy Koch (5’9 2022 PG, Breck)- Jimmy came off the bench for Breck, and after knocking down some quick jumpers, had spectators immediately checking the rosters to find out who this kid was. That kid was Jimmy Koch, and he played a pivotal role for Breck in taking down one of the top teams in Class AA, Lake City. His 12 points were second on the team only to David Roddy, and the threat of his quick release from outside helped open up David’s post game in the second half. Jimmy had a lightning quick step into his pull-up jumper that he knocks down at a high rate, and could also stretch the floor with shooting range.
David Ijadimbola (6’2 2020 G, Park Center)- David would hit just one shot this game, but it was the most important shot of them all. David would start on the bench, but ended the game on the court by knocking down a last second three from the top of the key to give Park Center the win over Eden Prairie. Despite his limited use on offense prior to the game winner, David gave a boost of energy on defense for the Pirates, playing a key role in limiting the talented Eden Prairie squad to just 46 points. The ice in his veins down the stretch for Park Center made David Ijadimbola one of the most valuable bench players of the day.
Jack Rusch (6’5 2019 F, Lakeville North)- When looking at team’s on paper, some may have counted Lakeville North out in their game against a loaded Hopkins squad. But it’s guys like Jack Rusch coming off the bench and knocking down big shots that keep Lakeville North a competitor against any team in the state. Jack got big minutes off the bench for North, and was an immediate threat from distance, knocking down a handful of threes, including one late into the first half that had Lakeville North leading at the break. A hard nosed competitor, Jack also gave effort on the defensive end in an attempt to face off against some of the most talented bigs in the state on Hopkins. His blue-collar type performance off the bench made this an extremely competitive game.
Montrae Hiatt (2019 G, Rochester John Marshall)- On a day when Rochester John Marshall was simply outplayed by Cretin-Derham Hall, it can be hard to take much out of this game. But one of the bright spots for a team still trying to find its identity outside of Matthew Hurt was the spark and swagger that Montrae Hiatt brought to the court. He came off the bench in the first half and knocked down some key shots with confidence to keep JM competitive for a while. He was one of the only players outside of Hurt that seemed to play without fear, and was aggressive trying to score on offense. He finished second on his team with 8 points in the game, on a John Marshall squad that really struggled to find much offense outside of their five-star forward.