Granite City Classic: The Best of the Best
Who falls in the Best of the Best category from St. Cloud’s Granite City Classic on Saturday? The best player performances I observed on Saturday? NHR breaks it down for you now! Abdikani Abdi of Mpls Roosevelt. The six foot…
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Continue ReadingWho falls in the Best of the Best category from St. Cloud’s Granite City Classic on Saturday? The best player performances I observed on Saturday? NHR breaks it down for you now!
Abdikani Abdi of Mpls Roosevelt. The six foot Roosevelt senior was flying all over the court putting numbers on the board giving Roosevelt a chance to go at the Skippers. Abdi was constantly at the foul line because Tonka couldn’t keep him in front and Abdikani made all six of his foul shots. Abdi scored 25 for the game. One of the quicker players in St. Cloud.
Luke Barnes of Mpls Roosevelt. Barnes didn’t have a good shooting game (3 of 9 from the field) but his verbal leadership, effort plays, 11 rebounds, and senior leadership through ball movement really stood out. No Deszi Sims for the Teddies but what Luke did helped his team play with Tonka to the end.
Khari Broadway of Park Center. One of the better games I’ve seen Khari play since coming back from his injury at the end of last season. Scored 17 points including a couple treys and several open floor completions.
Dajuan Carter of North St Paul. The Polars long range fireball of a scorer is putting up 30 a game and after a slow start against Delano his explosive touch changed the momentum of the game. Carter has the ability to turn a contest into a one-sided affair and he did that Sunday with ten quick points out of the halftime break. Lake Region State and Des Moines Area CC offered Carter after the game.
Tommy Chatman Jr of Park Center. Chatman does some of everything and often that is called the glue guy. But at 11 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds Chatman was more like super glue. He played a big part in PC locking down a pair of future D2 players plus Chatman’s ability to move the ball was crucial. Not just for open shots but to set up the halfcourt offense and to force the defense to move possession after possession.
Dain Dainja of Park Center. The most skilled low post big in Minnesota in the last ten years had 31 points on 13 of 18 shooting plus 17 rebounds and six blocks. Honestly it was unfair at times. Cooper has no size at all and Dain simply took advantage like a good big should. My favorite part of his game today though was likely the outlet passes that Dain sent starting the break.
Hakin Daniels of Maranatha Christian. Came to St. Cloud one of several balanced all around players for MCA and left with 26 points total and 26 rebounds total. A pair of double-doubles for his team: one each game. Daniels is a 6-foto-1 guard that is tough as nails.
Kyle Dreyer of Maple Grove. The Crimson used Dreyer’s three threes made in the first three minutes for a quick 13-2 lead and their game with St. Cloud Tech was never the same. The Crimson cruised to a win with Dreyer making five threes and scoring 19 points total.
Michael Foster of Milwaukee Washington. The 6-foot-9 five-star sophomore dominated the low block catching where he wanted to and making his post turn on balance to finish. Foster made 11 of 21 of his field goals and five of those scores were dunks. And half those dunks were in the open court as Foster ran the floor ahead of all of his opponents resulting in highlight completions. In addition, Michael did a great job of letting the Apollo size turn where they wanted to but always keeping his length grounded into a hot contest or shot block. The Apollo combined to shoot 4 of 15 against Foster and two of those were jumpers.
Michael Gravelle of St. Cloud Apollo. Michael has to be one of the fastest players in the state of Minnesota. His full court push is nearly impossible to retreat to when it comes to getting a proper shot contest. “stop the ball” they say? Yeah good luck with that. Gravelle flew by Milwaukee players for 19 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Problem was nobody on Apollo besides Michael was able to score more than twice.
James Flicek of Princeton. The angry spit that James plays with is so easy to like. How many 5-foot-9 guards that you know are able to battle through players to get tip-ins? That’s James. So much fight to Flicek who picked up an offer from Bemidji State this morning.
DT Frierson of Park Center. The 6-foto-3 Pirate wing is one of the most improved players in the state. He’s much more comfortable handling the ball moving up the floor and making attack moves. Frierson is also an improved when it comes to his court understanding and he’s always been one of 2020’s most athletic players and top defenders. Had a dozen points and nine boards.
Mason Klett of Apple Valley. Mason is a 6-foot-5 junior forward with extending shooting range out to the three point arc. Made four threes in the Eagle win over Sauk Rapids-Rice on Saturday leading the team with 14 points in a dominating victory. Oh, and earlier in the day playing part of the JV game, Mason hit four threes and scored 22 points. Good way to spend the allotted time the high school gives.
Deontay Long of Milwaukee Washington. Long did a lot of everything for Washington and the smaller Apollo opponents could do nothing with him. Long played point guard and forcefully or patiently put his team where it needed to be for high percentage shots all game long. Washington beat Apollo by 30 and it was Long’s 20 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals that paced the team the entire game. Made 7 of 11 field goals.
Johntae Martin of Milwaukee Washington. Smiling the entire time, and impressing Lake Region State College to the point of a big post game discussion, Martin gave his squad 12 points, six boards, four assists, and constant energy leading to a victory. Martin’s energy was infectious and his timely feel for an extra play was uncanny. What position is Martin? Has the strength and skill to play a couple different spots.
Odier Olange of St. Cloud Tech. A 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 wing that has matured since our last viewing. Olange has grown in height, length, and added good weight. With that physical maturity has become an improved result attacking the basket and completing plays. Scored 16 against St. Cloud Tech.
Jackson Owens of Minnetonka. Owens was the point man on the press and that seemed to ignite the Tonka senior to a performance of the season type of game (for Jackson). Owen had a game 13 rebounds plus scored 17 points and forced at least five turnovers for the Skippers. The energy of Owens trapping the first pass and dropping into defensive position was constant.
Josh Schloe of Sauk Rapirds-Rice. The 6-foot-7 Storm junior has one of the better big man shooting strokes in the class. A comfortable touch facing the basket, Josh stepped in to hit and faced-up to score his game high 16 points making half of his dozen attempts.
Cameron Steele of Minnetonka. The 6-foot-8 junior big stretched the defense with some threes showing off that long range touch that so many schools are a fan of (St. Cloud State was watching the Tonka win over Roosevelt). Cameron made all eight of his foul shots, had some excellent tap outs (11 boards total), scored 24 points, and blocked three shots.
Cameron Vaughn of Robbinsdale Cooper. Only one player on Cooper’s team was able to consistently maneuver through the Park Center defense to playmaker and it was Cameron Vaughn, the 6-foot-3 senior win who we saw improve so much through the summer and in the fall. Vaughn slashed his way to 26 points for Cooper on 11 of 23 shooting.