Twin Cities Week In Review: Week 5
It was the week of the big names in the Twin Cities, with a lot of the top talents dominating in their respective holiday tournaments. From DeLaSalle taking on a nationally ranked team in South Dakota, to Minnehaha Academy and…
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Continue ReadingIt was the week of the big names in the Twin Cities, with a lot of the top talents dominating in their respective holiday tournaments. From DeLaSalle taking on a nationally ranked team in South Dakota, to Minnehaha Academy and Hopkins squaring off for the second time this year, find out about all of the top games and performances from last week in the Twin Cities’ week in review!
Players of the Week
Jalen Suggs (6’5 2020 G, Minnehaha Academy)- Arguably the most well known high school basketball player in the state, Jalen backed up that reputation with some dominant performances at Augsburg University. In three games over a three day span, Jalen scored 21, 33, and 39 points, with the 39 point game coming in a rematch against a loaded Hopkins squad. At 6’5 Jalen has great length at the guard spot, combined with high level strength and athleticism that is hard to match. He combines that physical prowess with deep shooting range and aggression to attack the rim and draw contact. On the defensive end, Jalen opens up so many fast break opportunities with his ability to read and jump passing lanes while also being a scrappy on-ball defender. After seeing a drop in his usual scoring numbers last season, Jalen has been back to his dominating ways on offense this year.
Amari Carter (6’6 2020 W, Cretin-Derham Hall)- One of the most improved players in the Twin Cities this year has been Amari Carter, who has been getting progressively more aggressive on offense, and that has showed in his nightly scoring outputs. The budding wing had some of his best scoring nights to date with a 15 point game against Benilde-St. Margaret’s followed up with a 25 point and 11 rebound game against Eagan. At 6’6 Amari has the size to get physical and finish inside off of putbacks or off the dribble, but he is also capable of stepping outside and knocking down the occasional three pointer. A player who has progressively been improving as this season has gone on, it will be interesting to see how Amari is playing come March.
Tyrell Terry (6’3 2019 PG, DeLaSalle)- Tyrell Terry has returned from his injury and has come back firing on all cylinders. Facing off against a nationally ranked team, as well as two other top notch opponents in South Dakota, Tyrell proved just why he’s a nationally ranked point guard. Without a healthy Jamison Battle for most of the week, Tyrell took over the scoring duties scoring 30, 38, and 33 points in consecutive games, with the 38 point performance coming in a win over nationally ranked Mountain Brook (AL). Tyrell is so quick and fluid that he can seemingly get wherever he wants to in the halfcourt, while also being a threat to take a fast break coast-to-coast on his own. He also plays with poise and has long arms that allow him to deliver passes to teammates that other point guards otherwise wouldn’t have the vision to make.
Drew White (6’5 2020 W, St. Paul Washington)- In three contests at Trinity At River Ridge this past week, Drew showcased his scoring abilities with a 33 point game against St. Paul Prep, with a couple other solid performances of 10 and 16 points against Trinity and St. Paul Harding. At 6’5 Drew has good size for a wing player that possesses strength and explosive leaping ability that makes him a versatile piece who can play and defend multiple positions. Drew has a budding perimeter game with a nice pull-up jumper from mid-range, who can also do a lot of damage off the dribble when attacking the rim. Drew is a player to keep an eye on in the St. Paul City Conference as he continues to work on his game and develop as a player.
David Roddy (6’5 2019 F, Breck)- One of the most physically imposing players in the state, David Roddy proved to be too much for either of the teams Breck faced to handle. In a close win over South St. Paul, David was an absolute monster on his way to a 44 point performance. He followed that up with 34 more points in a win over New Life Academy. David is such a strong athlete who can get his way against almost any defender in the state down low. He has also developed into more of a perimeter threat this season, knocking down a few three pointers in each of his game last week, proving he is more than just a bully in the post. The Colorado State commit will likely be one of the contenders for Mr. Basketball this year, and performances like those he had last week are the reasons why.
Team of the Week
Marantha- Marantha is off to an 8-1 start to the season, and continued that success last week by going 2-0 at the Granite City Classic. They started off with a 56-49 win over Mound Westonka, being led by Hakim Daniels’ 14 points and 14 rebounds. Newly transferred guard Tristan Lee chipped in with 8 points and 5 rebounds in the win. They followed that up the very next day with a dominating 72-49 win over Orono. Freshman Chase Carter led the way with 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Maciah Harut also scored 15 points to go along with his 4 assists. Marantha is a deep team who doesn’t have to depend on any one player having a big night to win, and combine some experienced players with a few talented young guys that has allowed them to have a successful start to their season.
Statement Win of the Week
DeLaSalle defeats Mountain Brook (AL) 63-62- DeLaSalle spent their Christmas week travelling out to South Dakota to face some of the top teams the country has to offer, including nationally ranked Mountain Brook, an Alabama powerhouse. Despite the absence of leading scorer and Division One recruit Jamison Battle, DeLaSalle got great guard play in the win. Tyrell Terry was fantastic for the Islanders, scoring 38 points while proving to be too much for the Mountain Brook defense to handle. Kameron Givens provided even more depth at guard, scoring 8 points as the second scoring option for DeLaSalle. Andrew Irvin continued his solid run of play during his first year on varsity with 7 points, including the biggest shot of the game. With just seconds left on the clock, Andrew received a pass on the wing and knocked down a three at the buzzer to give DeLaSalle the upset win. This was a big win not only for DeLaSalle, but also served as a testament to the high level of basketball talent that Minnesota as a whole now has to offer.
Sleeper of the Week
Rayquan Valentin (6’3 2019 G, Hopkins)- Rayquan is a player who isn’t going to impress you with anything flashy on the court, and isn’t the type of player to have big statistical outings, but he is a consistent contributor on arguably the most talented team in the state. In the first two games Hopkins played last week, Rayquan scored 9 points in one, while not scoring at all in the other. However, Rayquan stepped up when it mattered most, scoring 16 points against Minnehaha Academy to help Hopkins bring home the win. Rayquan is an extremely intelligent player who soaks in and understands the gameplan each and every night, and does what has to be done to help his team win. He can handle the ball, is a great passer who looks to feed his bigs, and can knock down the outside shot. At 6’3 Rayquan provides solid length to play and defend both guard spots at the high school level and beyond. Though not always aggressive on offense, this 16 point game served as a testament to just how good of a Rayquan actually is.
Freshman of the Week
Emmett Johnson (5’10 2022 PG, Holy Angels)- Emmett Johnson is regarded as one of Minnesota’s top freshman guards, and he had some of his best games at the varsity level this past week. Emmett scored 20 points in a very close win over Benilde-St. Margaret’s, before scoring 8 points against a talented Waconia squad. At 5’10 Emmett is a very quick guard who uses that quickness to penetrate to the lane and finish at the rim. He is also aggressive on defense and uses that athleticism to jump passing lanes and get out and run in transition. At a young age he has also proven to be a good distributor, leading Holy Angels in assists so far as just a freshman. Emmett is one of many exciting players to keep an eye on in Minnesota’s loaded 2022 class.
Other Storylines
Minneapolis North takes down Milwaukee Washington 68-60.
Isaac Tessier (6’1 2019 G, White Bear Lake)- Scored 28 points in a win over Fridley.
Chet Holmgren (7′ 2021 C, Minnehaha Academy)- 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 blocks against Burnsville.
Tommy Chatman (6’3 2019 G, Park Center)- 11 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds in a win vs. Robbinsdale Cooper.
Hopkins defeats Minnehaha Academy 97-85 in their second meeting of the season.