Five Takeaways: Nicolet Vs. Slinger
Slinger, WI- Right from the opening tip, it was clear that Slinger was going to be unable to match the star power that Nicolet possessed. The Knights jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and coasted into the intermission with…
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Continue ReadingSlinger, WI- Right from the opening tip, it was clear that Slinger was going to be unable to match the star power that Nicolet possessed. The Knights jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and coasted into the intermission with a 48-13 lead. Jamari Sibley put an exclamation point on the tremendous first half for Nicolet. With less than five seconds left in the first 18 minutes, Sibley took the ball away, then proceeded to put Slinger’s Brad Brewer on a poster.
Kobe Johnson Is Much More Than Jalen Johnson’s Little Brother
Kobe Johnson is one of the fastest improving prospects in the state of Wisconsin. Although Johnson scored only seven points, he was very active. Johnson played lock-down defense and was very efficient on offense. As of now, Johnson has just one D-1 offer. However, if his improvements continue to be exponential, Kobe could easily find himself committing to high-level division-one school.
Nicolet’s Full-Court Press Is Cruel
The Nicolet full court press is going to give the Slinger guards nightmares. After every make, the Knights made it nearly impossible for the Owls to get the ball across half-court. When Slinger was able to get the ball across half-court, they were flustered and many times, the final result was still a turnover. The consistent press from Nicolet is the reason that this team demolishes their competition on a nightly basis.
Jalen Johnson Has Proven Himself In All Aspects Of The Game
Jalen Johnson is the most versatile prospect in the state of Wisconsin. Johnson is capable of taking the game over in multiple diffrent ways. On Friday, Johnson did not have his best offensive night. Jalen scored just 16 points, but that is what makes Jalen Johnson such a special talent. Even though he was not super active on offense, Jalen was able to help his team win by being a good team player. Johnson recorded another triple-double in the win, with ten rebounds and ten assists. This unselfish attitude is what makes Johnson one of the best juniors in high school basketball.
Slinger Was Unable To Match Nicolet’s Athleticism
The athletic ability of Nicolet was too much to handle for Slinger. The Knights speed and strength made it a long night for the Owls. Nicolet had countless blocks, steals, and dunks. In addition to Nicolet’s athleticism, the Knights also had a major height advantage. Nicolet has four players who are at least 6’5″ or taller. On the other hand, Slinger just has one player who stands at over 6’5″.
Nicolet Has Great Depth
Jalen Johnson and Jamari Sibley were the reason that the Slinger gym was packed on Friday night, but Nicolet has proven that they are more than their two junior standouts. C.J Hayes scored a season-high 16 points, James Graham dropped five, Sonny Phinisee scored five, and Jarrett Henderson also added five points in the Knight’s win. If Nicolet is able to get consistent contributions from their role players, the Knights can beat just about any high school basketball team in the nation.