MICDS at Lutheran North (The Scout)
Prep Hoops Missouri was in the house at Lutheran North on Thursday night for a Metro League clash between MICDS and the host Crusaders. Both teams feature a bevy of young talent that should continue to bear fruit in the…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Missouri was in the house at Lutheran North on Thursday night for a Metro League clash between MICDS and the host Crusaders. Both teams feature a bevy of young talent that should continue to bear fruit in the future. Host Lutheran North is junior-laden with a lot of quick guards while MICDS features six freshmen and sophomores in their top eight rotation with a lot of length.
In the end, Lutheran North took the victory 75-73 in overtime on an improbable buzzer-beater by 2020 guard Jordan Smith. Here is a look at some of the top standouts from both teams.
Lutheran North
Isaiah Williams 6’1″ (’21) – The slashing lefty wing guard scored a game-high 21 points and did an excellent job of the defensive end. He used his quickness and nice first step to get to the basket and finish repeatedly with layups and floaters with both hands. He also knocked down a couple of 3-pointers from the right wing. He plays the game at his own pace without being rushed.
Jordan Smith 5’11” (’20) – A standout quarterback on the Crusaders’ excellent football team, Smith is a tough guard with a lot of speed and quickness on the basketball court. He is at his best when he is beating defenders off the dribble and getting into the lane. His pull up jumper from 10-12 feet is cash money. He scored the game-winning shot in overtime with an offensive rebound and baseline flip of a shot that went in at the buzzer.
Tahj Patterson 6’1″ (’20) – A three year starter for North, Patterson scored 13 points in the victory over the Rams. He has gotten bigger and stronger in those three years and it showed as he got to the basket and scored through contact. He has nice dribble moves and can create his own shot on the perimeter.
Jack Buford 6’5″ (’19) – A massive offensive lineman who is headed to the University of Missouri on a football scholarship, the 300+ pounder was a load in the low post whenever he got the ball. He finished with 11 points with much of the damage coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He established his post position well and displayed some nice drop steps in the low blocks that resulted in buckets. He was just too big and physical on this night.
MICDS
Jack Pronger 6’6″ (’21) – A long and lanky wing player who scored a game-high 15 points on the evening. He is a knock down 3-point shooter who is really dangerous off the catch. He has deep range. Jack has also improved other parts of his game from his ball handling to his ability to score in the post by using his height to shoot over smaller defenders. He also has a nice one-dribble move to score in the middle area. His potential is limitless.
Brandon Mitchell-Day 6’3″ (’22) – Another bright young prospect with a very high ceiling. He plays a lot of point guard for this team, but he is comfortable on the wing with his size and skill set. Showcased his ability to go coast to coast off the dribble and finish at the rim. He is an excellent rebounder and passer to go along with his ability to get buckets in a variety of ways.
Hasani Spann 6’0″ (’21) – A young mini-microwave who comes off the bench and starts to light up the scoreboard with his 3-point shooting. He hit a pull-up 22-footer with 18 seconds left in the overtime to tie the game before Lutheran North won at the buzzer. He is the team’s second leading scorer despite not being a starter. He has a quick release and a short memory, which is good for a 3-point shooter. He is working on becoming a solid ball handler as well.
Aaron Hendricks 6’6″ (’21) – A young post player who has made a lot of improvements over the course of the year. The long lefty has a nice touch around the basket and does a good job of the offensive glass. He is a solid shot blocker for a youngster and he will throw down a dunk in traffic on occasion. He seems to be still growing and once he develops his physical strength, he is going to be a problem. He scored 11 points on the evening.