Midwest Players Classic: Top Performers
Saturday’s Midwest Players Classic in La Crosse, Wisconsin saw some of Minnesota’s finest face off against quality opponents from Wisconsin. Which players impressed us at the event? Northstar Hoops Report gives you ten names who had big games. Zach Todd…
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Continue ReadingSaturday’s Midwest Players Classic in La Crosse, Wisconsin saw some of Minnesota’s finest face off against quality opponents from Wisconsin. Which players impressed us at the event? Northstar Hoops Report gives you ten names who had big games.
Zach Todd (2020 G, La Crescent)- Zach Todd’s ability to score from all three levels came up big for La Crescent as they were able to take down Aquinas 70-58. Zach put up 24 points to lead all scorers, a total that was one point shy of matching his season-high. He combined his ability to knock down outside shots, with his finishing inside to terrorize the Aquinas defense and lead his team to a win.
Noah King (6’2 2020 G, Caledonia)- It wouldn’t be a Caledonia win without a King brother getting buckets, would it? Noah King absolutely dominated in the second half, which saw his team pull away for a big 85-57 victory over Mineral Point. Noah scored 20 points, using a bulldog like approach to attack the basket and finish with strength inside. He also showed off his range in knocking down some deep three point shots, proving he is a dangerous scorer from all levels.
Eli King (5’10 2022 G, Caledonia)- Speaking of King brothers, freshman Eli King has been playing at a high level this season, and that trend continued into Saturday’s border showdown. Eli used his quickness and all-around athleticism to score 16 points and help Caledonia run away with a big win. One play that stood out was Eli taking off from deep in the lane to tip in his brother’s missed lay-up in transition. That athletic ability also translated to the defensive end, where King was constantly in players’ faces with tight on-ball defense.
Jalen Suggs (6’5 2020 G, Minnehaha Academy)- Jalen faced off against one of the Midwest’s top junior guards in Johnny Davis of La Crosse Central, and put in an impressive two-way performance to lead Minnehaha to a win. We all know that Jalen can score, and he did so in a variety of ways that included a powerful one handed dunk over a Central defender. He finished with a team high 18 points, but perhaps most impressive was his scrappy play on defense that created a lot of turnovers and transition buckets to help his team pull off the win.
Chet Holmgren (7′ 2021 C, Minnehaha Academy)- Chet is as versatile as they come at seven feet tall, and he showed off a little of every aspect in his game on Saturday. He knocked down some outside shots, scored inside off some cuts to the basket, and threw down a monster dunk that brought the crowd to their feet. Chet scored 17 points for Minnehaha while blocking seemingly every other shot that La Crosse Central put up from inside the paint, and was even blocking some outside jumpers.
Tyrell Terry (6’3 2019 PG, DeLaSalle)- In a game where not much went right for DeLaSalle, Tyrell Terry was one of the lone bright spots for the Islanders. Using his smooth jump shot and handles to carve up the defense, the Stanford commit scored a game high 25 points in the loss. Whether it was knocking down some contested three pointers, or throwing down a one-handed transition dunk, Tyrell was all over the floor giving max effort against a solid Sun Prairie squad.
Kameron Givens (6′ 2019 G, DeLaSalle)- Outside of Tyrell Terry, Kameron Givens was one of the only Islanders finding success in scoring the ball. Givens is a player who has shown impressive growth as a player over the past year, and he put in 13 points for DeLaSalle. Kam is a quick athlete who used his speed to get to the rim and finish around contact while also drawing some fouls in the process. He also showed the capability to knock down mid-range jumpers with confidence coming off of screens in designed plays.
Eli Campbell (6′ 2019 PG, Minneapolis North)- Eli Campbell faced off against Martin Luther’s Trequan Carrington in what was arguably the most exciting matchup of the day, as the two exchanged buckets back and forth. Eli finished with 21 points, showcasing deep shooting range, quick ball handling, and a floater to finish inside over height. As a point guard Eli was dishing out some nice assists from his lane penetration as well as in pick-and-roll situations.
Davon Townley Jr. (6’7 2021 F, Minneapolis North)- Faced off against some physical Martin Luther upperclassmen, Davon more than held his own inside the paint. One of Minnesota’s most promising sophomore prospects, Davon was willing to bang in the post and finish through contact with both hands. He also knocked down a couple of short jumpers on his way to 16 points. A strong, physical, and mobile big, Davon made plays on both ends to keep North within striking distance of one of Wisconsin’s best teams.
Clifford Brown III (6’1 2021 G, Minneapolis North)- Coming off the bench for North, Clifford Brown made a big impact with his outside shot. In the second half he knocked down two big threes in a short period of time to claw his team back from a deficit to Martin Luther. He ended up finishing the game with 14 points, and his effort on the defensive end combined with the spark he provided on offense put North in a position to win late in the game.