NHR Scout: Hopkins 78 Eden Prairie 71
In this article:
The Lake Conference is as competitive as this decade has seen. Four of the five teams have top ten resumes. The fifth is likely still in the top 20-25 in AAAA. Two of the most consistent programs met for a…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Lake Conference is as competitive as this decade has seen. Four of the five teams have top ten resumes. The fifth is likely still in the top 20-25 in AAAA. Two of the most consistent programs met for a second go-around as Hopkins defeated Eden Prairie 78-71 on Friday.
The Rundown: Out of the gate, Hopkins was active defensively and Eden Prairie couldn’t find space to create. Credit the Royals defense led by Andy Stafford and Jalen Dearring locking down ballhandlers. Zeke Nnaji went to work right away down low drawing fouls and Hopkins led by a handful throughout most of half one. But then Drake Dobbs and Connor Christensen found their groove in transition and attacking bad closeouts to storm back and take a 36-34 lead at halftime. Mind you, Austin Andrews is still out for EP. The lead stuck as Dobbs became a one-man fireball pacing the Eagles. He finished with 34 points including five treys but Zeke Nnaji finished bruising layup after bruising layup for a very efficient 26 points to lead Hopkins into a win. Jalen Dearring had a momentum-swinging 16 (plus a 9-0 personal run to take the lead late) and Kerwin Walton added 14 tough points as well.
Five Names
Drake Dobbs (6-1, Jr., PG, Eden Prairie) – The recent Liberty commit plays with such great change of speed that defenders can’t stay with him laterally. The rise he gets on his jumper compensates for his release point and when he lets it fly, bang–a thing of beauty. He scored 34 to lead Eden Prairie, along with four steals on the defensive end.
Connor Christensen (6-6, Jr., F, Eden Prairie) – Connor makes my All-Workaholic Team at one of the forward spots. His skillset is above and beyond what you’d want in a combo wing: knockdown shooting from deep, disciplined feet and positioning defense, vocal on both ends, can handle responsibly in the pick and roll, and crashes for rebounds like Cookie Monster pursuing grandma’s chocolate chip recipe. He has a great respect for the game of basketball, and you know it when you see him compete. 13 points, five rebounds.
Zeke Nnaji (6-11, Sr., PF, Hopkins) – The fact that Zeke had his way in Shaq-like fashion (high-percentage rim looks, protecting the paint on defense, getting to the free throw line, deterring entire offenses from the basket) sometimes can make you forget he has honed his perimeter skills too. Along with the dunks and and-1s and offensive rebounds, Nnaji hit a couple outside jumpers and his athleticism overpowered the Eden Prairie bigs. 26 points, seven rebounds.
Jalen Dearring (6-0, Sr., PG, Hopkins) – Dearring scored twice early to get the crowd going and promptly picked up two fouls so he sat for the final 13 minutes of half one. His aggressive defense led to fouling out later in the game, but not before he sparked the Hopkins comeback with four hoops in a row by himself. That swing turned a multi-possession EP lead into a controlled Hopkins victory that was sealed with free throws. Good game from Jalen.
Kerwin Walton (6-5, Jr., SG, Hopkins) – Purdue head coach Matt Painter paid a visit to Hopkins High for a viewing of Walton (Boilermakers were the first high major to offer). The trait standing out on Friday night was his confidence off the bounce. His best player comparison the last couple years could be Klay Thompson with how few dribbles he needs to be dangerous; now Kerwin scores at the rim with focus and assertion on top of being an elite catch-and-shoot player. He scored his 14 from the arc and the paint, including a couple nice offensive boards that led to second chances.