Comets Shootout 2019: 17U Players of the Day
An expanded Comets Shootout field means better competition in the early rounds and today Prep Hoops was privy to an excellent day of basketball. Here are the Saturday standouts. Minnesota Comets DLR and the Magic Elite each threw out…
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Continue ReadingAn expanded Comets Shootout field means better competition in the early rounds and today Prep Hoops was privy to an excellent day of basketball. Here are the Saturday standouts.
Minnesota Comets DLR and the Magic Elite each threw out ten guys for their first time playing together and at times it was a slow, ugly process. As the first round game moved from half one to tow, the basketball was to the excitement level that we expect for 17U.
With the score tied at 65 the Comets had the ball with a chance to win. Seven seconds showed on the clock and Emmett Johnson (a 2022 point guard from Holy Angels playing up two levels) got his defender leaning one way and attack the other for a contested game winner. In a long battle of future seniors it was the youngest player on the floor that made the play of the game.
Player of the Game
Johnson made the game winner but down the stretch it was six-foot Shakopee senior-to-be Caleb Druvenga that carried his team to the final play. Caleb missed only one shot all game and his late foul shots and attack kept the Magic at arm’s length until Nick Vermurlen hit tied the game at 65 late. Caleb had 13 points on ad 5 of 6 shooing from the floor plus some foul shots.
Notes
- Nick Vermurlen was the biggest offensive threat from each other team. The Eastview shooter scored 18 points including five threes made most of which were sank in the second half.
- Jeff Moore of Richfield is another wing that opened some eyes. Moore is a senior-to-be who scored nine a game for his high school this winter and had a dozen versus the Comets. The Magic also got 11 from DJ Doyen of Prior Lake
- Comets DLR had next to no celebration for their game winning score as they weren’t happy with the way they played. Evan Wieker (STMA). Matt Banovetz (Holy Angles), and Kale Hoselton (STMA) all grabbed six or more boards controlling the glass.
- Austin Wetter (Monitcello) only took four shots for Comets DLR but those four shots were enough to get the college coaches talking on the baseline. Two threes, a beautiful attack finish, and some foul shots led to his ten points.
Josh Brown
Minnesota Crossfire‘s top squad went head to head with the top team from Minnesota Heat (Vang/Nord) and it was the scorching hand of Josh Brown that was the difference. Crossfire has some solid names on their roster – like Max Lawrence and Caleb Hoilien – but the team was not able to cover enough ground to find Brown.
Player of the Game
Josh Brown gave Class AAAA third place winter Park Center a shooting touch off the bench throughout the season. Playing on such a talented team though it was rare for him to get that hot hand and keep getting fed. Today he was fed constantly leading to 24 points highlighted by six threes.
Notes
- When Brown wasn’t hitting threes it was Tait Nelson getting lose on the break or attacking his way to another dozen points. Nelson was an opportunist today and took advantage of all Crossfire mistakes.
- Isaiah Giles of the Crossfire sets one of the meaner screens you will see at the 17U level and he moved off that screen to score four times plus had three other scoring trips for 14 points in the loss.
Eli King
The opener of the 2019 Minnesota Comets Elite 17 and Under season went about as expected. Chris Lewis saw his seven footer Calvin Sisk win the tip, the Comets scored early and often, and picked up a 67-43 victory over Heat Speer. Sisk grabbed double digit boards, the King brothers (Eli and Noah) each scored four times, and the margin of victory led to early running time.
Player of the Game
Tony Dahl earned MVP for the Buffalo Bison this winter for his all around consistent production and that’s exactly what he gave the Comets today in victory number one. Dahl scored 11 points on seven shots including a three, he was in the middle of every turnover the Comets created, grabbed six rebounds, and dealt out a team high four assists. All around toughness, all around production.
Notes
- Gabe Bassett of Farmington and Heat Speer is a guy to keep on your radar. Scored four times on his eight shots and all of his makes were contested but the lift on his perimeter jumper ranks with the best. Two threes, scored ten.
- Noah King opened the game with two threes and then scored twice later while 2022 brother Eli King attacked the rim scoring twice with contested shots including a beautiful spin move.
- Comets/Buffalo 6-foot-6 shooter Matthew Willert had a tougher shooting game vs Heat Speer (4 of 10) but he made three triples. With his size as a wing and that pretty touch it feels like all Willert shots are about to fall.
- 7-footer Calvin Sisk looked un-phased by the 17U level he was competing at chasing down double figure boards (10) while scoring thee times on four shots.
Cameron Steele
When you play a team called Inspired Athletics you never truly know what you are going to get. What the Minnesota Fury Zurn squad received was a nice second half push that brought some excitement when the game was down to six but a Fury Zurn 14-0 run led to a 67-54 victory.
The key point in the turn was a Cameron Steele rebound and push for a lay-up. It may have been the right time to pull the ball out and run some clock as Inspired Athletics was going wild after some Zion Dettman and Talon Hoffer treys. However, Steele’s basket was the first score in a 14-0 run that also included Brady Williams scores, more Cam Steele, and then a pair of John Henry treys.
Player of the Game
Minnetonka 6-foot-8 power forward Cameron Steele has several things going for him: size, a touch with range, a gritty fight, and intelligence. The Fury was having trouble with the bouncy length of Pouch Dobuol around the cup but Steele found a way around it for success. Cameron scored early a couple possessions before the defense could rotate, he used his pivot and step through for space, and he went brute strength in fighting for d-boards. Steele scored 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting with seven boards.
Notes
- Nathan Heise picked up an offer from St. Cloud State today and then went out and scored nine points with seven boards
- Brady Williams scored four times including at the arc
- Charlie Katona was 2 of 6 from the field but helped his team with nine boards and four assists plus excellent defensive contributions on the ball and moving in help
- John Henry’s three treys was a game changer
- Pouch Dobuol of St. Cloud Apollo blocked four shots and completely bothered Jacob Hutson around the basket. Pouch also grabbed seven boards and scored 14 points with four blocks.
- Talon Hoffer was one of the best players on the floor. The Shanley junior guard was one of the best players on the floor against one of Minnesota’s top teams. Nevermind the 16 points (a game high) that included four triples, although that was good. His fight is what grabbed our eyes. His movement over screens and getting to the right help spot forcing bad angles or closing space was excellent.
Noah King
In a fantastic Sweet 16 game the Comets Lewis squad knocked off Wisconsin Dynasty 76-74. Isaiah Stewart scored a game high 25 and was the most unstoppable player on the floor. However, the Comets were the deeper team with five different guys scoring four or more baskets. Reid Gastner was the game changer though making back to back triples plus Noah King spread his 17 points across the contest.
Player of the Game
We are going with two players in this section. Noah King and Isaiah Stewart went at it the entire contest in a fun battle with Stewart individually having the upper hand but Noah wasn’t far behind.
Isaiah scored ten points a game for a top five team in Wisconsin (at one point) his junior season. He was able to beat the Comet defenders to space with a quick first step but also made difficult shots routinely. Even more impressive was Stewarts five threes and has several leads for assists.
Noah countered commonly putting up a game high 17 points and his late game attack finish gave the Comets breathing room after a tough battle. King may be the strongest guard in St. Cloud as he looks like a future D1 linebacker but has the basketball ability to play D1 hoops.
Notes
- Dayne Armwald of the Dynasty had 17 points and so many of those baskets were sneaky shoes getting to space behind lost defenders for second chances and five pass possession finishes. Derek Gray scored 16
- Reid Gastner may also deserve game MVP honors for his huge pair of back to back threes. Reid made a two point deficit and four point lead scoring twice at the arc in 20 seconds. The game changed on those makes.
- The Comets move on to play the winner of Heat Vang/Team Get Shook (game was close when this went to print) .