#HardworkSznKickoff – Friday Night
The Iowa West Fieldhouse played host to the #HardWorkSznKickoff Friday night leading to headliners headlining, and new stars emerging.
Austin’s Next Standout
Six-foot-2 guard Agwa Nywesh of Austin High School and Minnesota Heat led Heat West to a 60-43 victory Friday night responding from a four basket deficit to a dominating victory. Agwa scored 21 points in the victory scoring on 5 of 11 shots including three triples and 7 of 8 foul shooting.
Nywesh scored 16.7 points per game for Austin leading them to a 3rd place finish in the Class AAA State Tournament with a 25-6 record. Nywesh scored on 52.2 percent of the 11 shots he took plus Nywesh made 40.6 percent of six shots Agwa took from the arc.
Friday night Nywesh showed off that three point range but also gave college coaches a look at a dribble separation ability that created constant space plus his defense was game changing. Heat West attacked Iowa Prep with a zone trap after made baskets and they doubled in several man defensive situations. Agwa caged opponents and then stole their goods flying the other way to create opportunity
Iowa Prep didn’t have a player with the lateral quickness to keep Nywesh in front of them. Their help defense was strong but initially Nywesh used crossovers to get to space or bullish moves using the quick first step to get the angle. Nywesh defended as well as anybody in the building, he continues to shoot threes at a 40 percent rate, and let’s not forget the two dunks and the consistency at the foul line.
Looking for a scorer? Take a look at Agwa Nywesh.
Matthew MorsMors on the Attack
Six-foot-7 power forward Matthew Mors of South Dakota Attack is a top 35 level player in the nation and in South Dakota Attack’s 73-35 win over Rocky Mountain Select, Mors competed every bit like the high four star level player that he is.
So what makes Matthew Mors who he is? Last night he provided several examples. Let’s go Basketball Bullet Points to illustrate:
- At 6-foot-7 Mors led five transition trips for Attack with a quick push up the floor (off defensive boards and created turnovers) at an acceleration rate that was all results based. Mors had three fullcourt push assists (plus a couple threes he created were missed). Matthew’s desire to quickly produce against a retreating defense showed his understanding of the value of a good shot.
- Mors had two dunks in the game: 1) a two hand punch directly over an opponent off a two step run, and 2) a give and go cut behind the defense receiving from Kobe Busch to finish.
- Offensive efficiency. Mors took just seven field goal attempts but turned those seven shots into 16 points. Mors showed his range sprinting to the corner to hit a transition three plus Mors all three of his foul shots and missed only one attempt.
Inspired Athletics Makes an Impact
Inspired Athletics is a growing program that consists of players from the Fargo area and St. Cloud area. With four players in double figures – Zion Dettman had 17, Talon Hoffer had 16, Mike Gravelle 14, and Puoch Dubuol 12 – Inspired Athletics beat QC Ballers 73-71 in a game of the night candidate.
Michael Gravelle is one of the more under-appreciated players in Minnesota and his quick push added a needed element to the team. Dettman was efficient and Talon Hoffer looks like a better prospect every day. Hoffer is listed at 6-foot-2 but he looks much bigger than that. Hoffer looks closer to 6-foot-3, maybe 6-foot-4 but still has the guard skills that make him a strong prospect.
Talon HofferHardwork Region Notes
- Moses Idris (Austin) and Essay Hagos (Concordia Academy) were excellent at the forward spots. Essay hit four threes and played the type of defense that looks like it will be the Heat West identity, Moses had 15 points and seven rebounds showing that he could be the second or third option at Austin next year.
- Decorah(IA) High School 6-foot-2 guard Mark Franzen led TNT/Iowa Prep with 13 points that included three triples.
- Huron High School wing Kobe Busch (of South Dakota Attack) is the top ranked prospect in South Dakota’s 2020 class and in front of a long list of college coaches Busch scored a dozen points with five boards.
- College coaches poured into the Iowa West Fieldhouse to see talent. Half of the Northern Sun was in the building with most schools having their head coach watching close. The Minnesota Fury defeated a Team Factory Black squad that never knew what hit them. Nathan Heise scored 14 and Brady Williams had a game high 15.
- Josh Arlt of South Dakota Attack (Lennox) hit a pair of threes but it was his ability to set teammates up for easy looks that caught our eye. Arlt had eight assists in the win.
- A name to know is Alex Vankalsbeek of Moc-Floyd Valley/South Dakota Attack, a 6-foot-7 power forward. Alex made a three, pulled in eight boards, and scored a dozen points on eight attempts.