Breakdown Summer Showcase STMA: Top 5 Performers
The Breakdown Summer Showcase series of events continued this weekend at STMA and a large group of teams attended. Here are Sunday’s top performers. Jamison Helmers Top 5 Performers Andre Gray of Hopkins. Last winter Gray got his feet…
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Continue ReadingThe Breakdown Summer Showcase series of events continued this weekend at STMA and a large group of teams attended. Here are Sunday’s top performers.
Jamison Helmers
Top 5 Performers
Andre Gray of Hopkins. Last winter Gray got his feet wet with Hopkins, this summer he is taking a step toward quality, consistent production with his team. We saw it at Gopher Team Camp and Prep Hoops saw it at the Breakdown Summer Showcase this weekend. Gray went at Armstrong making 7 of 11 attempts scoring 19 points using his physical attributes to get to deep space (in the lane, not in the cosmos).
Chase Carter of Maranatha Christian. The 6-foot-5 2022 big spent his day receiving attention not just from one defender but often two. Loved the way that Carter moved the ball to cutters and shooters out of the post plus he was able to take several Tartan defenders off the dribble for scores.
Jamison Helmers of Okoboji. Reading up on Helmers, it looks like Jamison is one of the better shooters in Iowa, both on the golf course and on the basketball court! Helmers scored 37 points on 11 of 20 shooting (four shots made at the arc) with 11 of 12 foul shooting for Okoboji Select when they beat BOLD, one of the best small school programs in the state of Minnesota.
Francis Nwaokorie of Champlin Park. The combination of power and skilled low post maneuvering of Francis inside caught the attention of everybody in the building. Francis was seven of seven from the floor against the multiple bigs from Delano sticking a powerful shoulder into his opponent stunning those players and then quickly using the soft touch to complete. Francis moved whomever he played against leading the Rebels to the title game. Top returning scorer for CP.
Cameron Steele of Minnetonka. The top performance of the day was Cameron Steele against Maple Grove. Despite a floor that was like playing on a melting ice rink Steele scored 31 points with six rebounds on 12 of 17 shooting that included four makes at the arc. The shooting touch of Steele ranks with the best in the state frontcourt wise – and maybe overall. Love watching the hunger he has to softly complete once he clears his man and produces for his team. Placing scores off the glass, over the front of the rim, and swishing at multiple angles, Steele had the best game of the day.
Francis Nwaokorie
Five More
Devin Burger of Totino-Grace. At 6-foot-6 as a forward, Devin – who is a 2021 – scored in some very impressive ways to beat some good frontcourt players from Armstrong. The two dribble pull-up into the release over the help defenders was pretty, the spin move into a balanced mid-lane completion was quality, and the backdown into the up and under was stolen from the McHale library. Had 15/8 against Armstrong.
Hezekiah Iyawe of Armstrong. Simply relentless in the paint. A 6-foot-5 active power forward that plays the five for his school. Had 16pt/6rb and 21pt/9rb in the two games we watched yesterday and other bigs simply couldn’t get a body on him.
Elvis Nnaji of Hopkins. Elvis is a 6-foot-9 big with the type of length, frame, and agility that will put him on the list of many schools in the years to come. Prep Hoops watched Elvis finish five times in the paint with nine boards but the bigger thing was the court intelligence Nnaji already has. Elvis is already directing teammates defensively and playing strong post defense himself.
Cooper Olson of Champlin Park. Another steady day of near double digit rebounding combined with quickness to finish around the basket. Delano, Annandale, and STMA all have bigs with some size, bigs with agility, but once again nobody had the needed combo to deal with Olson.
Drew Sagedahl of BOLD. Without a doubt one of the most dangerous shooters within the Minnesota borders. So quick into his pull-up and if the feet are set at the arc it’s over. Hit four threes and scored 29 against Okoboji yesterday.
Elvis Nnaji
Another Group
Adam Biewen of Armstrong. A three point stroke, defensive work to keep opponents in front at a constant rate, and nearly had a pair of double-doubles (15/8, 10/10) in our Sunday viewings.
Taison Chatman of Totino-Grace. Hit four threes and scored 19 in our viewing yesterday. The poise, touch, feel, and scoring mentality are about to make Chatman one of the best 2023s around.
Hassan Kamara of Fridley. Kamara, a 2022, showed off a better shooting stroke that we were aware he has. Great 6-foot-3/6-foot-4 frame.
Keagan Smith of Delano. A 6-foot-6 senior that scored 10.3 a game, has been shooting the ball well weekend after weekend.
Lovell Williams of Maple Grove. Loved his activity yesterday. Chased down enough boards for a double-double vs Tonka.