NHR State Tournament: Sunday 17U Standouts
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The Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete. Here were some of the standouts at the 17U level from…
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Continue ReadingThe Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete.
Here were some of the standouts at the 17U level from Sunday’s action:
Cooper Olson, Comets Lewis
Olson looks like a serious breakout candidate next winter at Champlin Park. The 6-foot-7 forward was terrific in helping the Comets secure a tournament title and his impact is felt in so many ways. He’s really good on the defensive end, where he’s smart and able to crossmatch on any given possession. His footwork and ability to score on the block was impressive and he does a great job producing organically.
Jacob Jennison, Matrix
Jennison was a force all weekend for Matrix, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. His ability to alter shots anywhere inside about 15 feet shrinks the floor a great deal for opponents, he’s excellent in and out of his area as a rebounder and he can defend comfortably out on the floor. His offense was better than I expected it to be this weekend too as he showed nice touch and the ability to produce points for himself nicely. He’s incredibly athletic and sudden for a 6-foot-11 kid and while he’s not the thickest guy up top, he plays with physicality and has a strong base. His stock should only keep going up at this point.
Agwa Nywesh, Heat West
Nywesh was one of the key guys in helping Heat West get to the semifinals. The Austin guard is feisty on the defensive end, where his relentless pressure on the ball, quick hands and long arms make for a huge pain in the butt for opposing ball handlers. On offense, Nywesh is an excellent deep shooter and can get that shot off with minimal space. He’s got the burst to get to the paint too, and his explosiveness allows him to finish in traffic.
Will Cordes, Matrix
Cordes was one of the stars of this tournament, as he was not only excellent Saturday, but terrific through Sunday’s action too. The Shakopee guard is so good at controlling the tempo of the game and getting his team into something good on practically every possession. He’s a natural facilitator but more than capable of getting separation and putting points up for himself too.
Nick Peterson, Comets Lewis
Peterson doesn’t typically put up big numbers for Comets Lewis but his contributions for that team were critical over the weekend. He’s a capable scorer and does a good job playing off the bevy of natural go-to scorers at the Comets’ disposal but his defense and hustle is what makes him really hard to take off the floor. He can guard four positions, he rebounds, he gets steals, he talks and he plays with an infectious energy that not a lot of guys play with.
Hezekiah Lywea, Heat West
Lywea was a treat to watch Sunday. At 6-foot-5ish, he was giving up quite a bit of size to all the frontcourt guys on the Comets, yet he was, at times, seemingly unguardable. His footwork inside is polished, he can face up and take guys off the dribble and his touch around the rim is really solid. He did all of that despite going against 6-foot-7 and 7-foot guys inside. Really impressive looking player.
Tony Dahl, Comets Lewis
Dahl is similar to Peterson in that he won’t likely pop off the page when you look at the score books but his impact on the game is felt in a big way. He’s a good defender, using his strength and smarts to guard up and down a lineup. He rebounds well for a ball guard. He uses his strength so well on offense, bullying defenders to get to spots on the floor where he wants to get and he’s a really sound decision-maker.