Great Plains Alliance: Friday Quick Hitters
Before the big weekend in Bloomington, I snuck upstairs to the Whit one more time to gather some games in the Great Plains Alliance championship rounds. Here are the standouts from the day: Noah Puetz. Noah’s played really well in grassroots…
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Continue ReadingBefore the big weekend in Bloomington, I snuck upstairs to the Whit one more time to gather some games in the Great Plains Alliance championship rounds. Here are the standouts from the day:
Noah Puetz. Noah’s played really well in grassroots and high school contests this summer and he’s continued to up the ante by being around the ball when it matters most at the end of games. Scored six in the semifinal win over Gain Elite but the most important moment was when he defended an inside attempt from Dain Dainja that would have put them ahead by one with 12 seconds left, secured the rebound, was fouled and made a free throw to make sure a two-pointer could only tie the game. This is a 6-foot-6 combo forward whose basketball IQ has grown immensely over the last two years and I believe the Marshall/Comets product can be an excellent addition at elite D3s and maybe even D2s.
Tait Nelson. The Heat were not in the championship bracket Sunday but played a game I got to watch against Sanford Power and time and time again I glanced to see the 5-10 Nelson breaking down a defender at the arc, sifting through help defense and pump faking guys into oblivion for scores at the rim. Tait’s got some NAIA interest recently and if I were a MIAC, I’d be paying close attention to his high school season at St. Anthony, where I believe he’s ready to contribute 20-23 points per game and meet his usual quota of a fistful of assists.
Reid Gastner. He’s going to end up as one of the most coveted MN kids throughout the fall and winter with his versatility and unflappability. Reid now is a no-brainer threat to spot up and shoot, plus he handled the ball on the break and makes smart passes on the run. He can guard or play four positions with his body type. When you watch him you know you’re getting as mistake-free a game as possible. Comets/Lake City forward.
Amir Whitlock. As quick as they come, Amir fits the DeLaSalle mold of guards: fast, athletic, strong defensive instincts, not afraid to play that role. He pulled a couple nice steals off Comets guards in the semifinal for Gain Elite and added a handful of points.
Luke Hart. Add this 6-0 Shakopee guard to your early list for sleeper 2021s. Hart and WOTN torched Fury in the 16s semifinal scoring 21. Nate Bertsch’s squad has a fun formula of basketball (big athletic forward in the middle who sucks in defenders, leaving guards to space comfortably and attack late closeouts) and Hart was one of the many beneficiaries as WOTN won that game and many others contributed.
Drew Maloney. The St. Charles/WOTN wing has a lot in his bag and I’m immediately drawn to how he carries himself on the court. His broad-shouldered 6-3 frame combined with a rock-solid handle gives him freedom to work inside on mismatches but also just use his size to bully off the dribble and finish in traffic. Has a chance to score a lot this winter for a good southern MN team.
Luke Strazzanti. It just wasn’t Fury Poppen’s day at the GPA, losing big to WOTN Bertsch in the 16s semifinal, but Luke Strazzanti of Chaska was a strong show Friday morning. He scored 13 from all spots hitting extra-pass triples and using a wiry 6-3 length to go over the top of contests. Chaska has a promising group of juniors and sophomores next year who will see extensive time and a lot of growth.