Big Time Finale: Five Top Performers
Earlier in the week West Central United and Gain Elite met in the Big Time Final 16u title game finishing off a great week of basketball. Who stood out? Prep Hoops was in the building to lead the conversation. Top…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEarlier in the week West Central United and Gain Elite met in the Big Time Final 16u title game finishing off a great week of basketball. Who stood out? Prep Hoops was in the building to lead the conversation.
Top Five Performers
Broden Lien of Gain Elite (Norman County East). Without a doubt one of the top up and comers in Minnesota’s 2021 class. The size and skill as a face-up four-man are there and this was another week where the all out production of Broden Lien was at a high level. Broden switched 16u programs earlier in the month and then faced that team in his final game of the year. What did Broden do? He was the best player on the floor helping his team earn a Vegas championship. Broden Lien had 18 points and six boards in the title game following up his dozen points on nine shots in the semis.
Robert Grace of Gain Elite (Blake). There are three things that I have come away to really appreciate about Robert Grace: 1) there are very few people that can run with him, the speed is incredible, 2) while moving 20 miles per hour faster than traffic Grace has an uncanny ability to touch in shots without slowing pace to the finishing angle, 3) he is a more disruptive defensive player than I was initially aware of. Robert Grace had 17 points in the championship game and ten points in the semis.
Isaiah Broady of Firestorm Nation (Arizona). The 6-foot-6 Broady is a guard with about as much potential as you will find for a player that’s still searching for that major offer (UCSB and UC-Davis have offered(. The jumpshot is made with range and the consistency looks to be improving. Few players have the length that Broady has in the backcourt so his high lifting jumper as well as the length going at the rim is tough to deal with. Attacks players off the bounce that are three inches smaller. Finally Broady can go at the rim and finish in ways that defenses have to stop before the bounce at the rim. If you don’t meet him there you are just going to be in the way of an exciting finish. Isaiah Broady had 28 points and 11 boards shooting an impressive 12 of 21 including three treys in the semi-final loss.
Jalen CookJalen Cook of Gain Elite (Park Center). Every week we find a player that has taken his game up two or three notches, this week that player is Jalen Cook of Park Center. Let’s count the ways he is better than we initially thought: 1) better shooter, 2) better defender than we though, 3) consistently productive when playing a good number of minutes, and 4) physically stronger and moves better than initially thought. Hit four threes in the semi-final for 15 points and then had a dozen in the championship.
Sam Votava of West Central United (East Grand Forks). Sam is another player that took a step in our eyes. To be honest Sam’s a guy that I was searching to see a bit more from and in Las Vegas the grit of Sam Votava shined. Sam is every possession consistent defender who will force you to over the top of him or through him. Offensively Sam produced points with few shots needed and was consistently putting teammates in high percentage scoring situations. Scored a combined 25 points on only 11 shots in the final two games of his 16u season.
Five More
Max Allen of Bishop Gorman (Nevada). Six-foot-8 Max Allen is every bit the top 100 national level player that Prep Hoops has him ranked as. Great hands and feet combined with power that simply moves people. Had 16 points and 10 boards shooting 7 of 13 against nationally ranked Treyton Thompson.
Sam VotavaFinn Diggins of West Central United (Perham). Diggins is one of those players that you feel like you can just count on a double-double as he out-works so many. Had a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double in the semis.
Bo Powell of Gain Elite (Robbinsdale Cooper). The second half punch that Bo Powell provided sunk the hopes of the WCU team. Powell knocked out a three but even more important was what he did going at the rim. Scored 11 second half points in the championship including a couple late clutch scores.
Elijah Morris of West Central United (Perham). Simple stuff here, the three point stroke of Elijah Morris is a game changer. Knocked out seven threes for double figure games on the final day of play.
Treyton Thompson of Gain Elite (La Lamiere Prep). Joining up with the team for the last two weeks of play Treyton played about half the game and the semis he was the game changer. Facing nationally ranked Max Allen, Treyton had eight points on 3 of 6 shooting with ten boards and six assists.