2019 T.of.C: All-tournament first team
The 2019 Tournament of Champions saw one of the best fields in recent memory. Scores of athletes who could potentially hoist a Gold Ball in March played last weekend at the Mabee Center. However, their M.O. was far from complacency…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 Tournament of Champions saw one of the best fields in recent memory.
Scores of athletes who could potentially hoist a Gold Ball in March played last weekend at the Mabee Center. However, their M.O. was far from complacency of self-assurance — it resembled that of a litter of hounds fighting and tangling with one another for dinner scraps.
The dozens of top-tier players in their respective classes accompanied by a setting saturated with memories of hundreds more was the recipe for an historic weekend at the Mabee Center (and a tough job for a journalist).
Now, let’s get to it:
Bryce Thompson | 2020 Combo | Booker T. Washington (MVP)
27.7 PPG |
6.7 RPG |
2.3 APG |
53 FG% |
Though his weekend did not end in an apex in the championship game, Bryce Thompson performed at peak Bryce Thompson-ness last weekend, leading all scorers with 28 points-a-contest on 53 percent shooting from the field, both the highest marks of any player in the field.
Thompson was solid; noticeably a notch above his competitors. That excellence proved rewarding, in fact, as Thompson finished with 212 career points in the Tournament of Champions, third all-time.
“To be able to put myself in the Tournament of Champions record books means a lot,” Thompson said. “I’m very blessed for that.”
He also reflected on his nine-game stretch over the last three years at the T.of.C.
“It’s been a tremendous, tremendous tournament all three years,” Thompson said. “It’s been great. . . Trey [Alexander] this year, the Boone twins last year and Trey Hopkins and Mason Harrell the year before.”
Nate Goodlow | 2020 PG | Del City*
16.7 PPG |
5.3 APG |
3.3 SPG |
51 FG% |
Inarguably, Nate Goodlow had the best performance in the most important game of the weekend — scoring 24 points, gathering nine rebounds, dishing seven assists and collecting four steals in the championship game.
“Beating [Booker T.] felt good,” Goodlow said, “but we’re one of the best teams in the state to, so we knew we could do it.”
His importance to his team in that game exceeded that of any other player in a single game all weekend. He also led all defenders on the weekend in steals and finished second in assists.
“Nothing really was going through my head,” Goodlow admitted, “I was just in game mode.”
Goodlow’s excellence last weekend outlasted his tangible statistics, as well. The point guard took on the duties of encouraging his teammates, leading vocally and driving the Eagles with 32-minute unwavering tenacity.
“Nate has been a four-year starter and understands how to compete and push himself every day,” Del City coach Lenny Hatchett said. “He understands the importance of getting better everyday and it showed in the tournament with his consistent play on both ends of the floor.”
*Tulsa World MVP
Trey Alexander | 2021 Combo | Heritage Hall
25.7 PPG |
9.7 RPG |
3.7 APG |
Trey Alexander did not disappoint the high expectations surrounding him last weekend, finishing second in scoring and third in rebounding while leading the Chargers to an appearance in the third-place game.
His most notable performance came in the second round against Booker T. Washington, where the junior dueled with Thompson and equalized him in scoring with 33 points, finishing with a stat-line that included seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Despite a trio of stellar performances, however, Alexander was not self-satisfied.
“I feel I played alright,” Alexander said. “I felt like I didn’t do anything special, all I wanted to do was win the championship.
“I’m not satisfied with winning one game,” Alexander added, “I wanted all three and MVP.”
The only junior named to the first team, Alexander is the front-runner for T.of.C MVP next December.
Isaiah Williams | 2020 SF | Millwood
20.3 PPG |
8 RPG |
2.7 APG |
2 SPG |
Perhaps no other player in the T.of.C had a more self-exposing performance than Isaiah Williams.
The 6-foot-6-inch swingman was without an offer at any level entering the weekend. In a weekend that concluded with Williams finishing third in scoring, sixth in rebounding and fourth in steals, Williams earned an offer before the final whistle of the second day sounded.
And it’s unlikely that will be the last offer the senior earns before it’s all said-and-done.
Kavon Key | 2020 W | Tulsa Memorial
15.3 PPG |
12 RPG |
2.3 3PM |
Henderson State commit Kavon Key quietly led the field in rebounds and was the only player to average a double-double last weekend.
Key’s selfless leadership has been a continued theme for the Chargers this year; he did not lead his team in scoring last weekend, but he was the most efficient scorer on his team.
“Kavon has been our most consistent player on offense and defense this season,” Memorial coach Bobby Allison said. “We have had so many young players have to play major roles. . . his leadership off-the-court and play-making ability on-the-court have been vital to us starting the season off positive.”
Key had a double-double in the semifinal game and shot 50 percent from the 3-point line before scoring 13 points in the third-place game against Heritage Hall.
Key started every game his junior season when the Chargers claimed their third-consecutive Gold Ball.
“[Kavon] has led us in scoring and rebounding so far this year, been team captain and one of only two players to start every game this year so far,” Allison said.
Jameson Richardson | 2020 SF | Duke
19.3 PPG | 9.3 RPG |
A slow start plagued the first-time Tigers on Thursday morning.
“I feel like we were a different team after losing the first game,” Richardson said. “We just went and competed. . . it was an incredible experience.
Jameson Richardson responded in his latter two performances by shooting 13-of-19 from the field and 17-of-19 from the free-throw line to lead Duke to a consolation title in its first-ever appearance in the T.of.C.
“The opportunity for me and my team to play in TOC is amazing,” Richardson said, “and to leave with hardware the first time being there is pretty special for Class B.”
The 6-foot-9-inch Abilene Christian signee was only a few boards away from finishing with a double-double as he completed the weekend fifth in scoring and rebounds.
Despite those marks, however, all Richardson could take about was East Duke, Oklahoma.
“It meant a lot to our town,” Richardson said. “It felt like our whole community was there with us.
“It’s something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”
Did we miss something? DM @McKinnisBryce via Twitter to let us know.