Biggest Takeaways: St. Louis Christian vs Booker T Washington
The Norm Stewart Classic took place over the weekend in Columbia, Missouri under the bright lights of Mizzou Arena. The 48 hour/24 game marathon featured match-ups of some of the best teams and high end talent that the region has…
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Continue ReadingThe Norm Stewart Classic took place over the weekend in Columbia, Missouri under the bright lights of Mizzou Arena. The 48 hour/24 game marathon featured match-ups of some of the best teams and high end talent that the region has to offer, with several games being broadcast via ESPN3. One of the highlights of the weekend was a bright and early 7am contest on Saturday between St. Louis Christian (MO) and Booker T Washington (OK) that featured some big time star power. Despite the early start, it did not take either team long to wake up and warm up.
The Hornets got off to a blistering hot start behind star guard Bryce Thompson and built a comfortable early lead over SLCA, but the Cougars eventually settled in to what became an exciting back and forth contest. Booker T led 37-32 at the half, but despite numerous attempts to put the game away SLCA continuously came storming back to tie or take the lead throughout the second half on the backs of big performances by star guards Jaden Jones and Jordan Nesbitt.
Thompson buried a tough pull-up jumper and after a defensive stop converted a pair of free throws to give Booker T a 66-63 lead. A last second attempt to tie for SLCA rimmed out and the Hornets were able to walk away with a hard-fought victory. Here’s a look at our biggest takeaways from this epic game:
Bryce Thompson is un-guardable:
Unsurprisingly, Bryce was named the MVP of the game after his 34 point performance in Booker T’s big win. Matched up against some big-time talent, Thompson proved again that he is capable of taking over a game regardless of who is standing opposite of him. He buried shot after shot including four straight points in the final minute of the game to re-take the lead. You almost felt bad for SLCA at times, because despite some great defensive efforts Thompson’s shot making was just a bit better. He thrives in the clutch moments, scores at all three levels, and is a large part of the reason why the future continues to be bright at Kansas.
Jaden Jones’ stock is rising fast:
Jaden Jones had a monster game for SLCA and nearly led the Cougars to an impressive victory. With a long, athletic 6’7 frame Jones has the versatility to play and defend any position on the floor. He was on fire from behind the arc and mixed it up well in the paint and on the glass. He finished with a team high 24 points for the Cougars. His stock has blown up since arriving on campus at SLCA, as he has recently picked up offers from Alabama, Murray State, and Saint Louis.
Jordan Nesbitt thriving at the point guard position:
We have noticed that Jordan is spending a lot more time running the point so far this season, and so far it looks like the transition is going very smoothly. The 6’6 guard has a college-ready build and is one of the top rated 2021 prospects in Missouri. He has offers from Nebraska, Ole Miss, Tulane, and Iowa as it stands now. He looked very comfortable operating in the pick and roll and making plays off the bounce in the paint. He is an improved finisher that is working on improved efficiency as a shooter. He gave Booker T fits in transition and attacking the rim. If he continues to thrive at his size at the point guard position, expect his national profile to continue to rise.
Trey Phipps may be one of the best sidekicks in the country:
Obviously, covering Missouri for the most part I have not seen as much of the Oklahoma talent as I would have liked to. Came away very impressed with Trey Phipps who is a steadying force for the Hornets. There is justifiably a ton of hype around teammate Bryce Thompson, but Trey is a big-time player himself. He is flat out solid and almost always makes the right decision with the basketball. He showed off a quick trigger and some big time shot making ability. He also proved to have ice-water in his veins by converting at the free throw line in the final seconds to help secure the teams win. He is a coach’s dream and will do quite well over the course of his career at Oklahoma.
Big men on the radar:
Sure, the big-time talent took a lot of the attention at the Norm Stewart Classic, but what about the “bigs” themselves? Each team had a man in the middle that have some projectable skills and are on the radar:
- 6’8 Sr Jalen Breath (Booker T) has a standing offer from UMKC and will have plenty of exposure that could lead to several more. The athletic rim runner has a high motor and is very active on the glass and as a rim protector. He is quick enough to switch at times and hold his own defending the perimeter. Nice player.
- 6’8 Jr Mayen Maen (SLCA) is another lanky, athletic forward that showed promise. He cleans up at securing and finishing dump-offs and uses his length to be a menace on the offensive glass. Free throw stroke looks good. As he continues to add strength his stock will continue to rise.