Granite City Classic – The Senior Standouts
What seniors stood out yesterday at the Granite City Classic games from St. Cloud Apollo? Prep Hoops runs you through the list of who and why! Cole Chapman Cole Chapman of Mahtomedi. I really liked what I saw from Cole…
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Continue ReadingWhat seniors stood out yesterday at the Granite City Classic games from St. Cloud Apollo? Prep Hoops runs you through the list of who and why!
Cole ChapmanCole Chapman of Mahtomedi. I really liked what I saw from Cole on Friday. Thought he did a great job of using his size to produce against a very small, quick team. Passed the ball out of the high post well, rebounded at a strong rate (13 in about 27 minutes of play) and when his team got the ball up the floor Cole showed a nice deep post touch scoring on five of six shots. Hit all his foul shots too building to a 14 point game.
Isaac Fisher of Henning. Fisher is one of the state’s better Class A defensive players but he also provided a scoring spark that allowed Henning the balance to defeat WEM in three overtimes. Isaac had four scores late in the game cutting to space within the Henning offense working his way to a dozen points. The key part of Fisher is how active he is cutting off the pass, slicing to space to catch and reverse, fighting to the angle defensively, and keeping in that stance to beat players to the angle. A 5-foot-11 guard that ha played on the ball and off.
Parker Fraki of Henning. Fraki is a 6-foot-2 guard that is the perfect example of how versatile and well schooled a Henning player is. His snap ball movement followed by a sharp cut is the constant. His defensive stance jumping to the ball is regular. Parker boards hard (had nine against WEM), he scored 15 on 11 shots, and was an all around standout. Good size at guard that will arrive at college well schooled.
Brody Fox of Mahtomedi. Brody Fox lived in transition on Friday. He scored 20 points on nine of a dozen shooting and most of his scores were dunks and lay-ups running the floor. Looks like an excellent transition player as well as a smart player cutting off the ball. Quick bounce at 6-foot-3 who runs well. Could make a for a really nice division three player as he continues to develop. Scoring 14 a game this year.
Dawson Garcia of Park Center. It was another low shooting percentage game against a top opponent for the Marquette five star talent (8 of 25 shooting) but he worked his way to scoring production by fighting on the offensive glass to get the rest of his game going, the mark of a good scorer. Also helped get others going with several passes to open shooters (less than half were made though) and Dawson was the best rebounder on the floor collecting 15 caroms.
Tyree IhenachoMachiah Harut of MCA. Because of a couple transfers Harut has stepped into a bigger scoring role this year and so far this season he’s done a solid job with it. Tonight against Apollo, Machiah had 15 but it took 18 shots to get there so it wasn’t as efficient as other games he’s had. That said he’s taken on the challenge by adding more to his dribble separation game plus Harut’s shooting stroke looks to have taken a step forward.
Jack Hoth of St. Cloud Apollo. Jack and his brother Chang are confident, fearless shooters. Jack was the one with the hot hand tonight scoring 17 points on just five shots. He did much of his work from the foul line making all seven attempts but he also drilled two threes.
Tyree Ihenacho of Prior Lake. The North Dakota commit had a slow start versus Park Center but once his motor got moving Tyree was able to produce on the move regularly. He’s one of these players that turns a defensive board into a rapid transition break for positive results. Fantastic rebounder as a wing (had 11 boards vs Park Center) and his explosive straight line attack led to 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting.
Kolade Johnson of Brooklyn Center. Came off the BC bench to hit a quick three and then went at the rim for several second half scores that changed the game momentum. Johnson was the team high rebounder using relentless effort and a quick second and third board to stop the bigger team from boarding.
Cole Kokoschke of WEM. Cole is a 6-foot-3 senior power forward that handles a lot of the inside fight and the ball screen might for the Bucs. Showed a bit of range hitting a few jumpers on his way to double digit points but his biggest contribution was likely the ball screens clearing space, the key rebounds grabbed, and the snapping ball movement that opened shooters.
Jack Leland of Lakeville South. Jack Leland gets it done. Don’t look at his stats, just go watch him play. He’s got a MIAC level future at 6-foot-6 as a frontcourt player because he is one of the hardest working players on the floor and one of the smartest players on the floor. Had a dozen points vs Champlin Park college bigs and didn’t miss a shot. All of his scores were moving to the rim to catch and finish while the defense was out of sorts. Great screener, excellent position defender, forces bigs to go over his length and does a good job keeping them away from high percentage position.
Jax Madson of Mankato East. The White Hawks threw a lot of activity in the direction of Madson but his demeanor never changed. He waited out the intensity and then made plays. It wasn’t his best shooting day but Madson scored 11 points on 11 shots including a late dagger three plus moved the ball for five assists. He moved the ball finding mismatched wings for scores and Jax rebounded from his guard position. He’s the type of player that finds a way to influence every play in some way regardless of how visual the impact is.
Jordan Merseth of Mankato East. Jordan is one of the smartest, most consistent players you will see in the low post. A comfort facing the basket with great hands and feet, Merseth is usually one step ahead of the opposite post when it comes to where his step is and how his upper body first makes contact. Grabbed seven boards and scored ten points on five shots.
Devon Moore of Champlin Park. A tackling machine as a Rebels defensive back, Moore also adds depth to the basketball team in the backcourt. He was the lone Rebel that could create his own shot today resulting in a team high dozen points. The Cougars couldn’t stop his basket attack which led to ten foul shot attempts.
Connor Prok of Mound-Westonka. Connor is his team’s third leading scorer and he’s the type of player that doesn’t need the ball in his hands a lot to contribute. Today Prok scored on three of four shots, led his team in rebounding, and despite being about a 6-foot-5 big man, Prok knows leverage which allows him to board and defend at a high level. Plus score on over half his field goal attempts.
Ethan RensEthan Rens of Champlin Park. With Francis Nwaokorie out of the country on a family visit that meant more time for Ethan Rens and Ethan delivered showing his range with two threes on his way to an 11 point game. Rens is more of a face-up big and he looks to have the size at 6-foot-6 and skill level that a team at the D3 level can work with and develop.
Luke Ricker of Mahtomedi. A do everything senior wing at 6-foot-5 who passes the ball very well and rebounds with good effort as a three. Had a double-double vs Mahtomedi (11 points and ten boards). A jack of all trades player that can play a few spots on offense and guard several on defense.
Jameel Taylor of Brooklyn Center. In only his second game of the season Taylor started for BC and defended a player seven inches bigger than him limiting touches constantly fighting to get his body in the passing lane. Taylor also battled for boards, made a couple mid-range jumpers, and should a defensive desire that helped the Centaurs earn a huge win.