Twin Cities Team Of The Week: Week 1
The high school basketball season is here, and the season has just wrapped up its first week of games. Though there weren’t a large volume of games, the quality of matches was high. Prep Hoops recognizes ten of the top…
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Continue ReadingThe high school basketball season is here, and the season has just wrapped up its first week of games. Though there weren’t a large volume of games, the quality of matches was high. Prep Hoops recognizes ten of the top individual performers from throughout the Twin Cities in our team of the week.
Dain Dainja (6’9 2020 PF, Park Center)- Simply put, Dain Dainja was unstoppable on Saturday. Hopkins had no answer for the big man with guard-like handles. Dain was banging in the post, cutting to the hoop, and beating defenders off the dribble on his way to 28 points and 21 rebounds in a comfortable win over the reigning state champs. When Hopkins started to mount a comeback in the second half, it was Dain who shut down their chances with some thundering dunks that got the crowd going. With Dain playing like this, it will take a lot for a team to knock them off the top spot in Class AAAA.
Ibo El-Amin (5’11 2023 G, Burnsville)- The El-Amin name carries on in the Twin Cities, and now it’s Ibo carrying on the legacy. I knew from watching Ibo in the fall that he’d be able to make an impact at the varsity level, but I had no idea that he’d be able to lead his team to a season opening win with 19 points to start his varsity career. I saw a clip of Ibo nailing a three right in his defenders face, and he also excelled at drawing contact, as evident by his 6-8 shooting from the charity stripe. He has a real killer instinct on offense, and that could lead to some more electrifying performances this year.
Cade Haskins (6’6 2021 W, DeLaSalle)- After contributing off the bench as a sophomore, Cade Haskins has returned taller, more athletic, and an all-around improved player. That showed as he dominated for DeLaSalle in a win over #1 ranked AA Waseca. He drained three straight triples towards the end of the first half, which ended up sparking a 26 point performance for the junior wing. To cap off the game Cade threw down a two handed dunk on the baseline, the exclamation point to an impressive victory. A new high major potential prospect emerging on The Island.
Josh Ola-Joseph (6’4 2022 W, Osseo)- Josh Ola-Joseph is another player who really had a coming out party at the Big 12 Classic. He saw time off the bench last season, but has now emerged as a starter, and possibly the main scoring threat for Osseo. He explodes off the ground so quickly, and combines that with his length to dunk with ease. He threw down three against Edina, including an impressive put-back slam from the baseline. Combine that with a tenacity attack the rim off the dribble, and his strong finishes saw his point total rise to 17 at the final buzzer.
Jordan Jones (5’8 2020 G, Columbia Heights)- Jordan Jones just keeps giving us reasons to cover him, as he started off his senior season in electric fashion. In a Friday night win over Minneapolis Roosevelt, Jordan shot out for 29 points on 9-13 shooting. That type of efficiency is something we saw last year, but this week he added in volume for his near-30 point performance. The shifty guard knocked down a trio of three pointers, but is so good at flying to the rim off the dribble to finish.
Ryan Thissen (6’6 2020 W, Eastview)- Not to be overshadowed by his teammate Steven Crowl’s 28 points, Ryan added an impressive 25 of his own, despite seeing limited minutes in the second half. Ryan’s mid-range jumper was automatic, as he elevates so high on his pull-up, making it nearly impossible to get a hand up to contest. Thissen was also getting to the rim off the dribble and with backdoor cuts leading to some inside finishes and trips to the free throw line. His performance helped Eastview blowout Champlin Park in the season opener.
Kerwin Walton (6’4 2020 G, Hopkins)- The most impressive scoring performance of the week? That would belong to nationally ranked Kerwin Walton of Hopkins. Kerwin fought through what appeared to be an ankle injury in the first half, and went on to score 32 points, doing everything he could to try to will his team back into the game. He was hitting step back threes off the dribble, moving into space off the ball to get off shots, and drove into the lane for a poster dunk with his left hand. But he’s just a shooter right? Even without being fully healthy, Kerwin proved why high major programs across the country are pursuing his talents.
Jayden Lane (6’2 2021 G, Park of Cottage Grove)- Who’s going to step up after the graduations of Domenik Block and Charlie Gorres? That question has been asked plenty of times about Park entering this season. In their season opener against Hudson (WI), it was junior Jayden Lane who put in a big night on offense. He averaged 6.4 ppg last season, and exploded for 26 to start off his junior year. Jayden is a really crafty player off the dribble, which allows him to attack the basket to score or use his vision to find the open man when the defense collapses.
Austin Andrews (6’6 2020 F, Eden Prairie)- Austin Andrews having a solid night for Eden Prairie is about as safe a bet as they come. He’s been so consistent over his whole career, and that consistent production took the form of 19 points and 9 rebounds against Cretin-Derham Hall to start off the year. Those 19 points came through tough post finishes, second chance buckets, and a one handed slam on the baseline. He’s undersized for a post player, but uses his feet so well to put himself in positions to score, and he has one of the softest touches around the hoop that you’ll find. Austin also drew two charges in the first half that were huge momentum boosters for Eden Prairie in their win.
Dawson Garcia (6’11 2020 F, Prior Lake)- At this point, 30 point games have become a consistent part of Dawson Garcia’s life. What was so impressive about this one, is that it was done against nationally ranked Ben Carlson of East Ridge. Dawson is such a versatile player who uses his length to score on you inside, but is able to pull-up from three right in his defenders face, or blow by him off the dribble. Garcia scored in all three of those ways on Saturday, and also ran the floor well to find himself with some easy dunks. Marquette is getting themselves one of the country’s elite power forwards next season.