Twin Cities Team of the Week: Week 6
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It was another shortened week of games due to the New Years break, but there were still plenty of big time performances from prospects across the Twin Cities. NHR breaks down ten of the top performers from week six of…
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Continue ReadingIt was another shortened week of games due to the New Years break, but there were still plenty of big time performances from prospects across the Twin Cities. NHR breaks down ten of the top performers from week six of the high school season in the Twin Cities!
Simeon Sharp (6’1 2020 G, St. Paul Harding)- 58 points. That’s what Simeon Sharp put up in a win over St. Paul Washington. An electric performance from one of the cities’ most electric scorers. He proved to be a versatile scoring threat on the night, knocking down four threes, getting to the rim and finishing, and knocking down 14 free throws. Simeon is like lightning in a bottle, one of the fastest players you’ll find with the ball in his hands. Once he gets a defender leaning in one direction, he has the quickness to blow by them the other way, and has the craftiness in the air to finish through traffic.
Chet Holmgren (7′ 2021 F, Minnehaha Academy)- Chances are if you’re reading this, you’ve heard about or watched Minnehaha’s win over Sierra Canyon. And with that, you probably know about the shot-blocking clinic that Chet put on in that win. 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 blocks (though many have reported as much as 14) in the win, a near triple-double for the unique 7-footer. Not only did Minnehaha beat Sierra Canyon, they also took down Park Center comfortably. In that win Chet totaled 17 points while facing the tough task of trying to stop Dain Dainja inside. Chet displayed his impeccable timing when going up for blocks, as well as a fearlessness to challenge some of the country’s best athletes and finishers at the rim this past weekend.
Paris Johnson Jr. (6’4 2021 G, St. Louis Park)- Paris Johnson Jr. is a top-25 level prospect in the state’s junior class, and he showed just why with a 28 point scoring outburst against Stillwater. As a bouncy guard with height and long arms, he has the physical tools that have college coaches salivating. He combines those with a high-releasing jump shot that he can hit with consistency off the dribble. He quickly pulls-up and his long arms make it so hard to defend, as his release point is higher than defenders are able to get a hand to. He’s averaging 17.8 ppg this year, and as he showed against Stillwater, he can put up numbers in a hurry.
John Henry (6’5 2020 G, Eden Prairie)- It seems that a different player is stepping up for Eden Prairie every game, and with so many options it’s no surprise that they remain the state’s top ranked team. In a win over Chaska last week it was John Henry who had a big performance. The Sioux Falls commit scored 20 points, an impressive tally considering the amount of talent surrounding him. He averages 9.8 ppg this season, but don’t let that number deceive you as he is a big time scoring threat. John can knock down tough 3’s off the catch or dribble, and has added an attacking piece to his game this year. A threat to get to the rim and finish or shoot from deep, John has to be accounted for every time he touches the floor.
Josh Rogers (6’3 2020 G, Minneapolis Washburn)- One of the top players in the Minneapolis City Conference this year, Josh Rogers put up a season-high 36 points as Washburn picked up a win over Anoka. Josh is able to play a lot longer than his 6’3 height would suggest, as he has long arms and a great second-jump that allows him to fight for rebounds and putbacks. He has developed a solid jumper from outside, but is still at his most dangerous getting to the rim and using his athleticism to finish. Josh is a high effort-player who works hard on both ends and battles for every rebound and loose ball. He is now averaging 18.1 ppg this season.
Dawson Garcia (6’11 2020 F, Prior Lake)- Dawson continues to impress every game, and it’s no surprise that the Marquette commit put up two huge performances last week. In a win over Apple Valley, Dawson recorded 39 points while grabbing 19 rebounds. Later in the week he put up 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists to knock off Chanhassen. His scoring numbers are ridiculous, but it’s equally impressive that he’s able to score in multiple ways. He can attack off the dribble and finish off the glass. He can finish off baby-hooks in the post. Dawson is also a high-percentage shooter from beyond the arc with a consistent stroke. That combined with his ability to move like a guard despite being nearly 7 feet tall makes him a unique college prospect.
Gabe Myren (6’3 2020 G, Spring Lake Park)- The slashing wing-guard helped his team to two wins last week, putting up solid scoring totals in each of the two wins. Against Delano he scored 26 points, then capped off the week by scoring 24 in a win over St. Francis. Myren is a threat to finish above the rim in transition, and is also able to turn the corner and beat his man to the hoop in the half-court set. Gabe also does a good job at getting his feet set to receive passes and immediately shoot from three. A well rounded scorer, Myren is a nice pickup for Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Steven Crowl (6’10 2020 F, Eastview)- Eastview is off to a strong start this season, and Steven Crowl has been a dominant figure all year. This past week he had two of his strongest performances to date. In a win over Eagan he put up 32 points. He then followed that up by dropping 40 to help take down Park of Cottage Grove. The Wisconsin commit has such a polished game in the post, able to finish with both hands and possessing the footwork to get some clean looks. Steven is also utilized often on baseline out-of-bounds plays as a shooter, coming off screens to knock down baseline jumpers with consistency.
Zaveon Smith (6’1 2020 G, St. Paul Washington)- Zaveon Smith has been putting together a strong senior campaign, but had a statement game this past week by scoring 43 points against St. Paul Harding. One of the top shooters that not many people know about, he managed to score the 43 while not having his best performance beyond the arc. He knocked down 4-10 three pointers, but did a lot of damage attacking the basket, a layer of his game that he has greatly improved on since last season. With his deep range and new ability to attack, it becomes a “pick your poison” type of situation when guarding him.
Charlie Katona (6’6 2020 W, Shakopee)- Charlie Katona rebounded from two tough games to help get Shakopee back to their winning ways last week. He went off for a 35 point performance as his team took down Rosemount 84-71. Charlie is the type of player who won’t stand out with flair, but simply gets the job done. He attacks the rim hard and has the strength to finish through contact. Katona is also good at moving off the ball to find space to shoot, and knocks down the outside jumper at a consistent rate. Defensively he has the versatilty to guard multiple positions, and he has shown that he can play against, and outperform D1 level wings. A big pickup for UMD.