Midwest Festival of Teams – Five Best
This weekend Prep Hoops was in Ames, Iowa watching talent form the Midwest compete at the Midwest Festival of Teams. Here are the top performers from Monday. Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend Prep Hoops was in Ames, Iowa watching talent form the Midwest compete at the Midwest Festival of Teams. Here are the top performers from Monday.
Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN of Grassroots Sizzle (PG, 2022). The Minnesota player of the day was Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN , a 2022 guard with offers from Milwaukee, Morgan State, and Western Illinois. Dodd lead the Sizzle in total assists, points, and boards this weekend! And honestly I think the best part was his defense on the ball and in the passing lanes off of it, or his ability to play point guard in such a steady way. Alonzo led his team in scoring on Monday and he only missed five shots in three games! Dodd has the energy to bring his best on both ends of the court and his ability to be a constant focus, a persistent consistent, it’s what makes him elite. The term high major is now being brought up, and rightfully so.
Cole Glasgow Cole Glasgow 6'2" | SG Dallas Center- Grimes | 2022 State IA of All Iowa Attack (SG, 2022). The best shooter I saw all day was Cole. Cole is coming off of a 15.6 point and 4.4 rebound per game sophomore season shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from the arc. Cole continued that shot shooting scoring 20 (four triples) against Grassroots Minnesota. What really caught me off guard was Cole’s explosion into the cut, into the lift to release his jumper, and his agility going aggressively at the rim. This is more than a shooter, Cole is also an athlete. Cole is about a 6-foot-3 guard.
Chucky Hepburn Chucky Hepburn 6'1" | PG Bellevue West | 2021 State #77 Nation NE of Team Factory (PG, 2021). Hepburn led Team Factory to two wins on Monday defeating All Iowa Attack’s top 17u team 61-46 and then knocking off a northern Minnesota squad (West Central United) 70-53. Playing about half of each contest Chucky recorded 12 points, six boards, and three assists, and then against WC United, Hepburn his team to a win with another 12 points along with three boards and four assists. Made eight of nine foul shots overall. Hepburn’s control of the game was constant. There was no player on the court that was able to sit in a stance and keep their feet in front of Hepburn. His hesitation move had eyes popping, Hepburn’s ability to attack opposite of whatever way his opponent attempted to shade meant constant paint attacks, and the amount of help defenders he drew with every attack was like watching a game of 21 where all defenders converge on one player (but of course Hepburn was able to create for others, and create he did – although the assist total didn’t show it as many guys were rusty in finishing).
Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN of West Central Wildcats (PF, 2022). Was solid in all the games that West Central played in. Loge is one of the most skilled players in his class and that was on full display this weekend. But Loge also impressed with his passing ability to his West Central teammates (more on them tomorrow). Loge was consistently making the perfect pass to a cutter or right to an open shooter. Something else to note is he hit about one or two threes in each game. If he can add that element to his game it could be scary as Loge is so good facing or back to the basket in the post.
Tamin Lipsey Tamin Lipsey 6'2" | PG Ames | 2022 State #163 Nation IA of All Iowa Attack (PG, 2022). The first game on Monday morning Tamin went head to head with Florida offered Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis and despite Wilson’s strong defensive efforts, Lipsey attacked the heart of the Grassroots Sizzle defense for a dozen points, six assists, and six rebounds. The shooting percentage wasn’t quite at 50 percent (5 of 11) but Lipsey had little issue using his quick first step and strength to get middle after the initial dribble separation move. The biggest highlight? Lipsey’s game winning step-back jumper at the buzzer lifting All Iowa Attack 16u over Grassroots Sizzle 61-59. It was the first of an excellent three-game stretch for Tamin. After the first game we asked Tamin how things we went and he quickly met us with a “oh man, that felt great!” followed by a smile. Lipsey led AIA to a 4-0 record in the event.