Iowa Showcase – Andre Gray & Isaiah Davis Lead the Sizzle
Last weekend in Ames, Iowa the Iowa Showcase was played with the Grassroots Sizzle competing in four games. Here is what we saw from the Sizzle Elite Initial Notes The Sizzle went 1-3 in this event. I picked this game…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend in Ames, Iowa the Iowa Showcase was played with the Grassroots Sizzle competing in four games. Here is what we saw from the Sizzle Elite
Initial Notes
- The Sizzle went 1-3 in this event. I picked this game because I think this is the game that it was reported that Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN scored 39 points but I’m not totally sure. If not I will check another one at a later day. I also noticed that this was a close game so of course it’s always best to watch a close game enjoyment wise. They are playing WIS Elite who I would assume is Wisconsin Elite but I’ve never heard of them so I’m not totally sure.
- Grassroots Sizzle looks to have only five or six guys. There are two guys on the bench that look to be players although one has a long sleeve shirt on and the other has his foot up and looks injured. Based on the hair I think that is Kody Williams Kody Williams 6'0" | PG Wayzata | 2021 State MN but the camera feed from Baller TV is so blurry I can’t say for sure.
- The Sizzle started Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN , Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN , Chris Morgan, Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN , and Davon Townley Jr Davon Townley Jr 6'6" | PF Minneapolis North | 2021 State MN . I think Kody Williams Kody Williams 6'0" | PG Wayzata | 2021 State MN is the injured player and I don’t see Hercy Miller Hercy Miller 6'3" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN there. Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN and Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN are not playing this summer.
- The game is being played in 24 running time minute halves. That said, I am going to report on what I see in quarters as that will be easier for me to share my thoughts. So every 12 minutes of time I will add something and call it quarters even though they are not playing quarters, they are playing halves
First Quarter – Sizzle 20 Wis Elite 18
- I’m pretty sure this event is shooting only one free throw on two shot fouls meaning the players get two points for a foul shot make when it’s a two shot foul. With running clock being the current situation I love that rule.
- This Wisconsin team has no answers for the quickness and strength of future high major football player Davon Townley Jr Davon Townley Jr 6'6" | PF Minneapolis North | 2021 State MN . Whenever the Sizzle has used Davon rolling to the rim he has caught and easily scored as the WIS kids can’t physically do anything with him. That goes double for the offensive glass.
- I am going to have close eyes on Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN , the player we have been saying is the best shooting guard prospect in Minnesota’s 2021 class for years now. So far he is 3 of 8 from the field scoring on an attacking lay-up, a putback, and an in-and-out crossover 16 foot jumpshot. He was also all over his man defensively battling in a deep stance early forcing his player to retreat countless times about the arc. The player has basically waved the white flag early on trying to dribble against Gray.
- 2022 Chris Morgan from Ashwaubenon in Wisconsin is playing point guard. When it comes to flashy passing this young man ranks with the best. He takes chances and most of them so far have paid off including one of the fastest no-look whips from the wing to the baseline that you will ever see for an assist.
Second Quarter – Sizzle 38 WIS Elite 35
- The reserve that Sizzle has is Trent Finney Trent Finney 6'4" | PF Minneahaha Academy | 2021 State MN of Minnehaha Academy. He just checked in and I can see him clearer now. Still not sure if that’s Williams at the end of the bench injured though.
- Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN has cut to the rim to score three hustle buckets.
- Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN has done a nice job within his role. A couple steals leading to transition attempts the other way, has chased down three boards, moved the ball for three assists highlighted by two skip passes for scores.
- Davon Townley has scored 10 points on perfect shooting. Every time he touches the ball after some actions, he’s scored.
- Morgan just knocked down a pair of threes plus his ability to lead the cutter to a score after a ball screen is very impressive. It will be the number one thing I remember from this game as he is outstanding in locating players after that high ball screen.
- Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN is currently sitting at 14 points on 7 of 13 shooting. His second pull-up of the game was even prettier than the first. This time he beat his man middle after noticing a bad closeout and then released the shot just before the help arrived. Then on the next two possessions Gray used dribble separation to attack space and found teammates for scores. Throw in a low post score and an open floor dunk and you have an impressive half. Showing a lot more ball skill right now than we’ve seen in the recent past.
Third Quarter – Sizzle 50 WIS Elite 50
- Foul shots in a game like this are so crucial. Because they are worth more each shot, a miss is quite costly. For example, Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN is 0 for 2 from the foul line which usually isn’t a big deal. However, in this situation that’s five points has team didn’t collect (was fouled on a three so his one foul shot counted as three points). I really like this rule, puts so much emphasis on making foul shots. Hat tip to the event director.
- Sizzle should be rolling this team but missed foul shots (2 of 6 which in this situation reads more like a value of 4 of 11) and a lot of turnovers have this game close.
- Townley just closed out perfectly and blocked a three out of a player’s hand. His agility and control of that agility at his size is quite impressive, and pretty much why he has a chance to play on Sundays. Also just had a free run in the halfcourt set at a dunk as nobody picked him up, and they may have been too scared to do so. Davon is 7 for 7 from the field.
Fourth Quarter – Sizzle 72 WIS Elite 72
- Tie score, Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN just calmly stepped into a jumper and buried a three. What stood out was the comfort and confidence of the make. Shooting 8 of 16 so far with 19 points as the main option and he’s playing like a main option guard. Fun to watch.
- Few players use their athletic ability to cut to the rim for scores as well as Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN does. Has a dozen so far all on rim cuts.
- Third dunk of the game for Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN . He has 25 with 9 minutes to go, shooting an impressive 10 of 18 so far with both foul shot makes (which in this game counts as four points).
- Steal from Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN , he misses the lay-up but the rim runner Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN is again at the rim to score. He was fouled and completed a three point play.
- Morgan with another push up the floor, Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN streaking head of him for the catch and the defensive split for two. This is a 7-0 run by Davis.
- Down 72-70 with under a minute to go, Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN wants the ball. He goes right at the defense beating the first man and then lifts in the lane to score a clutch one hander. Not only is he confidently scoring the ball, he’s confidently scoring the ball in clutch situations.
- Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN missed a foul shot, Townley missed the putback, and Gray missed a tap in, clock runs out. We are going to overtime.
Overtime – Sizzle 72 WIS Elite 74
- Overtime with a minute on the clock. Sizzle waits until the clock gets low and Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN attacks but turns the ball over.
- Next up is sudden death overtime.
- Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN with a nice skip to Chris Morgan, Morgan misses a three but it’s chased down by rim runner Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN who kicks the ball out.
- Out of a timeout the Sizzle call a nice set for Townley who gets a good low block touch but in turning to go to the rim he losses the ball or had it blocked (tough to tell on this camera).
- WIS ball, a player beats a standing flat-footed defender to the middle drawing the Sizzle big, once the big gets over to his help the backside Sizzle help defender doesn’t drop down and that’s a sudden death lay-up winner for WIS ELITE.
Final Stats
- Andre Gray Andre Gray 6'4" | SG Mpls North | 2021 State MN scored 27 points on 11 of 21 shooting including a three plus he made both foul shots (good for four points). Also had five boards and four assists. Very impressive performance and I hope to check out another game (the game vs Iowa Elite) to see that 39 point contest.
- Isaiah Davis Isaiah Davis 6'3" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State MN scored 17 points with 8 boards on 7 of 15 shooting from the field.
- Davon Townley scored 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting with 8 boards.
- Chris Morgan totaled a dozen points with six assists and four boards shooting 4 of 8 (made two threes)
- Gabe Ganz Gabe Ganz 6'1" | SG Blake | 2021 State MN was 0 of 5 from the floor and 0 for 2 at the line but had four assists and three boards.
- Trent Finney Trent Finney 6'4" | PF Minneahaha Academy | 2021 State MN played about a quarter or a third of the game and had two points, two boards, and two assists.
- The Sizzle shot 5 of 10 from the foul line and in this game that had a value of 9 of 18 meaning the thing that hurt them the most was the foul shooting.