Breakdown Sports Fall League: Week 1 Standouts
The Breakdown Sports Fall League kicked off this weekend at Hopkins, with many of the state’s top teams and prospects in attendance. I was there to catch the action, and these are eight of the prospects who stood out! Camden…
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Continue ReadingThe Breakdown Sports Fall League kicked off this weekend at Hopkins, with many of the state’s top teams and prospects in attendance. I was there to catch the action, and these are eight of the prospects who stood out!
Camden Heide Camden Heide 6'7" | SF Wasatch Academy | 2022 State #129 Nation UT (6’6 2022 W, Wayzata)- Camden may have been the most efficient scorer I saw all day. He wasn’t constantly looking to score when he got his touches, but he took advantage of what the defense was giving him, whether it be playing him too close and allowing him to blow by to the rim, or catching his defender with his hand down, and popping a three right over him. Heide also had the most impressive dunk of the day, taking off from outside the lane and throwing down a powerful one-handed slam in traffic.
Joshua Strong Joshua Strong 6'0" | PG Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (6’ 2021 PG, Champlin Park)- Joshua wasn’t putting up huge scoring numbers, but did a really good job of getting the offense into a rhythm and setting up his teammates to score. Strong did a nice job applying ball pressure on the defensive end, using his strong frame and quick feet to limit his man’s scoring opportunities. Was also really impressed by some of the difficult passes he was able to make, attacking the basket at full speed before drawing in the help defender and kicking off the pass at the last second.
Marcus Owens Marcus Owens 6'8" | C Minneapolis North | 2021 State MN (6’7 2021 F, Minneapolis North)- With North missing a lot of their talent due to football starting up, Marcus stepped up big time in the role of North’s center. Going up against a D1 committed big, Marcus held his own in the post and made plays on both ends of the floor. He had a nice two-handed dunk on offense, and was constantly blocking or disrupting shots on the defensive end. Marcus has excellent timing combined with long arms that give him the effect around the rim that a 7 footer would have.
Drew Berkland Drew Berkland 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2022 State MN (5’11 2022 PG, Wayzata)- With no Kody Williams Kody Williams 6'0" | PG Wayzata | 2021 State MN , Drew took over the role of ball handling duties for Wayzata. He showed off his toughness on both ends of the floor, and did a good job of withstanding ball pressure. Drew was a threat to shoot from three, but also showed off a quick burst that allowed him to get to the rim and finish off a few chances. Liked his effort on the defensive end as well.
Demarion Watson Demarion Watson 6'8" | SF Totino-Grace | 2022 State #150 Nation MN (6’7 2022 W, Totino-Grace)- Demarion continued his strong run of play with a big game in a win over Eastview. Totino-Grace was missing a pair of their key players, and Demarion filled the void with a strong scoring performance. He was knocking down threes off the catch, a few mid-range jumpers, and showed off his athleticism with some transition dunks. Really like his versatility on the defensive end as well, as he can stick with smaller players on the perimeter or use his length to disrupt shots in the paint.
Henry Shannon III Henry Shannon III 6'6" | SF Eastview | 2021 State MN (6’6 2021 W, Eastview)- Henry is looking like one of those late bloomer prospects who’s finally starting to turn some of his athletic potential into production. Henry had a pair of dunks in the first half, including a powerful one hander over a 6’7 defender. He also looked extremely comfortable knocking down threes off the catch, and also showed he can pull-up off the dribble. Add in his ability to block shots and guard a variety of spots defensively, and he’s a solid player with high potential.
Jalen Hayes (6’1 2023 PG, Mankato East)- One of the biggest surprises on the day for me was the emergence of Jalen Hayes as an up-and-coming point guard for Mankato East. He wasn’t impressing with flashy plays and athleticism, but he showcased his strong handle and versatile scoring ability. Hayes had an ankle breaking crossover on the perimeter that he took in for an and-one finish, and also knocked down a few threes on the day. Really like how he didn’t back down and competed until the end against a nationally ranked point guard.
Al Flemming (6’4 2021 F, Cretin-Derham Hall)- With CDH losing so much, a few guys will need to step up if they hope to be successful this winter. Al looks ready to be one of those players, as he has solid height and a nice shot from deep. He’s not the quickest player, but has some surprising explosiveness around the rim, and a knack for getting into open space. Al combined a handful of threes with some finishes around the rim in a win over Mankato East, all while providing effort on the glass.