Max’s Wednesday Top Performers
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With holiday events in full swing, I was able to catch six games across two locations on Wednesday. These are seven of the top performers from those games! Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State…
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Continue ReadingWith holiday events in full swing, I was able to catch six games across two locations on Wednesday. These are seven of the top performers from those games!
Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN (6’6 2022 W, East Ridge)- If the season ended today, it would be hard to keep Kendall’s name out of the Mr. Basketball conversation, as he’s been incredibly productive this year. Last night was no different as the St. Thomas commit went for 29 points and a handful of assists in a win over Minnehaha. He was a danger in transition as he was jumping passing lanes or leaking out after a teammate’s steal to get to the rim. Once there he showed excellent body control to finish with reverse lay-ups or go through contact to score. Add in his ability to handle and create shots for his teammates by getting into the lane, smooth jumper from three/mid-range, and his defensive versatility, and you have one of the top players in the state.
Rob Issa (6’3 2022 W, Holy Angels)- I talked about Rob a bit towards the end of last season as a guy starting to breakout, and yesterday he delivered with a game high 18 points in a win for Holy Angels. He’s a long and explosive athlete on the wing who ran the floor hard for transition buckets, including a high flying dunk. Took a couple of questionable shots, but for the most part was getting good looks inside or taking catch-and-shoot threes that he showed he can knock down when given space. Lots of potential defensively as someone who can guard bigger than his size or sit and defend on the wing.
Jake Dallman Jake Dallman 6'2" | SF Mound-Westonka | 2022 State MN (6’2 2022 G, Mound Westonka)- Not only did Jake finish with a season best 14 points in a win over St. Paul Central, but he showed excellent passing vision. At times Mound Westonka was playing a bit like Chino Hills from a few years back, as Jake would take a defensive rebound or an outlet pass and immediately look to launch the ball ahead. On multiple occasions he connected with Jason Spaeth Jason Spaeth 6'2" | SG Mound-Westonka | 2022 State MN on some accurate full-court passes that led to an easy two points. In the half-court he’s a reliable shooter while also having the strength and patience to get into the paint and score off of two feet at the rim. Steady hand on the defensive end as well.
Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN (6’2 2022 PG, Cretin-Derham Hall)- Tre got off to a slow start against Lakeville South, but really started to pick it up late in the first half. He knocked down a pair of threes with a few minutes to go in the first, and that carried over to the second where he started to get more aggressive attacking the basket. Twice he jumped a crosscourt pass and finished with a lay-up, and he was also getting into dangerous spots before stopping on a dime and zipping in some crisp passes to his big man around the basket. It’s that passing vision to find the slimmest of gaps to pass through that separates him not only from most point guards in the state, but also most across the country. When Tre gets going like he did in the second half last night, CDH will be very hard to stop.
Brandon Melchior Brandon Melchior 6'10" | C Elk River | 2022 State MN (6’9 2022 C, Cretin-Derham Hall)- On the receiving end of some of those Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN passes was Brandon Melchior Brandon Melchior 6'10" | C Elk River | 2022 State MN . The Elk River transfer had his best game in a CDH uniform that I’ve seen, and it resulted in 14 points in a win. He showed good hands and coordination at his size, which is key when receiving sometimes unexpected passes from Holloman. Brandon did a nice job of receiving and then quickly turning over his shoulder if he had space, or remaining patient if he caught in traffic before going to work in isolation or kicking it back out to the perimeter. Had a really impressive turnaround jumper on the baseline, shaking his defender with a quick shimmy before turning the opposite way to score with touch. Would like to see him get more aggressive when looking to finish inside, but continues to show nice flashes on both ends.
Peyton Newbern Peyton Newbern 6'5" | SF Armstrong | 2022 State MN (6’4 2022 G, Robbinsdale Armstrong)- Peyton flashed his versatility at 6’4 in a win over a tough Owatonna squad. In the first half it was his facilitating in the open floor, as he has the speed and handle to push the ball ahead and make smart decisions with his passing. On a handful of occasions he took it the length of the floor and dished it off at the last second to his brother Seth. In the second half he started looking for his own shot more. Peyton was knocking down threes and getting to the basket for some tough finishes. Biggest of all way his lay-up with just a couple seconds remaining that gave Armstrong the win.
Alex Mattes Alex Mattes 6'3" | SG East Ridge | 2023 State MN (6’4 2023 G, East Ridge)- If it wasn’t Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN putting up a solo scoring run, it was Alex Mattes Alex Mattes 6'3" | SG East Ridge | 2023 State MN , who finished the win over Minnehaha with a season best 25 points. In a sequence that really blew the game open in the first half, Alex broke loose for a transition dunk, hustled back, then fought through a screen to pick up a steal and lay-up to force a timeout. That type of effort to apply pressure on the ball and sprint up the floor in transition was key in his team’s win. Adding to that was a flurry of threes, as Alex is one of the top shooters in the 2023 class. Really like the strides he’s taken forward as a prospect this season.