Player Evaluations: Kennedy cruises past Marion
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[player_tooltip player_id="1167718" first="Colby" last="Dolphin"] had 18 points in Kennedy’s blowout win CEDAR RAPIDS — Marion jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead on Tuesday night in Kennedy’s gym, but it was all Cougars after that, as Kennedy cruised to a…
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Continue ReadingCEDAR RAPIDS — Marion jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead on Tuesday night in Kennedy’s gym, but it was all Cougars after that, as Kennedy cruised to a 93-59 win over the 3A #6 Wolves in a non-conference tilt.
The Cougars used a 16-0 run after Marion’s quick opening to take control of the game, using their constant pressure defense to force Marion into turnover after turnover. Excellent ball movement on the offensive end also led to a number of wide-open looks from the arc, and Kennedy buried nine 3-pointers in the first half en route to a 51-34 halftime lead. The margin ballooned after the intermission, as the Cougars rolled to an easy season-opening win.
Marion (0-1) was led by a sensational effort from junior guard Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA , who had a game-high 34 points. The talented junior missed his first two shots, then made his next eight and finished 13-of-17 from the field, including 8-of-11 from behind the arc. An impressive shot maker who has really improved his all-around game, he’s a big reason why we’re so high on Marion heading into this season, and this game did nothing to deter us from that thinking. It was a rough night, but the Wolves won’t see a team with the athleticism and defensive prowess that Kennedy possesses in conference play in the WaMaC, or when they get to postseason play in 3A. Alex Mota added 9 points, and Boede Rahe had 6 in the loss.
Kennedy (1-0) was led by their dynamic trio in the backcourt, as juniors Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA and Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA led the way with 23 and 18 points, respectively. Carson Blietz Carson Blietz 5'11" | SG Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022 State IA , a transfer from Jefferson, added 14 points in the win. The Cougars have one of the best backcourts in the state, and they showed that on both ends of the floor in this one. Craig Mills Craig Mills 6'5" | PF Kennedy | 2022 State IA added 9 points, and Cyrus Courtney Cyrus Courtney 6'1" | SG Kennedy | 2024 State IA and Connor Jeffords each chipped in 8 off the bench.
Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
Marion | 16 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 59 |
Kennedy | 27 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 93 |
Marion:
Brayson Laube
Brayson
Laube
6'2" | PG
Marion | 2023
State
IA
34, Alex Mota 9, Boede Rahe 6, Myles Davis 3, Nathan Whalen 3, Kaden Frommelt 2, Ryan Whitson 2
Kennedy:
Kenzie Reed
Kenzie
Reed
5'11" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
23,
Colby Dolphin
Colby
Dolphin
5'10" | PG
Kennedy | 2023
State
IA
18,
Carson Blietz
Carson
Blietz
5'11" | SG
Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
14,
Craig Mills
Craig
Mills
6'5" | PF
Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
9,
Cyrus Courtney
Cyrus
Courtney
6'1" | SG
Kennedy | 2024
State
IA
8, Connor Jeffords 8,
Jackson Bowman
Jackson
Bowman
6'7" | PF
Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022
State
IA
4, Brenden Linde 4, Jack Schissel 2, Ryker Sterling 2, Gannon Hall 1
PG Brayson Laube Brayson Laube 6'2" | PG Marion | 2023 State IA (Marion, 2023)
After missing his first two shots, Laube made his next eight en route to a massive 34 points on 13-17 shooting. He has already established himself as one of the best off-ball shooters in the state, but the work that he has put in over the summer to develop his all-around offensive skill set is evident. He’s now shot up to about 6-2 and has begun filling out physically, which helps him finish at the rim at a high level. He has a quick first step and does a good job utilizing ball fakes to freeze the defender for that split second that he needs to get by them and to the bucket. He has limitless range and a smooth, effortless stroke from the arc with a lightning-quick release. His ability to shoot the ball and move without it was already garnering him some interest, but the added ability to create for himself and others should put him on the radar of every mid-major program in the Midwest. He’s efficient, smart, athletic, and an elite shot maker.
SG Alex Mota (Marion, 2023)
An athletic 6-1 wing, Mota is a sought-after prospect on the football field, but he flashed some abilities on the hardwood as well. He has the type of length and athleticism that makes him a versatile defender on the perimeter, and he showed some awareness as a help defender and the hops to contest shots at the rim. He rebounds well and keeps the ball moving on the offensive end.
PF Boede Rahe (Marion, 2022)
A well-built 6-6 forward, Rahe played really well defensively in the paint, walling up and protecting the rim. He blocked three shots, turning away shots from his man and after rotating as a help defender. He has good hands and has the footwork and IQ to be a switchable defender. He can score around the bucket, and showed a mid-range jumper as well.
PG Kenzie Reed Kenzie Reed 5'11" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (Kennedy, 2023)
The leader on both ends of the floor for the Cougars, Reed is a quick lead guard who has really developed as a scorer, showing the ability to fill it up from all three levels in a hurry. He’s a good shooter, and he uses his quickness to get to the rim routinely for finishes or to get to the free-throw line. He has a great feel for the game and is one of the best guards in the state when operating in the pick-and-roll, with the ability to turn the corner tight and get to the bucket, find the roll man, or step behind the screen and knock down 3s. He’s also a player who is capable of dominating games when he isn’t scoring because of his court vision, passing, and quickness on the defensive end of the floor. He finished with 23 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals in the Cougars’ blowout win, and if he can grow and get stronger, he will find himself on the radar of low-to-mid-major programs. At the very least, he’ll be a sought-after Division II prospect because of his all-around talents.
CG Colby Dolphin Colby Dolphin 5'10" | PG Kennedy | 2023 State IA (Kennedy, 2023)
The 6-0 lefty guard has quickly become one of my favorites in the state because of the hard-nosed nature he plays with. He’s a physical guard who doesn’t back down from anyone, and he’s an excellent on-ball defender who makes life really difficult for opposing ball-handlers. He has good feet and moves well laterally, and he does an excellent job defending without fouling. He’s a talented three-level scorer who can knock down 3s with his lefty stroke, or use his physicality to get to the rim for buckets. He finished with 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3P), 2 assists, and 3 steals on the evening.
SG Carson Blietz Carson Blietz 5'11" | SG Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022 State IA (Kennedy, 2022)
A 6-1 off-ball guard who transferred over from Jefferson, Blietz made an immediate impact in his first game as a Cougar, scoring 16 points on 6-11 shooting, including knocking down four 3-pointers. He moves well without the ball in his hands, finding spaces in the defense, and he has a quick release that is smooth and repeatable. He used his shot to open up the rest of his offensive game, getting to the bucket a few times, either for finishes or to dish it off, finishing with 4 assists to go with his scoring.
SG Cyrus Courtney Cyrus Courtney 6'1" | SG Kennedy | 2024 State IA (Kennedy, 2024)
Courtney is a player that we’ll be closely monitoring over the last three years. A long and athletic 6-1 wing, he showed a lot of promise on the defensive end as he moves his feet really well and can use his length to defend multiple positions on the perimeter. On the offensive end, he showed that he can shoot the ball from the arc, as well as put the ball on the floor and get to the bucket. As he continues to get stronger, he’ll become a better finisher around the rim. He has the length and athleticism to compete on the glass as well. He’s a promising defender with a developing offensive game that he’s able to pair with an excellent frame and athleticism. There is a lot of upside here. He finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in his first varsity action.
PF Jackson Bowman Jackson Bowman 6'7" | PF Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2022 State IA (Kennedy, 2022)
Another mobile big man who can switch defensively, protect the rim, and score in a variety of ways offensively, Bowman had a bit of a rough game, taking a few hard falls which limited his minutes, but he produced while he was on the court. He has good hands and footwork around the bucket, runs the floor hard, and he crashes the offensive glass hard. If he can develop his jumper a little bit more, he could become a really good small college player.
C Craig Mills Craig Mills 6'5" | PF Kennedy | 2022 State IA (Kennedy, 2022)
Mills is a big body in the paint, but he has surprisingly light feet and great hands that he uses to pull down any rebound in his area. He has good touch around the rim and is working on improving his footwork. He’s a fairly agile big man at 6-6 who provides some strength and physicality. He could be an impact player at the small school level with his size and the tools that he has that can still be polished.