Breakdown Rochester Hoops Challenge: Best of the Best

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was able to catch four games in the Rochester area on Saturday. Here are my best of the best from those games!</span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of Caledonia (6’3” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My top player from Saturday was [player_tooltip player_id="754315" first="Eli" last="King"]. The Iowa State signee absolutely dominated their matchup with Byron, leading his team to a 16-point victory. He was scoring the ball from all three levels, seeming like he could do anything he wanted. King is so unpredictable and crafty when he is finishing at the rim, he can use his incredible athleticism to finish over the defense, he can use his great body control when he is in the air to finish with reverse layups, and he also does a great job drawing fouls leading to and-ones or free throws. Eli can also score from beyond the arc and has a smooth fadeaway to use in the mid-range area. He finished the contest with a game-high 28 points and looks ready for the Big 12. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="958681" first="Brayden" last="Williams"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of Owatonna (6’2” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brayden was putting on a scoring clinic in Owatonna’s matchup with Park. The senior guard finished the game with 20 points and was scoring in many different ways. Williams is so smooth with the ball in his hands and is always looking to facilitate. He possesses a great ability to score off the dribble and to drive to the basket. He is so crafty with the way he gets around defenders and finishes at the rim. Williams is also a knockdown shooter. Bemidji State definitely got a gem with Brayden. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="958715" first="Pharrel" last="Payne"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of Park of Cottage Grove (6’9” Center - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was Pharrel’s first week back returning from injury and he looks 100%. The Minnesota commit took over in Park’s overtime win versus Owatonna, finishing the game with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He scored the majority of his points in the paint and in the post, using a variety of different moves to create good looks for himself. Payne can also stretch the floor, as he knocked down a three-pointer in the catch-and-shoot. The 6’9” center was protecting the paint as well with a few thunderous blocks. This Park of Cottage Grove team looks really good and has the possibility to make some noise as we get closer to March. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="958725" first="Ty" last="Creger"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of Owatonna (6’0” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ty was so fun to watch on Saturday. He was making huge plays all game for his team in their matchup with Park. He finished the game with 17 points, knocking down 3 three-pointers. What I was most impressed with was his ability to score the ball inside the paint area. He used different crossover and ball fake combinations to get past defenders, then the 6-foot senior used floaters and layups with both hands to finish it off. Creger is one of the most under-the-radar players in the state. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="1143864" first="Devin" last="Newsome"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of South St. Paul (6’1” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Devin has continued to prove himself as one of the top scorers in the state this season and that did not change on Saturday. Newsome is very strong for a guard and used that strength to finish inside and out-muscle defenders with offensive rebounds and tip-ins. He was very effective scoring in transition and made a couple long passes to create easy looks for teammates as well. He finished with a game-high 23 points, including a clutch three-pointer late in the second half to keep South St. Paul undefeated through the first 11 contests. They defeated Austin 64-61. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of Caledonia (6’2” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most underrated player I saw on Saturday was [player_tooltip player_id="958700" first="Jackson" last="Koepke"]. Jackson was lighting it up from beyond the three-point line on his way to a solid 25 point performance. He connected with 4 three-pointers versus Byron, specializing in the catch-and-shoot. The senior guard also did a great job getting to the rim and finishing through contact. This was my first time seeing Koepke play and I was very impressed to say the least. </span></p> <p><b>[player_tooltip player_id="796950" first="Jason" last="Spaeth"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">of Mound Westonka (6’2” Guard - 2022) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason carried his team to a win over Kasson-Mantorville on Saturday. The 6’2” guard finished the game with 22 points, including 4 three-pointers. Spaeth and Mound Westonka love to play fast-paced and score in transition. Jason’s play style fits perfect in these situations, he is very quick and is a great finisher at full speed. Jason is also very strong for his position, resulting in him being a great rebounder and possessing a solid post game. Mound Westonka has had a tough schedule so far, but don’t be surprised if they make a run late in the season!</span></p>