Breakdown Summer State: Standout Guards

Bloomongton was the home of the Breakdown Summer State Tournament this past Sunday. Here are the guards that really caught my eye!   Isaac Asuma Isaac Asuma 6'2" | PG Cherry | 2024 MN of Cherry (6’2” PG - 2024)  Asuma has continued to have an amazing spring/summer with another dominant showing this past weekend. I was able to catch his matchup with Lyle-Pacelli and Buay Koak Buay Koak 6'3" | SG Lyle-Austin Pacelli | 2023 State MN where Isaac took over. He is an all-around player who can make huge impacts in all facets of the game. He is such an amazing facilitator as he was constantly drawing in defenders to leave teammates wide open for easy looks. He can also finish around the rim with either hand and knock down shots from beyond the arc. The last name ‘Asuma’ will be popular for years to come in Minnesota hoops.  CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #211 Nation MN of Park Center (6’4” SG - 2023)  CJ was unstoppable in his debut weekend with Park Center. He scored a game-high 33 points in their matchup with Eastview, leading them to a comfortable victory. There was no answer for O’Hara attacking the rim as he used a variety of different moves to get easy looks. His jump shot also looks improved as he knocked down a pair of pull-up three-pointers. PC looks reloaded coming off of their state championship, as they went undefeated and won the Breakdown Summer Series State Tournament. CJ averaged a team-high 18.6 points per game last season with Hopkins.  Daniel Freitag Daniel Freitag 6'3" | PG Thomas Jefferson | 2024 State MN of Bloomington Jefferson (6’2” PG - 2024)  Daniel easily looked like the best player on the floor in Jefferson’s comeback win over East Ridge. He dominated the game with his facilitating, creating many layups and open shots from the perimeter for his team. He was able to show off his range with some shots from the outside as well. He also had the best dunk I saw of the day with a one-handed slam where it looked like he levitated off the floor. Freitag could be a contender for the state’s leading scorer going into his junior season.  Dylan Omweno Dylan Omweno 6'1" | PG Eastview | 2023 State MN of Eastview (6’2” PG - 2023)  Dylan is looking to take over the lead scoring role at Eastview this season with the departures of Kenji Scales and Jamal Ambrose. He facilitated the ball incredibly well in his matchup with Park Center, finding teammates with all kinds of different unexpected passes. He also knocked down some shots from the perimeter, mixing in some off the dribble, on the run, or in the catch and shoot. The Lightning are very deep this year, but I will not be surprised if Omweno was some 30+ point scoring nights.  Randy McClendon Jr Randy McClendon Jr 6'1" | PG Park Center | 2024 State MN . of Columbia Heights (6’1” CG - 2024)  Randy’s shots were not falling from the outside, but he found a way to take over the game with his finishing and playmaking abilities. He led Heights to a comeback win over Princeton after being down twenty points at halftime. Randy has fantastic body control as he can rise and contort his body to avoid being blocked. He also had some very impressive passes out of the pick and roll leading to easy baskets. It will be fun to watch as he gains more chemistry with his new team, the Hylanders will be sleepers in class AAA.  Buay Koak Buay Koak 6'3" | SG Lyle-Austin Pacelli | 2023 State MN of Lyle-Pacelli (6’4” CG - 2023)  This was my first time seeing Buay play and I really got a feel for what kind of a player he is. He is extremely lanky and has a solid handle when bringing the ball up the floor. He can score from all levels as he can knock down shots from deep or take his defender to the basket off the dribble. Koak also impressed me with his rebounding and shot blocking ability with his exceptionable athleticism that allows him to soar over opponents for rebounds and hang in the air to time up rejections. Buay has been running with Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch this AAU season.  Cedric Tomes of East Ridge (5’9” PG - 2026)  This was the first time I had seen Cedric play since last spring and the leap he has taken has been very impressive. He is usually the smallest player on the court, but he makes up for it with his outside scoring and basketball IQ. There needs to be a hand in his face as soon as he crosses the volleyball line as he will shoot it and will make it. He made some very impressive passes and was very vocal on defense. Tomes has a very bright future and will be fun to watch for years to come.