Forum Tip-Off: Breaking Down Our Top Matchups
The day is now over. The Forum Tip-Off Classic is complete and we want to look back at those matchups and questions we had before it all started on Saturday. How did things go down and what got answered. Here is our final review of the top matchups from the Tip-Off Classic.
Keion Brooks Jr. (FW North) vs. Romeo Langford (New Albany) – This was all Romeo Langford in this one. To be fair, Keion didn’t look like he normally does, front-rimming all his shots and just struggling a bit. However, this was among the more dominant performances we have seen from Langford. He had everything working from his jumper to his athleticism in the lane. Wasn’t going to stop him at all.
Mabor Majak (HSE) vs. Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove) – Trayce Jackson-Davis won this matchup and with authority. He went off for 33 points and 10 rebounds along with 6 blocks. Mabor was decent but Jackson-Davis dominated and I’m not sure it mattered who he was matched up against. Majak showed the same things he did a week prior with his ability to defend the rim against those not named Jackson-Davis but also on offense with an improved touch around the rim.
Jerome Hunter (Pickerington North) vs. Damezi Anderson (SB Riley) – This was a very even matchup but Hunter gets the nod because he was great from start to when he fouled out. Hunter showed why he is going to be so difficult to matchup with, his size and ball handling ability are top notch for a 6’7+ wing. Anderson, for being out of things for the first three quarters, really put on a show in the fourth quarter and in overtime. His two big threes at the end of regulation got Riley back in it and gave them a chance to win.
Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon) vs. Eric Hunter Jr. (Indianapolis Tindley) – This one was a tie. Both players did exactly what we were hoping they would. They both were stellar on offense and scored the ball well. Phinisee did more getting to the rim but Hunter was the better shooter. All in all, this was a back and forth that ended with each player scoring in the mid-20s.
Trey Galloway (Culver) vs. Jared Hankins (Lawrence North) – Didn’t live up to the hype mainly because Jared Hankins got into foul trouble. However, Trey Galloway was impressive. Scored the ball at a high level and looked the part of the best player in Indiana in 2020. Galloway has the new edge to his game and looks like he is going to be on a lot more high-major radars here soon.
Noah Smith (HSE) vs. Spencer Piercefield (Center Grove) – Noah Smith was really good all game long, starting to take his game up a notch. Piercefield was a little slow to start but he got heated up in the second half. Both players were really impressive in their own ways but Smith took things a little further with his big plays at the end of the game.
PHOTO: Jared Rigdon