Preview: 2018 Minnesota-Wisconsin Border Battle
A must-see event annually, the 2018 Minnesota-Wisconsin Border Battle, presented by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook, returns to Stevens Point High School on Saturday. Featuring some of the top teams and talent from the two states, the Border Battle is set to be an exciting day of hoops…
Top Games to Watch
Minneapolis North (11-3) vs. Kaukauna (13-2)
The leaders of the Minneapolis City and Fox Valley conferences will square off.
Underrated power forward Odell Wilson IV is an intriguing blend of skill and power for North. Also a standout football prospect, Wilson is averaging 19.6 points and 8.7 boards per game.
The human highlight film, Jordan McCabe, will also take the floor for Kaukauna. The West Virginia commit is putting up huge numbers as a senior, going for 27.4 points per game, while making a run at Mr. Basketball honors. Michigan Tech commit Eric Carl (12.0 ppg) has also done a nice job in a supporting role this season.
North St. Paul (11-2) vs. La Crosse Central (12-2)
The defending Division 2 state champions, La Crosse Central, has managed to replace Kobe King (Wisconsin) among others.
The Red Raiders have four players averaging in double figures, led by 2020 shooting guard Johnny Davis (23.8 ppg). 2019 point guard Noah Parcher (12.2 ppg), 2020 power forward Terrance Thompson (12.2 ppg), and 2020 small forward Jordan Davis (10.0 ppg) are also having strong seasons.
North St. Paul is paced by 2018 G/F Goodnews Kpegeol. A high-flying wing, Kpegeol’s athleticism is worth the price of admission. The senior is having a breakout year, averaging 19.3 points per game in 2017-18.
Minnehaha Academy (13-3) vs. Stevens Point (10-4)
The main event has lost some luster with Joey Hauser enrolling early at Marquette, but this should still be a competitive matchup.
Northwest Missouri State commit Drew Blair is putting up a ridiculous 30.8 ppg this season. One of the top sharpshooters in the state of Wisconsin, Blair is doing an exceptional job carrying the load without Hauser, also averaging 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per outing.
Blair will face off with one of the top players in the country. 2020 shooting guard Jalen Suggs leads the way for Minnehaha Academy, averaging 14.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Terry Lockett, Javonni Bickham (Denver), Prince Aligbe and Kaden Johnson are also Division 1 prospects.
Schedule
10:00 a.m. – Heritage Christian vs. De Soto
11:30 a.m. – Spring Grove vs. Pacelli
1:15 p.m. – Lake City vs. Prescott
2:45 p.m. – Minneapolis North vs. Kaukauna
4:15 p.m. – Minnetonka vs. Xavier
6:00 p.m. – North St. Paul vs. La Crosse Central
7:30 p.m. – Minnehaha Academy vs. Stevens Point
Players to Watch
Goodnews Kpegeol- 2018 – G/F – North St. Paul
One of the top unsigned seniors in the Midwest, Kpegeol is a high-flying, athletic wing. Pushing for a Division 1 offer, Kpegeol is averaging 19.3 points per game this season.
JaVonni Bickham – 2018 – PF – Minnehaha Academy
Committed to Denver, Bickham averages better than 14 points per game on a loaded Minnehaha Academy squad. A prospect that plays much bigger than his size, Bickham is a strong, physical interior presence on both ends of the floor.
Jalen Suggs – 2020 – SG – Minnehaha Academy
A top 10 player nationally, Suggs is without a doubt an elite talent. Able to take over games offensively, Suggs is a high octane scoring and facilitating weapon and very advanced physically and skillfully for his age. Suggs already has offers from Baylor, Georgia Tech, Marquette, Minnesota, UCLA, Arizona State, Wake Forest, and more.
Johnny Davis – 2020 – SG – La Crosse Central
Davis holds offers from UNLV and Wisconsin among others. A tenacious on-ball defender, Davis is one of the most relentless prospects in the country on that end of the floor. A slashing, aggressive wing, Davis relies on his length and toughness to live around the rim.
Jordan McCabe – 2018 – PG – Kaukauna
McCabe has one state title under his belt and will push for a second this season. The West Virginia commit is averaging better than 27 points per game as a senior. Arguably the best ball handler in the country, nothing is off limits when McCabe has the ball in his possession.
Other Top Players
Riggin Beck (De Soto)
Drew Blair (Stevens Point)
Peter Brookshaw (Prescott)
Eric Carl (Kaukauna)
Cam Cloud (Pacelli)
Jordan Davis (La Crosse Central
Jalen Dearring (Minnetonka)
Alex Folz (Spring Grove)
Isaac Halvorson (Heritage Christian Academy)
Nathan Heise (Lake City)
Kaden Johnson (Minnehaha Academy)
Tayler Johnson (Minneapolis North)
Marc Kjos (Lake City)
Hunter Plamann (Xavier)
Parker Nielsen (Prescott)
Terrance Thompson (La Crosse Central)
Terry Lockett (Minnehaha Academy)
Odell Wilson IV (Minneapolis North)