The Race for Mr. Basketball
The regular season has a single game left and then the playoff push begins. For that we bring back, “The Race for Mr Basketball” to talk about where we think things are at with the top contenders for the final…
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Continue ReadingThe regular season has a single game left and then the playoff push begins. For that we bring back, “The Race for Mr Basketball” to talk about where we think things are at with the top contenders for the final five and for the overall award.
Top Contenders.
Amir Coffey. Amir is averaging 20.5 points per game for a 24-1 team and is the highest prospect in the state. However, he had missed all of February (plus he missed all of last year) before coming back to score 19 against Tonka earlier in the week. What would help his cause? Needs to stay on the floor and come section play his team needs to avenge the loss to Wayzata from three weeks back. Big Moment: the all around effort against Apple Valley sticks in the mind as did the 35 against Tonka in front of the committee.
Michael Hurt. His team is 22-3 and playing excellent team ball going into tonight’s game with Red Wing in a winner take all battle for the Big Nine championship. Hurt leads the state in assists, he’s averaging 20 points a game and he is putting up 9.6 boards a contest. What would help his cause? Winning tonight and then finally getting that state trip instead of Lakeville North. Big Moment: I would say the Target Center performance but the game he just had versus Northfield in front of the committee helped too.
Steffon Mitchell. Shakopee is 20-5 and Steffon is averaging 24.7 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. His resume of two state tournament third place finishes stands above the other top contenders and Mitchell doesn’t have the star teammates that the others do so he carries more offensive load. What would help his cause? Getting to state again but the section Shakopee is in is very tough. Needs to finish strong after the Apple Valley and Lakeville North losses. Big Moment: Put up 28 against Michael Hurt’s Rockets in an early season win.
Final Five
Johnny Beeninga. Leading an extremely balanced 19-6 team in scoring and assists and has the Trojans peaking at the right time winning 12 of 13 including some big wins over the best at each level (Minneapolis North, St. Croix Lutheran, Hopkins). Johnny has had some of his best games against the top teams scoring 24 against Hopkins.
Brock Bertram. The Eagles center started his career averaging 11 points and eight boards as a frosh, increased those numbers to averaging double doubles as a sophomore and junior, now putting up 13.1 points and 9.8 rebounds a game on a 24-1 team. Has two state titles, going for a third.
Tyler Johnson. Tyler lead the Polars in scoring at 18 a game, is second in rebounding at six a night, and second in assists at 3-4 a game. The Polars are really balanced so picking one of their guys is tough but Tyler gives the most all around production for the 21-5 team so he seemed to make the most sense.
Ade Murkey. The Crusaders went to state last year and now they are 24-2, ranked number one, and the focus is on winning a Class AA state title and if you had to pick a team right now they would likely be the favorite. Led his team to a conference title for the first time ever and is putting up 22 points and ten boards a contest.
Others
Nate Albers (Mounds View): Scoring 25 a night for a 20 win team and he’s had some huge nights this winter
Allan Anderson (Osseo): 11 points and six assists a game for an unbeaten Class AAAA team
Amar Miller (Minnetonka): 23 points and 6.5 assists per game for a 14-9 team
Reed Nikko (Maple Grove): 11 points, 7 boards, 3 blocks a game for one of the best in state