Ten Best: Putnam City North (66), Jackson (Mo.) 43
Putnam City North led wire-to-wire, locking up defensively and forcing turnovers to get out in transition and top Jackson (Mo.). PC North landed three players in double figures, led by 2018 standout Adokiye Iyaye’s 15 points. Jackson was paced by Seth Beussink’s nine points.
MVP: Adokiye Iyaye, PC North
He was the best player on the floor and it wasn’t even close. The 6’4 combo guard plays at an excellent pace and creates for himself and others seemingly at will. He can finish at the rim, shoot it with range, flashed a mid-range game and has great court vision. He’s an extremely gifted and polished player. His 15 points were a game-high, but hardly tell the whole story his game had on the outcome. Iyaye played with Team Griffin last summer and has already received a few D-1 offers, but expect him to snag even more as he continues to climb 2018 lists.
Defensive MVP: Adokiye Iyaye, PC North
It’s not often you see someone with as much talent as Iyaye compete on both ends of the floor the way he did. He lives in passing lanes and his athleticism allows him to turn steals into points in a hurry. He constantly applied ball pressure and did so without fouling. He was an absolute ball-hawk against Jackson.
Best Rebounder: Dee Dee Hoyle, PC North
He looks like a tight end, but nobody pursued the ball more relentlessly than Hoyle. Defensive he snagged boards that triggered breaks and offensively he gave PC North second and third scoring opportunities. He reminds me of Ben Wallace. At 6’5, the 2017 F is undersized but his effort and ability to protect the rim make him an intriguing prospect.
Underclassman: Micah Thomas, PC North
For me, there’s nothing more fun to watch than good point guard play and Thomas was salty on Saturday. He understands when to facilitate and when to look for his own offense. He finished with a 11 points and had several penetration pitches that set his teammates up for scoring opportunities. Thomas was also able to finish at the rim and hit a few pull-up jumpers. He’s a 2019 kid with a strong, 6-foot frame which gives him plenty of time to work on his perimeter jumper. He also had the best hair of the game.
Crystal Ball: Seth Beussink, Jackson
When you watch him play you can just see the future. In two years this kid will be on several D-1 radars but right now he’s still adjusting to his 6’8 frame. When his body matures physically he will be a problem on the block. He’s long with solid footwork and a soft touch. His best basketball is ahead of him, this is definitely a 2019 post to keep an eye on.
Glue Guy: Blake Owens, PC North
Owens is a guy that fans love to watch because he just plays harder than everyone else. The 6’7 forward reminds me of a more skilled Chris Anderson. He was able to rebound, protect the rim and finish, but Owens had several possessions where he grabbed a rebound and led the break. He’s a long, rangy athlete and only a junior.
All-Grit: Chris Braggs, PC North
Braggs is a unique player. He’s an undersized 3/4 at 6’4 but makes up for it with pure heart, motor and freakish athleticism. He was able to attack Jackson’s zone defense from the high post and baseline, often drawing fouls or finishing. And he wasn’t trying to lay it up, he was trying to catch bodies. He’s a 2018 and plays with a ton of energy.
Good Player, Bad Game: Cameron Hester, Jackson
The 2018 forward struggled today. Hester is a 6’7 4-man that can also step out on the floor. He plays a versatile game, but he struggled today for the Indians. Some of those struggles came from PC North’s defensive effort and some came from the fact that Jackson is still adjusting to playing without a trio of rotation players due to suspension. Regardless, he will be better moving forward and is worth a good look.
Best Shooter: Garrick Golden, PC North
He didn’t knock down a ton of jumpers, but from a pure catch-and-shoot standpoint he was the best in this game. The 6’1 2017 G is on the floor for one reason – get shots up. He had several rim in and out, but finished with seven points. All of which came off of catch-and-shoot situations. His release is quick and every shot looks like it’s going in… I don’t think he’s ever seen a shot he didn’t like.
Best Play: Putnam City North ally-oop
The best play of the game came in the second quarter when PC North’s Thomas found Braggs with a lob for a nasty finish. It came in a transition situation but it wasn’t really an empty lane, Braggs just went up and got it. That dunk really set the tone for PC North and added to their defensive intensity. It also highlighted a theme for those two players. Thomas has an excellent feel for the game and frequently makes the right play and Braggs is an elite athlete.