Ten Best: Champlin Park vs. Hopkins

A short trip south down Highway 169 for a perennial power matchup between the #1 Champlin Park Rebels and the Hopkins Royals in the cavernous Lindbergh Center was on my agenda Thursday night. Champlin Park just had too much firepower (six in double figures) for Hopkins' thin rotation and emerged with the 99-79 victory. <strong>MVP: McKinley Wright (PG, 6-0, Sr., Champlin Park)</strong> With some of the Mr. Basketball committee in attendance, Wright did exactly what he's expected to do with a little extra. His totals on my sheet were 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Most of his scores came late to ice the win, while he dished out four early dimes to push the Rebel lead to double digits. It's hard to not be drawn in by his game, and with so many diverse weapons in place around him, CP is the surefire top team in Minnesota. <strong>Best offensive performance: Ishmael El-Amin (SG, 6-3, Sr., Hopkins)</strong> Ish's pull-up jumper is smooth as ever. He forced nothing and patiently snaked his way inside the arc for efficient shot attempts and 19 points. One of the better finishing guards in the state too, and that ability to put pressure on the rim off the dribble gives his shooters opportunities from outside. <strong>Best defensive performance: Marcus Hill (G, 6-2, Sr., Champlin Park)</strong> Hill's a feisty, aggressive, defense-minded slasher, and all of those attributes have put him in foul trouble multiple times this season. Tonight he was in the right places at the right times away from the ball and controlled his body when attacking the basket. He had three early steals along with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, including a couple athletic one-handed putbacks. His stopper mentality and energy running the floor make him a terrific two-way player for the Rebels. <strong>Best shooter: Blaise Beauchamp (G, 5-10, Fr., Hopkins)</strong> The youngster was unconscious from deep, more fearless than I'd seen before. Knocked out five bombs for a total of 23 points to go with five boards. It's always a swish from Beauchamp and he has the focus and strength to pull from anywhere, off the dribble or catch-and-shoot. He'll become one of the most dangerous gunners around if he isn't already. <strong>Best rebounder: Simon Wright (SF, 6-6, Sr., Hopkins)</strong> Simon is so physically gifted. He plays like a 6-9 big man down low and then transforms into a 6-3 guard on the perimeter. He can defend all five positions and makes hustle plays like it's nobody's business. 20 hard-earned points to go with nine athletic boards. Beat Theo John for a baseline rip dunk late that caught my eye too. <strong>Best performance off the bench: Sam DuBois (G, 6-0, Sr., Champlin Park)</strong> Champlin Park's run-and-gun style serves their faster and athletic lineups very well, and while DuBois is more of a spot-up shooter and defender, he proved on Thursday that he can get up and down with the rest of his teammates. He jumped on loose balls and released quick extra passes for wide-open looks. Scored once and assisted a couple baskets too. Hard worker and plays within his role. If I was a D3, I'd check on him. <strong>Best underclassman: Zeke Nnaji (F, 6-8, So., Hopkins)</strong> After sitting out a few days following a leg injury, Nnaji is moving very well for a big sophomore. He defended Theo John well in the post, forcing him into difficult exit passes, and showed off a smooth-looking 17-footer. Coach Novak is trusting him every game to guard a perimeter player (since he's the power forward) and Zeke is holding his own again and again. A promising future ahead for him. <strong>Best under-the-radar-performance: Joe Hedstrom (C, 6-10, Jr., Hopkins)</strong> Hedstrom has been really physical defensively lately, and though he fouled out just 7 minutes into the second half, it's refreshing to see some grit and competitiveness from him. He's stronger and can bang around inside more than last season for sure. More D1s in the Midwest will be looking. <strong>Best storyline moving forward: Who stops the runaway Rebel train?</strong> Games to circle on the calendar are at Maple Grove, home vs. DeLaSalle and home vs. Armstrong. Up and down the Champlin Park roster you can check off every type of player needed to win. They're going to keep winning, and when they probably meet up with Park Center again in the section 5AAAA final (Pirates gave them their toughest game of the season on Tuesday), it'll be one for the ages. The Rebels are experienced, talented, and healthy. That's a deadly combination. <strong>Other: Brian Smith, Theo John, Josiah Strong</strong> Don't forget these pieces to the undefeated puzzle. Smith scored every which way against Hopkins for 16, Theo scored 10 with five monster blocks, and Strong shot lights out again for 16 himself. They're all dangerous in their own right, and when you give shooters space or John a one-on-one post up, it's probably over.