Twin Cities Week In Review: Week 2
Couldn’t make it out to any games last week? Northstar Hoops Report has you covered! In this weekly series I’ll be detailing all things high school hoops in the Twin Cities area from the past week. Find out which players…
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Continue ReadingCouldn’t make it out to any games last week? Northstar Hoops Report has you covered! In this weekly series I’ll be detailing all things high school hoops in the Twin Cities area from the past week. Find out which players performed at a high level, and which teams pulled off some big wins in the Twin Cities “Week In Review”.
Players of the Week
Jamison Battle (6’7 2019 F, DeLaSalle)- The George Washington commit was unstoppable last week, scoring at will from all areas of the court for big numbers. On Tuesday against St. Cloud Apollo, Jamison racked up 31 points in reduced playing time due to the big lead. On Saturday at the Breakdown Sports Tip-Off Classic, Jamison turned what was supposed to be a close game against Wayzata into a blowout behind his 40 point performance. He was knocking down three after three, and finding success exploiting gaps off the dribble drive. He capped off the performance with a dunk in the second half. Jamison’s mix of length, shooting ability, and patience in finding a good look sets him apart from other players, and no team last week could find any way to stop him.
Cameron Steele (6’8 2020 F, Minnetonka)- One of the few players in the state who matched Jamison Battle’s scoring production was Cameron Steele from Minnetonka. Minnetonka lost a few key players from transfers, but Cameron Steele’s early production appears to be keeping them competitive. On Tuesday Cameron scored 26 points in a close win at Monticello. Thought that was a lot? Fast forward to Saturday at the Tip-Off Classic where Cameron would dominate to the tune of 43 points in a win against Rochester Mayo. He took advantage of his size advantage down low against Mayo, while also showcasing his ability to step outside and knock down the open jumper. This offensive versatility will make him an exciting player to watch this season.
Daveonte Davis (6’3 2019 G, St. Paul Central)- Central is a team that looks ready for a breakout season, and Daveonte Davis came up huge for them in perhaps one of the most exciting games in the state so far this season. Battling through a bloody nose and multiple leg cramps, Davis came through big time for Central with a 26 point performance in their 68-65 win over Osseo. He was knocking down three pointers, including one with a hand right in his face to spark a Central comeback, while also using his strength to score some bully ball buckets down low. He was last year’s City Conference Player of the Year, and if St. Paul Central wants to have a big year, he’ll need to keep providing that offensive spark.
Jack Thompson (6’1 2019 PG, St. Thomas Academy)- On Tuesday and Thursday Jack quietly produced 22 total points in games that STA won with ease, but in their big time matchup against Robbinsdale Cooper on Saturday, Jack stepped up. The crafty point guard absolutely dominated the game en route to a 37 point performance that saw his team narrowly win 78-77. Jack is a proven shooter from outside, and caught fire from distance against Cooper. Most impressive though was his ability to find gaps and drive to the hoop. He showed off great finishing ability without seeming to force up any tough shots. Jack Thompson is a competitor, and with performances like he had last week, he’ll be getting a lot of attention from colleges.
Antwan Kimmons (6′ 2019 PG, Tartan)- Antwan proved why he’s considered one of the top point guards in the state with some high level performances last week. He started off with a cool 21 points on Tuesday in a blowout win over Richfield, but followed that up on Saturday with a 45 point game against a talented Edina squad. Antwan is explosive as they come at the point guard spot, and uses that athleticism to take the ball to the hoop and score among the trees. He also gets great elevation on his jumper from mid-range or from deep, making it hard to keep a hand in his face. The Idaho State commit is one of the most difficult guards to defend in the state, and he proved that last week.
Team of the Week
St. Paul Central- The talent and experience are all there, but questions remained on whether St. Paul Central could put the pieces together and have a big season. Last week they made a statement that they are here to compete. In their season opener against an always tough Osseo squad, they trailed for a majority of the game, but always managed to stay within striking distance, before Dion Ford hit a corner three at the last second to win the game 68-65. Khai West, a key returning player, did not play in that game. Daveonte Davis led the charge with 26 points and a few clutch second half shots, while shifty point guard Ronnell Porter dished out 10 assists to go along with 10 points and 6 rebounds. On Saturday they took on Orono, and without returning conference MVP Daveonte Davis, they still won the game 59-45. Those two wins against solid programs proved to the area that they might be for real this year, and are coming out ready to compete with anyone. Their next game will be another tough matchup against Robbinsdale Cooper on Saturday.
Upset of the Week
Prior Lake takes down East Ridge 70-62- Yet another shakeup in the Class AAAA rankings will occur this week as Prior Lake was able to take down the #1 team in the state, East Ridge. Prior Lake is known for their twin towers Robert Jones and Dawson Garcia and those two both had big performances in the upset. They did a great job of limiting talented junior Ben Carlson of East Ridge in the post, taking away his touches and limiting him to just 2 points. Dawson was dominating the offensive glass and had countless buckets off of second chance opportunities. His ability to hit that short baby hook shot with either hand makes him extremely difficult to stop, no matter who you have defending him. Robert Jones did a great job of clogging up the lane and protecting the rim from all of East Ridge’s athletes. He also contributed 13 points and a momentum building dunk late in the second half. Guards Sam Nissen and Tyree Ihenacho combined for 15 points while providing energetic defense. Nissen knocked down a few outside shots to free up some space inside, while Tyree was able to penetrate the gaps to free up some open looks for his teammates. Prior Lake came in with a gameplan, and executed to near perfection to take down the top ranked team in the class.
Sleeper of the Week
Luke McElroy (6’3 2019 W, St. Paul Central)- A key component to Central’s 2-0 start this season has been the quiet contributions of Luke McElroy. The 6’3 wing brings an outside shooting threat to a team that otherwise thrives off of penetration. He doesn’t force a lot of opportunities, and is good at moving off the ball to create space for his chances. In the win against Osseo, McElroy was pivotal down the stretch, scoring 5 quick points in a run for Central during the second half, and tipped an offensive rebound to his teammate for the layup that would tie the game late. He has scored in double digits in both of Central’s games so far (10 and 12), and has made his presence felt with effort on the defensive end as well.
Freshman of the Week
Muja Burton (6’3 2022 W, Columbia Heights)- One of the bright spots to Columbia Heights’ slow start has been the play of promising freshman Muja Burton. After playing varsity at Minneapolis Roosevelt as an 8th grader, Muja now attends Columbia Heights and is making an immediate impact scoring the ball. He has proven shooting range, and knocked down 7 of 14 three pointers throughout two games last week. That shooting helped him score 11 points vs. Minneapolis Roosevelt, and a big time 20 points vs. Mahtomedi. Muja also averaged 3 rebounds a game through the week. As of now Muja is primarily a scorer, and it will be exciting to see how he is able to develop as an all-around player throughout his high school career.
Other Storylines
Trejuan Holloman (6’2 2022 PG, Cretin-Derham Hall)- Dished out 15 assists vs. Apple Valley.
Yahya Madar (2019 F, Mounds Park Academy)- Scored 40 points against St. Paul Washington.
Eastview bests Minneapolis North 80-76 in overtime.
Park Center beat Eden Prairie 49-46 to remain undefeated.
Jeremy Beckler (6’8 2019 F, White Bear Lake)- Scored 32 points twice in one week.