Border Battle Top Minnesota Performers
The Border Battle went the way of Minnesota once again on Saturday. The list of local standouts was many and NHR runs through the list of top performers now. Kendall Brown of East Ridge. You watch Kendall Brown and you…
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Continue ReadingThe Border Battle went the way of Minnesota once again on Saturday. The list of local standouts was many and NHR runs through the list of top performers now.
Kendall Brown of East Ridge. You watch Kendall Brown and you see that modern day skilled wing with length and size for days. His comfort in handling the basketball is a big part of why he is such a highly ranked prospect nationally but tonight I think the item that caught my attention the most was the quickness of his first step. Kendall covers so much ground with each step (which makes his transition run comparable to what Amir Coffey does in transition with or without the ball) and when it’s that quick there just isn’t much a defender can do to react in time. The versatility of Kendall’s game allows the East Ridge staff to play him at point, at wing, as a stretch four, and at the five if they need it to happen. Made 8 of 17 shot attempts and all of his foul shots for a game high 20 points.
Ben Carlson of East Ridge. The first thing anybody speaks about with Ben is how much stronger he is than others and there is no doubt that is true. That and that alone provides 15 rebounds and constant finishes around the basket as teams simply can’t do much with him when Ben is going at the rim for reverses, dunks, and touch-ins. But Ben is more than that as you see the touch on his foul shot plus the comfort in using dribbles to go at the rim and knock out jumpers. Scored 18 on 13 shot attempts.
Reid Gastner of Lake City. My first impression of seeing Reid was how much strength he has added. Then there’s his demeanor playing the game with a fierce fight that just makes you love to watch him. For instance, there was a moment where Reid rebounded through three guys and took contact from all of them but finished the play anyway. Gastner then gave his man the stare of doom in what had to be a moment of the day. Gastner scored on 8 of 12 field goals including 5 of 8 threes and made 8 of 9 foul shots. The range is there with the jumper but Reid also is very good with his back to the basket. He turned over each shoulder to attack and score plus faced-up to hit a short jumper or attack baseline to complete. Added seven boards and four assists to his game high 27 points.
Nathan Heise of Lake City. In talking to Lake City Coach Greg Berge after the game I think he said it best when he mentioned that Nathan has been labeled as a shooter but he is so much more. I can certainly support that claim the way that Clear Lake defenders were back on their heels in retreat from the first possession. Heise’s hesitation dribble into an attack assist, the behind the back step-back into a 14-footer, and his patience to let the floor space and then pounce, all examples of a feel for the game that few players have. Nathan is an ultra confident shooter of course (made 9 of 20 attempts with five treys for 23 points) but that confidence extends to his ability at the one. Nathan grew up as a PG and looked every bit like a guy that can play PG at the next level in a 73-54 win over Clear Lake.
Chet Holmgren of Minnehaha Academy. Onalaska shot 6 of 32 in the first half getting down by 20 points. At least half of that was Chet. Four blocks and countless adjustments. It became comical watching the opponents trying to arc/extend shots around Chet to no avail. That 6 of 32 shooting (from one of Wisconsin’s better teams) was a direct result of what Chet does defensively. Offensively Chet’s roll off the basket ranks with the best because the timing and speed of it is nearly perfect plus he offers a great target for 7 of 10 shooting. Chet only took three treys (made one) as why shoot jumpers when you can dunk six times? Such a unique prospect, top 25 in the nation.
Jake Kettner of Minnesota Valley Lutheran. In leading the Chargers to a 58-45 victory Kettner scored on 11 of 17 shots from the field and made four of his five treys. Add in the 7 of 8 foul shooting from the 6-foot-3 guard and it was purely Jake’s ability being way beyond what Thorp could defend. Don’t worry Thorp players and fans, Kettner is doing this to many people right now. Jake fully proving his Mr. Basketball Watch List status, and then some.
Zach Longueville of St. Croix Lutheran. Coming into the game you see the 17 plus points per game as a 6-foot-1 sophomore and there is instant intrigue. Then you watch Longueville play and you can see that a lot of his production comes with a bit of juice. Step back on him, that’s a jumper. Don’t respect his run and you will see Zach going straight at the cup with a determined finish. And efficient? Made 8 of 9 from the field and 8 of 9 from the line with 5 of 6 foul shooting.
Gabe Madsen of Rochester Mayo. Gabe has grown to 6-foot-5 and maybe even 6-foot-6. And is shoulders look stronger and wider. You take that increased size and put it into the skills that he has and that is a prospect that I feel will have options to nearly all Midwest mid-majors plus those high majors calling, sending letters, watching, I can see Gabe taking those looks and making them options. Today Mayo lost to one of the elite Wisconsin teams and against that team Gabe scored 31 points on 12 of 25 shooting (48 percent from the field which is really good when you consider all the attention on him). Gabe used his strength to finish around the basket and hit 4 of his 10 three-point attempts.
Mason Madsen of Rochester Mayo. In about eight minutes time I was re-affirmed with Mason being a guy that should be an excellent defender at the next level. His fight to angles, using his body to win battles of leverage, and his ability to win a position fight off ball really caught my eye. Mason scored 17 today having a tough shooting day but he’s been scoring at a high level averaging nearly 24 a game coming in.
Jalen Suggs of Minnehaha Academy. So what do I say about Jalen that hasn’t been said before or that is totally obvious? First I want to reiterate the way Jalen is playing the point position with a poise that calms his team and distribution that leads to constant high percentage shots. Jalen opened the game to a 20 margin early with that distribution and then closed it off with 10 of 12 foul shooting putting the game away. Scored 27 on 8 of 17 shooting. He was also really physical on defense doing whatever he had to stopping halfcourt advance.
Zach Zebrowski of East Ridge. There are a lot of headlines names on the East Ridge team but tonight Zach had the first half topping them all. A pair of threes were the big number buckets but his leading of an offense that spaces the floor as well as any, and moved the ball at a rapid rate completely exhausted Brookfield Central. Then there was the half time buzzer beater. Zach was out in the open floor and with a defender lunging to the ball he put it around his back and made a finger roll before the zeroes hit. It was the completion of a wonderful 16 point half. But what Zach did so well was get this offense started tin the spots it needed to.