Twin Cities Week In Review: Week 14
This past week saw the regular season wrap up throughout the state of Minnesota. As teams made their final pushes in hopes of a high seed come sections, the competition was at full force to wrap up the season in…
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Continue ReadingThis past week saw the regular season wrap up throughout the state of Minnesota. As teams made their final pushes in hopes of a high seed come sections, the competition was at full force to wrap up the season in the Twin Cities. NHR runs through the players and teams who impressed the most last week!
Players of the Week
Curtis Jones (6’2 2020 G, Cretin-Derham Hall)- Curtis Jones is hitting his stride at just the right time for the Raiders, proving to be a legitimate second scoring option alongside Jaeden King, and at times looking the part of their go to scorer. This past week Curtis Jones came out firing against Roseville, and finished with 30 big points in the win. He followed that up with another 30 point outing against Park, finishing just points away from his 1,000th career point. Curtis is like a microwave in that he can heat up instantly from beyond the arc, becoming one of the streakiest shooters in the Twin Cities. Off the dribble he can get into the paint where he uses a teardrop floater to score over height. He’s not the most athletic guard, but his crafty dribbling and deceptive motions create space for him to fire off threes or get into the lane. If Curtis extends these types of performances into the playoffs, CDH has a legit shot at making it back to the Target Center.
Hassan Kamara (6’4 2022 W, Fridley)- Though just a freshman, Hassan didn’t let his age stop him from putting in four solid performances last week for Fridley. He started off the week scoring an impressive 24 points in a loss to Columbia Heights. After that, he scored 18 against St. Croix Lutheran, 17 against Brooklyn Center, and 10 against St. Agnes. Fridley ended the week with a 3-1 record, a strong finish to an otherwise down year. Hassan has great length for a young wing, and he uses every inch of it to finish down low through contact. He is also a big time threat from the perimeter as a streaky three point shooter who can light it up from deep. After a strong week, Hassan finished the year as Fridley’s leading scorer, a strong indication of a bright future.
Charlie Gorres (6’5 2019 F, Park)- Charlie Gorres was as good as he’s been all year scoring the ball last week, delivering two strong performances in conference play. He started off the week leading Park to a win over Mounds View, scoring a then season-high 28 points on the night. That tally was broken the very next game, as he scored 30 in a tough loss to Cretin-Derham Hall. Charlie uses a unique combination of backdoor cuts, pull-up jumpers, and post moves that allow him to score at nearly every spot on the floor. He possesses athleticism and the ability to finish above the rim, which makes him a real threat in transition as well. Against CDH Charlie impressed on the defensive end with some impressive blocks down low. A very complete player who stuffs the box score every night, Charlie will look to create a couple of upsets in the playoffs for Park.
Steven Crowl (6’10 2020 F, Eastview)- A budding forward, Steven Crowl completed his breakout junior year in impressive fashion. In a three point win over Eagan, Steven scored 19 points. He followed that up in another close win, this time over Burnsville, with 26 points. Steven has continued to improve his skills and has become a solid outside shooter, who also has a soft touch on his finishes inside. He moves very well for a 6’10 player, which allows him to run the floor for some easy dunks inside, or float around the perimeter in the halfcourt. Eastview has a good shot at advancing far into the playoffs, and if Steven continues to play at a high level, they very well might do just that.
Tyree Ihenacho (6’3 2020 G, Prior Lake)- With Dawson Garcia still sitting out, it was up to guys like Tyree to step up big for Prior Lake, and he did just that. Last week against Apple Valley, Tyree had arguably his best game of the year, scoring 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in a win. He followed that up against Rosemount with 20 points, once again helping Prior Lake bring home the W. Tyree is an athletic wing-guard who is quick to accelerate towards the rim when given the space. A talented defender, Tyree creates a lot of transition opportunities with his ability to create turnovers and leak out into the open floor. Still a somewhat raw talent, Tyree has been coming along nicely in his first year at Prior Lake, developing into a solid piece for the state tournament hopefuls.
Team of the Week
Eden Prairie- Eden Prairie had been enduring a rough stretch due to some unfortunate injuries, but closed the season on a high note with two key victories against state-ranked competition. The week started off against Class AA power Minneapolis North, a contest that Eden Prairie would win 78-64. Five players scored in double figures for EP, led by Austin Andrews and his 22 points. His frountcourt partner Ariel Bland scored 14, while Drake Dobbs held down the perimeter with 16 points. On Friday they closed out the regular season in impressive fashion, taking down Hopkins 77-70 in a big time upset. Drake Dobbs was electric once again, scoring a team high 21 points. John Henry and Connor Christensen stepped up on the wings scoring 15 a piece while delivering solid defensive efforts with their length and hustle. Eden Prairie has a long and talented group of juniors that complete the starting lineup, and it seems that they’ve gotten clicking at the right time. With as much talent as just about anyone in the state, they’ll look to ride this momentum into a deep playoff run.
Statement Win of the Week
St. Paul Central beats Minneapolis North 77-74- St. Paul Central ended the regular season on a high note, taking down Minneapolis North in the Twin Cities Championship Game. This was St. Paul Central’s first “big time” win of the year as many considered North to be the favorite heading into the game. After a 14 point halftime deficit (a margin that eventually grew to about 20), Khai West proved to be the spark for Central’s comeback. He finished with 11 points and provided an intensity that helped Central claw its way back into the game. Daveonte Davis began to take over on offense as he finished with 24 points, while Dion Ford had success getting into the paint on his way to 19 points. But Luke McElroy hit the biggest shot of the game, a three pointer from the top of the key to give Central a one point lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. As a 5 seed in a loaded section, this win could give Central a necessary boost to get past a tough White Bear Lake squad in arguably the most exciting 4-5 match-up in the section playoffs statewide.
Sleeper of the Week
Jordan Jones (5’8 2020 G, Columbia Heights)- After graduating almost everyone from last year’s state runner-ups, Columbia Heights needed some guys to step up this season. Jordan Jones has emerged as one of those guys in a big way. Last week in a win over Fridley, Jordan was dominant, scoring 32 points on the night. Later that week Jordan scored 7 as Columbia Heights was defeated by DeLaSalle. Most impressive about Jordan’s 32 point outing was the efficiency in which he was scoring at. He shot 10-11 from inside the arc, and 1-1 from beyond. Factor in 9-11 from the free throw line, and Jordan had himself one of the more impressive scoring nights you’ll find last week. At just 5’8, Jordan is an extremely quick and shifty point guard who knows how to leverage his body to get by defenders while protecting the ball. He’s great at getting to the hoop and drawing contact, while also being able to finish among the trees down low. Jordan was an efficient scorer for Heights all season, and he could be in for a big time senior year with continued improvements this off-season.
Freshman of the Week
Donovan Smith (5’8 2022 G, Minnehaha Academy)- As if Minnehaha isn’t already dangerous enough, Donovan Smith showed just how much of an offensive weapon he can be last week. Against a talented Marantha squad, Donovan caught fire on his way to 24 points, shooting 7-7 from three. He followed that up with another impressive outside shooting night, scoring 22 in a win over Breck. Watching Donovan play, there is so much of a resemblance in his shot with that of Steph Curry, in which he gets it out of his hands so quickly to avoid taller defenders. This allows him to get off looks with minimal space, and combined with his ability to launch from NBA range, this opens up so much space inside for his long and athletic teammates. Donovan is being looked at as one of the best shooters in the 2022 class, and he’ll look to contribute in Minnehaha’s run for a third straight state title.
Other Storylines
Gavin Patton (6’6 2019 F, Minnetonka)- Scored 33 points against Minneapolis Henry.
Aden Price (2019 G, Irondale)- Dropped 33 points in a win over Elk River.
David Roddy (6’5 2019 F, Breck)- Scored 35 points to lead Breck to a win over Kasson-Mantorville.
Bennett Otto (6’4 2019 G, Champlin Park)- Finished with 30 points in a win against Spring Lake Park.