Hard Work Finals: South Dakota Superlatives
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — South Dakota prospect superlatives from the 2019 Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals… 17U MVP Akoi Akoi – South Dakota Attack With Matthew Mors and Kobe Busch off at camps the door was open for Akoi Akoi…
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Continue ReadingBLOOMINGTON, Minn. — South Dakota prospect superlatives from the 2019 Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals…
17U MVP
Akoi Akoi – South Dakota Attack
With Matthew Mors and Kobe Busch off at camps the door was open for Akoi Akoi to show the potential he has with double figure shots each game and the 6-foot-6 certainly delivered. Prep Hoops staff was watching every step of the way and the collection of writers certainly agreed on a number of things: 1) Akoi looked like a multiple offer kind of forward at the D2 level, 2) he showed he has the potential to be a reliable scorer at the next level, and 3) the consistency has taken steps. Had 23 in the second round game including a sequence where he helped over to swat a shot and then on a dead sprint the other way caught the ball and finished an And1. Akoi is starting to do things more consistently that have made him a more dependable player. At 6-foot-6 he is doing a better job of moving his feet to get that length to shooters and to attacking players in help situations. Akoi is doing a better job of moving his feet around screens and using that length to deflect and distract. Akoi’s mid-range jumper and his elbow jumper have been pure for a long while but his one dribble attack as well as his aggressive finishing are also up. Add in that Akoi is doing a better job of running the floor to make plays and you have a guy that is going to be continued to talk about more and more.
16U MVP
Jake Layman – South Dakota Attack
Six-foot-7 Jake Layman and Paul Bruns were both really good but because Paul is below, we go Jake with this one. And why not! He put 16 points on the board with eight rebounds in a big win over Playground Warriors UAA club while also earning a scholarship offer from Sioux Falls. For a 20 win team at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Jake scored ten a game as a sophomore shooting a very healthy 52 percent from the field, 72 percent at the foul line, and just under 40 percent (39.6 percent) at the arc. Good length to him and he finished inside with respectable percentages.
BEST PROSPECT
Paul Bruns – South Dakota Attack
When you earn yourself an offer from a team that is going to the division one level (Augustana), you qualify for “best prospect”. When you come off of a 25.3 point and 8.7 rebound per game season shooting 53 percent from the field and 41 percent at the arc, and play even better for your 16u team, you qualify for “best prospect”. When you lead your team past the UAA squad Wisconsin Playground Warriors scoring 19, you qualify for the best prospect. Great weekend for Paul, great weekend for the Attack.
BEST SHOOTER
Jack Cartwright – South Dakota Attack
Jack is so good with his feet set and hands up right now he needs a nickname. The Dagger sounds good as Jack will kill your hopes if you are the player that has to turn and closeout to his shooting touch. But even better, with a bigger weight on his shoulders, Jack was able to do some handling and helped keep the ball moving for the Attack.
BREAKOUT PERFORMER
Sam Fawcett – BBA Force
After this weekend there are a lot more teams asking themselves “maybe we should really go on Sam”. We listened to three colleges talk about it, we saw Sam score routinely in the Prospect Showcase and when his team beat 1848, we heard the respect that the Mentality team had for Sam after playing against him, and all around this young man can flat out put the ball in the net. He’s just as dangerous without the ball as he is with it.
SURPRISE PERFORMER
Austin Lake – SD Venom
This is more about an honor for what Austin has done over time in events that Prep Hoops staff has been at. The Venom played 38 games this year much of which was against quality Prep Hoops Circuit competition and Austin consistently had moments that has had PH young staff raving. Austin is from Tea Area and will be entering his upperclassmen years with some big shoes to fill. So far so good for Lake who certainly impressed.