Big 12 Classic: Waseca vs DeLaSalle

This weekend the season kicks off with the Big 12 Classic at Champlin Park put on by the Breakdown.  The 1:15 game is a Class AAA state title game rematch between Waseca and DeLaSalle.  

The Title Game:  DeLaSalle knocked off Waseca 63-56 in the state championship a year ago led by the 26 points from Jamison Battle (scoring 11 a game at George Washington so far this year) and the 19 from Tyrell Terry (averaging 15 points, 4 assists, and 3 boards a game at Stanford).  Malik Willimgham had led Waseca with 21 (Malik is at Minnesota State Mankato and he scored 17 in lone appearance this year).  Waseca returns three starters and a reserve from their six man rotation while DeLaSalle has two starters and two reserves back from last year's rotation.

PG: Ryan Dufault (Waseca) vs Amir Whitlock (DeLaSalle).  Five-foot-10 junior Ryan Dufault is the type of player that full faith is put in because he has a resume of a winner.  As a sophomore point guard last year he took his team into tough environments and won games leading the squad to the state title game.  He led the Heat 16u team at lead guard to a 40-3 record and now he's a year older.  Dufault likely isn't going to go head to hear with Amir Whitlock as I believe Andrew Irvin is such a talented defender that he would be on him, but Whitlock often has the ball in his hands and is coming off of a great summer.  Whitlock could play either spot.  

SG: Zach Hoen (Waseca) vs Andrew Irvin (DeLaSalle). We talked about Irvin a moment ago, he is a special assignment type of guy who plays big minutes but takes few shots.  Last year Irvin (a 5-foot-10 senior) scored about two baskets a contest but then limited opposing players in a big way which is why he could be on Irvin.  Zach Hoen, a junior shooter, was the team's 6th man and will now step into the shooting role as a starter.  Hoen hit about three shots a game last season off the bench. 

SF: Kyreese Willingham (Waseca) vs Keijaun White (DeLaSalle).  It's tough to predict exactly who will be the Islanders 6th man, as Semaj Hart is a wing that could also start, but we are just going to predict the Islanders begin the game with White in addition to Irvin and Whitlock and go from there.  Either way, the Islanders will put an athlete in Willingham who himself is an outstanding athlete at about 6-foot-4 with extensive arms.  Kyreese is coming off of a 14 point, 6 board, 3 assist, 2 steal, and 2 block per game sophomore year and he could be a top 8-10 prospect in the junior class but it's tough to know as he didn't play 16u last season.  What we do know is that Willingham has physical gifts of length, agility, and explosive athleticism that few others have.  White is also one of the state's most explosive junior athletes in terms of speed, agility, and bounce.  Picture a Big Ten cornerback and that's what White is physically.  

PF: Matt Seberson (Waseca) vs Cade Haskins (DeLaSalle). This is where the teams get really different.  Waseca may play four guards, it's tough to know.  But Seberson is a very solid 6-foot-5 junior power forward.  Haskins, who seems to grow a half inch every time I see him, is nearing 6-foot-6 it seems and is one of the best shooters in the junior class.  Cade will play on the wing while Seberson is a low post skilled player at 210 pounds.  Waseca used to big almost exclusively last year.  

C: Andrew Morgan (Waseca) vs Jalen Travis (DeLaSalle).  At 6-foot-7, 280 pounds Jalen Travis is one of the state's top senior offensive lineman prospects, but also a very smart interior basketball player coming off of a 10 point, 7 rebound per game junior year.  Jalen will have his hands full with Andrew Morgan though as the 6-foot-8 agile junior is one of the most agile players at his size.  Morgan is a 15 rebound per game level player that also has a strong upper body and athleticism to go with it.  This is a match-up of very different players that will get physical around the basket.  You wonder if Seberson won't see some of Travis as Morgan is agile enough to guard a four man away from the basket. 

Bench: Every Waseca player mentioned is a junior, and there are more.  Like Tave Ball, a 5-foot-10 lead guard and 6-foot-2 Dravien Spies, a hard working wing.  I would expect Waseca to go seven or eight deep.  As far as the Islanders go a starting level player will be the 6th man and we are just guessing it's Hart, an athletic slasher at about 6-foot-1. We haven't even talked about 6-foot-2 Evan Boyd, a junior who also would start for most teams.  

The Pick: Tough to go off the state title game last year as so many new players are now in the rotation.  It was a close game a year ago with the Islanders likely losing more talent, but they have more talent coming up that didn't play in the varsity rotation last year, like Whitlock, Boyd, and White. Both teams have good young coaches, ball handlers, size, and shooting.  DeLaSalle has more athletes but Waseca has some.  The Jays have more size than the Islanders but DeLaSalle has the biggest guy.  Tough call, I say DeLaSalle by a basket giving their defense the edge.