Big 12 Classic: What We Learned Part 1

<p>Saturday at Champlin Park, NHR staff was on hand for a season kickoff of sorts: the Breakdown Big 12 Classic. Six games, 12 teams, good games. Here's what we learned about each team after their 2019-2020 openers.</p> <p><strong>Edina: </strong><strong>surrounding the star. </strong>The Hornets knocked out the youthful Osseo Orioles 61-49 in the first game of the day. <strong>Jacob Hutson </strong>had 14 points to lead the way before fouling out. Edina's going to run most of everything through him; the first play of each half included a baseline pindown to get him open for a corner triple. With so much attention on Hutson, it's time for the new backcourt pieces to step up in <strong>Sammy Presthus</strong>, a sophomore lead guard with good ball instincts on both ends; <strong>Chandler Reeck</strong>, a senior reserve who scored a steady 10 points on Saturday; and <strong>Marcus Crawford</strong>, junior shooting guard who can get hot in a hurry from deep. So far the group seems disciplined and skilled enough to play with the rest of the Lake.</p> <p><strong>Osseo: slow the roll. </strong>There's plenty to be excited about for the next three years with the Osseo core of at least seven talented sophomores. <strong>Josh Ola-Joseph </strong>led the way with 17 active points around the bucket; he's best in that worker role on the glass and above the rim. <strong>Hassan Kamara </strong>and <strong>Benard Omooria </strong>struggled to get open looks against the steady Edina perimeter D on Saturday. <strong>Blessed Barhayiga </strong>fought fouls all game and never really found a flow in his first start. We're all looking forward to the potential this group has, but we must remember it can't all happen in game one. By the end of 2021, we'll be talking serious title contention.</p> <p><strong>DeLaSalle: same old formula, same old winning. </strong>I tweeted this on Saturday and I'll drive it home again: bona fide scorer (<strong>Cade Haskins</strong>), anchor in the paint (<strong>Jalen Travis</strong>) and rotating stash of defensive-minded and aggressive guards/wings (<strong>Drew Irvin, Keijuan White, Semaj Hart, Evan Boyd</strong>). That's how De builds their team and it works year in and year out. They're going to contend for another state title and this year the challenge is that much bigger with Minnehaha Academy setting up shop in AAA. But to think the Islanders would drop off? Not sure if people did, but if so, they're wrong.</p> <p><strong>Waseca: need two to win. </strong>Nope, this isn't a phrase referencing a pickup basketball game score, it's a need for more than one Bluejay to have an efficient game. <strong>Andrew Morgan </strong>had 24 points and eight rebounds for a very impressive body of work against Jalen Travis, but nifty point guard <strong>Ryan Dufault </strong>and wing mismatch <strong>Kyreese Willingham </strong>both struggled from the field Saturday. Dufault finished short of double figures and it took Willingham a lot of shots to get there himself. Morgan will need a perimeter creator to step in and complement his offense if Waseca is to stick around with the best of the best, as they very much desire — I know they were absolutely jacked to play De last weekend.</p> <p><strong>Park Center: weapons, weapons everywhere. </strong>Dain Dainja poured in 28 points and 21 rebounds plus some monster dunks. John Grigsby answered the call with some key threes while Hopkins went on a run to get within 10 in his first Minnesota game. DT Frierson did a little of everything, as usual. Josh Brown scored 18 on semi-unconscious downtown shooting. David Ijadimbola orchestrated it all while finding the rim for himself. James Parker and Jalen Cook provided solid bench minutes. There's just no clear weakness to exploit when this team is at its best; the only thing stopping the Pirates is themselves.</p> <p><strong>Hopkins: the cupboard refills. </strong>The Royals didn't play their finest defensive game but in the season opener I wouldn't look too much into it. They still have the pieces to contend, which includes a couple new junior names that played very well to keep the game with Park Center close. <strong>Xavier White </strong>is a great 6-5 two-way prospect who knocked down four triples for 12 points and <strong>Andrew Chisley </strong>stands 6-6 and bullish to bolster the frontcourt with <strong>Elvis Nnaji</strong>. Of course <strong>Kerwin Walton </strong>had another strong showing with 32 points so it'll be up to these secondary players to add the support and dirty work. The flashes of potential are there. By year's end, they're going to be in the conversation again.</p>