The Southside Showcase – Best in Show

<p>The Southside Showcase was this weekend at Minnehaha Academy.  Here are the names that stood out in front of a Twin Cities audience. </p> <p><strong>Henry Abraham</strong> of Cambridge-Isanti.  The Bluejackets guard had another incredible shooting performance knocking down 13 three-pointers and scoring 50 points.  Arriving late after coaching youth hoops, my first question to Twin Cities Hoops Czar was "50?  How?".  We all know that Henry is a great shooter so that part of the answer was assumed before the question was asked.  The answer was in relation to how well Henry sets himself up for scores moving without the basketball and how well Cambridge designs plays for his jumper. </p> <p><strong>Prince Aligbe</strong> of Minnehaha Academy.  My biggest takeaway from my two Redhawks viewings this year has been the outstanding defensive abilities shown by Prince Aligbe, the Minnehaha sophomore.  Aligbe is about as strong of a sophomore wing as you will ever see but the way he moves his feet at his age and size is incredible.  Add in the effort he provides each defensive possession and it's been maybe the biggest prospect takeaway for me this season so far.  Prince took only five shots in the win over BSM but he scored 14 points, grabbed ten boards, and hit five of six foul shots.  </p> <p><strong>Mayson Brown</strong> of Hibbing.  I like the way this 6-foot-1 junior guard competes.  Defensively he sat down and got after his athletic Columbia Heights opponents and on the other end Brown set himself up for jumpers with some of the hardest, sharpest cuts I've seen.  Aggressive, good shooter, and a guy to keep an eye on.  Scored 17. </p> <p><strong>Kadem Doram</strong> of St. Paul Central.  Kadem is a 6-foot-2, 175 pound junior guard with good bounce and decent length.  He scored 25 points and the Hoops Czar mentioned that his 25 points against Roseville (in a 14 point win) was a breakout performance.  Kadem also had 16 and 19 in previous games with Central this year. </p> <p><strong>Tre Holloman</strong> of Cretin-Derham Hall.  I watched part of this game on the baseline and grabbed a new perspective of the speed at which Tre pushed the ball and hit teammates with zip-line like passes for his ten assists.  Tre seems to be gaining more confidence in his jumper and the way he pushes the ball results in transition defenders stumbling while scrambling to get to any type of position.  </p> <p><strong>Jordan Jones</strong> of Columbia Heights. The pace at which Jones played with, and the rapid nature of how Columbia Heights moved the ball are things that Hibbing simply wasn't able to keep up with.  To stop a player as quick as Jones a defender has to move to position and take away any angle.  Jones was too quick and got to that basket angle repeatedly.  And when Hibbing players couldn't to the angle they fouled the junior.  Jones made 9 of 10 foul shots and 8 of 17 field goals for a game high 25 points. </p> <p><strong>Elvis Nnaji</strong> of Hopkins. Hopkins knocked off Nicolet from Wisconsin and this was one of the best games I've seen Elvis play.  The 6-foot-9 Hopkins big has about an extra seven inches in length (in comparison to his height) and a good physical build that will be able to add a lot of strength both in upper body and core.  He made three mid-range jumpers on Saturday plus three of four foul shots on his way to 15 points.  He also battles to try and force every attempt over the top of his length.  </p> <p><strong>Nick Peterson</strong> of BSM. No player had a better all around game at the Southside Showcase than Nick Peterson.  Nick was put on Jalen Suggs and did about as good of a job as one can on him forcing Suggs into nine misses in 15 attempts.  Peterson also had to be his team's offensive playmaker and he did his best with 25 points (9 of 16 shooting) and four assists in the loss.  Peterson showed better range than I was aware he had (four threes made) and Nick was the top rebounder on the floor collecting 13.  </p> <p><strong>Kerwin Walton</strong> of Hopkins.  First half foul trouble robbed the fans of seeing the full capacity of what Kerwin can do but 22 points, six boards, and five assists in a win over a good team from Wisconsin was quite impressive itself.  Walton forced nothing making 6 of 11 field goals and all his foul shots plus he moved the ball helping four other teammates make four or baskets.  Defensively Kerwin's positioning and battle over the top of the screen was textbook. </p>