2020 McGuinness Classic All-Tournament Team
The McCarthy Gymnasium saw eight teams walk through its doors on Thursday, but only one team, led by a talented junior guard, would walk out clutching the McGuinness Classic trophy late Saturday night. That team would be the Bulldogs of Edmond Memorial High School.
We put together our all-tournament team from the McGuinness Classic, composed of 5 players, one of which, named MVP. Here is our 2020 McGuinness Classic All-Tournament team.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP: Sean Pedulla – Edmond Memorial – 2021
Sean Pedulla led the way with 28 points for the Bulldogs, knocking down the game-winning floater with 4.8 seconds remaining on the clock, securing an Edmond Memorial victory. Pedulla’s discipline and shot selection made him stand out from the crowd and proved to everyone in the gym watching that he was willing to give up his own personal agenda to secure a championship for his team. Pedulla showed excellent body control and converted on several and-one opportunities throughout the weekend, his sneaky athleticism and agility are no longer “sneaky” as he threw down a two-handed slam Thursday night against McGuinness. But more important than any of the physical attributes that Pedulla shows, is the heart and confidence he plays with. Whether taking the big shot for the game or pulling a teammate off to the side to talk one-on-one, Pedulla exemplifies the role of a leader and has all of the ability needed to be one.
Christian Cook – Midwest City – 2020
Christian Cook played with the utmost confidence this weekend at the McGuiness Classic. Leading the pack for the Bombers, Cook continued to prove his ability to score at all three levels. With a huge, game-tying fastbreak dunk to knot the championship game even at 60 points-a-piece, Cook gave 100% every minute he played this weekend. Even while dealing with foul trouble in the championship game, Cook never slowed down and continued to play his game. If Cook continues to play with the elite scoring ability he displayed this weekend, expect big things from Midwest City as the season continues to creep ever closer to the playoffs.
JV Seat – Edmond Memorial – 2022
JV Seat looked and played like a veteran this past weekend at the McGuinness Classic. Dominating whoever guarded him in the post with a flurry of footwork, Seat stuck to his game and it worked out perfectly for Edmond Memorial. His fierce competitiveness and aggression on the boards made him the tournament leading rebounder. This attack on the boards allowed him to secure second and third-chance points, vital to the success of the Bulldogs. The sophomore also showed off some athleticism with a big transition dunk Friday night in Memorial’s matchup with Choctaw. Seat’s potential is limitless with his work ethic and he will continue to dominate in the post until a team figures out a way to slow him down.
Sean Franklin – Choctaw – 2021
Sean Franklin did almost all of the dirty work needed for Choctaw, dominating on the boards, never taking a possession off on the defensive end, and running the court in transition. Franklin exemplified the meaning of the term “team-player” and stood firm in that role all weekend long. His production was not primarily shown in the box score, though he had very solid performances by that measure anyways, rather in the wear and tear he caused his opponents. Forcing teams into foul trouble with his constant attack-mode mindset and using his length to create deflections and turnovers, Franklin excelled in the little things, something looked over way too often in our time.
Jacobi Johnson – Midwest City – 2020
One of the unsung heroes of the McGuinness Classic, Johnson helped lead Midwest City to the championship game with his very diverse skillset. Running the offense from the high-post, earning difficult rebounds in the battle on the glass, and forcing turnovers on the defensive end, Johnson was key to the Bombers’ success. His agility and athleticism, though not visible at first sight, were dynamic and very important on his team’s path to the championship. He could run the floor and keep up with the pace his guards, Christian Cook and Kevin Overton were playing at, allowing their offensive flow to run at all cylinders and create the best opportunities for the Bombers to score.
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