Hall of Fame Classic - The Stars & Standouts

This past weekend Anoka Ramsey Community College hosted the Hall of Fame Classic. The event included three solid boys high school games and Prep Hoops was in the building to survey the talent. The Top Five <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-andrews/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-andrews/">Austin Andrews</a></a> of Eden Prairie. I'm not going to pretend Park Center was really guarding anybody because EP went on a 36-3 run at one point, but they didn't put an effort into defending Austin so he knocked out a couple threes. And the Pirate defensive rotations consistently moved to off ball players late and if that happens with Austin around it's too late. Andrews scored 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting and he continues to be one of the best players you will see and locating to high percentage positions off the ball for attempts. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-blue/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-blue/">Kendall Blue</a></a> of East Ridge. Mayo put to use an excellent defensive gameplan in limiting <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/">Ben Carlson</a></a>. There was just one problem, it left <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-blue/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendall-blue/">Kendall Blue</a></a> with too much space to work. At one point in the second half the Raptors sophomore scored eight straight baskets on his way to a 25 point performance (9 of 15 shooting, seven boards and four assist too) and a 64-63 victory. Blue is blossoming into this multi-layered threat utilizing a work ethic that ranks with the best. At 6-foot-5 with the skills to shoot it (made three threes on Saturday) from range if you give him room, the ball handling skills to comfortably get to the edge (quicker first step than defenders are ready for), and the aggressive nature to finish aggressively, Blue will soon be in the discussion of "top five sophomore prospects in the state". <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/connor-christensen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/connor-christensen/">Connor Christensen</a></a> of Eden Prairie. This past weekend Connor put together one of the better two way performances you will see. With selective roaming freedom in addition to defending DT Frierson when Park Center used him as the handler/decision maker, Christensen was a constant disruption. Few players as vocal and physical with a discipline on defense like Connor. He also hit five triples on his way to 19 points (6 of 9 shooting) with eight boards and four assists. Outstanding all around performance. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drake-dobbs/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drake-dobbs/">Drake Dobbs</a></a> of Eden Prairie. If there is a category of single game top performances the game Drake had against Park Center would fall into it. Dobbs was in complete control of the Pirates from the initial tap. Take the ball at <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dain-dainja/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dain-dainja/">Dain Dainja</a></a> to score? No problem. Dobbs has the speed and touch to complete before Dainja could move from his position. Dobbs attacked when he recognized that Dainja was walking on defense therefore a lane was open to score. Drake made 11 of 12 foul shots, he pushed the ball and found open shooters for six assists, scored 31 points on 8 of 12 shooting (half the shots were made at the arc) and he grabbed an early seat because of a 29 point lead. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/">Mason Madsen</a></a> of Rochester Mayo. I wasn't sure who to put in this fifth spot but I went with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/">Mason Madsen</a></a> because of a tremendous all around game. The one area where Mason would of liked to do better was the 4 of 10 shooting but the Cincinnati commit was too busy making sure other tasks were being completed. Those tasks included distribution for eight assists and at least 15 wide open shots for teammates, several initial passes that became eventual baskets after more Mayo ball movement, and eight boards ending Raptor possessions early. The Spartans also put together a defensive game plan that limited <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/">Ben Carlson</a></a> and Mason was a big part of that with his activity and with his verbal commands as a leader on the floor.   The Next Five <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mayson-brown/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mayson-brown/">Mayson Brown</a></a> of Hibbing. I loved the charge that Mayson took so much that it almost overshadowed the seven three-pointers he made for the game. Brown seems to love Saturday games in the Twin Cities because he was excellent at the Southside Showcase and scored another 25 against Hopkins. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-carlson/">Ben Carlson</a></a> of East Ridge. Carlson had a really tough day shooting with two Mayo Spartans hanging all over him but the Wisconsin commit overcame the attention to grab 14 rebounds and score four key second half baskets. It was a 6 of 18 shooting day but a 16 and 14 double-double nonetheless. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dain-dainja/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dain-dainja/">Dain Dainja</a></a> of Park Center. I won't pretend this was a graat game for the Baylor commit because it wasn't. He was put on the bench 2-3 times for his defensive efforts and for a couple decisions on the offensive end. That said, the all around physical and skilled talent of Dainja is a rare thing and it led to a 10 of 16 shooting game for 22 points and nine boards. Dainja is one of those players that is impossible to stop if he gets the ball in certain spots. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/john-henry/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/john-henry/">John Henry</a></a> of Eden Prairie. The beauty of Eden Prairie is that they can hit you for 3-4 threes with any one of five senior players. On Saturday Henry got going a little bit later in the others but it was still a supporting 14 point effort in a big win. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kerwin-walton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kerwin-walton/">Kerwin Walton</a></a> of Hopkins. On Friday it was Patrick Ewing of Georgetown watching Walton. On Sunday he was at the Gopher game as Minnesota played Michigan State. In between, Walton led a balanced Hopkins effort as the Royals cruised by Hibbing 90-58. Kerwin scored on four threes and finished with 17 points .   Stepping Up in Their Role Nolan Goetz of East Ridge. Nolan is a 6-foot-4 senior power forward with strength, a court understanding, and a will to work. His battle led to three finishes, six boards, and a number of key defensive plays. Regan Merritt of Hopkins. Regan is the Vinnie Johnson of Hopkins stepping off the bench in a cool way to hit threes or attack for success with a single dribble that moves the defense. Scored 15 in the win. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-sharp/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-sharp/">Michael Sharp</a></a> of Rochester Mayo. With the Raptors leaning so heavily on Gabe and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-madsen/">Mason Madsen</a></a>, the six foot Sharp caught and drained a number of open looks in space. It's not always easy to complete plays when you are left open continually but Sharp made the opponents pay with 17 points (6 of 10 shooting, three triples). <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sawyer-shrake/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sawyer-shrake/">Sawyer Shrake</a></a> of Hopkins. I can't get out of my mind the closeouts and defensive intensity that Shrake brought at Hibbing on nearly every play. The Royals basically have a club of 6-7 kids that score 3-4 baskets a game and Sharke is one of those guys. Jaelen Treml of Hopkins. Another one of those guys in the 3-4 bucket a game club? The ever improving Jalen Treml. His three point stroke has greatly improved as Jalen hit three triples against Hibbing and of course he had that monster game against Minnehaha Academy.