Top 10: Seattle Prep @ Nathan Hale
Seattle Prep and Nathan Hale both entered Saturday’s game with 6 wins and 3 losses in the Metro League, and they both were looking for a win that would move them into sole possession of 5th place overall. Nathan Hale…
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Continue ReadingSeattle Prep and Nathan Hale both entered Saturday’s game with 6 wins and 3 losses in the Metro League, and they both were looking for a win that would move them into sole possession of 5th place overall. Nathan Hale struggled to knock down shots, and Seattle Prep’s effort on defense forced turnovers from the Raiders. Nathan Hale point guard Marcus Collins has been off to a great start in the first half of the season including a 39 point performance against Cleveland High School earlier this year, but unfortunately, he went down with an injury shortly after the start of the second half, and he never returned. Julian Agosto did his best to keep Hale in the game, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Panthers. Junior Kyle Carlesimo led Seattle Prep with 13 points and junior Chike Ezeonu added 12. Julian Agosto of Nathan Hale would lead all scorers with 16 points.
MVP – Tyler Mrus | 6’5″ G/F | SPHS 2022
Our second-ranked sophomore continued to show why he is one of the top athletes in the 2022 class. Tyler Mrus didn’t light up the scoreboard (although he’d score 36 points in his next game), but he illustrated his full skillset even though his team didn’t need him on the court all game. Mrus can score, but like all great players, he knows that he can be just as effective as a distributor, rebounder, and willing defender. Mrus is a physical triple threat with size, strength, and athleticism, and he may have had a bigger impact defensively than he did on offense. As a rebounder, he is constantly crashing the boards and jumping for the ball at its highest point. He finished the game with 9 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds, and he sat most of the fourth quarter.
Play of the Game – Tyler Mrus Breakaway Dunk
Mrus had a breakaway dunk in the second quarter to score 2 of his 6 first-half points. Unlike a lot of athletes you see today, Mrus is more fundamental than flash, and even though you won’t see him throw down a rim-shaking slam, he can get to the rim easily, and you can trust him to finish every time. Mrus’s dunk came after one of the many turnovers that his team forced from the Raiders.
Offensive MVP – Julian Agosto | 5’10” PG | NHHS 2021
After the loss of senior Marcus Collins, Julian Agosto took on the brunt of the scoring responsibilities for his squad. Agosto is among the best athletes in the Metro League in his ability to create space and give himself open looks. Agosto had 16 points, and nearly all of them came off of mid-range jumpers that he knocked down after using his killer crossover to lose defenders. He also added two three-pointers in his effort to keep the game close.
Defensive MVP – Seattle Prep (Team)
After one-quarter of play, Seattle Prep had scored only 12 points, but it was more than enough because they were able to limit the Raiders to only 4 points. It’s possible that Nathan Hale had more turnovers than shots in the first quarter as their guards were met with stifling defense on any attempt to penetrate off the dribble. Seattle Prep is not finding success because of the individual athleticism of their athletes, but rather from their team’s commitment and communication on that end of the court.
Best Guy off the Bench – Mason Hoffman | 6’6″ F | SPHS 2020
Mason Hoffman is a do-everything player with the physical size to clear space in the key, fight for rebounds, and bang with opponents. He’s the type of kid that is sweating from the moment he walks on the court to the final whistle because of his constant energy. Hoffman weighs in at 240 lbs, but he’s rarely the last man down the court.
Best Intangibles – Kyle Carlesimo | 6’2″ G | SPHS 2021
Junior Kyle Carlesimo is another athlete that fits the prototype for Seattle Prep. He isn’t the tallest guy on the court, but he finds a way to grab rebounds. He isn’t the fastest guy on the court, but he hustles for loose balls. He isn’t the greatest athlete, so he contributes in other ways. Carlesimo stood out in this game because of his leadership. He clearly has a strong understanding of the game (that tends to be the case when you have a dad who coached in the NBA and NCAA for 40 years), and he was constantly communicating with his teammates while bringing the ball up the court and on defense. Carlesimo scored 13 points and 3 threes to lead the Panthers.
Best under the Radar Performance – Jared Roznos | 6’0″ G | SPHS 2021
Roznos had a quiet 4 points in the victory, but he added steals, assists, and great activity on the defensive end of the court. Roznos has seen his stock rise this season, and he had just come off a 19 point performance against a very good Eastside Catholic team. Jared is incredibly fast, and one play that stood out to me was a steal and lay-in at full speed. It was the type of lay-in that you would often see trickle off the rim considering that Roznos never slowed down before leaping through the key, but he made it look routine.
Best Underclassman – Neven Marinkovic | 6’4″ F | SPHS 2022
I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from Neven Marinkovic this season. He’s not the type of athlete that dazzles with his athleticism, but he is a workhorse who earns his playing time through hard work and physicality. Marinkovic is earning a lot of his points off rebounds, but he does have the ability to step out and hit threes, and he has a consistent floater in his arsenal as well.
Best Athlete – Aaron Von Bruck | 6’6″ SG | NHHS 2020
Nathan Hale has no shortage of athleticism, and Aaron Von Bruck is the cream of the crop in that regard. Von Bruck is a strong, powerful athlete, and is one of the few athletes who clearly enjoys taking advantage of his skills on defense. The senior has explosive jumping abilities that help him steal cross-court passes and block shots, and he can also use his size to challenge ball-handlers in the open court.
Best Passer – Tyler Mrus | 6’5″ G/F | SPHS 2022
There are two things that make Tyler Mrus a great passer. First, he understands the game well enough to anticipate where his open teammates will be, and second, he can put a pass on the money just about every time. His strong 6’5″ frame allows him to zip the ball around the court, and he is constantly finding open teammates for catch-and-shoot threes or easy looks under that basket.