Twin Cities Team of the Week: Week 11

This past week featured a number of explosive scoring performances from talented players across the Twin Cites. Prep Hoops details those, plus other notable performers in our Week 11 "Team of the Week". <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kerwin-walton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kerwin-walton/">Kerwin Walton</a></a> (6'4 2020 G, Hopkins)- Kerwin often gets compared to Kawhi Leonard in terms of his demeanor. He's a player who simply goes about his business on the court, and lets his play do the talking. Last week his play spoke loudly, as he put two of the best scoring performances the metro has seen this year, in a span of just 18 hours. On Friday night Kerwin put up 39 points in a tight win over Buffalo (more to come from that game), and then Saturday afternoon he scored 42 minutes despite sitting some time in the second half while his team had a sizable lead over Totino-Grace. Kerwin was automatic from the line, and it was a shock if his shot even hit the rim while going in. He also dominated in the low post as a finisher, while continuing to be a hot shooter from beyond the arc. Kerwin is one of the best unsigned seniors in the entire country for good reason. Matthew Willert (6'6 2020 W, Buffalo)- I mentioned how Hopkins barely scraped by Buffalo on Friday night, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-willert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-willert/">Matt Willert</a></a> put in one of the best individual performances of the year to keep his team in that game for so long. The wiry wing-guard put up 53 points, despite facing tight attention from the Hopkins defense. St. Cloud State is getting an absolute steal here, because Willert is a sniper beyond the arc who only needs an inch of space to get his shot off. His long arms and high release make it nearly impossible to get a good contest on him, and he knocks down the three at a high percentage. Prior to the Hopkins game he scored 23 points in a win over St. Michael-Albertville. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-remme/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-remme/">Blake Remme</a></a> (6'5 2020 W, Spring Lake Park)- <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-remme/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-remme/">Blake Remme</a></a> helped lead SLP to two wins last week, puting up scoring numbers above his season average in both games. He started off with 23 points in a high scoring win over Elk River, followed up by 22 in a win over state ranked Totino-Grace. Against Elk River, Blake showed off his ability to score in transition at a high level. He had multiple dunks, and was consistently sprinting up the floor off defensive rebounds to get some easy buckets. He's also a solid shooter from deep, with range extending well beyond the arc. Against Totino-Grace he showcased that range, knocking down a deep three that would make Jimmer Fredette proud. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/camden-heide/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/camden-heide/">Camden Heide</a></a> (6'6 2022 W, Wayzata)- After missing the start of the season with an injury, Heide has been working his way back into form, and last week he was at his very best. Against #1 ranked Eden Prairie, Wayzata was nearly able to pull off an upset behind a 30 point performance by Heide. He followed that up by helping his team knock off Brainerd, scoring 32 points in the process. His explosive dunks get him views on social media, but what sets him apart is his mature feel for the game. He has a really nice stroke from three, and doesn't force his game. Leave him open from three? He'll knock it down. Bad close out? He'll take two dribbles by you and hit a floater. Not hustling back on defense? He'll punish the rim and the defense with a monster dunk. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-sommer/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-sommer/">James Sommer</a></a> (6'3 2020 G, Cristo Rey Jesuit)- CRJ split their two games last week, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-sommer/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-sommer/">James Sommer</a></a> was a consistent scoring and rebounding threat for them. In a loss to Maranatha, James scored 22 points while snagging 6 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. Later that week in a win over St. Agnes, he scored 25 while once again pulling in 6 rebounds. Colleges will be impressed with his pull-up jumper from mid-range, a shot he can hit at a high percentage. James is also good at getting to the free throw line, and knocks those shots down at a 75.6% clip this season. He recently added an offer from Lake Region State. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tate-machacek/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tate-machacek/">Tate Machacek</a></a> (6'6 2020 F, Eastview)- I believe Tate is the fourth player from Eastview to make a Team of the Week, and it's for good reason. This Eastview team is deep, and Tate showed off his offensive arsenal in two wins last week. the 6'6 forward started off with 19 points against Burnsville, and then scored 21 against Lakeville North. He has the height and strong frame to be a bruiser in the post, but showed off his touch from outside, absolutely catching fire from beyond the arc last week. Tate is a top-50 level senior in Minnesota. Maxsamus Wilson (6'3 2023 G, South St. Paul)- The freshman guard has been a big contributor in South St. Paul's breakout season, and this past week he put in two of his best performances to date. SSP won their first game of the week against Simley, with Wilson contributing 17 points while knocking down four three pointers. The following game, SSP lost by two points to Hastings, with Wilson scoring 16. Wilson already has the height of a next level guard, and is a confident shooter beyond the arc. The other thing that sticks out about Maxsamus is his passing vision, exploiting gaps in the defense that not even most seniors can recognize. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tait-nelson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tait-nelson/">Tait Nelson</a></a> (5'10 2020 PG, St. Anthony)- St. Anthony went 2-0 last week, and Tait was his usual self, contributing points and scrappy defense. In the win over Brooklyn Center he scored 29 points, and then in a tight victory over a talented Holy Angels squad, he scored 26 in an exciting point guard matchup. Tait's energy on defense is rarely replicated, as he is constantly applying pressure to opposing ball handlers. What's even more impressive is that he doesn't get too winded on defense, so his jumper remains consistent. Tait can stop on a dime to pull-up, and that quickness helps him get off shots with taller defenders guarding him. Carter Owens (6'3 2021 G, St. Paul Highland Park)- The St. Paul City Conference has been home to some of the biggest scoring performances in the state this year, and Carter Owens is the latest player from the conference to join the 40 point club. In a win over St. Paul Washington, Carter put up 41 points! His scoring didn't stop there, as he added 24 in a loss to Bloomington Kennedy, and 22 in a win over Como Park. Carter is such a smooth finisher in the open floor, and he loves to create turnovers and run in transition. Against Washington his three point shot was falling at a high rate, and he's best with catch-and-shoot opportunities. Jessye Lewis Jr. (6' 2023 G, Hiawatha Collegiate)- I recognize that Hiawatha isn't playing any loaded competition, but the numbers Jessye Lewis Jr. has been putting up are simply ridiculous. The freshman scored 47 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in a win over Hmong Academy. He then scored 23 against Avail Academy, and 29 against Liberty Classical. Hiawatha Collegiate has a really nice group of freshmen alongside Lewis, and his scoring touch has helped them to a 15-4 record. Jessye is a tough finisher around the rim, while having also made 60 three pointers already this year. That number is good for 6th in the state.