Random Memories Of 2020 – Part 1

<p>This has been a crazy calendar year. Last Year at this time, who would have thought that we’d be sitting where we are now? That applies to all aspects of life, including basketball. But it’s not all doom and gloom. I have a lot of great lasting high school basketball memories from 2020. I’ll list some off as they pop in my head.</p> <p><strong>Watching Ann Arbor Huron in the District semifinals last high school season.</strong></p> <p>First of all, never did I think that this would be the last high school game that I saw until now. More importantly, I’ll never forget the lasting impression that the Huron team left. Guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="611420" first="Julian" last="Lewis"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="811099" first="Devin" last="Womack"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="611465" first="Kingsley" last="Perkins"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="611480" first="Tyson" last="Edmondson"] </strong>were just so obviously talented. But what was really amazing was how far that they’ve come. Lewis was always talented, but now he’s ELITE. Womack was a hot shooting 2 guard as a freshman. Now he’s attacking the rim and playing the point. Before high school, Perkins was a raw athlete. Now he’s a next level post player. Edmondson was a freshman without a niche. Now he’s one of the best all around 3 point shooters in the state.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814573" first="Aidan" last="Rubio"] (2021, SF, Goodrich)</strong></p> <p>Where do I start? First, I’m going to apologize to him....again. Man, my ranking of him was so far off. He was a main attraction at the David Barns Memorial Showcase where he scored at all 3 levels. Then at the Prep Hoops Top 250, he did it again. Rubio attacked the basket and punished the rim.</p> <p><strong>Telling everyone about [player_tooltip player_id="811100" first="Blake" last="Lund"].</strong></p> <p>I’ve had so many phone calls, texts, and articles regarding this young man. He’s one of the best overall talents in the senior class, and I really feel like he has always been so underrated. Just watch, because he’ll continue to be a game changer, even at the next level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="814573" first="Aidan" last="Rubio"] vs. [player_tooltip player_id="787685" first="Kyler" last="Vanderjagt"]</strong></p> <p>These 2 went head to head in 1 of the games at the David Barns Memorial Showcase. I put down my notebook and enjoyed the show. Quite frankly, in the future, we’re going to have to buy a ticket to see this matchup again.</p> <p><strong>The development of [player_tooltip player_id="811109" first="Keyon" last="Menifield"].</strong></p> <p>He absolutely killed it this spring, summer, and fall. To start, nobody had a better grassroots season in the state than Menifield. He was an elite ball handler and scoring guard, not just in the state, but in the midwest. Then he backed it up at the Prep Hoops Top 250. Menifield had his way offensively at the event and scored in every possible way.</p> <p><strong>The Prep Hoops Top 250</strong></p> <p>Wow, what a show. In the midst of a pandemic, it might have been the best one yet. Hundreds of players filtered their way into the gym. There were top 10-15 ranked players in the state. There were young freshman trying to make a name for themselves. There were highly ranked players showing why they deserved their spot. There were players proving that they deserved to be ranked higher and proving that they deserved to be on the list for the first time. College coaches were scattered across the gym, while many more tuned into the livestream.</p> <p><strong>The [player_tooltip player_id="611485" first="Linden" last="Holder"] story.</strong></p> <p>Holder is a senior point guard at Warren De La Salle. I’d been told that I had him ranked to high. Those calls have all stopped as he proved himself this summer. Holder was lights out during grassroots season. He was dynamic and creative offensively. Holder proved he could play as a pass first floor general as well as a scoring lead guard.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>