Week 8 Mid-Week Standouts

With the eighth week of the season reaching its halfway point, I take a look back at some of the to performers that I saw! The three games I’ve watched so far this week have been Minneapolis South vs Academy of Holy Angels, Minneapolis North vs Hopkins, and South St. Paul vs St. Croix Lutheran! [player_tooltip player_id="958645" first="Camden" last="Holter"] (6’3 2022 W, Holy Angels)- With Minneapolis South holding a lead for most of the second half, it was [player_tooltip player_id="958645" first="Camden" last="Holter"] who stepped up his game to help Holy Angels pick up the win. Holter scored a team high 18 points, with a majority of those points coming in the second half where he started to look for his shot more. He did a nice job of getting to the basket for some high percentage looks in both transition and the half-court, and once he attacks he’s able to glide to the rim for a smooth finish. Also a solid shooter from three, he did a nice job of finding space on the perimeter and exploiting the Minneapolis South zone defense with his shooting ability. A nice blend of length, athleticism, and scoring versatility in the 2022 wing. Chiang Ring (6’8 2024 F, Minneapolis South)- Although his 11 points aren’t necessarily eye catching, Chiang put in one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen all season. Though no official stats on this, by my count Chiang recorded anywhere from 8-10 blocks (there were a couple where I couldn’t tell for sure if he got the ball), and altered countless more looks in the paint. It was rare to see Holy Angels get off a clean look around the rim due to Chiang’s length, timing, and mobility to slide over into good position. Offensively he had four dunks, cutting without the ball to the rim and putting down a nice put-back slam. There’s a lot to like about Chiang’s ability on both ends of the floor, and it will be exciting to watch him progress over the years. [player_tooltip player_id="774735" first="Davon" last="Townley Jr"]. (6’7 2021 PF/C, Minneapolis North)- In a headliner game against Hopkins, it was Davon Townley who dominated the game in the paint on his way to 26 points and a win. Davon is so dangerous catching and facing up, as he’s able to attack and finish with both hands, and he has a quick spin move to gain an edge on his defender. The Penn State football commit also played some bully ball, using his strong frame to finish through contact with ease, and earn a few trips to the line. I was impressed with his ability to catch and knock down a couple of mid-range shots, and even create a few looks for his teammates off the dribble. [player_tooltip player_id="774852" first="Jack" last="Hernandez"] (6’9 2021 C, Hopkins)- There’s a lot to like about what Jack brings to his team both in-play, and after the whistle. Against Minneapolis North he didn’t play as much as usual due to Hopkins opting for a smaller lineup, but he still made his presence felt offensively with 9 points (should have been 11 but a goaltending call was missed). Jack always hustles up the floor in transition, and that led to a couple of easy putback opportunities as he beat the rest of the defense up the floor. In the halfcourt he attacked from the block for a right hand hook finish, and also hit a three from the top of the key. Defensively he impressed with his ability to switch off and defend a D1 offered guard at times, and also walled-up to protect the rim on a handful of occasions. Jack always showed a positive attitude throughout the game, and is an extremely coachable player who constantly gives 100%. [player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"] (6’2 2021 F, South St. Paul)- South St. Paul doesn’t have a true big man, so Marquise steps up and mans the paint for his team. He’s a tough as nails player and a leader for his team on the floor. Marquise had his best offensive game that I’ve seen out of him in a win over St. Croix Lutheran, scoring 24 points and reaching the 1,000 career point mark. He was extremely efficient finishing at the rim, both attacking off the dribble or receiving a dump-off pass and powering up in traffic. Gleb also stepped out and showed touch from beyond the arc, knocking down a three. His strength and high effort allow him to guard multiple spots defensively, and he’s been playing a key role for an undefeated team. [player_tooltip player_id="774760" first="Zach" last="Longueville"] (6’1 2021 G, St. Croix Lutheran)- There are a handful of schools keeping an eye the 20 ppg scorer this year, and he gave them another reason last night by scoring a team high 21 points. He came in and immediately knocked down a pull-up mid-range that was created with a quick shot fake, and the followed that up with a deep three for a quick five points. I knew that Zach was a threat beyond the arc, and then in the second half he added in some difficult finishes gliding through traffic and scoring with both hands at the rim. He has a nice feel for the game and was able to adapt to what the defense was giving him to score at an efficient rate on the night. [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] (6’2 2022 G, South St. Paul)- When his team needed it most at the end of the game, Alonzo stepped up with a handful of finishes going at the basket. On two occasions late in the game, Alonzo was able to swoop in and pick up a missed free throw and finish in the paint for two points. His speed in the open floor and ability to jump passing lanes led to some transition buckets and assists, and his ability to help dictate the pace of the game allowed his team to claw back from an early deficit and lead for the rest of the game. He absolutely stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win.