Breakdown Big 12 Classic: New Names to Know

<p>Who are some of the new names that grabbed our attention this weekend at the Big 12 Classic? Have a look today!</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1050248" first="Carson" last="Bartholomay"] of Enderlin (6’6 Wing Forward 2022).  Carson grabbed our attention with his shooting touch making five threes against Byron.  Carson has the perfect size for a big wing shooter at the smaller school levels and that shooting touch is much better than I realized in the past.  He also did things with one or two dribbles to finish that let to the rest of his 24 points.  Love how quickly he gets his feet set moving off the ball to catch and hit. </p> <p>Poet Davis of Minneapolis South (5’11 Guard 2024).  South has outstanding penetrating guards in [player_tooltip player_id="1284157" first="Jerome" last="Williams Jr"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1284125" first="De’Mari" last="Larkins"] and they have a weapon to kick to in Poet Davis.  The younger shooter hit four threes the first part of the game keeping the Tigers within striking distance of the Panthers.  Davis had a breakout game against Hiawatha Collegiate and continued his shooting run with a nice game against Lakeville North.  Another player teams have to worry about when facing South. </p> <p>James Durst of Byron (6’5 Forward 2022).  The Bears lost a star to college (Braaten), a D1 big to transfer (Lee), and a key player to injury (Isaac Deerborn).  And yet here they are 6-1 and ready to challenge for league and section championships.  Why?  I guy like [player_tooltip player_id="1297889" first="Tyler" last="Connelly"] who has emerged.  Guys like [player_tooltip player_id="958753" first="Trent" last="DeCook"] and [player_tooltip player_id="958741" first="Jaxon" last="Marine"] who have stepped up, and a guy like James Durst who is getting things done as a 6’4/6’5 broad shouldered, hard working, active post player.  Durst works hard and finishes off ball stuff (putbacks, hard cuts, transition runs, etc) and does it in a hard hat style that a coach loves.  Had 22 points making 10 of 15 shots with seven boards beating Enderlin.  </p> <p>Brayden Manning of Lakeville North (6’3 Forward 2022).  Manning seems to be the hard working agile forward that will take on a tough responsibility and handle it willingly.  The type of guy that should compliment all the skilled players that North has mixing it with a player that will set a strong screen, swing the ball, cut hard, and finish when he has chances.  The type of player that is very valuable but may not have a highlight video made of him by randoms, but will be equally depended on by his coach. </p> <p>Keon Moore of South St. Paul  (6’3 Forward 2022).  I like what Moore is giving the Packers.  This isn’t a big team but Moore plays the "five" for the Packers and I like what he gives the team.  There is toughness in his ball screens, toughness in his fight, and toughness in how he moves to the rim to catch and finish high percentage shots.  Does what the team needs in post fight. </p> <p>Zy’Ieere Stewart of Totino-Grace (6’0 PG 2024).  Stewart is the ball handler at the start of the game for TG and he handles it part of the game allowing [player_tooltip player_id="962198" first="Taison" last="Chatman"] to be the dual threat playmaker that he is.  Stewart plays the role perfectly because he has a tough minded team approach that is focused on getting into the opposing ball handler on one end and pushing the ball to the right places the other way.  DJ Akpati played that role last year and Stewart is stepping into it quite well so far this year. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 40px;"> </p>