Breakdown Big 12 Classic: The Top Performers
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Who were some of the top performers from the weekend at the Big 12 Classic? Here’s our group of the best. Before we get to the names below, we have to look back on Tyirece Waits Tyirece Waits 6'1" |…
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Continue ReadingWho were some of the top performers from the weekend at the Big 12 Classic? Here’s our group of the best.
Before we get to the names below, we have to look back on Tyirece Waits Tyirece Waits 6'1" | PG Osseo | 2022 State MN of Osseo, Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN of Hopkins, Kole Hanson Kole Hanson 6'2" | PG Holy Family | 2024 State MN of Edina, Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN of Totino-Grace, and Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN of DeLaSalle. All of them were top performers as well but we talked about them in the Stock Risers article. Waits was not only the top performer, he may have been the event MVP.
Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (6’8 2022). Carter didn’t have the perimeter shooting game he was hoping for but was still the game MVP in the Trojans win over CDH. Carter collected 13 rebounds and dominated his center to center match-up in the post scoring his 16 and limiting his opponent to almost nothing defensively. Carter is also really good moving within the Wayzata offense and finishing high percentage shots on the move.
Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN of Totino-Grace (6’4 2023). I love how Chatman handled the game on Saturday. He didn’t start the first three minutes (the Eagles went with Taison off the bench at the end of last year when they were at their best) and then played the rest of the game. Chatman played some on the ball, some off the ball as Zy’lerre Stewart handled part of the game. So Chatman combined getting the ball up the floor with moving off the ball and being an elite scoring guard option. Chatman was 7 of 10 from the field as most of his attempts came within the flow, and he dished out four assists. Chatman scored 18 points including a massive corner three that was one of the biggest daggers sent at the Islanders down the stretch. Chatman grabbed eight boards and he had a quick closeout block of an attempt sending the ball into the wall late in the game. He has one of the elite shooting touches you will ever see and Taison smoothly gets into those shots in such quick ways the defense often can’t react in time.
Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN of South St Paul (6’1 2022). He does everything. Including leading his team to wins over and over. Handled the ball, was the main man delivering attempts for his team, is an outstanding rebounder, plays defense, and always scores. Online I said his numbers 25-13-8-6 read lock a combination code and that’s what he does, constantly produces an array of numbers: 25 points, 13 boards, 8 assists, and 6 steals. You just don’t see guys doing that consistently at the big school level but Dodd does.
James Durst of Byron (6’5 2022). Byron put together a great team effort in beating Enderlin and while there were contributions from many, Durst was likely the biggest contributor with his 22 points and seven rebounds making 10 of 15 field goals. Durst was in the paint completing halfcourt possessions, scoring on putbacks, and running in transition for his makes plus he used a dribble well to get into his scores. James gave Byron an inside threat and consistent paint production and it went a long way in the team moving to 6-1.
Joseph Hurlburt of Enderlin ND (6’10 2022). The special part of what Hurlburt does is that perimeter touch. Hurlburt has such a pretty jumper and when he is confident, few can match what he can do at the arc. Hurlburt scored 20 against Byron and that included four threes. Hurlburt also grabbed a dozen boards and contested a number of shots. The impressive thing with Hurlburt is that his shoulders are so wide in a frame that gets up and down, I think he can add both upper body strength and core strength without losing much agility. The prospect status of Hurlburt continues to be high.
Demarion Watson Demarion Watson 6'8" | SF Totino-Grace | 2022 State #150 Nation MN of Totino-Grace (6’8 2022). Demarion started the game slow from the field, found a way to help his team get going with some two way production, and then exploded in the second half. Watson hit big threes, had some massive, massive finishes, and defensively he blocked six shots and changed so many. The Islanders had a terrible time finishing around the basket in the halfcourt set and that’s because the length of Watson and Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN was always in their way. Watson’s second half explosion on both ends led his team to the win AND gave us a big sample of why he is a top 150 recruit headed to Iowa State.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN of Lakeville North (6’10 2023). A true scorer finds ways to produce points for his team in an assortment of ways and that is exactly how Nolan scored his 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting. First off Nolan has an excellent jumper with range. You saw that when Winter hit multiple threes and that’s how he falls into the stretch big category. Winter can also post up, catch, and created offense. I love how Winter will move with the entry pass and get right into his shot making it tough for the defender to read the play and contest the shot. We’ve seen him use his shoulders to stick and then finish, and then last weekend Winter’s fall away out of the post looked as impossible to stop as a Kevin Durant jumpshot attempt. Then you have the off-ball finishes. Lakeville North has a team that is constantly in motion and that includes Winter. He scored cutting to the rim three times as Nolan timed in scores on the move as the defense was moving behind the play (and it’s already tough to contest Winter who is 6’10). Add in ten rebounds and it was an excellent showing.