Breakdown Tip Off Classic: Top Performers
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What players were at their highest level this weekend at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic? We break that list down now! Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy (6’6…
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Continue ReadingWhat players were at their highest level this weekend at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic? We break that list down now!
Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy (6’6 Forward, 2022). Most of the players on this list won their game but Prince’s all around performance was too good to keep out of the group despite his team losing. The Hawks need Prince to board so he grabbed 14 of them. The Hawks need him to score around the basket so he put 25 points in the book making 10 of 17 shots. The top play for me was the transition catch and instinctive behind the back dribble into a transition dunk.
Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN of East Ridge (6’6 Guard/Wing, 2022). Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN ’s game has matured in a way that has me thinking that UST got an even bigger steal than many realized. He’s a matured player that I think took a big turn this summer. Blue gives his team some of everything: he handles, defends the other team’s top player, and Kendall has been an aggressive rim attacking finisher. This year Blue is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game making half of his threes and dishing out five assists a contest. Throw in the three steals a contest and the 3.3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and you have a serious all around talent.
Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN of South St. Paul (6’1 Guard, 2022). Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN continues to do just about everything a player can do for a team which most importantly includes winning against top ten opponent Mankato East. Dodd scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and jumped passing lanes/snuck up on opponents for six steals. Another all around great game.
Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN of Morris Area (6’8 Big, 2022). Morris Area entered the season ranked in the top four of Class AA and against Blake they had to defend that ranking. The Tigers did that and then some winning by ten led by Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN ’s 25 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Loge’s skill level back to the bucket to score, facing to use his touch to score, and passing the ball continues to be at a high level.
Cade Mcgraw Cade Mcgraw 5'10" | PG Shakopee | 2022 State MN of Shakopee (6’1 Guard, 2022). Cade Mcgraw Cade Mcgraw 5'10" | PG Shakopee | 2022 State MN took the court dealing with nagging injuries and coming off previous injuries. As a long time Tip Off Classic attendee it was great to see Cade make half of his 16 attempts gutting out 27 points withstanding the Tonka guards to one up them for a huge win and performance. Cade is certainly one of the toughest guards in the state of Minnesota.
Leo Torbor Leo Torbor 6'1" | PG Park Center | 2022 State MN of Park Center (6’2 Guard, 2022). In an opening tap to final buzzer game Leo Torbor Leo Torbor 6'1" | PG Park Center | 2022 State MN was the one guy that was able to get things out just a bit more earning player of the game and more importantly the win. Torbor had the game’s biggest highlight (the attacking dunk), he kept the Trojan guards from comfortable delivery, Torbor hit a clutch three late, and put the game away with a free throw on his team’s final possession.
Jerome Williams Jr Jerome Williams Jr 6'0" | PG Rock Creek Christian Academy | 2024 MD of Minneapolis South (5’9 Guard, 2024). Jerome’s quickness at guard went against the Islander defense. A tough chore. Early when they were fresh, the Islanders were able to make things tough. However, the Williams rim attack was relentless. He got to the foul line 14 times making 13 of them on his way to 20 points plus six assists. Jerome’s speed was just too much to contain for the full 36 minutes. Williams fouled out but his performance was the biggest reason South was in position to win.
Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis North (6’2 Guard, 2022). Wilson was too much for the Minnehaha Academy guards. Wilson went at his opponents for low post buckets scoring over smaller guards. Wilson pushed out in transition sprinting ahead of everybody to score. And his patient approach letting the offense open space that he attacked, it all led to 21 points and a North win. Scored on 8 of 17 shooting plus had four assists.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN of Lakeville North (6’10 Forward, 2023). After an early season ankle injury Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN returned to the court and scored 24 points in a win over a gritty Park of Cottage Grove team. The plays that most impressed me were Winter’s timed scored cutting to catch and finish on the move, his putback timed to score, and the score turning in the post with the pass that led Winter to the finish. The touch is elite but how he uses it on the move to time scores is what really impressed me this weekend. Winter scored 24 points in the win.