Prep Hoops Live: Ramsey’s Friday Notebook
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These weekend events, especially with the added urgency of a live recruiting period, come at you fast. Just as one day ends the next one begins with more coverage to come your way. As we get things tipped off on…
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Continue ReadingThese weekend events, especially with the added urgency of a live recruiting period, come at you fast. Just as one day ends the next one begins with more coverage to come your way. As we get things tipped off on Saturday morning at Prep Hoops Live let’s take one more look back at Friday evening’s action as we empty out the notebook with some additional thoughts, game breakdowns, and player evaluations. Also, if you missed it Friday evening, you can get a look at six standouts from the Lawrence Sports Pavilion from the opening night of action.
Young Prospects, Athletic Wings Shine
One game in particular during the opening 6:00 time slot had college coaches lining the baseline in droves. Iowa Barnstormers 2024 Gold vs. LA Broncos 2024 featured a handful of potential high-major talent including the two top-ranked prospects in Iowa and the #2 prospect in Louisiana.
The Barnstormers took over the game late, fueled by an excellent second half by 6’5″ wing Caden Wilkins Caden Wilkins 6'7" | SF Bettendorf | 2024 State #196 Nation IA , to secure a 67-58 win. Wilkins had a highlight-reel posterization in traffic but also methodically dominated with a variety of strong drives and pull-up jumpers. While Wilkins, the top ranked prospect in the Class of 2024 by Prep Hoops Iowa, shined in the second half it was a forward for the Broncos that caught everyone’s attention early in the game.
6’8″ Trey’Dez Green, who might still be best known for his prowess on the gridiron, was extremely active on the boards and finished above the rim on Friday night. The left-handed Green finished with 22 points in the game and likely had a double-double with this rebounding performance. Played with an incredible motor!
Elsewhere in the opening time slot, a 2025 prospect playing up two age groups stole the show. Minnesota’s Brogan Madson, a 5’10” point guard, took over the game down the stretch to lead MN Rise 2023 over SSA Hoops Elite 2023 Black. Madson showed that he was unafraid of taking it right at his older opponents consistently getting to the basket and showing off creative left-handed finishes. Great competitor. He finished the game with 18 points.
For SSA Black in the loss, it was 6’1″ point guard Britton Dutton who stood out scoring a team-leading 18 points and 6’5″ athletic wing Jackson Briggs who added 17 points.
Mason Jones Mason Jones 6'7" | PF Valparaiso | 2023 State IN , A.J. Lux A.J. Lux 6'3" | SG Crown Point | 2023 State IN Steal the Show
After just joining Team GRIII 2023 Elite last weekend at the Chi-Town Tip-Off, it admittedly took Mason Jones Mason Jones 6'7" | PF Valparaiso | 2023 State IN a few games to find his footing with the new ball club. However, he picked the right time to have his breakout performance with several Division I coaches in attendance on Friday evening. The 6’7″ versatile forward poured in a game-high 22 points to lead GRIII to a 70-63 win over Chicago Lockdown. Jones was getting into the passing lanes and throwing down dunks in transition, consistently driving it to the basket from the wings, and knocked in a three-pointer as well. It was an impressive performance for the prospect who holds a Purdue Fort Wayne offer and continues to field DI interest.
While it was Jones who was consistently great from start-to-finish, 6’5″ sharp-shooter A.J. Lux A.J. Lux 6'3" | SG Crown Point | 2023 State IN took things over in the second half. Lux picked up where he left off last live period pouring in six three-pointers on his way to 20 points on the game. He hit back-to-back threes to begin the second half and then had a flurry of three more just a few minutes later. When he gets hot there is simply nothing the defense can do. It is just a question of when, not if, the offers start coming for the Crown Point shooter.
More From Ahmere Carson Ahmere Carson 6'2" | PG Anderson | 2023 State IN , Full Package Black Survives
Minnesota Select 2023 Mantey got an excellent performance from 6’1″ point guard Dylan Omweno and 6’4″ guard Mario Adams, but it wasn’t quite enough to take down Full Package Black 2023. Omweno scored a game-high 21 points while Adams used his athleticism and perimeter shooting ability to add 20 points.
The well-balanced Full Package Black squad got 14 a piece from Nikola Abusara Nikola Abusara 6'5" | SF Benet | 2023 State IL and Jake Fiegen Jake Fiegen 6'3" | SG New Trier | 2023 State IL who both shot the ball well from the perimeter. 6’7″ big man Mark Nikolich-Wilson Mark Nikolich-Wilson 6'7" | C Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL was very active defensively and on the glass as well. This is a fun team to watch with a bunch of different pieces that can hurt you on a given night.
Down on another court, it was more of the same from 6’2″ left-handed guard Ahmere Carson Ahmere Carson 6'2" | PG Anderson | 2023 State IN . The guard out of Anderson High School in Indiana continued his strong spring scoring 25 points to lead EG10 2023 over a talented OWE-RW3 2023 team out of Louisiana. In the loss, Decedric Webb had 15 points for OWE and was impressive with his 6’6″ athletic frame and activity level around the basket.
Unsigned Seniors Step Up for Full Package Select
As their opportunities to play in front of college coaches dwindle, a trio of unsigned seniors for Full Package Select 2023 made the most of one of their chance. 6’3″ wing Bobby Gray was the most impressive of the group on Friday night showing off his driving ability from the wings, his ability to score in transition, and his overall athleticism. Around the basket, 6’8″ Dick Rutatika, and 6’10” Arnas Sakenis are both impressive as well and should find places to play at the next level.
Hall of Fame Athletics fell to Full Package 58-48 to finish off Friday night’s action, but 6’1″ point guard Colby Deluce was impressive for them. The prospect out of Mounds View High School in Minnesota was able to penetrate the defense and score inside consistently. Really like his offensive game.