Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook
Friday night the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes kicked off with three rounds of games. Think of it as the appetizer to a monster weekend of hoops in Minneapolis. I dive into what caught my attention in Battle at…
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Continue ReadingFriday night the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes kicked off with three rounds of games. Think of it as the appetizer to a monster weekend of hoops in Minneapolis. I dive into what caught my attention in Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook!
God’s Gift 17U Looks Impressive In Opener
The Illinois squad God’s Gift came out firing on all cylinders to open Battle with a 71-57 win over Minnesota Lightning Oevering. It really all started with their defensive pressure. Their full court press was too much for the Lightning as there were constant turnovers which God’s Gift turned into points. Their top prospect Hillcrest 2023 small forward Quentin Heady showed flashes of what makes him intriguing at the next level and will be a key player for a Hillcrest squad who has state title expectations in Illinois next year. Lefty has a solid shot from three as he drained a pair along with mixing in floaters, spinning layups, and was good rebounding. Avian Abrams from Eisenhower also had a strong performance especially on the defensive end with how well he created turnovers and scored off them. Likes runners. Off the bench Samar Bures is a lead guard that showed burst getting to the rim. Also TF South guard Vincent Payne ignited them off the bench as well. Well put together wing with an array of threes showcasing a clean lefty shot and was a nice transition scorer.
Bright spot for Minnesota Lightning Overing was the play of 6’5” 2023 power forward Trey Thielber. Post did a nice job sealing, finishing dump offs, hitting the offensive boards, and using footwork around the hoop to be an efficient low-post scoring threat. Small colleges should jump in on him.
Big 3 Lead the Way for PM UA Rise 16U in W Over MN Chill
PM UA Rise 16U scored a 66-57 victory over Minnesota Chill to open Battle on Friday. The Wisconsin squad was led by their big three. In the first half it was all about Cody Schmitz. The 6’5” combo forward did a nice job of stretching the floor with his quick release on his catch and shoot. Also crashed the glass and was crafty around the rim finishing. In the second half 6’4” shooting guard Evan Anderson took over. Strong guard that got downhill for runners, went coast to coast, posted up smaller defenders, and got to the line. The x-factor for this team is Tamarrein Henderson as the 6’4” wing brings slashing, transition scoring, and two way impactful play.
MN Chill power forward Fitz Freeman popped off the floor early to us with his shot blocking. Lefty brings a nice frame and is a defensive presence that boards. Couple of guards to track include Drew Balentine who can really shoot it along with mixing in some floaters. Dhimani Tucker is another small guard that got them back in the game with his speed and burst. Top long term prospect to track is probably Demetrius Weems. The 6’3” wing has a frame that he can fill out to go along with a smooth perimeter scoring game including a nice looking shot and slick handles.
South Dakota Attack 16U Falls to Gain Elite in First Look at JT Rock
In their first game of the weekend at Battle at the Lakes South Dakota Attack took a loss Gain Elite as the Minnesota squad came back late. This was our first time checking out South Dakota Attack 2024 7’0” center JT Rock who is a coveted recruit and it is easy to see why. Legit five man that dominated on the offensive glass throughout the night. High-pointed them over opponents that could do nothing to stop him. He finished through contact and had several put backs. Showed flashes as a shot blocker.