The Last Dance: Saturday’s Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who were some of the top players we saw in Chicago in Saturday? Here is a quick run down of names deserving of mention after a great Saturday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamiir Allen of ABC Young Lions. The Wisconsin Lutheran guard led the way to beat Minnesota Chill with his two way play. Allen completely flustered the best Chill guard with his lateral pressure and his vocal expression. He limited his opponent’s game in a big way allowing the Young Lions to win 61-48. Great defense plus he scored 15 points leading his team to the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson Green of NEBC. Strong 6’4 guard who combined a pull-up jumper and feet set jumper with a really nice touch on his rim attack. Scored 18 in the game I watched on Saturday and played in several different ways on the wing. Has the making of a really nice D2 or D3 guard in the future as the skills and the size are there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wyatt Hawks of Northstar Titans Stone. Half of the NSIC has been at every Titans game and I have to wonder if it won’t result in something for Hawks. This 6’7 big has been very consistent in low post production, his shooting touch is far better percentage wise from the perimeter than I expected, and he’s a more aggressive finisher than people know. The big thing is Wyatt has worked so hard in the last year and he will keep improving. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id=’1379216’ first=’Kamari’ last=’Jones’] of D1 Indiana. Jones was one of the best five players I saw all day in Chicago. He went at a D1/D2 athletic wing and was able to shake that player for 22 points in a great game. Jones started using the dribble separation to get to the rim and once his man started shifting his weight with every Jones twitch, and one that player started taking a step back with every Jones fake, Jones lifted over the top and scored from the arc. He hit three straight second half threes at one point. There was a load of area D2 schools watching Jones mixed in with half of the NSIC division two league (Minnesota/Dakota area) watching too making this the best attended game of D2 coaches that I have seen. And my one watch of Jones makes me think, easy D2. Maybe those D1s that were there would like him as well!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chet Kloss of Minnesota Chill. The 6’6 big man leaves the court looks like he left all of his perspiration on his attire after every game. He plays so hard getting to the front of the rim. Chet has rebounded 6-7 times every game and his low post moves are so good. When he finishes those post moves about ten percentage points better the game of Kloss will be even better. Going to be a very nice division two player someplace. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id=’1195250’ first=’Jett’ last=’Montgomery’] of Stars Basketball Club 16s. The Jett flies in transition and if you don’t get back in defense quick enough, he’s going to hit a wing or corner transition three on you as you sprint back late and see it go through leaving you gasping because your effort was too late. Montgomery knocked out four threes against the incredibly long Lightning 17 teams on his way to a 24 point game making half of his 20 attempts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Opsahl of Minnesota Lightning. Half of the NSIC is watching, D2s from other states are talking, and division one coaches have showed up in numbers of ten to a dozen at all Lightning games in Chicago. A big reason, Will Opsahl, the 6’8 guard who makes great decisions, is guarding guys at several spots, and makes a strong percentage of his perimeter jumpers when comfortable. Great team player at 6’8 and a young aged 2023. Colleges are liking it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandon Redic of OZ Elite. Strong, explosive, and relentless. That’s what I would call Brandon Redic and it was what completely took WOTN out of their game on Saturday. Redic might race back in transition to block, contest, or board better than anybody and his down hill rim attack is like a Derrick Henry touchdown run coming straight at you. Hit a couple jumpers, scored at the cup because nobody on WOTN was physically equipped to deal with him, and pretty much controlled a 71-51 win against a really good team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->