Breakdown Fall League: Week 4 Standout Performers
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The weather outside and the end of the fall league indicates the start of the winter season. Here are the seven prospects who stood out to me the most from the fourth and final week of the Breakdown Fall League!…
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Continue ReadingThe weather outside and the end of the fall league indicates the start of the winter season. Here are the seven prospects who stood out to me the most from the fourth and final week of the Breakdown Fall League!
Park Center was down some of their key wings and bigs this past Sunday and CJ stepped up and played great. The 6’4” guard could not be stopped from attacking the basket as he was using his strong body to move defenders and make some tough finishes through lots of traffic. He also was hard to slow down in transition, throwing down some dunks and more contested layups. He is a very confident scorer and is likely to lead this team in scoring. O’Hara and the Pirates enter the 2022-23 season as the favorites in class AAAA and proved it during this year’s fall league.
Dylan turned in an excellent performance in Eastview’s win over a short-handed Totino-Grace team. He was ultimately getting whatever he wanted when he had the ball in his hands. He was unstoppable getting through the lane where he would then dish it off to a teammate for an assist or take it all the way and make a tough contested layup himself. This Eastview roster is experienced and very deep at each position. I would not be surprised at all if Omweno led this team in scoring and handled the majority of the ball handling duties.
Highlights
Daniel continues to prove that he is a top tier player in the state (or the nation) and that was on full display this past Sunday. The level of difficulty of some of the shots he makes are ridiculous and are near impossible to guard 1 on 1. He did a fantastic job getting to his spots in the mid-range, as well as knocking down shots from deep. Freitag was also hitting his teammates with some picture-perfect passes for some wide open looks. Whoever is getting Daniel at the next level is getting an elite offensive weapon and a fierce competitor. I am excited to see him play this winter!
Highlights
To no surprise, Jayden shined once again this past Sunday. Hopkins matched up with the top two teams in class AAAA, with games against both Lakeville North and Park Center. The competition did not phase the freshman guard, as he was still playing with extreme confidence. He impressed me with his inside scoring, attacking much larger defenders with some acrobatic layups and perfectly executed floaters. He also played some tough on-ball defense and was playing with passion in both games. Jayden is a special prospect and is the best freshman I have seen in a few years. This inexperienced Hopkins squad will rely on him to be their leading scorer and ball handler this season and I am excited to see him step up and embrace the challenge.
Highlights
Chiang’s presence on defense and in rebounding is game-changing for Park Center this year. The 6’8” forward was blocking everything in sight in the matchup with Hopkins. He was wonderful in help defense, as well as chasing down opponents in transition. Ring is also a confident shooter and connected with some shots from beyond the arc on the wing and in the corners. The improved mobility and perimeter scoring of Chiang has impressed me a lot this fall and I am excited to see him develop more and more. Even down a couple key players, this Pirates team looks to be meshing perfectly entering the season.
Molley is now with Champlin Park this year and is now able to show off his full skillset in his new role with the Rebels. He was making highlight play after highlight play in the win over Jefferson, throwing down some tough dunks in transition, as well as converting some baskets in the post. The 6’7” forward also impressed me with his ability to defend both inside in the paint and outside on the perimeter. Komara also rebounded very well, using his combination of his athleticism and long wingspan. This Champlin Park roster is full of under-the-radar talent and is a sleeper team entering the season. I expect them to make some noise in the Northwest Suburban Conference.
Elias played a key role in the win over Totino-Grace this past Sunday. The 6’1” guard is very versatile on offense and does a little bit of everything for his team. He can contribute as a ball handler, he has the vision to move the ball and find open teammates, he can knock down shots from the perimeter, and has a variety of moves he can go to while attacking the rim. He also possesses elite athleticism and continues to impress me with the way he can play above the rim and lock down on defense. Batala may not lead the team in scoring this season, but he will play a vital role on both ends of the floor for the Lightning.