Max’s Midweek Prospect Standouts
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So far this week I’ve watched Park Center take down Holy Family, DeLaSalle defeat Fridley, and Columbia Heights beat Richfield. These are seven of the prospects who have impressed in those games! Nasir Whitlock MN #4 PG #2 HEIGHT 6'2"…
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Continue ReadingSo far this week I’ve watched Park Center take down Holy Family, DeLaSalle defeat Fridley, and Columbia Heights beat Richfield. These are seven of the prospects who have impressed in those games!
Fridley just didn’t have anyone who could stay in front of Nas, and because of this he was able to get to the rim or the free throw line at will. For a while in the first half it seemed like every possession he was earning a trip to the line, as he’s so good at drawing contact even away from the rim. When he got loose off the ball he showcased his quick release from three to put points up in a hurry, and he was also a composed finisher in transition. The Lehigh commit finished with a big time 40 points in the win.
Richfield was keeping just within striking distance for most of the second half, and then Jency flipped a switch and just took over. He was constantly beating his initial defender off the dribble, and as soon as help stepped up he already knew where the open man was going to be before hitting them with an accurate pass. Created countless good looks for his teammates, and made smart decisions out in transition leading to some easy lay-ups for his teammates. At 5’7 he’s such a crafty finisher around the rim as he converted on a handful of tough lay-ups to work his way to 18 points in a win.
Highlights
Jackson is such a key player for this Park Center team. At 6’4 they bring him off the bench and just have him cause havoc defensively. Even when he’s a good amount taller, he’s going to pick up the opposing point guard full court and move his feet the length of the floor with the smaller player. Stays patient and then has excellent timing to poke the ball free on a crossover attempt before going the opposite direction for an easy lay-in. In the half-court he had some tough off hand finishes and also showed a smooth stroke from three. Finished with 17 points and a scrappy defensive performance.
Boden put in a huge performance on Monday night to help keep his team in it with #1 ranked Park Center for the first 25 minutes. The Butler commit was unstoppable when he caught on the block, with the patience to wait for some space to clear out before just powering his man to the basket. His improved explosiveness allowed him to hop-step into space and quickly elevate off the ground for dunks. Also showed his smooth stroke from three and mid-range, handled the ball in the open floor, and had a really nice high-low pass to his 6’10 teammate. Rebounded the ball at a high level and helped keep PC away from the basket until he picked up his 4th foul in the second half. Finished with 40 points on the night.
CJ finished with a game high 24 points on Tuesday night, as he’s been putting up some impressive numbers as a sophomore. He’s a long and lanky guard who did a great job of moving off the ball to put himself into spots to score without needing to dribble. Would just sneak behind defenders and find himself in great spots to catch and immediately go up with it to finish. Also showed he can catch on the wing and attack, showcasing a very crafty lay-up package with some reverse finishes.
Highlights
Camren Smith
Camren Smith
I really liked the effort on the glass that Cam displayed last night. He has a very long frame, and against a Richfield team without much size he was able to create second chance opportunities for his team by working hard on the offensive glass. Was able to tip back missed shots for two points, or tip them back out to one of his teammates to keep a possession alive. Also ran the floor hard alongside one of his guards which led to a handful of finishes at the basket. Showed he can score with either hand inside on his way to 14 points in the win.
It was a tough loss for Fridley, but Antwan had some nice moments creating off the dribble. He has a shifty handle and was finding success beating his initial defender and getting into the lane to create for teammates. Good athlete in the open floor who looks to pass the ball ahead but can also go coast-to-coast to score. Showcased a smooth lefty jumper and was working hard on the defensive end as well. High effort and high energy player.