The Race for Mr. Basketball

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Race is close! We are getting close to the Mr. Basketball watch list and with that comes the thought of who will make it, who will make the Top Ten, who will be in the final five, and who will win. Let's start with the leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But before we talk about the leaders its annual rant time. Again, I have zero idea who turns in the name for the honored McDonald's All American candidates (the big list, not the final list) but those people need to be dropped and replaced. I know who used to do it when Minnesota got 20 names, but now every year it's a couple names and the names often don't seem to co-relate. To take away the chance of 10, 12 whatever kids to be honored at their school like what other states do is totally unfair. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, the only players that were honored were [player_tooltip player_id='962198' first='Taison' last='Chatman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='962200' first='Jack' last='Janicki']. Yes two guys that have earned the right to be honored, but also two guys that have combined to play in eight games this year because of injury. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='962212' first='Boden' last='Kapke'], [player_tooltip player_id='962214' first='Nolan' last='Winter'], [player_tooltip player_id='962218' first='Nasir' last='Whitlock'], and [player_tooltip player_id='962206' first='Max' last='Shikenjanski'] have had great years playing all year, and they are not on the list with Taison and Jack. No, it does not make sense. Or it makes about as much sense as the MSHSL state credentialing process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, back to your regular scheduled programming....</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Leader</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962214' first='Nolan' last='Winter'] of Lakeville North. Winter is averaging 22 points and 12.5 rebounds a game shooting 60 percent from the floor, 72 percent from the foul line and 29.5 percent at the arc. The Panthers lost to Eastview this week but Nolan had 27 points versus Eastview and a 30 point game making 11 of 15 shots. At this point he has a foot ahead of the race. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962212' first='Boden' last='Kapke'] of Holy Family. Boden had 20 in a 40 point win over previously undefeated Dassel-Cokato and then scored 21 in a 15 point win over Breck. Kapke and the Fire face Watertown-Mayer this evening in what should be a good game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962206' first='Max' last='Shikenjanski'] of Stillwater. Max scored 29 (his average for the season) and ended the undefeated run of Mounds View this past week and then he had 25 against East Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962218' first='Nasir' last='Whitlock'] of DeLaSalle. Whitlock led the Islanders to a couple controlling pair of wins over Kennedy and Holy Angels. He had 29 points before an early seat versus AHA and then had a quick 14 before taking an earlier seat against Kennedy. Nasir has a big game leading De vs Minneapolis North tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Five Potentials</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962199' first='CJ' last='O'Hara'] of Park Center. CJ and the Pirates blew out Rogers and Spring Lake Park, O'Hara scored a combined 28 points in those two games, he's averaging 17.6 points a game. Huge game for CJ and the Pirates tonight against Totino-Grace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1189958' first='Isaiah' last='Hagen'] of Orono. The Spartans are a Class AAA top contender and his 22 point, 14 rebound, seven assist game against Mound-Westonka was an eye catching performance this past week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962246' first='Ben' last='Kopetzki'] of Andover. In a big game the Huskies lost but he had 23 points and 6 assists. Also had 31 points and 5 assists in their win over Anoka.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1223070' first='Patrick' last='Bath'] of Totino-Grace. Another double-double against a strong opponent, had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Maple Grove. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962198' first='Taison' last='Chatman'] of Totino-Grace. Back on the court, looking healthier, has had a combined 36 points in his last three games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962200' first='Jack' last='Janicki'] of White Bear Lake. This past week Jack had a four point game in a blowout win over Roseville, and then 21 points in a win at Woodbury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> [player_tooltip player_id='962223' first='Khalif' last='Bettis'] of Burnsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1225623' first='Ryan' last='Heise'] of Lake City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962203' first='Tommy' last='Humphries'] of Totino-Grace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962228' first='Owen' last='Leach'] of DGF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962284' first='Isaac' last='Matti'] of Hayfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288822' first='Ater' last='Manyuon'] of Austin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962224' first='Will' last='Opsahl'] of Goodhue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1492565' first='Kaiden' last='Peters'] of PEM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1220406' first='Trey' last='Smith'] of Osseo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1339196' first='Aeron' last='Stevens'] of PEM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1167554' first='Hayden' last='Tibbits'] of Wayzata</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962216' first='Will' last='Underwood'] of Mahtomedi</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->