State Finals: Top 2023 Performers

The state tournament concluded the high school season over the weekend!  PHI gives our Top 2023 State Finals Performers!  Don't have a subscription?  Try it out at a special discounted rate of 30% by using code “Scottburgess30”.   Kaden Augustine (Gibault Catholic)   Augustine is Gibault Catholic's leading scorer on the season.  The 6'1” senior two guard was a very good cutter always being on the move for finishes.  Can post up weaker defenders and get to the line.  Mixed in a pair of jumpers, but most of his damage came in the paint in the semis for 20 points.  In the championship he was even better.  Shot it outstanding from deep going 6-7 from beyond the arc while also getting to the line for 9-10 from the charity stripe for 24 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113517' first='Maurice' last='Thomas'] (DePaul Prep)   Thomas can really go!  The undervalued scoring guard from DePaul Prep was the spark for them in their semifinal victory where he scored 16 points.  Microwave scorer that got hot from distance then put his defenders in spin cycles for finishes at the cup.  Shifty ball handler that can create for others on kicks and dump off passes.  In the championship game he had another huge outing. Went for 21 points, but it was his defense on one of the state's best juniors that made many take notice.  D3s and NAIA's check him out!   [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] (Simeon)   The Loyola commit did what he has done all year.  Dunk and swat shots.  He did it for a state wide audience in Champaign.  Rubin is one of the quickest twitched big men we have covered with his ability to get off the floor fast and with explosiveness.  That was shown on both ends in their semi final win where he had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and a state record 8 blocks.  Finished with explosive dunks offensively and blocked shots both on the interior and perimeter.  He did much of the same in the championship game where Simeon fell in OT to Metamora.  Rubin was dominant early in the contest owning the glass and protecting the rim.  He had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] (Simeon)   Griffith is what I like to call a “plus” point guard.  Meaning that he makes everyone around him elevate their game and that he did in the semis against St. Ignatius where he scored 12 points and dished out a state record 12 dimes.  One of the best passers I have covered as far as setting guys up in the right spots to do damage.  Dynamic ball handler gets where he wants on the floor and can score as well mixing in finishes in the paint along with threes.  In the title game Griffith left it all on the floor.  He had the highlight of the game on shifty handle juking his defender out of his shoes to tie it on a tear drop.  Finished with 15 points and 4 dimes.  Jacksonville got a steal!   [player_tooltip player_id='939065' first='Ethan' last='Kizer'] (Metamora)   The South Alabama commit shot it better from the perimeter than he did a year ago at state in the semis against East St. Louis.  Opened up the first quarter draining three of them including a three.  Smooth shot with elevation from the combo forward.  Down the stretch he made the key three and swat to get them the win as he had 16 points against the Flyers.  Kizer wasn't quite as effective in the championship as he had 6 points (2-9 FG) and 5 rebounds.  Hit a pair of threes in the state championship game.  Super athletic 3/4 man that when he is shooting well brings a lot of value.   [player_tooltip player_id='1371068' first='Tyson' last='Swanson'] (Metamora)   Swanson is a tough as nails two guard that makes key plays when they need to be made.  In the semis against East St. Louis hit drained some jumpers, put it on the deck, and closed it out at the free throw line for 11 points.  Swanson brought it in the title game.  With the game on the line he was the one Metamora wanted with the rock.  Swanson shot it well from distance going 3-4 from beyond the arc along with scoring from mid-range and a couple of runners for 20 points.  Would expect his recruitment to pick up at the small college level after his play in Champaign.   [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] (East St. Louis)   Rich did everything he could in the Flyers semifinal loss to Metamora.  The big and strong small forward who is signed with Kansas State has the ability to take over games with his physicality and athleticism.  Wins by bullying his way to the rim for scores.  Finishes with power in the paint through contact.  Also is a good rebounder and has an underrated passing feel.  Did hit a three as well.  Went for 19 points and 7 rebounds against Metamora.   [player_tooltip player_id='1215287' first='Jake' last='Fiegen'] (New Trier)   Fiegen was the only one who had it working on the big stage for New Trier.  The Cornell commit scored 26 points on 10-15 from the field and 2-5 from three.  Also got to the line where he was 4-4.  Tough as nails guard with a strong frame.  Moves well off the ball and is a plus shooter from deep.  During the season and in this game he showed he is more than just a shooter bringing more ways to get buckets to his game including getting to the charity stripe.  Like how he uses his grit on the glass as well as he had 9 rebounds in their semifinal loss to Benet.   [player_tooltip player_id='1215311' first='Nikola' last='Abusara'] (Benet)   Abusara had a monster senior season.  He is such a versatile player and the Dartmouth commit showed exactly that in the semis.  It was his all-around stat sheet stuffing effort that propelled them to a victory against New Trier to advance to the championship.  In that game he had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 steals, and 4 dimes.  Athletic slashes off the bounce, hit the glass, was a force defensively creating turnovers then converting them into points himself or for others with his passing.  Such a high IQ player that really understands the game!   [player_tooltip player_id='1537986' first='Brayden' last='Fagbemi'] (Benet)   The Johns Hopkins commit is the leader at the point for this Benet team.  He is one of the better pure set up guys in the senior class that elevates the play of those around him.  He did that in the semis going for 18 points and dishing off 5 dimes.  Hit a clutch three to close out the third quarter which gave them a momentum swing heading into the final stanza.  Has three level scoring ability with his floater game, 15 footer, and can hit a three.  He was excellent again in the first half of the championship game scoring all 12 of his points going back and forth with Harding.  Johns Hopkins picked up a steal!  Look for Fagbemi to rise in our final PHI 2023 Rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='989274' first='Brock' last='Harding'] (Moline)   The first four minutes of the semis were the [player_tooltip player_id='989274' first='Brock' last='Harding'] show!  The Iowa commit had 14 points before some fans even sat down.  Drained three triples in a spectacular shooting display.  What is so fun about Harding is his quickness off the dribble and how he can get where he needs to on the floor.  Crisp ball handler with a very good shooting stroke.  Those two were apparent as he had 21 points to lead his team into the championship game.  In that contest he was even better.  Scored 28 points getting absolutely whatever he wanted off the dribble, shooting off the bounce, and getting to the foul line.  Had the game in the palm of his hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='989265' first='Owen' last='Freeman'] (Moline)   Freeman went all Hulk Hogan in the semis as he ripped his jersey in half and then came back out in #40.  Doesn't matter what number he is wearing the Iowa commit is the top post in the senior class.  In the semis it wasn't his biggest scoring effort, but still left a big impact on the win by clearing the glass at a high rate, swatting shots, and getting to the line where he made his free throws for 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks.  The championship game saw another workman like effort for Freeman as his line read 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 dimes.  Didn't put up huge numbers at state, but was impactful as an inside presence for the 4A champs.

The state tournament concluded the high school season over the weekend! PHI gives our Top 2023 State Finals Performers! Don't have a subscription? Try it out at a special discounted rate of 30% by using code “Scottburgess30”.