Battle at the Lakes:The Saturday Elite
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We run through the top players/performers of the games I saw at Wayzata High School Saturday at Battle at the Lakes. Lamont Hamilton of Wisconsin Elite (Racine). The performance of the day game from a freshman in high school who…
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Continue ReadingWe run through the top players/performers of the games I saw at Wayzata High School Saturday at Battle at the Lakes.
Lamont Hamilton of Wisconsin Elite (Racine). The performance of the day game from a freshman in high school who was not only the best player on the floor against Bigg Nation Elite, he was coaching his team in the huddle! Hamilton is SEC defensive back type of short burst explosive with the basketball and his confidence level is out of this world. He zigged and zagged through older defenders throughout the night game to touch in shots over the help or angled with the kiss at full speed. In the final two minutes he calmed his team when they lost the lead and then broke down the entire defense for a game winner. He scored 31 points on 12 of 20 shooting with five of six foul shots made.
Brooks Johnson Brooks Johnson 6'6" | SF Duluth Marshall | 2025 State MN of Starks Elite (Duluth Marshall, MN). Brooks is about 6’5/6’6 and his ability to handle the ball like a guard is truly unique. There were two plays that will always stand out to me: Johnson took a d-board, turned up the floor, a little guard tried to pick his pocket and with great comfort Brooks went behind his back not breaking stride and then moved the ball to a teammate for a lay-up, and second, a guard closed out to Johnson high above the arc looking to make him uncomfortable and Johnson just crossed the ball over getting his guy leaning and moved by the quick six footer without a concern. He can shoot it, he’s got the leg strength to score on balance around the rim, and he gets off his feet very well for physical finishes. A unique player that has a lot of sp ECI al qualities.
Tegan Malone Tegan Malone 6'3" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN of Minnesota Lighting (Stewartville). Teegan Malone was facing his high school teammate Henry Tschetter Henry Tschetter 6'3" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN and the challenge pushed him to play one of the best games of his career and certainly the biggest take notice moment of his career. Malone knocked out four first half threes leading to a 25 point game on 9 of 12 shooting overall with six threes made. The total would have been even bigger but Malone’s stretches of hot shooting built the lead so big that the Lightning were in running time fast and the mercy rule was implemented. The Lightning moved the ball in a way that all coaches want their team to and Malone took advantage of the space with a huge shooting day in front of a big group of early AM coaches.
Isaiah Schafer Isaiah Schafer 6'1" | CG Bismarck Century | 2024 State ND of D1 Minnesota (Bismarck Century, ND). On a deep team of D1 Minnesota players, the biggest impact guy for the team this weekend was Isaiah Schafer Isaiah Schafer 6'1" | CG Bismarck Century | 2024 State ND . The range, timing, and touch on his perimeter jumper were all something sp ECI al this weekend. The Wisconsin Blizzard seemed to have the best chance at providing a challenge to the team but once Schafer hit the pull-up three from the volleyball line while being fouled (And1) the chance of an upset was over. He had 19 points highlighted by six threes in the second game plus he knocked out three triples in the morning win over PLUTO.
Anthony Smith Anthony Smith 6'0" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (Hopkins). In one of the more entertaining games of the morning, the D1 16 and Under team outlasted the ECI 17s 71-61. The game was close for most of the game but down the stretch it was Smith that made the clutch plays to put the game away. Even more, he wanted the basketball to put the game away. It was Smith taking the ball and attacking to score with his outstanding ball handling ability. ECI could not pressure him into issues nor could they try and trap him into a mistake. This clutch play was also a big perimeter jumper. And it was foul shots down the stretch made. Smith scored 16 earning his team a win.
Caiden Swenby Caiden Swenby 6'3" | SG Fertile-Beltrami | 2024 State MN of West Central United (Fertile-Beltrami, MN). I’d say the grit and performance of Swenby was one of my biggest takeaways from Saturday. He had a 20 point, 10 rebound double-double versus Minnesota Heat in what was a take notice moment for WCU. West Central was able to move up to Pool C when an out of state team dropped out at the last moment and they’ve secured two wins so far in the pool! Swenby’s gritty, tough performance making seven field goals and all six foul shots gave his team the edge for a memorable win.