Shot Clock Classic: Five Things to Know
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Here are five things we learned from the Breakdown Shot Clock Classic. One. The Shot Clock. Often times summer basketball with players missing, with new players playing at a higher level, and with players competing in new spots, it can…
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Continue ReadingHere are five things we learned from the Breakdown Shot Clock Classic.
One. The Shot Clock. Often times summer basketball with players missing, with new players playing at a higher level, and with players competing in new spots, it can be rough. Throw in a shot clock for the first time for many first time varsity players and we had some messy, messy games in terms of shot selection. It was as if the shot clock gave guys who don’t like to pass a gift to think “well, I see single digits, time to put the ball down and launch”. This is no reflection on the winter and what the game will be like after teams find chemistry and get coaching, but it was rough in spots. That said, it’s often rough at this time of year, just a new rough.
Two. Scoring Explosions. Max Kraay Max Kraay 6'5" | SF Mound-Westonka | 2025 State MN of Mound-Westonka and Chase Pemberton Chase Pemberton 6'3" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN of Andover both had 40+ point games in this event and both had more perimeter shooting games building to those totals. These were career level days for these players and games that will not soon leave our minds as we think about the 2023-24 season, the 17u July season upcoming, and college recruiting of course. Impressive performances we won’t forget.
Three. AAA Leaders Beat AAAA teams. Totino-Grace outlasted Minnetonka in a shootout while Benilde-St. Margaret’s defeated Osseo in more of a physical game. These are top AAA teams that have some of the best talent in the state and they showed that earning wins over teams that will be in the Class AAAA top ten this winter. Tyler Wagner Tyler Wagner 6'6" | SF Totino Grace | 2025 State #366 Nation MN , Dothan Ijadimbola Dothan Ijadimbola 6'6" | SF Totino Grace | 2026 State MN and Chace Watley Chace Watley 6'1" | PG Totino-Grace | 2025 State MN played well for the Eagles while Jalen Wilson Jalen Wilson 6'8" | PF Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State #230 Nation MN , Ronald Lee Ronald Lee 6'2" | SG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2024 State MN , and Abu Keita Abu Keita 6'5" | SF Benilde-St.Margaret's | 2025 State MN led the way for BSM.
Four. Not So Fast! Think Buffalo will slip hard after losing Nate Dahl to St. Cloud State? They will look different but without Grady Guida Grady Guida 6'1" | PG Buffalo | 2024 State MN and Torii Johnson Torii Johnson 6'4" | SG Buffalo | 2024 State MN not available, Brody Wishart Brody Wishart 6'2" | SG Buffalo | 2024 State MN , Kai Penney Kai Penney 6'4" | SG Buffalo | 2024 State MN , and Ty Torgrimson Ty Torgrimson 5'11" | PG Buffalo | 2025 State MN all played big knocking off Chanhassen. And this is a Chan team that I expect to be in the top ten next winter. Then you have Andover. The Huskies lost Kopetzki and Musungu which will hurt, but Pemberton and Alex Kopetzki Alex Kopetzki 6'1" | PG Andover | 2025 State MN look to be ready to carry the load.
Five. They Could Surprise. I like what I saw from Sauk Rapids-Rice this weekend. They have a big junior three in Spencer Swenson Spencer Swenson 6'6" | PF Sauk Rapids | 2025 State MN , Hudson Omoke Hudson Omoke 6'2" | SF Sauk Rapids Rice | 2025 State MN and Keller Hanson Keller Hanson 6'4" | SG Sauk Rapids Rice | 2025 State MN but there is also some role player pieces around them too. Paris Pollard is a freshman that will help and there are solid role players too. And I really like the Ethan Pettis/ Alvin Payne Alvin Payne 6'1" | PG Blaine | 2024 State MN combo at Blaine that beat Mound-Westonka. The Bengals could have a nice winter as well.