The Hopkins vs Wayzata Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopkins knocked off Wayzata 80-69 last night led by the 20+ games of [player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] and Davion Hart. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hopkins</strong> <strong>Three</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] (2026). The thing I took from this game the most was the vocal direction from Moore. Teams need a leader, a player directing, and Moore is surely that. And two things can happen in these situations: teammates follow that direction, or they ignore that direction, and they surely follow Jayden. Between the vocal leadership and toughness he possesses in getting to spots, Moore has personality gifts with his high level ability and that combination is not common. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2175446' first='Daveion' last='Hart'] (2025). Hart is the perfect compliment to the three leading scorers for Hopkins. Moore is the PG with the ball, Smith is the wing scorer that needs the ball, and Semanko is the shooter. With that group a slashing, active off ball player like Hart works perfectly. He isn't a player that demands the ball, he earns it with his movement and activity. Plus, last night Wayzata did not seem to be closing out to him tight so Hart hit multiple open threes on his way to 22 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574212' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] (2025). This young man just has a knack for putting the ball in the hoop. A special scoring feel. He got his 20 and there was one scorer that will stay with me. Smith drove baseline and the Wayzata player cut off the angle into a good defensive spot but not a great spot. And, cutting off the angle against a good player is a tough task and if you give that attacking player even the slightest angle that player will physically attack that angle. Smith attacked that angle to score as he often does. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wayzata Three</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] (2026). There is so much promise to this young man. He has good size, good length and good agility at I believe 6-foot-4. That alone puts a player into a different category. Then you have the results as a young player for the top team in the state (or close to it). Wiggins is trusted as a main ball handler, he's trusted as a quality defender, and as a shooter his percentages look quality. The 2026 class of Minnesota talent is strong and I think Wiggins will be in that top group of players high majors will look at. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1287438' first='Jackson' last='McAndrew'] (2024). McAndrew did not have his best game but there are still things you can pull from. There were possessions where McAndrew moved his feet with guards that are eight inches shorter than him and contested shots, took away attempts and blocked a shot or two. At his size the strides are different and McAndrew can get to spots in a way that can make him a solid defender. Jackson is so fluid with the dribble as well. And he will only get better with his comfort putting the ball on the deck.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1286705' first='Drew' last='Nepstad'] (2024). Winning teams have players like Drew. Guys that are willing to make plays on both ends without big numbers, without posing for a baseline camera, and knowing some days the stats won't be huge but the playing time will always be solid. Nepstad stole the ball from one of the best guards in the state and as a 6'4/6'5 strong forward won the angle against those talented guards as well. He scored actively, he rebounded, and he won possessions for his team with effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->