Semifinal Report: AM Absurdity (and standouts)

I couldn't help but include that adjective in the title. I've been going to the Breslin Center for a really LONG time. Thursday's afternoon slate featured perhaps the craziest combined endings I can remember. This is not a site dedicated to game reports. So support local journalism and seek out a more detailed look at these absurd endings. They were wild. I am going to give out a six pack of individual standouts from the heart stopping games.   Ja'Torian Smith 6-6 2024 Niles Brandywine Is there anywhere else to start? Not if you were there and saw it. Came off the bench and saved Brandywine's season. Don't take the bench role as a demerit. Easily good to enough to start for this very good squad. As the Bobcats litany of small guards struggled with McBain big frontline (see below) Smith came in and quickly changed the tenor of the game. Did it both from beyond the arc and by attacking the basket. Is quite skinny. Would need to change that to find a spot at the next level. Definitely a long term developmental prospect, but the potential is there. Despite the slender frame held up well down low. Hit the game winning three in overtime. It wasn't some some desperation heave. Stepped into it smoothly and confidently. Finished with a game high 19 points.   Arkell Boyd 6-3 2025 Detroit Old Redford About that right corner…. A little over an hour later. Boyd stepped into nearly the spot, hit a game winning buzzer beater for Old Redford. Also like Smith, Boyd isn't the most touted member of Old Redford's talented rotation. Unlike Smith, Boyd is a junior and that could change. Was aggressive and assertive all day from the perimeter. Showed the ability to play both backcourt spots. With a nice handle and soft shooting touch. Has a lanky but strong frame that allows him to absorb contact on drives. Eager to see him this summer. I'll be looking for further physical development. The skill set is pretty much already there. Finished with 15 points in the dramatic victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='2058641' first='Kason' last='Mayes'] 6-2 2025 Detroit Old Redford Mayes came bench and was electric for the Ravens. Once again don't read too much into that bench placement. Mayes is a legitimate next level prospect with some offers to prove it. Is a dynamic and decisive driver. Difficult to stay in front of and gets to his spots easily with a tight handle. Once at the rim explodes with eye opening athleticism. Has excellent change of direction ability and can stop on a dime. Stepped into a leadership role after star sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1793648' first='Jaquan' last='Stennis'] fouled out early. Is a competitive player who appears to have a clutch gene. Got the Ravens to the Breslin with buzzer beating full court drive. Almost did it once again. His drive and block out of bounds set up the aforementioned Boyd game winner. Finished with a game high 16 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1811797' first='Evan' last='Haverkamp'] 6-9 2024 McBain (pictured) When you cover a player for four years sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. While contempt is a strong word, I think you get the drift. Sometimes a skill set can get old or improvement can flatline. Not so in this case. If you would have told me when Haverkamp was a sophomore, he would become one of the tops bigs in this division. I would have been skeptical. Simply put he had a ways to go. In two years he has more than reached that goal. From a somewhat unrefined 6-6 post prospect to a chiseled and skilled 6-9 senior. The improvement has been stark. After not having the greatest quarterfinal performance. Haverkamp showed up in a big way on Thursday. Established deep position and was aggressive all day. Was a major deterrent at the rim and played a major role in slowing down Brandywine's drive game. Had nearly double double at the half. Finished with 12 points and an eye opening 17 rebounds. Showed that his game is continuing to expand by hitting a three. I might be in the minority, but I still think there is room for an old school big man at the next level. It will be interesting to see where Haverkamp ends up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1438270' first='Charles' last='Kage'] 6-8 2025 Riverview Gabriel Richard The “I'm getting to old” prospect from the week. I watched his Dad play for River Rogue in my third year of attending this event. As you would expect, Kage is similar prospect. Has length and is a fluid athlete for a 6-8 prospect. Appears to have an eye opening wing span as well. Knew what to do when he got the ball on the block. Didn't waste time waiting for double team to come and got the ball up to the rim quickly. Also showed well schooled footwork and a soft hook shot. The “tried and true” drop step appeared to be his go to move. Finished it with the left at a crucial juncture of the game. Also used his length to protect the rim. Almost saved the game with his defensive presence (see above) Finished with a team high 15 points in the low scoring contest.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">And one more….</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2276657' first='Clayton' last='Heuker'] 6-4 2027 McBain This will be short as I already wrote about Heuker from his quarterfinal performance earlier in the week. I don't normally mention a prospect twice in a week. However it's not every day a freshman leads his deep and talented squad in scoring on the big stage. Heuker was the leading scorer in the quarters. He pulled it off again at the Breslin Center. This is an extremely talented prospect with intangibles, who is clearly not afraid of the moment. Get to know this name.

I couldn't help but include that adjective in the title. I've been going to the Breslin Center for a really LONG time. Thursday's afternoon slate featured perhaps the craziest combined endings I can remember. This is not a site dedicated to game reports. So support local journalism and seek out a more detailed look at these absurd endings. They were wild. I am going to give out a six pack of individual standouts from the heart stopping games.