National Open Championship: MN Select 80 Starks Elite 57

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep Hoops National Open Championship is powered by VKTRY</strong> – the world's best performance insoles. Jump higher. Run faster. Reduce injuries. <a href="https://vktry.com/?utm_source=Prep+Network&amp;utm_medium=Tournament&amp;utm_campaign=Indy_July">Shop the insoles trusted by 500+ pro/college teams. </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What can you take from an 8am consolation game on a Sunday? A lot!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We like to be truthful around here and when we say that...nobody wants the 8am Sunday morning game. It means there was a loss that wasn't expected. For [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] it was a Sweet 16 round upset, for [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] it was a Sweet 16 loss to EG10 from Adidas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what you can often find at 8am is the competitive people. After all... these are the players that are hoping to be college athletes. And there are going to be a lot of lifting sessions, practices and early morning shoot around that happen before 8am. So who wanted to compete? Let me give you the quick rundown!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Waseca) wanted to compete. He was ball pressuring and jumping passing lanes looking to push the other way. The NDSU football commit was chasing down long defensive boards (8 rebounds total) and flying the other way. And there were no jumpers this Sunday morning, it was attacking defenders that weren't up for the challenge physically, mentally, or both. Russell scored 17 points with four assists on 8 of 12 shooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860073' first='Brady' last='Lam'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Wayzata) wanted to compete. Brady opened the game with three quick triples continuing this red shot roll he has been on all summer. Let's be honest here, Brady is a senior and he saw the Wayzata graphic without his picture on it. I'm sure he didn't need that for motivation but I'm guessing it added more fuel as Lam looks like he's ready to move right into the Wyatt McBeth spot regardless if that is starter or 6th Man. Brady was five of seven from the field making another four triples. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams Itumo of [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] (North Carolina) wanted to compete. The 6'10 big man was one of the most asked about competitors at the Nationals this weekend. He had been playing with a team in North Carolina have been asking.... will Williams get a division one opportunity? I can't tell yeah or nay on my feelings on one viewing but I can tell you that people say Itumo is all of 6'10. He went head to head with [player_tooltip player_id='2118833' first='Kevin' last='Kemp'] and put together balanced shoulder turns into finishes that really caught the eye, especially two spin moves. Itumo got seven post touches and scored on six of them for a dozen points plus he grabbed nine rebounds. That was an efficient 8am game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joel Saal of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Park Center) wanted to compete. Joel was flying all over the court. He was turning opposing ball handlers, he was forcing turnovers, and constantly pushing in transition. [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] didn't have a guy that could move with Joel laterally and they had too many breakdowns for the help to slow Saah either. So Joel had eight assists and scored three times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560839' first='Xavier' last='Frelix'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Park Center) wanted to compete. Xavier is ready to knock down jumpers from any time of day and he had two threes in the books before the sunlight started sneaking through the Pacers Center skylight windows. Frelix had 17 points on 14 attempts plus four assists himself. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560767' first='Ty' last='Nyberg'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] (Duluth East) knocked out another four threes as his hot shooting hand is still on fire this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1437598' first='Dane' last='Danielson'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Lakeville North) stayed aggressive offensively sinking four jumpers for his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118833' first='Kevin' last='Kemp'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Eagan) grabbed eleven rebounds and blocked two shots in the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson McMicheal of [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] (Blake) took fish shots and made five of them including three treys. Carson has been scorching in July. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->