Minnesota State Tournament: Thursday Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best of the best from the Class AAA and Class AAAA semi-finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] of Chaska (Jr). College basketball coaches want matured basketball players that can score, defend and run a team.&nbsp; They want guys that can move the basketball and control the game.&nbsp; If you want to see a point guard control a game, watch what [player_tooltip player_id='2126118' first='Tyler' last='Forrest'] just did to the Tartan Titans.&nbsp; His defensive effort hounded Wilson all game forcing more bad jumpshots from one player than I have seen in a long time.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because Forrest gave up no ground with his lateral quicks, his effort, and his physical play.&nbsp; And when a scorer can't get around a defender like this and won't move the ball, that player either takes contested shots and misses, or take super long jumpers that miss because that player has to step away from the good defender.&nbsp; Forrest forced Wilson into a 4 of 22 shooting game.&nbsp; And on the other end, Forrest made sure the basketball was moving, forcing Tartan to work and when the Titans broke down, Chaska was shooting open threes and lay-ups.&nbsp; Forrest had eight assists.&nbsp; What did Tyler have for points? Who cares?&nbsp; His team won.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126166' first='Jaylan' last='Hynes'] of Totino-Grace (Jr). Hynes has flashed potential throughout the years in ways that have people hungry for when it explodes and today was a great example.&nbsp; Hynes has a good looking jumper and today he knocked out five threes for a game high 15 points, and you could see his teammates loving every make.&nbsp; Hynes is the defender, ball mover, makes few mistakes kind of guy but when he can get an open look or an attack to playmake, he does that well too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker'] of Apple Valley (Sr).&nbsp; At the state tournament you find big shot makers.&nbsp; On Tuesday it was [player_tooltip player_id='1560739' first='Max' last='Iversen'].&nbsp; Last night it was [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell']. Tonight it was [player_tooltip player_id='2271330' first='Trey' last='Parker'].&nbsp; The Eagle offense used most of the shot clock and got good shots, and it was a balanced effort so Parker was never going to have the monster point numbers, but he sure had a monster percentage! Parker hit some clutch threes, scored 9 of 15 shots despite a hand in his face all game (although the Eagles ran some good stuff to get him open), and he had a crucial 23 points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'] of DeLaSalle (Jr).&nbsp; Richfield had an issue and that was defending [player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'].&nbsp; The [program_tooltip program_id='2075852' first='Spartans' last=''] are a very good team but they are not a big team.&nbsp; With DeLaSalle having 6'6/6'8 forwards that play nearly the entire game, that meant a 6'1 guard on Thomas and that is often a bad scenario.&nbsp; And if you go bigger that takes a good guard off the floor. Whatever the scenario was, Thomas beat it with the attacking dribble. Kamar was rapidly up the floor on Richfield misses, he was rapidly up the floor on Richfield's 16 turnovers, and Kamar attacked space later in possessions.&nbsp; It led to eight scores in the paint, eight scores from the foul line, and 24 points.&nbsp; The biggest make was that fall away jumper from 11 feet over the length of [player_tooltip player_id='2412724' first='Dre' last='Collins'] who was in a good spot.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560866' first='Camare'' last='Young'] of Apple Valley (Sr).&nbsp; When a team has a player that can handle the basketball, make decisions with the basketball, and pass the basketball at 6'5 and really strong, they have a serious advantage.&nbsp; The advantage is that you have to guard that player with another forward and if they are really good - like Young is - you can't double him or he will move the ball over the top and make you pay.&nbsp; Young did an outstanding job of going against Maple Grove forward [player_tooltip player_id='1960892' first='Henry' last='Knutson'] and not only winning that match-up, but executing in a way that the defense could not keep up with.&nbsp; Young had seven assists and he scored his 18 points on 9 of 13 shooting.&nbsp; Too big for a guard, too skilled for a big, and too strong going at the rim to dunk for the help to contest!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->