NHR State: Sunday’s Best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best of the best from Championship Sunday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sambrew MVP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there was one guy who showed he wanted success more than anybody it was 6'6 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2126466' first='Kobby' last='Sambrew'] from Prior Lake High School and [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Goring. Kobby was relentless in his effort all weekend long on both ends of the floor. His pursuit of defensive position, second chance opportunities, and physical scores in the paint was inspiring to his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sambrew had 19 points and eight boards in the final and at times he out-worked the Hoop Habits players and forced them to foul him. He shot seven of nine at the foul line for the title game leading his team to a 72-70 championship victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The skills of Sambrew are taking steps forward which is a big thing, because his effort on the floor is constant. At 6'6 he moves well laterally so he can defend some small forwards at the next level in addition to players at his natural position. Sambrew is a strong player so he can do things in the paint and he's more agile than just about anybody his size. For me, Kobby is one of the players on the short list that should have a handful of NSIC opportunity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Rechtzigel Leads Fury to Title</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 16u title game the offensive balance and the defensive effort helped the Fury to a 51-31 lead with about six minutes to play. The Fury earned late game running time and withstood an 11-1 run from Hoop Habits down the stretch to earn the Gold. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2400080' first='Nolan' last='Greene'] knocked out three threes, grabbed nine rebounds and four assists, and played excellent defense limiting the Hoop Habits frontcourt production. [player_tooltip player_id='2397555' first='Brady' last='Molenaar'] had an active game both ways with 12 points, six rebounds and only one missed shot attempt. And [player_tooltip player_id='2836961' first='Ben' last='Koch'] knocked down four jumpers including two threes for the Fury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then you had [player_tooltip player_id='2385822' first='Brooks' last='Rechtzigel']. The Cannons Falls shooting guard averaged 19 points a game for his high school team this past winter helping them to be one of the top 15-20 teams in Class AA basketball this past year. Brooks stepped up to score 17 points on six of eight shooting including perimeter jumpers helping his team earn the weekend title. Brooks stepped up big on one of the biggest stages of the 16u season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Gus is Next</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to 2028 players that are about to emerge in a big way, I think [player_tooltip player_id='2395557' first='Gus' last='McKenna'] of the Minnesota Comet and Pequot Lakes is next. When he opened the game with the attacking dunk in the half court against the Falcons, you saw the potential in the agility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moments later we saw McKenna hit a pair of threes showing that McKenna range. We know he can produce consistently because McKenna was an All State player that led his team to the state title game. But when you see a talent score 14 points with nine rebounds and four blocks going against the other talented size in the class ([player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko'], Daniel Zoe, [player_tooltip player_id='2435240' first='Zeke' last='Gilbert'], [player_tooltip player_id='2388674' first='Jonas' last='McCreary']) that is a big time statement made. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Hunter, Elite 17U Rebounder? </strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not sure I can remember a player from Minnesota at 17u who rebounds in bulk like [player_tooltip player_id='2417301' first='Hunter' last='Vinkemeier'] every single game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you see the high school numbers of 20 rebounds a game the eyes open and you think.... really? But then when you watch Hunter total double figure rebounds nearly every 17u game you can understand it. I have been jogging the memory and I don't recall a 17u player (I'm sure there are a few but the memory is not grabbing them) that always gets double figure boards at this level. The way Hunter pulls balls right off the rim at the rim is something that renders other bigs helpless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He also hit 11 of 15 threes this weekend following a high school season of making over 40 percent of his threes (also hit the overtime game winning three to beat the Titans in the semis). Multiple D2 schools are at every Hunter game and they hope the D1 schools don't notice but I think that is a foregone conclusion. Hunter needs to add strength but at 6'10, with a touch, and consistent numbers, the D1 schools should come calling. Maybe its Wisconsin Elite Camp, maybe its MBCA Camp, maybe its July events. Whatever the case, Hunter should be next for a D1 offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NHR State Notes</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Unsigned senior Dorar Kuey scored 41 points against the Minnesota Rise Hulke on Friday night opening the weekend. That was followed by 27 points in the second round and a 39 point game in the third round! He then had 29 against Lace Up in the semis and 43 points in the championship game against FSA. It was an incredible weekend for the 17u level leading scorer this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- [player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton'] is going to play college football at Penn State, that is why you don't see him at many spring and summer basketball events. But he competed with Hoop Habits this weekend and in the title game, Blake was their best player with his 16 points, six rebounds, and he was the player working to defend Sambrew and Vinkemeier at times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- [player_tooltip player_id='2388674' first='Jonas' last='McCreary'] is a player I have always been high on potential wise. He is really good sized at about 6'6, maybe 6'7 and has ball skills. In the quarterfinal win over the Comets, Jonas had the team high 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='2556742' first='Charlie' last='Howe'] is one of the more dangerous shooters in his class at times. He scored four threes and a jumper in the win over the Comets pretty much changing the flow of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko'] grabbed a dozen rebounds in the win over the Comets. This was big to me because he did not have a good shooting game but found the intensity to focus and dominate the glass. Showed some signs of maturity in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->