Northstar Hoops State Tournament 14U standouts
The 14U division of the Northstar Hoops State Tournament concluded Sunday at the Colin Powell Center in Minneapolis with Team 1 Tyus beating MN Soliders Elite 78-58.
It was a glimpse into the future of basketball in the state and there is certainly a lot to be excited about.
Here were some guys that stood out Sunday:
Kody Williams from Team 1 Tyus looked like the best player on the floor Sunday and while Team 1 Tyus mostly dominated the competition throughout on a team-wide scale, Williams was a driving force in that success.
He did it on both ends and showed a solid offensive game with his ability to score at every level. He knocked down jumpers, he scored in transition and he showed off an impressive finishing ability on drives and cuts.
DJ Akpati was a standout for Team Tyus as well. His effort level on the defensive end was impressive and he defended multiple positions at a high level. He played with great physicality and his ability to score mostly stemmed from his athleticism and explosiveness.
Jack Frick and Reagan Koch shot the ball extremely well and each played a key role in essentially putting the championship game away in the first half with multiple 3-pointers.
Francis Nwakorie was a driving force in getting the MN Soldiers to the championship game. Listed at 6-foot-5, Nwakorie controlled the paint throughout the day, using his length and strength to defend the rim and collect rebounds on one end while steadily supplying buckets on the other. The big man showed quality footwork inside and nice touch and ball skills around the elbows.
The championship game was a bit of a dud for the Soldiers but Jatai Dillard was a big time positive in that game in particular. A waterbug point guard, Dillard was excellent keeping his team at least in the game early by pushing the tempo and attacking offensively. He was stellar on the defensive end in the games leading up to the championship and his instincts and athleticism were on display throughout the day.
CJ Brown was arguably the team’s best player in the semifinal win over MN Spartans and his ability to score on the wing via the long ball, drives to the rim and in transition were all on display. His aggressiveness was key and he looks like a kid who’s got a very good combination of athleticism and skill.
Heat Weierke’s Will Tschetter was a standout in the semifinal loss to Team Tyus. The Stewartville forward showcased an impressive inside-outside offensive package knocking down several 3-pointers, scoring in the post and using solid ball skills to attack closeouts and create his own shot.
The Spartans gave MN Soldiers a terrific run in the semifinal game and the guy leading the charge was big man Prince Aligbe. Listed at 6-foot-4, Aligbe showcased very good fluidity for such a big kid at a young age and his motor ran hot most of the game. He had a huge impact on the defensive end of the floor and scored a majority of his buckets off cuts or simple hard work on the glass.