Big 12 Classic: Hopkins vs Park Center

<p>This weekend the season kicks off with the Big 12 Classic at Champlin Park put on by the Breakdown.  The 2:45 game pits last year's #1 most the season (Park Center) versus the state champ (Hopkins).  </p> <p><strong>PG</strong>: <strong>David Ijadimbola</strong> (Park Center) vs <strong>Cornell Richardson</strong> (Hopkins).  A pair of six foot one guards that have been playing against one another for years twelve months out of the year.  Cornell scored 22 against David and the rest of the Pirates last season when he played for Osseo.  Richardson is now at Hopkins with a different team around him and he will have a different role.  David is a combo guard that may not always play PG but he will be in the playmaking role. </p> <p><strong>SG</strong>: <strong>Joshua Brown</strong> (Park Center) vs <strong>Andre Gray</strong> (Hopkins).  In Joshua Brown we have one of the elite shooters in the state while Gray is the top wing prospect in Minnesota's junior class at the moment.  While similar sized, Brown and Gray are different players.  Again, Brown is a big time knockdown shooter.  Gray on the other hand is a physical, athletic, and explosive player.  Both are about 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 and both played reserve roles a season ago. </p> <p><strong>SF</strong>: <strong>DT Frierson</strong> (Park Center) vs <strong>Kerwin Walton</strong> (Hopkins). This is where we are just placing guys.  Kerwin will likely be the fourth guard/wing on the floor often because he's 6-foot-6 and strong.  Frierson is playing some lead guard for the Pirates and also defending the other team's best players.  Walton is an elite shooter and a top five player in the state while Frierson is athletic and an outstanding defender. </p> <p><strong>PF</strong>: <strong>John Grigsby</strong> (Park Center) vs <strong>Sawyer Shrake</strong> (Hopkins). Both are transfers from out of state (Grigsby from Colorado, Sharke from Illinois).  Grigsby is 6-foot-9 playing the stretch four while Sharke is about six inches smaller and he will play the wing.  Both are quality shooters.  When Grisgsby steps off the floor, Park Center will also go to a group of four wings/guards. </p> <p><strong>C</strong>: <strong>Dain Dainja</strong> (Park Center) vs <strong>Elvis Nnaji</strong> (Hopkins). A pair of high major offered top 100 players, Dain is the most skilled low post big since Royce White.  Meanwhile Nnaji is similar in height to Dain and strong, but not quite as heavy or powerful as Dainja.  Dain's got the experience edge and of course has put big numbers on a lot of older top players. </p> <p><strong>Bench</strong>: The Pirates are number one because they are talented, and they are deep.  Sophomore Braeden Carrington, junior Jalen Cook, and guard Joshua Lewis are all future college players at some level.  When one of them comes on the team will go to a four guard/wing group.  James Parker is 6-foot-6 and gives the Pirates more frontcourt depth. Hopkins is not as deep but they do have Jalen Treml who could potentially start for the Royals.  Ramon Salcedo will help up front, Regan Merritt is a solid reserve ball handler, and there are some young players that could jump into the rotation as well.</p> <p><strong>The Pick.  </strong>I've already said that Park Center is the state's top Class AAAA team so of course I will pick them to win.  I'm very interested to see how these teams match-up when the Pirates have the bigger group on the floor.  Park Center is more experience, deeper, and are replacing less players.  They win by 3-4 scores. </p>