We have the first open period of 2021 in the books. Now we have 2 special open periods thanks to the pandemic. Here are this week's locations.
Sioux Falls
A large chunk of the notable Minnesota teams will be in Sioux Falls for the Sanford Pentagon league finals. South Dakota Attack jumps into the league to fill some Omaha Crusaders spots. They'll provide a stiff test for Fury Wilde on Friday and Select Ohnstad on Saturday. Select Ohnstad beat South Dakota Attack by 20 in a showcase game in St. Cloud last month. Fury Wilde (undefeated) and Select Ohnstad (tied for 2nd in the league with 2 losses) meet up Friday night in what could be a preview of Sunday's championship game. Pharrel Payne had another productive weekend last weekend in Birmingham for Select. Quarterfinals begin Saturday night with the semis and finals on Sunday.
Council Bluffs
The D1 Minnesota squads will be just down I-29 in Council Bluffs, IA for the Adidas Championships. The 17s open bracket play (32 team bracket) on Friday with a stiff test against Wildcat Select with Virginia commit Isaac McKneely. The 2nd round could be against the host Omaha Crusaders and local star Josh Dix. Dix has a Minnesota offer and is a top priority for Iowa. He was outstanding at the MBCA showcase last month. Otherwise they'll play a loaded Compton Magic crew with a top 20 star nationally and 2 other high major commits.
Kansas City
Staying on I-29, we'll find the Grassroots Sizzle 2nd 17s and Real Phenom-Nick squads at the Sunflower Showcase. Solid weekend for that Real Phenom squad in Atlanta last week. MN Chill along with a Grassroots Sizzle squad will be representing the 16s as well.
Dallas
Veering south on I-35 all the way to the metroplex there are a couple of DFW events of note. Grassroots Sizzle will be in week 2 of Under Armour play. The D1 MN Prospects squad will be in the Prep Hoops event there. Mpls Flight Squad will be also there in the 16s.
Augusta
Now head east on I-20 and drive forever. The Howard Pulley 17s will be in the Peach
State Select event. Next door their 15s and 16s are playing 1 game each
day thru Monday in EYBL regular season play. Nike then goes right
into the Peach Jam for all levels on Tuesday.
Louisville
Heading back towards home, Team GetShook and Gain Elite continue NY2LA play. Gain Elite took their lumps at 0-6 against a very tough schedule last weekend but was very competitive. A rematch with 3D Empire and star Anthony Black (70-60 loss last Sunday) could await them in the 2nd round of their 16 team bracket.
Appleton
A brief detour before making it home sees some Minnesota teams making the shorter Prep Hoops trip to Appleton, WI. That includes Starks Elite and MN Crossfire Pederson in the 17s. They meet at 3:35 on Sunday. Crossfire Barger and MN Bounce along with 2 Magic squads and 2 Crossfire squads play in the 16s.
Ah home. D1 Minnesota has their annual local summer tournament this weekend. Despite it being an open weekend, still a respectable field with WOTN-Johnson, Heat Grow, MN Lightning Ellerbusch, MSP Elite and 2 MN Magic squads in the 17s.
