2020 Hard Work Kick Off Review

While a couple teams have already gone on the road, the revamped AAU schedule (thank you COVID-19) really kicked into gear over the holiday with the Prep Hoops Hard Work Kickoff in Appleton, WI.  Minnesota was represented with a handful of teams in each division.  Here are the results and a few highlights from what I watched online.

15U
MN Chill 3-0
Crossfire Brown 0-3
MN Select James 0-3
MN Select Koch 1-2

It was a nice weekend for Chill as they hung on for a 4 point win in their opener on Friday night.  They followed that up with a pair of double digit wins on Saturday.  Productive weekends from forwards Molley Komara (Park Center) and Khalif Bettis (Burnsville).

Rough weekends for Crossfire Brown and Select James.  Crossfire with 3 single digit losses.  That included giving up a 6 point lead at the very end of their Friday night loss.  Wing Henry Skinner (Rockford) with a big 2nd half in that loss to keep Crossfire in it.  John Mueller (Watertown-Mayer) also productive for Crossfire.

Select James had a double digit lead in their opener before scoring only 1 FG in the last 20 minutes.  They lost all 3 games by double digits.  Center Jeffrey Iwuchuwku (Park Center) is raw but shows upside.  The Eastview duo of Rohan Jordan and Hayden Hoffman look to be future pieces for the Lightning.  Jordan reminds me of PC grad David Ijamibola while Hoffman's game showed a striking similarity to Eastview grad Tate Machacek.


16U
MN Select Davis 0-3
Crossfire Barker 3-0
Crossfire Terhaar 2-1
SE MN Thunder 2-1
MSP Elite 1-2

The Select Davis record is a bit harsh.  They lost big to 2 loaded squads in SD Venom and WI Playground Club's Under Armour squad.  No real shame there.  They came back to take a 1 point lead later in the 2nd half of their Illinois Hoopstars game before giving up 10 of the last 13 points.   Standouts for Select included Daniel Ijadimbola (BSM) and RJ Joiklow (Simley), Nathan Johnson (STA), RJ Spencer (TG) and Brayden Williams (Owatonna) all showing flashes as well.

Solid weekend for the Crossfire teams as they go 5-1.  That included a local bragging rights win for the Terhaar squad over MSP Elite.  That MSP Elite squad is largely a group of Spring Lake Park players.

17U
MN Select Ohnstad 2-1
MN Select Robinson 2-1
Crossfire Stone 3-0
Crossfire Jorgenson 0-3

Only loss for the Mitch Ohnstad's top Select squad was a hard fought battle against the WI Playground Club Under Armour 17s.  Reid Patterson making important shots in their games.  Jaelen Treml's defense sticking out as well.  That included a respectable effort, particularly in the 1st half, against high major recruit James Graham in the WI PGC game.  Graham leading WI PGC with 20 points in the game and was the difference.

Select Robinson started out with a loss in the game I watched.  But I think this is a squad that could surprise folks with their solid guard play and lesser known guys on the front line.  Shakopee's Mick Wherley is one of those guys.  Grayson Stalboerger (Eastview) with 4 triples and 20 points to keep them close in the game they lost.

Crossfire Stone swept their weekend.  Forward Connor Chappell (Orono) is a guy who I can see jumping onto the radar with his athleticism.  PG Reagan Koch (Jordan) makes me think a bit of NSIC PGs like Ryan Bruggeman and Jameson Bryan.  Not a wow guy, but makes open shots, is tough and doesn't turn it over.  He has a D2 offer from Colorado School of Mines.