Player of the Week
Andrew Jones 6’4 – Irving MacArthur 2016 (Texas)
Jones filled the stat sheet in the win over R.L. Turner. Jones finished with 40 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals. His 40 points outscored Turner as a team, who only put up 36. His follow up performance consisted of 27 points, as Irving MacArthur beat Sunset, who only scored 40 as a team. For the week, Jones finished with 67 points. MacArthur’s opponents finished the week with a total of 76 points.
Who’s Hot?
La Lumiere
La Lumiere has had a great month, only losing to Wasatch Academy. Both of their wins last week were against Gary Roosevelt and Andrean. The blowout win over Andrean included standout performances from Jeremiah Tilmon, Brian Bowen, and Tyger Campbell. Tilmon finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks. Bowen contributed with 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Freshman Tyger Campbell had 21 points and 12 assists.
Malik Monk 6’3 – Bentonville 2016 (Kentucky)
Monk has been one of the hottest players all season, this week was no different. Monk finished with 36 points to beat Heritage 60-39, only scoring three less points than Heritage as a team. Although Bentonville would come away with the loss, Monk finished with 30 of his team’s 55 points against Fayetteville. The Kentucky commit earned himself a spot on both the McDonald’s All American and Jordan Brand Classic roster with his exceptional senior season. Monk and his Bentonville squad will have another shot at beating Fayetteville later this month.
Lamar Peters 6’0 – Landry-Walker 2016 (Mississippi State)
Landry-Walker only had one game over the week but Lamar Peters was on fire. Peters scored 40 points, along with six rebounds, and four assists to beat Chalmette. This includes connecting 12 of his 17 three point attempts.
Charlie Moore 5’11 – Morgan Park 2016 (Memphis)
Moore may be undersized, but that doesn’t mean he can be stopped. Moore led Morgan Park to beat Harlan scoring 36 points, along with five rebounds, seven assists, and six steals. He also scored 19 points in the 60-57 loss against Simeon at the Battle of Vincennes.
Jarred Vanderbilt 6’8 – Victory Prep 2017
Vanderbilt has been a bright spot in a somewhat rough season for Victory Prep. They play a tough schedule but Vanderbilt continues to post great statistics. Over the week, Victory went 0-3; Vanderbilt finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds against a loaded API team. Later that week, he went on to finish with 30 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, and four steals against Josh Jackson’s Prolific Prep. From a statistical standpoint, Vanderbilt has had one of the best seasons, and may be a top player in a fantasy league years down the road.
Who’s Cold
South Kent
South Kent went 0-2 for the week losing to Northfield Mount Hermon and New Hampton School. After beating Brewster Academy and Word of God Christian Academy earlier in the month, they couldn’t pull out a win to finish off the month. South Kent will have a chance at revenge on both teams as they rematch next month.
Under the Radar
Devon Daniels 6’4 – Prolific Prep 2016 (Utah)
Daniels had a strong showing this past weekend helping Prolific Prep to three victories at The Crush in the Valley. He recorded a triple double in the first win over Victory Prep with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists to earn MVP. He also contributed 18 points in the victory over Balboa City. Daniels is an athletic wing who can score above the rim and shoots well from three. His scoring and rebounding relieves Josh Jackson from having to put up ridiculous numbers every night. Daniels has been one of Prolific’s most consistent scorers this season.
Top 5 Players Left off the Mcdonald’s All American Rosters
1. Mustapha Heron 6’5 – Sacred Heart (Auburn)
Heron is currently leading Sacred Heart in hopes to a three-peat as state champions. The former Pitt commit was a key contributor of the NY RENS who won the adidas Championship this past summer. Auburn coach, Bruce Pearl, labeled Heron as a “program changer”. Unfortunately, the left handed scoring guard won’t be in Chicago this post season.
2. Tyus Battle 6’6 – St. Joseph’s (Syracuse)
Battle was a member of the 2014 U17 USA Basketball team that won the gold medal. He serves as a wing scorer, can defend multiple positions, and plays well off the ball. Battle has been off to a good start with his new school averaging near 18.5 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and three steals per game.
3. Cassius Winston 6’2 – University of Detroit Jesuit High (Michigan State)
Winston is a member of the highly touted Michigan State recruiting class. His strengths are in his court vision and basketball IQ. U-D Jesuit High has won three straight Catholic League titles since Winston came in as a freshman. The 2016 high school class has many exceptional point guards, so someone is bound to be left off.
4. Mario Kegler 6’7 – Oak Hill Academy (Mississippi State)
Kegler’s absence leaves no Oak Hill players on the McDonald’s roster. Kegler has been big for Oak Hill with Giles out for the season; their only loss was early in the season to 22 Ft Academy. Kegler and company have scheduled and delivered against some of the nation’s top talent. Not to mention help Coach Steve Smith to 1,000 career wins.
5. Schnider Herard 6’11 – Prestonwood Christian Academy (Mississippi State)
There were two big men from Texas named to the team but Herard wasn’t one of them. Herard is a physical specimen in the paint and great around the basket. The double-double machine was the best center left off the team.