Tag: high school basketball

Top 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren caps high school career with state title

Chet Holmgren capped his high school basketball career with a Minnesota Class 3A state championship Saturday night.

Chet Holmgren capped his high school basketball career on the highest of high notes Saturday night, leading Minnehaha Academy to a Minnesota Class 3A state championship with a resounding 80-29 win over Alexandria High School.

Holmgren scored 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots in the victory.

“It was a great way to send us (seniors) off into our next part of our journey — whether that’s football for some of our guys, basketball, other things — definitely a great last hoorah for all of us,” Holmgren said, per the Pioneer Press. “We just wanted to make sure that we went out with a bang.”

Alexandria led Minnehaha Academy, 7-5, early in the game before Holmgren and his teammates ripped off a 14-0 run that put the Redhawks up 28-12 late in the first half. Minnehaha suffocated Alexandria defensively throughout the game, limiting it to 21% shooting from the field and just four made field goals in the second half. Tennessee State commit Hercy Miller led Minnehaha with 24 points on 10 for 14 shooting.

Holmgren will leave Minnehaha Academy with four state championships to his name, the latest being his first coming in Class 3A. Minnehaha won its sectional championship in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the state tournament to be canceled.

Now that his high school career is in the books, Holmgren can turn his full attention to his high-profile recruitment. Holmgren, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2021, will indeed choose a college, with Gonzaga currently the favorite to land the seven-footer. Holmgren’s other finalists are Georgetown, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio State.

“It is great to see the fans (on social media) trying to lead me to their school,” Holmgren said in January. “I am not letting it play too much into my decision because at the end of the day I have to find what is best for me and my future. Wherever I end up going, I am sure their fans will be the happiest for me.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

Which girls HS basketball programs won state championships this season?

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at which girls high school basketball programs have won state championships so far this season.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in this year’s high school basketball season, but champions have still been crowned across the country and plenty more are still to come.

26 states have already completed their postseason slates, while 24 more (including the District of Columbia) will name champions before the year is up. Only New Jersey elected not to host postseason play this high school basketball season.

USA Today High School Sports will keep you posted on who brings home hardware across the girls high school basketball landscape with a running list of state champions.

Which boys HS basketball programs won state championships this season?

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at which boys high school basketball programs have won state championships so far this season.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in this year’s high school basketball season, but champions have still been crowned across the country and plenty more are still to come.

23 states have already completed their postseason slates, while 27 more (including the District of Columbia) will name champions before the year is up. Only New Jersey elected not to host postseason play this high school basketball season.

USA Today High School Sports will keep you posted on who brings home hardware across the boys high school basketball landscape with a running list of state champions.

WATCH: Texas HS basketball star leads team to state title with 2 buzzer beaters

Terrance Arceneaux helped Beaumont United win its first state championship Friday night with a pair of buzzer-beaters.

Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Terrance Arceneaux lived up to that billing and then some Friday night, hitting two buzzer-beaters to help Beaumont United win its first boys basketball state championship.

Arceneaux drained buzzer-beaters at the end of regulation and overtime, leading Beaumont United to a 71-70 victory over Kimball High School to claim the Texas Class 5A title. The 6-foot-7 junior first hit a three as time expired in regulation to tie the score at 64 and send the game into overtime.

https://twitter.com/JoeJHoyt/status/1370563828388225028?s=20

He then followed up his regulation heroics with another three at the buzzer in overtime, this one giving Beaumont United the win and state championship.

Arceneaux, who finished with 24 points, nine blocked shots and seven rebounds earned game MVP honors. According to 247Sports, he is currently the No. 111 recruit in the class of 2022 and boasts offers from Houston, Lamar, LSU, Old Dominion, Oral Roberts, Rice, TCU and Texas A&M.

“Arceneaux is an explosive athlete with a wiry build,” 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins said in his scouting report of Arceneaux. “He is a long and rangy prospect who gets off his feet to rise up in a hurry and already has a history of dunking on people. He stands out on the defensive end with excellent length combined with good bounce and fluid strides.

“Each time he laces them up, Arceneaux is bound to get his fair share of deflections and blocks. His best basketball is ahead of him if he continues to improve his jump shot and ability to play off a live dribble in the half-court.”

Top 2021 football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau picks up basketball offer from Oregon

Oregon became the second school to offer top football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau a basketball scholarship on Tuesday.

The gridiron is not the only place top 2021 football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau is a dominant force.

When Tuimoloau isn’t busy wreaking havoc in backfields and sacking quarterbacks, he can be found terrorizing opponents on the hardwood. Despite his status as an elite football recruit, Tuimoloau hasn’t closed the door to playing basketball in college as well. On Tuesday, he was presented with a new opportunity to take his chances at being a two-sport star, as Oregon offered Tuimoloau to play basketball, according to 247Sports.

Oregon joins Washington as the second school to offer Tuimoloau a basketball scholarship. Both schools are in Tuimoloau’s top five for football, along with Alabama, Ohio State and USC.

“What was absolutely freakish when watching Tuimoloau was his feet. I am not sure that I’ve ever seen a player who is 6-foot-5 and around 280 pounds have better feet on a basketball court than him,” said 247Sports’ basketball analyst Brian Snow after watching Tuimoloau play on the AAU circuit. “Even opposing players, who had no idea who he was, were amazed that Tuimoloau could switch ball screens keeping guards in front of him and the first step he had when driving the basketball.”

Tuimoloau has suited up for Eastside Catholic’s basketball team at the conclusion of his football season in past years and he plans on doing so again this season. Tuimoloau averaged his second-straight double-double for the Crusaders last season and will rejoin the team after Eastside Catholic wraps up its football season, which kicked off last weekend.

RELATED: Top 2021 recruit J.T. Tuimoloau continues recruitment into March

Top 2021 football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau picks up basketball offer from Oregon

Oregon became the second school to offer top football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau a basketball scholarship on Tuesday.

The gridiron is not the only place top 2021 football recruit J.T. Tuimoloau is a dominant force.

When Tuimoloau isn’t busy wreaking havoc in backfields and sacking quarterbacks, he can be found terrorizing opponents on the hardwood. Despite his status as an elite football recruit, Tuimoloau hasn’t closed the door to playing basketball in college as well. On Tuesday, he was presented with a new opportunity to take his chances at being a two-sport star, as Oregon offered Tuimoloau to play basketball, according to 247Sports.

Oregon joins Washington as the second school to offer Tuimoloau a basketball scholarship. Both schools are in Tuimoloau’s top five for football, along with Alabama, Ohio State and USC.

“What was absolutely freakish when watching Tuimoloau was his feet. I am not sure that I’ve ever seen a player who is 6-foot-5 and around 280 pounds have better feet on a basketball court than him,” said 247Sports’ basketball analyst Brian Snow after watching Tuimoloau play on the AAU circuit. “Even opposing players, who had no idea who he was, were amazed that Tuimoloau could switch ball screens keeping guards in front of him and the first step he had when driving the basketball.”

Tuimoloau has suited up for Eastside Catholic’s basketball team at the conclusion of his football season in past years and he plans on doing so again this season. Tuimoloau averaged his second-straight double-double for the Crusaders last season and will rejoin the team after Eastside Catholic wraps up its football season, which kicked off last weekend.

RELATED: Top 2021 recruit J.T. Tuimoloau continues recruitment into March

Emoni Bates, Chet Holmgren headline Naismith boys’ All-America teams

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its high school boys’ All-America teams Tuesday.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its high school boys’ All-America teams Tuesday, with top 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren and top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates headlining the group of players as first-team selections.

Jaden Hardy, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2021, and Duke commit Paolo Banchero, the No. 3 recruit in the class of 2021, are also among the numerous notable names selected to Naismith’s All-America teams. You can read the three teams and honorable mention selections below.

First Team

  • F Paolo Banchero — O’Dea High School (Wash.)
  • F Emoni Bates — Ypsi Prep Academy (Mich.)
  • G Jaden Hardy — Coronado High School (Nev.)
  • C Chet Holmgren — Minnehaha Academy (Minn.)
  • F Jabari Smith — Sandy Creek High School (Ga.)

Second Team

  • G Kennedy Chandler — Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
  • G J.D. Davison — Calhoun High School (Ala.)
  • C Jalen Duren — Montverde Academy (Fla.)
  • F Caleb Houstan — Montverde Academy (Fla.)
  • G Hunter Sallis — Millard North High School (Neb.)

Third Team

  • F Kendall Brown — Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
  • F Daimion Collins — Atlanta High School (Texas)
  • F Michael Foster — Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.)
  • F A.J. Griffin — Archbishop Stepinac High School (N.Y.)
  • F Harrison Ingram — St. Mark’s School (Texas)

Honorable Mention

  • F Patrick Baldwin Jr. — Hamilton High School (Wisc.)
  • G Tamar Bates — IMG Academy (Fla.)
  • C Nate Bittle — Prolific Prep (Calif.)
  • G Max Christian — Rolling Meadows High School (Ill.)
  • F Matt Cleveland — Pace Academy (Ga.)
  • F Moussa Diabate — IMG Academy (Fla.)
  • G Keyonte George — iSchool Entrepenurical Academy (Texas)
  • G Scoot Henderson — Kell High School (Ga.)
  • G Nolan Hickman — Wasatch Academy (Utah)
  • G Trevor Keels — Paul VI High School (Va.)
  • G Aminu Mohammed — Greenwood Laboratory School (Mo.)
  • G D.J. Wagner — Camden High School (N.J.)
  • G TyTy Washington — AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.)
  • F Peyton Watson — Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Calif.)
  • G Mikey Williams — Lake Norman Christian School (N.C.)

Where did the NBA’s 2021 NBA All-Stars play high school basketball?

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at each where 2021 NBA All-Star played their high school basketball.

NBA All-Star weekend is here, but it wasn’t too long ago that some of basketball’s brightest stars were dominating at the high school level.

Before the NBA’s elite ascended to the professional ranks, they spent their high school careers rolling over opponents (or starring overseas). From LeBron James’ having his way with the Ohio high school basketball scene to Ben Simmons starring at a Florida prep powerhouse, this year’s crop of NBA all-stars were opening eyes and dropping jaws long before rising to the pinnacle of basketball.

Where did the NBA’s all-stars begin their path to stardom? Let’s take a look.

Mikey Williams predicted to land at North Carolina Central

247Sports’ Travis Branham predicted Wednesday that five-star 2023 recruit Mikey Williams will commit to North Carolina Central.

Mikey Williams still has a couple of years before he wraps up his high school basketball career and ascends to either the college or professional ranks, but a decision on his future could be coming soon.

Williams listed Alabama State, Arizona State, Hampton, Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina Central, San Diego State, Tennessee State, Texas Southern and USC in his top 10 during the summer and hinted at committing at the end of his sophomore season. One of those schools seems to have a leg up over the others in Williams’ recruitment, as 247Sports recruiting analyst Travis Branham projected the five-star combo guard to land at North Carolina Central on Wednesday.

“He has built a strong bond with NC Central head coach LeVelle Moton and for a trend-setter such as Williams, going off the beaten path away from the nation’s top programs would be fitting,” Branham said. “I have placed my Crystal Ball with a confidence level of seven in favor of the Eagles in Williams’ current home state of North Carolina.”

Williams spoke highly over North Carolina Central during the summer, praising Moton for the work he has done with the program. North Carolina Central has made the NCAA Tournament four times under Moton’s watch and the 46-year-old has a 211-152 record in 12 seasons with the Eagles.

“My boy LeVelle [Moton], his whole culture resonates, it’s crazy,” Williams told Branham in August. “I used to live in North Carolina, I love NC Central, I love them a lot. Me and LeVelle are real cool, I lived in North Carolina and I’m comfortable with it out there.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will pick a college

Williams is one of the most high-profile players in a loaded 2023 recruiting class, ranking No. 2 overall in the class according to 247Sports. His scouting report reads:

Extremely productive combo guard with good size and length. Strong kid for age but not maxed out physically. High level athlete who is an explosive finisher. Has range to perimeter with jumper and is pretty consistent three-point shooter. Has handle and vision to facilitate and play on ball full time. Physical tools to be a good defender. Level of fame at age is current biggest obstacle to overcome.

LOOK: Alabama MBB HC Nate Oats issues statement in support of ‘Let Them Play’ movement

Alabama head coach Nate Oats, who formerly coached at a michigan high school, has issued a statement in support of the “Let Them Play” mo…

Alabama men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats in his second year with the program and is exceeding expectations with the team on the court, and on the recruting trail.

The Crimson Tide’s 2020 recruiting class ranked No. 12 in the nation, and the 2021 class currently sits at No. 17 across the country.

Oats has been welcoming recruits from all around the United States, and even Canada. However, one state has paused winter and spring sports which may make it difficult to recruit.

Michigan may not have a high school basketball season, and Oats has publicly voiced his support for the “Let Them Play” movement.

His statement is not addressed to anyone in particular, but does call for the state of Michigan to let their high school athletes play.

He mentions the potential hit to recruiting the state will inevitably face if the status quo holds. Oats also references his connection to the state by mentioning his history as a high school coach in Michigan.