LAKEVILLE NORTH SUMMER LEAGUE

Lakeville North was a busy place on June 25, as the school hosted a boys’ basketball summer league.

Teams from across the area would play two twenty-minute halves in a league game. I was curious about the league myself so I decided to drive out and take a peek.

 

Teams brought their JV and varsity teams, as there was a preset schedule. The games were played at a time where head varsity coaches can and do coach their own high school teams.  

 

Players wore their practice uniforms furnished by the schools.

 

Apple Valley was in the building and Tyus Jones was playing. I ended up watching two of his games and he was impressive.  Jones knew how to handle the ball and was able to get everyone involved in the plays on both ends of the court. He was able to run the Apple Valley offense and did so as he was the floor general.

 

In the second game Apple Valley went up against Prior Lake. Once again Jones showed why he is one of the top recruits in the country. He was able to take his man off the dribble and get to the basket on the offensive end. On the defensive end he was able to slow the guy he was defending down.  

 

I think that these summer leagues are helpful for teams for many different reasons. First, I think that it gives high school teams a chance to keep playing with in their own system. It gives players a chance to play with their friends from high school. And coaches can work on the players’ games and it gives them a chance to teach them new moves in the offseason that they wouldn’t be able to do in the regular season due to time constraints.

 

It also shows coaches what their team needs to improve upon in the off season.
 

ESTAN TYLER TO TRANSFER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

According to Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Estan Tyler, a first-team all-metro basketball star from St. Paul Johnson and a 2010 state champion, is transferring to the University of North Dakota.”

Walsh said, “Tyler spent his first two collegiate seasons at Div. I Missouri-Kansas City in the Summit League. As a sophomore this past season, he led the Kangaroos in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game in 31 starts.”

OSSEO’S WHEELER BAKER GETTING A LOT OF BASKETBALL COLLEGE COACHES’ INTEREST

Osseo boys basketball player Wheeler Baker has picked up a lot of interest from different basketball coaches. Baker will graduate in 2014.

 

According to Ryan James of North Star Hoops Report, Baker said, “Right now I am getting a lot of interest from the University of North Dakota; they have offered me a scholarship. Another school is Nebraska-Omaha, who recently became the third school to offer me a scholarship. There are many schools that show lots of interest -- but haven't offered -- who I am also very interested in.”

 

“I visited North Dakota, North Dakota State, Loyola Chicago, and Nebraska Omaha all for their camps over the past couple of weeks. I was going to go to Boston University's elite camp but logistically it didn't work out. I will visit Minnesota State-Mankato on June 2.”

I have personally seen Baker play basketball and I know him on and off the court. Personally, I think that Baker is a good player who has a lot of drive and passion. He good court awareness and knows how to get his teammates involved in the offense. On the defense end, I think that Baker can lock down anyone that he guards. His game will keep improving as long as he keeps working at it. He has a great work ethic.

CHAD CALCATERRA WILL TRANSFER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

According to Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “6-foot-10 center Chad Calcaterra, who played his prep ball at Cloquet and set that school’s single-season scoring record, will transfer to the University of North Dakota.”

 

“Calcaterra spent two seasons at Colorado State, then 2012-’13 at Western Nebraska Community College. Calcaterra is immediately eligible, and has two years of college eligibility remaining.”

 

2015 Point Guard Jayson Edwards

GOPHERS IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE

According to Marcus Fuller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the following University of Minnesota Gophers will be playing in the Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League: Maverick Ahanmisi, Mo Walker, Wally Ellenson, Joey King, Andre Hollins, Charles Buggs, Austin Hollins, Elliott Eliason, Malik Smith, Daquein McNeal, Dre Mathieu, Kendal Shell, and Oto Osenieks.

 

Also Fuller said, “The three newcomers (Smith, McNeal and Mathieu) are expected to be on former NBA player Troy Bell’s team in the Pulley league this summer. But Mathieu probably won’t be joining the Gophers until August because he has to finish summer school at Central Arizona Community College.”

Pulley said that his top AAU team led by Apple Valley’s Tyus Jones and DeLaSalle’s Reid Travis would be participating in the Pro-Am to prepare for the Nike Peach Jam championships next month.

 

“The Pulley League might be the last opportunity for fans to see Jones and Travis playing locally on the same team.” Fuller said.

Games are free of charge and will be played at the High Performance Academy in Eagan, Minnesota.

Rosenblum: Awarding a different kind of athletic scholarship

By Gail Rosenblum Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Camden Knuckles knows that football isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear he plays sports. It sometimes surprises him, too.

 

So when the 5-5, 130-pound Southwest High School receiver got word that he was to be honored at an end-of-year awards banquet, he couldn’t imagine why.

 

Turns out Knuckles, along with three fellow student-athletes, won a generous new scholarship that I hope pops up at lots of high schools next year: “Most Improved Athlete.”

 

Not biggest or fastest or best. Most improved. The kind of thing most of our kids could win but rarely do.

 

Knuckles heads to Minnesota State University Moorhead in August to study mass communications and play football. He calls the $2,500 scholarship “mind-blowing.”

 

DeAudrey McKinley was equally excited.

 

“I’m somebody who works really hard at everything I do,” said McKinley, who will go to Augsburg College in the fall with his $2,500 prize.

 

“I’ve been a lineman all my life, yet I’m quite small,” said the 5-8 McKinley, who will play football there. “I never let that stop me. I was just one of the people who never gave up.”

 

The scholarships were created by Southwest alumni Harvey Feldman, Class of ’61, who made news recently for his pledge of a $300,000 match to donations to fund permanent lights for Southwest’s athletic field. Groundbreaking is scheduled for June 25 and Feldman will be there, channeling some of the happiest memories of his life.

 

More than five decades ago, Feldman played football under the lights at Minneapolis' Parade Stadium. “You hear your name on the speaker. You’re a kid. God, I loved it!”

 

He recalls even more clearly what Southwest’s legendary football coach, Art Fredrickson, said to him when he was a junior: “I’d like to play you, but I can’t make chicken salad out of manure.”

 

By his senior year, Coach Fredrickson called him “the best [damn] tackler we’ve got.”

 

Feldman, 70, lived in north Minneapolis through eighth grade, before his family moved into Southwest’s district. The son of a “great Jewish mother who lived to 96,” and a more distant father who escaped the pogroms of Russia, he wasn’t much of a student. So he turned to his coaches for guidance and validation.

 

Standing 6-1 and 175 pounds, Feldman walked onto the freshman football team as “a candy-assed Jewish kid who was so terrible I’m not sure what position I played.”

 

His coaches, first Dave Peterson (“a teddy bear” known for sometimes sleeping in the stadium shed to ice the hockey rink in the mornings), then Fredrickson (think George Patton), pushed him, prodded him “and made me feel so special.” He sees a lot of them in Southwest Athletic Director Ryan Lamberty, “who works around the clock.”

 

After graduating from high school, Feldman earned a business and accounting degree from the University of Minnesota. He owned and operated bars and restaurants for decades before retiring six years ago to start a new chapter in his life.

 

“This philanthropy thing,” he said, “I think it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

 

Once he knew that the stadium lights were a go (with the stadium to be renamed for Peterson and Fredrickson), he mulled around other ideas. As he watched football and basketball games, he thought about the kind of award a young Harvey Feldman might win.

 

He recently found his high school yearbook where, with his picture, the following was written:

 

“Nothing is ever denied well-directed effort.”

 

“Meaning,” Feldman said, “that whoever wrote that thought that I was a plugger even back then. That’s what sports is all about. That’s the kind of kids who need to be rewarded.”

 

Lamberty is grateful to Feldman for valuing that pluck. “My proudest moment is not taking a great athlete and tweaking one or two things,” Lamberty said, “but being able to see grand improvements — like a junior varsity kid that worked to become an all-conference athlete. That dedication is what Harvey is rewarding.”

 

Eamon Brodek heads to Marquette University in the fall to study communications and play basketball. Was he surprised about winning $2,500?

 

“Yeah,” he said, noting that he only played 10 minutes his entire junior year, before a senior year comeback.

 

“I think it was my hustle and heart. Awesome.”

 

Kali Place will attend Colorado College to play Division III basketball and study psychology. “I did put in extra time that, maybe, other people did not,” said the 6-foot-2 Place.

 

“It made me feel really good to know that someone recognized my work. Even though I started at the bottom, I just kept working at it until I was starting varsity.”

 

SMF'S THOUGHTS ON RASHAD VAUGHN MOVE TO PREP SCHOOL

When I read that Minnesota basketball player Rashad Vaughn was leaving Robinsdale Cooper High School it surprised me a little bit initially, but then again, it didn't really surprise me.

To me, all of the three top recruits in the class of 2014 Tyus Jones, Reid Travis and Vaughn. Vaughn is a good player. Don't give get me wrong. I think that all of these players are very good player.

What I think that Travis and Jones have in common are they both play on the same AAU team, the Howard Pulley Panthers. Vaughn decided to play the 2013 summer circuit away from both Jones and Travis. I think that he did that  because he wanted to distance himself from the other two.

It will be inserting to see where Vaughn attends prep school at. We will be hearing a lot more about these three players in the near future. They all three have very good futures ahead of them.

RASHAD VAUGHN TO DEPART FROM COOPER, HEAD TO PREP SCHOOL

According to Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press, "Gophers recruiting target Rashad Vaughn decided with his family to attend a prep school and not finish his senior year at Cooper High School. Vaughn will decide in the next couple weeks among four prep schools, including Huntington Prep (W.Va.) and Findlay Prep (Las Vegas). "

Vaughn is considered one of the three big national recruits from Minnesota, along with Tyus Jones (Apple Valley) and Reid Travis (DeLaSalle).

CLINTON VEE PARKER JR BASKETBALL AND LIFE

Clinton Parker played basketball for Dakota County and Technical College. Paker was born on the
south side of Chicago on May 27 1992. Parker has three older brothers whom he looks up to.

He started his high school basketball at Richfield High School and played for head coach Jim
Dimick. Parker then transferred to Percy L. Julian high school in Chicago, where he graduated from
in 2011.

Parker has played basketball his whole life. It wasn't until he was he was 11 or 12 that he took basketball seriously. His other sport that he loves to play is baseball. Parker considers him self as a big baseball fan.

Parker has big plans for after college. “I want to get involved with law enforcement or be more involved with local kids who are having a hard time growing up and getting into trouble, or having trouble at home, maybe like a juvenile counselor or somewhere down that line,” he said.

Parker added, “I’d love to play on the next level and show many people I can and could play against some tough but skilled guys.”

He also has a son. Parker would like to stay somewhere close to Minnesota or Illinois.

When asked where he was thinking of going to school in the fall of 2013, Parker said, “It's all up in the air right now. I’ve received a handful of offers from colleges -- all out of state -- but I’m trying to stay somewhere close to the Midwest for my son and family purposes.”

Basketball for Parker has been a huge success. When asked about his favorite basketball memories, Parker said: “I would have to say just traveling, going on trips out of state and playing against teams and their crowds. I love the atmosphere like that.”

Parker spends his free time with family.

You can find Parker listening to R&B and Hip Hop music and a little bit of country from time to time.

Parker is a good basketball player and a good guy. I have watched and seen Parker play for Dakota County Technical College. He is a hard worker and a good person on and off the court. Parker will be successful in whatever path he decides to go on.

2013 INNER CITY ALL STAR BASKETBALL CLASSIC

Schoenecker Arena on the campus of St. Thomas University was the site of the 2013 Inner City All Star Classic. The first game was between Team Faith and Team Truth.

Music was playing throughout the game and there were two anouncers doing play-by-play throughout the whole game to keep the fans involved in the contest.

The score went back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team went on a run. The game was close.

Both teams used a man-to-man style of defense. Neither team went on a run throughout the contest. 

Both teams used a full-court press and tried to slow the other team down. The defense was good as it was difficult for both teams to make shots.

Team Faith was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. They were able to cast long three-point baskets and they were able to make them.

Truth didn't back down how ever as they were not able to hit baskets they kept on shooting the ball even though they were not able to hit shots for a period of time in the second half.

Team Truth made a late run at Team Faith but in a hard fought battle Faith came away with the 65-55 victory over Truth.

BOYS' GAME

In the second game of the day Team Wisdom and Team Knowledge went up against each other.

Both teams looked to push the ball down the floor from the start of the game. Music blared from a live DJ. Both teams looked to push the ball down the floor early and often.

Everyone looked to showcase their offensive skills. The start of the game was a little sloppy as it took while for each team to get into an offensive shooting rhythm. 

Neither team went on a run early. The score went back and forth throughout a good portion of the first half. 

Quinton Hooker for Team Wisdom was able to pick up some easy baskets off some steals. 

Garrison Gillard was all over the floor for Team Wisdom. He was able to blow by his defenders and get to the basket and made easy lay-ups. Gillard was not afraid to pass the ball to one of his teammates if he thought that his teammate had a better shot than he did.

Harry Sony for Knowledge was able to dribble around his defender and get to the basket and was able to make shots that he put up.  On the defensive end Sony was able to lock down his guy that he was gaurding and make it really hard for him to get a good look at the basket.

Hooker and Cullen Russo battled each other as they guarded each other. They made it difficult for each other to hit shots that the other was putting up.

Russo came up with some nice blocks. He was able to block Kyle Washington's shot at the basket. That got the crowd into the game.

Washington came up with some nice two-handed slam dunks. That got the crowd involved in the game.

Neither team was afrid to shoot the ball as they brought the ball down they each were able to take wide open shots. Offense was certainly the name of the game.

Sony blew past his defenders a few times in the first half and was able to get to the basket with ease.

Team Wisdom went to sleep late in the first half, as they were not able to hit shots that they put up. Knowledge took advantage of that as they were able to go on a run late in the first half.

At halftime the score was Knowledge 40, Wisdom 21.

As the second half got underway both teams continued to push the ball down the floor.

Both teams continued to fly up and down the floor casting up shots. Everyone touched the ball for both teams. Knowledge still had difficulty hitting shots that they put up.

Wisdom continued to have difficulty shooting the ball.

Knowledge never gave up the lead, which they held the whole game.

Both teams offense went stagnet as neither team was able to score for a period of time in the second half. 

Tyus Jones was in attendance and watched a good portion of the game with his family. Jones is considered one of the top basketball recruits in the country, and will graduate in 2014.

Team Knowledge came away with the 69-50 victory over team Wisdom.

I thought everyone played hard and every one had a good time. I thought that that the players and fans enjoyed themselves. 

JOE BERGER HAS BEEN HIRED AS THE HEAD VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL COACH AT EDINA

Joe Berger, who was the head boys' varsity basketball coach at Holy Family high school, is now the head boys basketball coach at Edina high school.
 

DANIEL SUMMERS WANTS TO EXCEL IN BASKETBALL

Daniel Summers was born on Sept. 23, 1998. He likes to hang out and shoot baskets with his friends. Summers played for Robbinsdale Middle School.

Summers will be attending DeLaSalle high school in Minneapolis, where he wants to play on the Islanders’ basketball and football teams.

He has played basketball his whole life. Summers started playing basketball when he was four years old.

 

In his free time he likes to play basketball with his friends and working out in local gyms across the Twin Cities metro area.

Summers has two brothers and two sisters.

Look for Summers in a gym working on his game near you.

RASAAN ROLAND ROSS HOOPS MIX TAPE

Metro Youth Sports Media: MYSM class 2014 Top15 Rankings

Check out the Metro Youth Sports Media class of 2014 top 15 Rankings

Metro Youth Sports Media: MYSM class 2014 Top15 Rankings: 2014: Minnesota's super class, the 2014 class is unparalleled Minnesota high school basketball recruiting history.

DAN RUBISCHKO IS THE NEW HEAD BOYS' BASKETBALL COACH AT PRIOR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL

Prior Lake high school has hired Dan Rubischko to be their new head varsity boys' basketball coach. Robischo left St. Thomas Academy to become the head coach at Prior Lake.

NORTHSTAR HOOPS CLASH OF THE CLASSES BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Si Melby Hall, on the campus of Augsburg College, was abuzz Friday night as the top boys basketball players from Minnesota went up against each other. Northstar Hoops Report put on the “Clash Of The Classes” event for fans. In all, 44 of the top basketball players from across the state were broken up into recruiting classes. The first game was the class of 2016 taking on the class of 2017. In the second game 2014 took on 2015.

2016 TOOK ON 2017 IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE EVENING

The first game of the evening was the class of 2016 versus 2017. It took awhile for both teams to get into an offensive rhythm.

Both teams looked to run and get baskets on the fast break. Neither team went on a run early in the game.

The 2016 squad switched between man-to-man and zone defense they wanted to get 2017 off guard. They were not able to do that. Team 2016 did a good job of talking on both ends of the floor and letting everyone know what defense they were playing.

The score was close throughout the first half. There were many ties and lead changes throughout the half.

Bryce Irsfeld for 2017 did a good job of yelling out picks. He knew where his teammates were supposed to be on the floor and he instructed his players on where they were supposed to be on the floor.

Team 2017 went on a run midway through the first half. They were able to slow down the 2016 offense.

Brock Bertram for 2016 called for the ball around the low block and was able to make consistent lay-ups near the basket. He did a good job of calling for the ball on offense and his teammates got him the ball where he was able to get good looks at the basket.

Both squads were evenly matched. Neither team went on a run in the first half and neither team gave up any easy baskets.

Amar Miller from the 2016 class came up with some nice baskets that kept his team in the game. He had a quick first step to the basket and a good crossover and he used that to blow by his defenders and get to the basket. If he didn't think that he had a good shot he was not afraid to pass it to one of his teammates.

Team 2016 went on a run late in first half. They built a 10-point lead with 4:14 left in the first half.

Team 2017 continued to get the ball down the floor and as they looked to get easy baskets in transition.

The score at halftime was 40-29 with 2016 leading.

In the first half the class of 2017 shot 27.0% from the field while the class of 2016 shot 48.6%.

As the second half got underway the class of 2017 looked to pass the ball around the three-point line to take time off the 35 second shot clock and to get into an offensive rhythm.

The defensive pressure seemed to loosen up a little bit as each team was able to score on wide open lay ups. Neither team wanted to foul the other if they had a good wide open lay-up.

 

When 2017 looked to go on a run 2016 was able to counter that with slowing them down but extending the defense and switching up what defensive fronts they played.

Miller was able to get fouled and get to the free throw line and was able to step up and knock down his free throws.

The game was close throughout the second half. Both teams were very competitive throughout the contest.

The Class of 2017 strung some baskets together with just under 8:00 to go as they led 67-59 with 7:00 left in regulation.

2016 didn't quit shooting how ever, they continued to swing the ball around the three-point line and looked to create an open shot.

2016 went into a full court press late in the contest. They wanted to make it hard on the 2017 guards to get the ball down the floor. 2016 was successful at doing that.

The game came down to the wire. 2017 had a 69-67 lead with 4:18 left in regulation.

2016 made some nice baskets late down the stretch. They were able to get within two points with 1:17 left in regulation.

Patrick Dembley for class of 2016 knocked down a deep three-point shot with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 76.

The game was tied at 76 at the end of regulation.

In the overtime period both teams continued their same tactics as they continued to push the ball down the floor and get baskets in transition.

The game came down to the wire as both teams played really loose and were able to play to each other’s styles.

The score went back and forth throughout the overtime period. In a fun game that was fun to watch and had a lot of good action the class of 2017 came away with the 84-82 overtime victory over the class of 2016.

 

The leading scorers for the class of 2017 were Joevon Walker and Theo John each with 11 points, and Irsfeld with 10 points. As a team class of 2017 shot 32-89 from the field. That included going 7-25 from behind the three-point line. They were 13-22 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 53 rebounds including 32 of them on the defensive end.

The leading scorers for the class of 2016 were Brock Bertram with 18 points, and Miller and Amir Coffee each with 11 points. As a team the class of 2016 was 29-79 from the field that included going 5-29 from behind the three-point line. They were 19-25 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 62 rebounds 41 on the defensive end.

2015 TOOK ON THE CLASS OF 2014 IN THE SECOND GAME OF THE NORTHSTAR HOOP REPORT “CLASH OF THE CLASSES” BASKETBALL GAME

In the second game of the Northstar Hoops Report “Clash of the Classes” basketball game the classes of 2015 and 2014 went up against each other.

It took a while to get used to playing with each other. I thought that both teams came out a little tight at first but within the first five minutes of the game I thought everyone settled down.

Team 2015 called a timeout with 16:58 left in the first half. The score was 12-5, with 2014 leading.

The top three prospects for the class of 2014, Tyus Jones, Rashad Vaughn and Reid Travis all wanted to show their skills and play off of their teammates.

Jones and Vaughn hooked up with some nice alley-oops on wide open looks at the basket early in the contest.

Team 2015 had a hard time scoring baskets for a period of time in the first half. They looked to be a little bit overmatched by the class of 2014.

Team 2014 went to a zone defense as they tried to slow down the scoring of the players from 2015.

Donnell Gresham for the class of 2015 had a nice dribble game. He was able to beat his defender off the dribble and get the basket. He knew where his teammates were on the floor and was able to get them involved in the offense.

 

Jones was able to get open shots that he wanted to take and was not afraid to pull up and get other people to get shots if he thought that they were more open.

Ian Theisen of 2014 was around the basket. He called for the ball and when he got the ball in the low post he had a good drop step and he was able to take the ball strong to the basket.

Vaughn came up with some nasty two-handed slam dunks in the first half that brought the crowd to their feet in applause.

Both teams looked for fast break opportunities and got them in the first half.

At halftime in a very fast pace good game the score at half time was class of 60-43, with team 2014 leading.

As the second half got underway 2014 continued to roll through the class of 2015. Team 2015 didn't back down however. They continued to look to get to the basket and get into an offensive rhythm.

Team 2015 didn't back down. Even though they were not able to get their shots to fall they still had fun and didn't give up.

Class of 2015 tried to come back late in the contest but was not able to take the lead. The class of 2015 got with in 10 points with five minutes to play in regulation.

Team 2014 didn't let 2015 get the lead late in the game. Team 2014 came away with the 109-100 victory over the class of 2015.

I thought that the play of Jones, Travis and Vaughn was really good. Vaughn came up with some nice plays and had some really nice dunks. I thought that they all felt comfortable playing with each other on the floor. All three complemented each other on the floor.

The leading scorers for the class of 2015 were Sacar Anim with 25 points, and Donell Gresham and Marshawn Wilson each with 13 points. Team 2015 shot 37-100 from the field that included going 9-41 from behind the three-point line. They shot 17-23 from free throw line. The class of 2015 came away with 56 total rebounds, 32 of them on the defensive end.

The leading scorers for 2014 were Travis with 26 points, Vaughn 19 points, John Sobaski 11 points and Tyus Jones with 9 points. 2014 shot 43-88 from the field that included going 7-32 from the three-point line. They shot 16-22 from the free throw line. The class of 2014 came away with 56 rebounds 41 of them on the defensive end.

I thought that this was a very good event. I thought that all of the players had fun playing against each other and I also thought that the fans also enjoyed themselves as well.

 

STEVEN'S SPORTS REPORT TO COVER THE NORTHSTAR HOOPS REPORT “CLASH OF THE CLASSES” EVENT ON FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2013

Northstar Hoops Report will be hosting a “Clash of the Classes” event at Si Melby Hall on the campus of Augsburg College on Fri., June 7.

According to the Northstar Hoops Report web site, “Clash of the Classes is a showdown between the top 11 players from each of the four rising high school classes in Minnesota. Premier up-and-coming talent from around the state will collide for bragging rights as the top upperclassmen and top underclassmen in the Northstar State.”

 

There will be two games. The first game will start at 6 PM, when the class of 2016 will take on the class of 2017. Then, at 8 PM the class of 2014 will take on the class of 2015. 

 

Ticket prices for the event (which will be on sale at the door) are: adults $12, students (ages 5-18) $8, seniors (65+) $8, and kids under five can attend for free. 

 

According to the Northstar Hoops Report web site, “Northstar Hoops Report (NHR) was founded in February 2012 with the goal of becoming the source for Minnesota high school and youth basketball. NHR has accomplished this by providing extensive media coverage for Minnesota basketball.”

AARON BATSON IS A WELL ROUNDED ATHLETE

Aaron Batson was born on February 21, 1999 in Mankato, Minnesota. He has one brother.

Batson has a passion for sports. During the summer he plans on playing basketball in the Mankato area. He also has a love for football and baseball. Batson would like to focus on basketball.

Batson wants to play for the Mankato East Cougars when he is in high school. He will graduate in 2017 .

In his free time he plays sports and stays in shape and likes to hang out with his friends.

 

MINNEAPOLIS REGIN TOOK ON MINNESOTA HEAT DUBERRY IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Minneapolis Regin and the Minnesota Heat squared off in a boys' basketball game on Saturday June 1, 2013. Regin looked to push the ball down the floor and get everyone involved in the offense early.

The Heat ran out to a 11-6 lead with 12:27 left in the first half.

Regin looked to get the bal into the hands of DJ Hunter. Hunter was all over the floor. He was able to get his teammates involved in the offense. Hunter knew where he was supposed to be on the floor and his teammates were able to get him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

Both teams went into a scoring funk midway through the first half. There was very good defense played by both teams.

Regin swung the ball around the three-point line as they looked to take time off the clock and get into a scoring rhythm.

There were many ties and lead changes throughout the first half.

The Regin was able to go on a run late in the first half. The Heat had trouble scoring for a period of time late in the first half.

At halftime the score was Regin 35, Heat Duberry 27.

As the second half got underway both teams continued to attack the basket and looked to get both jump shots and lay-ups.

Heat Deuberry was in the game throughout, as they were able to go on a run midway through the second half. Regin didn't give up how ever as they kept on fighting to get open shots in their offensive system.

The score went back and forth late in the second half. There were many ties and lead changes late.

The game was tied at 56 at the end of regulation.

Heat Duberry went on a run in the oven time period. They would come away with the 62-59 victory over Minneapolis Regin.