Contributer
Apple Valley (MN): The second ranked Class AAAA team in Minnesota, the 9-1 Eagles recently lost their first regular season game in over two calendar years. The Eagles are led by the 22 points of sophomore standout Gary Trent Jr (a four-star Rivals.com prospect) who has offers from Minnesota, Texas Tech and Providence. He's the son of former Minnesota Timberwolves forward and 10-year year NBA veteran Gary Trent Sr. Apple Valley's leading rebounder Brock Bertram is a junior averaging a double-double (14.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game) and he holds a Texas Tech offer. Also with a Texas Tech offer is freshman point guard Tre Jones (brother of Duke point guard Tyus Jones) who leads the Eagles at just under six assists per game. Junior Jordan Bolton is the second leading scorer at 16 a contest. Trent is the No. 1 sophomore in state and Jones is the No. 1 freshman in state (both rankings from NorthstarHoopsReport.com).
Omaha Central (NE): The Eagles have started the year 5-2 behind head coach Ben Holling who is in his first year as head coach at Central (was previously an assistant at the school). Central is ranked fourth in Nebraska’s Class A level of basketball after seven games. When it comes to size, the Eagles can compete with most because they start a frontline of 6-foot-7 Maguy Agau and 6-foot-8, 240 pound Isaiah “Pooh Bear” Chandler with 6-foot-7, 250 pound Daishon Neal backing them up. In the backcourt, junior K’Zhan Jimerson is pound-for-pound as tough as they come, getting double-doubles regularly as a 5-foot-9 guard. Both teams are nicknamed the Eagles.
Key Match-Up:
Brock Bertram vs Isaiah “Pooh Bear” Chandler. Apple Valley will have a backcourt talent edge on Central but the Eagles can match them with in frontcourt power. Chandler getting an edge inside would level the playing field so expect Central to let him (and Agau) touch the ball early and often.
Top Prospects:
Apple Valley: Brock Bertram (6-ft-10, Jr, Center), Jordan Bolton (6-ft-0, Jr, Shooting Guard), Steve Christiansen (6-ft-6, Sr, Power Forward), Tre Jones (6-ft-1, Fr, Point Guard), Cameron Kirksey (6-ft-5, Jr, Small Forward), Austin Korba (6-ft-5, Sr, Small Forward), Gary Trent Jr (6-ft-4, So, Shooting Guard)
Omaha Central: Ramsey Adams (6-ft-5, Jr, Power Forward), Maguy Agau (6-ft-7, Sr, Power Forward), Roman Behrens (6-ft-0, Fr, Guard), Isaiah “Pooh Bear: Chandler (6-ft-8, So, Center), K’Zahn Jimerson (5-ft-9, Jr, Point Guard), Daishon Neal (6-ft-7, Sr, Center)