Chicago, IL – NetScouts Basketball was at the Nike Global Challenge in Chicago last week. We’ll have an issue sent to our subscribers shortly with scouting information on the better players of the event.
Here’s a recap of the final day’s action:
The third place game featured a very hot China team that came off an easy win over Pan Africa and an upset win over a loaded USA-South Team. China faced the USA-Midwest which featured the best backcourt in the event in Jalen Brunson, Malik Monk and Charles Matthews.
This game was very exciting from the start. Both teams shared the ball very well, these two teams may have been the best passing and best shooting teams in the event and they did not disappoint. China shot the ball extremely well from the three-point line connecting on 50 percent (16-of-32) led by the amazing shooting of 6″2 guard Shuai Yuan who connected on 7-of-13 threes and finished with 33 points. He also showed his high basketball IQ by beating the USA guards off the dribble following bad closeouts. He received help from 6’5 G/F Shang Gao who finished with 24 points, connecting on 3-of-5 threes. However, those two combined for zero assists.
Shuai Yuan
Gao is a sneaky athlete finishing with a couple of crowd pleasing dunks. China’s floor general was 6″3 PG Linyi Yang. Yang made them go. He created shots for everyone and played good defense. Yang finished with 13 points and seven assists.
The USA-Midwest was just too good in this one. They only made six three-pointers in the game but shared the ball extremely well and shot 61 percent from the field. The biggest key and difference in this game was team speed and rebounding as they out-rebounded China 41-20. They were led by their dynamic backcourt of Brunson and Monk who combined for 25 points and 14 assists on 10-of-19 shooting. These two were a joy to watch as they scored at will but played very unselfishly and seemed enjoyed creating for their teammates. Monk, who showed his athleticism but going down the lane and flushing over two China players also had the pass of the tournament. He drove into the middle to draw defenders and then dumped off to 6’9 F Muskegon, Michigan star Deyonta Davis (16 points on 8-of-8 FG) for a two- handed slam.
Brunson showed he was the most mature player at the event. He seemed to always play at a slower pace than his opponents and did whatever he wanted to. He finished the games with 25 assists to nine turnovers and shot 62 percent from the field. The USA-Midwest would go on to win the shootout 119-106 in front of a capacity and very electric crowd.
Jalen Brunson
The championship game featured a “Battle of the Frontcourt Stars.” The USA-West featured 7’0 Stephen Zimmerman (24 points, 11 rebounds) from Bishop Gorman HS in Nevada and 6″8 Plano HS, Texas workhorse DJ Hogg (22 points). The USA-East countered with 6″6 Chris Clarke (18 points, 7 rebounds) from Cape Henry HS, VA and 6’9 Edrice Adebayo (16 points, 12 rebounds).
The West started out with a bang behind the hot shooting of 6″5 G/F Austin Grandstaff (18 points on 4-of-9 3’s). 6’3 combo G Jalen Coleman (19 points, 5 rebounds -La Lumiere (IN) and 6’4 G/F Alonzo Trier (14 points) from Findlay (NV) Prep did their best to keep their team close early by cutting a 13-point deficit to 54-51 at the half. No one on the East could hit an open three with only Coleman (3-of-7 3’s) making any three-pointers. The rest of the team was 0-of-10 from downtown.
The versatility of Hogg and Zimmerman was just too much in the second half as the West blew open the gates to lead 83-64 after the third quarter and cruised to a 106-93 victory. Zimmerman and Hogg played great together with both making the All-Tournament Team. Zimmerman took home the MVP Honors averaging 17.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg.
Stephen Zimmerman
All-Tournament Teams
USA All-Tournament Team
Jalen Brunson (USA Midwest)
Jaylen Brown (USA South)
Malik Monk (USA Midwest)
Edrice Adebayo (USA East)
DJ Hogg (USA West)
MVP: Stephen Zimmerman (USA West)
International All-Tournament Team
Shang Gao (China)
Jalen Poyser (Canada)
George Lucas Alves De Paula (Brasil)
Ted Kapita (Pan Africa)
Chimezie Metu (Pan Africa)
MVP: Shuai Yuan (China)
Durrell Robinson is a Scout and Correspondent for NetScouts Basketball.
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