The Granddaddy Game is Over. Hopkins is Victorious Over Park Center
BROOKLYN PARK– The granddaddy game of Minnesota high school girl’s basketball has concluded. The battle between the guard play of Bueckers vs. McKenzie is over. Hopkins is victorious over Park Center by a score of 97-78. Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota was…
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Continue ReadingBROOKLYN PARK– The granddaddy game of Minnesota high school girl’s basketball has concluded. The battle between the guard play of Bueckers vs. McKenzie is over. Hopkins is victorious over Park Center by a score of 97-78. Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota was there to witness the biggest game on the schedule this year. See our expanded list of standouts from the battle between Hopkins and Park Center.
Aaliyah Ragulen Aaliyah Ragulen 5'2" | PG Park Center | 2020 State MN , Guard, Park Center (2020)
Ragulen showed her senior leadership late in this game. Her ability to keep the momentum high when the Pirates started to trail was what gave this game the atmosphere it deserved. She is a very strong competitor that just happens to have a good mid-range shot as well.
Nunu Agara Nunu Agara 6'1" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #32 Nation MN , Guard, Hopkins (2023)
Agara was one of a few young players that scored in double digits in this big battle against Park Center. As a 6’1 guard, she can shoot well from mid-range, drive the bucket and crash boards pretty well. A promising prospect to keep an eye on in the class of 2023 as her and Woodson are tied for first in the 2023 rankings.
T’Naye Griffin T’Naye Griffin 6'0" | PF St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN , Guard/Forward, Park Center (2021)
Besides the Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN show, Griffin was my 2nd favorite player to watch last night for the Pirates. She scored in double digits but was also one of Park Center’s top rebounders which is why she makes a good combo forward/guard. Her athletism stood out to me, as she was going up against players from Hopkins that were bigger but she kept them in check to the best of her ability.
Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN , Forward, Hopkins (2023)
It’s very clear and easy to see why Woodson holds our number 1 spot in our Class of 2023. Her ability to score at will, rebound (top rebounder last night), and get that team points to make her a top dog in our 2023 class based on what we saw last night. I second my colleague from Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota as I don’t think there is a better forward duo in Woodson and Nnaji in the United States, and especially in Minnesota” and that comes out of the Hopkins Royals.
Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , Forward, Hopkins (2022)
Let’s just say the frontcourt for the Pirates had a little bit of a problem defending the likes of Nnaji and Woodson. Nnaji, who holds multiple Big Ten offers was an absolute beast for the frontcourt of Hopkins last night. She rebounded well, and at 6’4 having such a size advantage to the Pirates forwards could make a way of anyone that tried to guard her.
Lauren Frost Lauren Frost 5'8" | CG Park Center | 2020 State MN , Guard, Park Center (2020)
Frost is a 2020 guard that carried the Pirates with small punches last night. Her ability to drive to the bucket and hit the mid-range shot make her one of my standouts last night. She also rebounded pretty well against a Hopkins team that is so loaded with depth and size. The Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha will be getting a good one in Frost next season.
Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN , Guard, Hopkins (2020)
I finally got to see the #1 ranked player nationally in the class of 2020 and she did not disappoint in a packed fieldhouse at Park Center. Bueckers is a second to none guard that has all the pieces to the puzzle figured out already. She can shoot from anywhere, drive the bucket against bigger defenders and is such a fluent passer it almost doesn’t look real. Her 30 points chipped in real well for the Hopkins Royals to get the biggest win of the year in Minnesota’s girl’s basketball game of the year. Her matchup vs. Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN is something people will talk about for many years to come.
Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN , Guard, Park Center (2021)
McKenzie’s ability to drive the bucket is what shook the Park Center fieldhouse the most, especially on the home side of the bleachers. She is such an unreal dribbler and she makes it look so easy even on a great defender like Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN who was her battle all night. McKenzie lit up the gym with 42 points which accounts for almost 53% of her team’s scoring which was unbelievable to watch happen even in a loss.
Hopkins (11-0) will meet Wisconsin powerhouse La Crosse Aquinas (10-0) on Friday, January 3rd at 6:15 PM at home. They feature Lexi Donarski who is averaging about 22 ppg and is committed to playing for the Iowa State Cyclones next year.
Park Center (11-1) will get a little time off as they won’t play Elk River (7-3) until January 7th at 7:00 at home. Elk River is coming off a massive defeat of the Rogers Royals 74-36.
Be on the lookout tomorrow for “Nate’s 10 Best” from all of his tournament coverage for the last three days at St. Cloud, Monticello, and Park Center.
Photo Courtesy of John Autey, Pioneer Press.