43 Hoops 16s are making noise

The 43 Hoops 16 and Under squad is continuing to have a strong season led by backcourt standouts Marcus Marshall of St. Paul Johnson and Marcus Tyus from Anoka. This group let the state know they were a force in late April when they won the Pump N Run Spring Showcase and from there it's been improvement every step of the way.

The backcourt combination of Marshall and Tyus has not only had local success but they've shined against national competition as well.

"Marcus Marshall and Marcus Tyus are having the best early period I have seen in a long time," said 43 Hoops coach Al Harris. "Tyus recently hung 25 points on Gary Harris who is ranked 16th in 2012. Marshall scored 22 as well and he has officially received an offer from UMKC. They are receiving serious division one interest as is Duke Anyanwu. Coaches are tracking them from tournament to tournament and game to game."

Marshall has been the catalyst for the team hitting big shot after big shot all spring and summer long. The shooting guard from St. Paul Johnson has shown range and consistency with his touch and he's making shots off of ball rotations, coming off screens, or with the dribble drive creation. Using his quickness off slick handles Marshall has to be defended all over the floor and when he catches fire teams have to look out as Marshall is capable of rattling off 12, 13, or 15 points in a row. He showed it during the spring and now Marcus has picked up recruiting interest because he's performing this summer.

"Marcus is hearing from Northern Iowa, Iowa, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana State, Oregon State, Northern Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa State, Saint Louis, Western Michigan, Hartford, and Wisconsin-Green Bay," said coach Harris. "He has also impressed William & Mary and Butler coaches at numerous events. They said they will be watching him closely in Las Vegas."

Marcus Tyus exploded on the Minnesota basketball scene this year playing point guard for an improved Anoka team that won 19 games last year. Tyus scored 13.6 points a contest while also distributing the ball amongst four senior scorers who all also averaged double figures. Marcus had a big winter, an even better spring, and now in the summer colleges have put him on their radar.

"South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Dayton, South Dakota, Ohio, and North Dakota have show interest in Marcus Tyus," said coach Harris.

Another Northwest Suburban Conference player having a big summer for 43 Hoops 16s is Duke Anyanwu. An outstanding athlete, Duke is a multi-sport standout from Blaine who averaged 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game while working as a defensive specialist and playing with junior Zach Romashko who averaged 18.1 points and 8.2 rebounds a contest. Anyanwu has also caught the eye of some schools.

"Duke has received numerous calls from D1 schools as well," Al said. "One division one coach said that Duke was the best 2012 on-ball defender in Merrillville (a recent July event in Illinois). Bradley and Dayton have shown interest."

Marshall, Tyus, and Anyanwu are currently getting some recruiting headlines but they are far from the lone standouts. 43 Hoops is also receiving strong contributions from guard Isaiah Gray (who is rumored to be moving from Wisconsin into the Twin Cities), Spring Lake Park shooter Sean Scott, Concordia Academy skilled big Cutler Finneman, and then 6-foot-6 Cullen Russo from Bloomington Kennedy who so many local hoop heads love.

"Cullen Russo might be the best kept secret in the country," said coach Harris. "Receiving some serious buzz from a lot of coaches after Cullen's ten day early July performances."

Cullen and the rest of the 43 Hoops 16s will continue their summer with the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas this week.