Event notes from the Week

Most Minnesota spring/summer teams played locally in the Best Buy Summer Classic while some were in Milwaukee for the final NY2LA event, and Howard Pulley played at the annual Peach Jam. From both the Midwest and the Southeast there was news and positive results to talk about.

The Minnesota Fury 15 and Under team coached by Nick Carroll was the most successful local team playing their way all the way to the final. Indiana Elite won the final by double figures but Carroll's team came away from the Best Buy Summer Classic with the knowledge that they went further than any other local squad.

There were significant in state match-ups of note and most were in the 17 and Under division where things kept going around and around. The Minnesota Pump N Run defeated the Atlanta Celtics and the Minnesota Comets defeated a scrappy Southwest Minnesota Stars bunch. The Pump N Run then handed a significant defeat to the Minnesota Comets. A day later the Pump N Run lost 56-54 to Minnesota Southside. The game that followed saw the Atlanta Celtics crush the Southside.

Sanjay Lumpkin and Wally Ellenson were top Pump N Run performers who drew a lot of college attention but equally as important to their wins was Will Dunn and Dwight Anderson. Anderson had a knack for scoring important baskets in just about every Pump N Run game particularly the contests with the Celtics and Southside.

Dunn attacked the basket like a determined bull in most of the tournament games. He forced the defense to make a choice, take a charge or he's going to get his shot attempt. Dunn was able to score on more agile defenders throughout the tournament and of course he continues to make three-pointers.

Minnesota Southside defeated the Minnesota Pump N Run 56-54 and for the Southside crew this was a huge victory. The team is full of hardnosed kids who like to defend and when they faced the Pump N Run they were grinding at their best. Down the stretch DeShaun Patterson brought his team home hitting a baseline 17 footer, scoring on a reverse lay-in with a little mustard, and he hit crucial free throws. Patterson may be the strongest 5-foot-11 guard in Minnesota.

Notes

Isaiah Zierden made a Peach Jam high 20 three-pointers in 42 attempts. Consider that this number of three point makes is nearly 50 percent and one should be impressed. Next consider that Isaiah did this at the Peach Jam which is a collection of 24 of the best summer teams in the nation. Also worth note was his 18 of 19 free throw shooting.

Nate Kratch has added offers from South Dakota and Lafayette in the past 24 hours. He's also heard from Western Michigan, Marquette, Bowling Green, Florida Gulf Coast, Loyola-Chicago, and Santa Clara in that same time period.

Cutler Finneman received a full ride scholarship offer from Sioux Falls.

C.J. Neumann picked up a division one offer from Wofford.

Casey Schilling has reduced his list to Southwest Minnesota State, Augustana, and Northwestern (IA).

Tommy McDermott was offered by Northern State.

Marcus Marshall recently added offers from Murray State, Florida Gulf Coast, and Buffalo.

Sanjay Lumpkin was offered by Lehigh.