The AAU Week That Was #6: Skyview

#4 posting 5.11.2007
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THE AAU WEEK THAT WAS #6
The offenses are getting thinner as the weeks wear on. That may be due to the lack of practice time, it may be the further the HS season is in the rear view mirror, the lower the pp100 drops. Whatever the reason teams struggled to find the bottom of the net at Skyview MS in Oakdale.

Skyview itself had small courts. Also during the tournament the lights went out entirely on court two. They continued to play with one row out on court one in a dim court. Maybe that factored into the poor shooting---the players couldn't see the basket.

HOW TO BUILD AN AAU TEAM
Here is how I decided to look for players when I was coaching once upon a time in the AAU wars:
I wanted as many All State players I could get for the 16u team
I wanted as many All conference/All Area players for the 15u team
I wanted as many HS starters on my 14u team
I wanted as many HS rostered, and contributors on my 13u team.
Obviously if the player is an all stater as a 14 year old that works out great. If the player is rostered on the HS team, I might pass for the 16s.
Here is a look at the big 3 teams from MN
North Tartan 5 all staters
MN Stars Hested 4 all staters
NC Heat 3 All staters
Winning is pretty important. If players win in HS they probably know what it takes to win and how winning teams behave.
Here is a look at the big 3 with winning %
MN Stars Hested 284-45 .863
North Tartan 224-62 .783
NC Heat 217-93 .700
Pretty good numbers, but Hested has two Central players (Jones, Taylor) and three Becker players (Two Masteys and Stemper) that are a combined 157-3 on the year (.982).
Size matters. The bigger the better, especially with long wing spans on the perimeter to change/alter/disrupt passes and shots.
Here is the average height
North Tartan 5-11.8
NC Heat 5-11.6
MN Stars Hested 5-10.5
In other words not a lot of difference here.
How will it shake out? It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. They will all three be in action next week in Hastings. Check back for more times and a preview of the qualifier next week.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
That is no doubt MN Stars Hested. They were the only team really in the running. They didn't have any tight contests as they dominated the Skyview AAU Touranment. The other teams were left in the dust. Most of the teams this week were mired in the 60s pp100. Hested topped out at 94.3 pp100 and that was way ahead of the other teams.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MN Stars Hested's Theairra Taylor was a flurry of activity as she dominated early setting the tone in the championship game against MN Stars Borowicz. This season on Central's team she was a supporting player. Next year she will come out of her shell and shellack other teams. The HS fans haven't seen Taylor in flight. Smooth, fluid, creative, explosive...all good words to describe T Squared.
Again to make this team I had to see the player during the week. Player had to have at least 6 possessions, 100 pp100 and .500 floor %. Not every one reached these benchmarks this week. I know younger players are listed and it is cross comparing, but they hit their marks.

First Team
Georgie Jones, MN Stars Hested
Brianna Mastey, MN Stars Hested
Jordan Skiem, MN Stars Smith
Theairra Taylor, MN Stars Hested
Megan Zillmer, Swish
Second Team
Rachel Banham, Lakeville North
Keely Brennen, MN Fury
Alisa Brown, 'Stangs
Ashley Johnson, River City
Ashley Prather, Lakeville North

DEFENSIVE TEAM
Paige Beck, 'Stangs
Alycia Dahl, MN Stars Smith
Brooke Dunsmoore, Swish
Cassie Rochel, Lakeville North captain
Jordyn Sears, Swish

PAST WEEKLY WINNERS
Team, Player/D player
5: NC Heat....Tayler Hill (Mpls South) NC Heat/Katya Leick (Park-Cottage Grove) NC Heat
4: MN AAAA All Stars....Angel Robinson (St. Paul Central) AAAA/Janessa Wolf (Park Rapids) AAA
3: Team WI Select 17....Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17/same
2: Mpls Lady Cats..... Sarina Baker (DeLaSalle) Mpls Lady Cats/Aubrey Davis (Blm Kennedy) Mpls Lady Cats
1: IBCA SelectI.....Indy Uhlenhopp (North Butler) IBCA Select I/same

THE POLLS
A few additions, some movement, all in anticipation for next weekend.
19
1. Metro Stars 19
2. Gym Rats

16/17
1. NC Heat
2. North Tartan 17
3. IBCA Select I
4. All Iowa Attack
5. MN Stars Hested
6. Team WI Select 17
7. Randolph
8. East Metro Elite
9. Iowa Elite I
10. MN Metro Stars Black
11. MN Stars Borowicz
12. Quest
13. Total Package

15
1. MN Metro Stars
2. North Tartan 15
3. Team WI Select 15
4. MN Stars
5. Lakeville North
6. MN Fury
7. Southern Stars
8. MSB

14
1. North Tartan 14
2. MN Metro Stars
3. MN Suns
4. MN Fury
5. MN Stars

13
1. Mpls Lady Cats
2. Midtown Lady Monarchs
3. St. Paul Central
4. MN Suns
5. Olympic Ice
6. Metro Stars

Next up: tomorrow morning