Top players take honors, early leads

Minneapolis Washburn running back JEFF JONES, the senior who rushed for 4,668 yards and 92 touchdowns for his career, was recently named Mr. Football. Jones also helped the Millers’ boys’ basketball team capture second-place honors in the Class 3A state tournament in 2011 as a sophomore.

Hageman captures team honors

Former Washburn football and basketball star RA’SHADE HAGEMAN was a three-time award winner at the Gophers annual team football banquet. Hageman, a defensive lineman recruited as tight end while in high school, captured the Bronko Nagurski Award (MVP), the Carle Eller Award (Outstanding Defensive Player), and Defensive Player of the Year. Hageman also earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.

Lots of good ball at the Breakdown

The Breakdown Tipoff Classic at Hopkins High School last weekend featured some of the state’s top players in girls’ and boys’ basketball.

TYUS JONES, the state’s top player and No. 1-ranked point guard in the country, scored 29 points, and freshmen GARY TRENT JR. added 18, leading Apple Valley to a 73-63 win over DeLaSalle in the marquee matchup of the evening.

GENO CRANDALL led the Islanders with 23 points. JARVIS JOHNSON added 15 (including an effortless two-hand slam dunk), and SACAR ANIM chipped in 14.

The balanced scoring of JACOB WRIGHT (18 points), KAMALI CHAMBERS (14), STEPHON SHARP (13), TREYVON EDWARDS (12), and AMIR COFFEY (11) led Hopkins past St. Michael Albertville.

University of Wisconsin signee CAYLA MCMORRIS scored 25 points, and freshman center MIKAYLA HAYES added 12, leading Park Center to a 64-59 victory over Bloomington Kennedy. Marquette University-bound KENISHA BELL scored 21 for the Eagles, and teammate LASHAYLA WRIGHT-PONDER chipped in 12.

Sophomore ASHLEY BATES exploded for 28 points, and NIA HOLLIE had 12 in Hopkins’ 68-57 victory over Anoka.

DESTINEE MORRIS and DAIZJAH MORRIS led Centennial to a 61-49 victory over Minnetonka.

Alexander off to fast start

Champlin Park senior ALEXIS ALEXANDER, headed to South Dakota State next fall, is averaging 19 points per game.

Adams leads the way

Sophomore ANDRAYAH ADAMS scored 25 points to lead Como Park’s 69-48 victory over Richfield, led by junior KAILEY ADMAMS’ 20 points.

Central looking good early

RAYNA SHAROW, CHELCIE KATZART, JADA JONES, LYRIC WILLIAMS and JADA HAYNES have St. Paul Central, a participant in the Class 4A girls’ basketball tournament, off to a 3-1 start.

Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.