More college and high school prep updates

It’s been quite the basketball season at both the high school and collegiate level. This week’s column highlights a former prep star leading his team to a tournament title, another who has his team on the verge of making history, a girls’ basketball championship for a City team, a national award for the top high school players in the country, and a brief update on a Division I signee.

Sims leads Texas

Jericho Sims (Cristo Rey-Jesuit) scored a career-high 21 points in helping the University of Texas men’s basketball team to a 91-86 victory over Oklahoma State University to capture the Big 12 championship last week. The 6’8” senior forward, currently averaging 9.2 points per game for the Longhorns, also grabbed 14 rebounds and had three steals.

Suggs has team on verge to making history   

Gonzaga University point guard Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy) has his team on the verge of history. The Bulldogs go into the NCAA tournament with an undefeated 26-0 record and finished as the No. 1-ranked team in the men’s basketball poll.

If the WCC regular season and tournament champion wins the 2021 NCAA crown, they will be the first team to go undefeated since Indiana University’s 1976 squad.

Suggs, a 6’4” freshman, is averaging 14.3 points per game.

South wins City Conference crown   

Minneapolis South girls’ basketball team, led by Jade Hill and Angel Hill, have led the Tigers, coached by alum and former student athlete standout Ricky Hill, to another City Conference championship.

Jade Hill averages 32.4 points per game while Angel Hill adds 17.5 per contest.

Ricky Hill, a 1985 South graduate, was a football and basketball star for the Tigers.

Jade Hill will attend the University of St. Thomas in the fall.

Holmgren named top player

After Chet Holmgren was named the 2021 Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year, the 7’1” senior went out and had a triple double in leading Minnehaha Academy to a victory over Minneapolis North.

Holmgren, the No. 1-ranked senior prospect in the country from the moment the season began, had 22 points, 12 blocked shots and 11 rebounds in an 82-47 win over the Polars last week.

Ugass leading Roseville

Tamia Ugass, the 6’3” post player who will play at LSU next year, is averaging 18.3 points per game for the Raiders’ girls’ basketball team.