Video: Andy Kerkman's highlight vs. West Boyd
See Clearwater/Orchard player in action earlier in his career.
Barely into his sophomore basketball season at Platteview High School, Brady Heiman has proven he can produce large numbers - massive enough to compare against his 6-foot-10-inch frame – especially as of late.
This week's Top 10 boys basketball performances were drawn from games that concluded before the beginning of the new year, and we are sticking to that. But, in the case of Heiman we have decided to discuss the stat line he produced Jan. 2 in a 64-61 overtime loss to Omaha Roncalli.
Heiman takes the top spot in this week's Top 10 after posting his first triple-double of the season, and of his young career, with 14 points, 14 rebounds, 13 blocked shots, three assists and a steal in a 66-62 win over Omaha Roncalli, the first of back to back outings against the Crimson Pride.
But his second performance against Omaha Roncalli was equally impressive after he ripped the cords for 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, swatted 10 enemy shots and was credited with an assist and a pair of steals in the loss to the Crimson Pride.
If you throw in his Dec. 29 stat line from a 67-34 win over Plattsmouth, Heiman is a blocked shot away from three straight triple-doubles, and he has amassed 42 points, 39 rebounds, 32 blocked shots and five assists and four steals collectively in those contests.
As a freshman, Heiman produced five double-doubles and now has 10 for his career. The Trojan center owns career highs of 17 points, 15 rebounds and 14 blocked shots. Look for Heiman to not only post some rather large numbers throughout his career, but to break plenty of records along the way as well.
Falling in line behind Heiman are Chambers/Wheeler Central's Brenden Pelster, Khuath Gatkuoth of Boys Town and Papillion-LaVista's Ayo Akinwole, our next three picks after they also posted triple-doubles in the early weeks of the 2015-16 basketball season.
Norfolk Catholic's Matt Miller claims the No. 5 spot after pouring in 22 points and ripping down 23 boards in a 48-44 loss to Parkview Christian. Miller also posted a couple of assists and a pair of steals in the state's fifth-best individual performance through December 2015. Miller's 23 rebounds in one game ranks 34th all-time in Nebraska.
Nebraska's Top 10 individual boys basketball performances so far
Triston Simpson, North Star
Photo by Rod Adams
14 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 13 blocked shots in a 66-62 win over Omaha Roncalli Dec. 30.
2. Brenden Pelster, Chambers/Wheeler Central (Chambers), 5-10, Sr., G/F18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot in a 68-50 win over North Central Dec. 10.
3. Khuath Gatkuoth, Boys Town, 6-4, Soph.14 points, 15 rebounds, 1 steal, 10 blocked shots in a 53-40 loss to Omaha Roncalli Dec. 10.
4. Ayo Akinwole, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion), 5-10, Jr., PG14 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal in a 69-54 win over Omaha Burke Dec. 11.
5. Matt Miller, Norfolk Catholic, 6-4, Sr., F22 points, 23 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals in a 48-44 loss to Parkview Christian Dec. 4.
6. Andy Kerkman, Clearwater/Orchard (Clearwater), 6-8, Sr., C20 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocked shots in a 72-57 win over Chambers/Wheeler Central Dec. 30.
7. Tristan Kalvoda, Harvard, 6-3, Sr., G/F24 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 8 steals and a blocked shot in a 53-44 loss to Giltner Dec. 3.
8. Tyler Polacek, Howells-Dodge (Howells), 6-0, Sr., PG17 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 7 steals and a blocked shot in a 64-31 win over Homer Dec. 30.
9. Noah Valasek, Riverside (Cedar Rapids), 5-11, Jr., G15 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots in a 77-39 win over Chambers/Wheeler Central Dec. 17.
10. Triston Simpson, North Star (Lincoln), 6-1, Sr., PG16 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot in a 75-62 loss to Lincoln Northeast Dec. 29.
