Video: Top Plays of the Year
See the best plays from the past year.
Although the 2019-20 Nebraska boys basketball season is just getting under way, several of the Cornhusker State's top talents are playing at a very high level already.
South Sioux City's Kaden Sailors stands out in this week's Top 10 after he produced the lone Nebraska triple-double that's been posted to MaxPreps' statistics database to date. Sailors roughed up Sioux City North for 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, 12 steals and a blocked shot in the Cardinals' 59-58 loss in early December.
Seth Miller of Anselmo-Merna scored 30 points in a 65-51 win over Overton in mid-December and added 26 rebounds and five assists to claim the No. 2 spot. Maywood/Hayes Center's Weston Morrow ripped the cords for 38 points and pulled down eight rebounds, dished out an assist and swiped 15 enemy balls in a 61-44 triumph over Southwest for the three spot.
Cameron Eisenhauer of Norfolk produced the fourth best stat line with 30 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 72-60 win over Fremont Dec. 28 while Laurel-Concord-Coleridge's Noah Schutte rounds out the Top 5 after putting up 26 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, a steal and three blocked shots in a 77-53 win over Homer.
Maywood/Hayes Center landed its second Top 10 performance when Eli Handsaker ripped the cords for 26 points and was credited with 14 rebounds, a steal and seven blocked shots in a 68-66 loss to Brady Dec. 19 to settle in at No. 7.
Classes A, D1 and D2 are represented in this week's Top 10. But plenty of athletes in Classes B, C1 and C2 are off to fast starts as well. Mt. Michael Benedictine's Kaleb Brink scored 31 points, pulled down 19 rebounds and added an assist, three steals and three blocked shots to his stat line in a 72-50 win over Ralston to lead Class B while Joe Burrus of Boys Town was tops in Class C1 after putting up 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and 11 steals in a 76-70 win over Oakland-Craig.
Zacob Evans of Hi-Line is credited with the finest performance in Class C2 so far after pouring in 10 points, pulling down 13 boards, dishing out three assists and swiping six enemy balls in a 62-59 triumph of Bertrand Dec 17.
In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, an athlete had to produce a double-double and compete at a high level in another category or score 20 or more points and pull down 20 or more rebounds in any given contest. The statistics used for this week's Top 10 were pulled from MaxPreps' statistics database Wednesday evening.
Nebraska's Top 10 individual boys basketball performances
1. Kaden Sailors, South Sioux City 5-5 Sr. PG22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 12 steals and a blocked shot in a 59-58 loss to Sioux City North, Dec. 9.
2. Seth Miller, Anselmo-Merna (Merna) 6-1 Sr. SG, PG30 points, 26 rebounds and 5 assists in a 65-51 win over Overton, Dec. 17.
3. Weston Morrow, Maywood/Hayes Center (Maywood) 5-9 So. G38 points, 8 rebounds, an assist and 15 steals in a 61-44 win over Southwest, Dec. 7.
4. Cameron Eisenhauer, Norfolk 6-2 Sr.30 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in a 72-60 win over Fremont, Dec. 28.
5. Noah Schutte, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (Laurel) 6-4 Sr. SF, PF, SG26 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and 3 blocked shots in a 77-53 win over Homer, Dec. 10.
6. Blake Brewster, Paxton 6-11 Sr. C, PF26 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 blocked shots in a 53-50 loss to Anselmo-Merna, Dec. 5.
7. Eli Handsaker, Maywood/Hayes Center (Maywood) 6-5 Sr. F26 points, 14 rebounds, a steal and 7 blocked shots in a 68-66 loss to Brady, Dec. 19.
8. Nolan Belt, Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson) 6-3 Sr.18 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals and 3 blocked shots in a 50-36 win over Winside, Dec. 19.
9. Luke Kasten, Potter-Dix (Potter.) 6-3 Fr. G19 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals in a 69-52 win over Arthur County, Dec. 21.
10. Brendyn Ollendick, Elkhorn Valley (Tilden) 6-2 Jr. G20 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots in a 68-47 win over Madison, Dec. 10.
