5 For the Fight National Hoopfest Standouts
PLEASANT GROVE, UT - The 5 for the Fight National HoopFest was a raving success prior to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There were a number of studs who stood out from the action. Let's dive into the first five.
EVENT STATS: 10 PPG and 3.5 RPG in 14 MPG
The 4-star Cincinnati commit played a huge role in AZ Compass beating the #1 team in the country in Montverde Academy and the #3 team in Sunrise Christian Academy. Griffith brings a ton of energy and won MVP of the team’s win over Montverde as he scored 12 points and had 5 rebounds and 2 steals in just 13 minutes. He has great finishing skills and gets out in transition very well. He also has a very high motor, like just about every player on his team, and is very effective on both sides of the ball.
EVENT STATS: 15.5 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1 BPG, 1 SPG, 57.8% FG, 60% from 3
This was the type of showing that we were expecting to get from him this season. The native of Oklahoma City had it rolling throughout the event, showing off his versatility throughout the action. You could argue he was the most productive guard in the event over the course of two games. He looked like the alpha male on the Wasatch team, setting the tone on both sides of the floor. The class of 2024 guard certainly made the case that he's one of the best available guards in the country in this setting. - Justin Young
EVENT STATS: 13 PPG and 4.5 RPG
The 5-star scored the most points for Montverde on the week in a variety of ways inside the arc including a poster dunk in the MVA’s 85-42 win over Pleasant Grove. The Oregon commit used his length to score over defenders and make an impact contesting shots during the tournament. He got off to an excellent early start in Montverde’s matchup against AZ Compass and scored 17 points in their second game against Pleasant Grove.
EVENT STATS: 34 PPG (50% FG and 47.5% from three), 2.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
Toombs has a great feel for the game and plays very under control allowing him to get to his spots and knock down shots. He can shoot off the dribble exceptionally well and makes the right play in transition. Toombs had a tournament record scoring 44 points in his second game as Corner Canyon took down a NIBC team in Bishop Walsh.
Cuff and American Fork had a huge win in their first game over Sunrise Christian Academy, one of the best teams in the country. Cuff is a great shooter and an underrated playmaker, as he scored 13 points hitting three of his four attempted threes in 18 minutes in the team's first game and went 10-10 from the line in their second. Cuff and American Fork showed a lot of fight in the tournament and went 1-1.