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Duluth Marshall girls basketball head coach Chibuzo Osuchukwu on marquee players Chloe Johnson, a 6-foot freshman, and Gabija Krasauskaite, a 6-7 8th-grader. Both Hilltoppers standouts are top-10 college prospects nationally in their respective graduating classes. Duluth Marshall blitzed Duluth Denfeld 76-22 on Thursday night, as Johnson scored 30 points and sat out most of the second half and Krasauskaite played sparingly only in the second half. The Hilltoppers (4-0) next host Hopkins (4-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Duluth Marshall Gym. Watching Johnson and Krasauskaite is worth the affordable price of admission.
Osuchukwu on Johnson, one of the top recruits nationally in the Class of 2028 – "She's bigger, faster and stronger than a year ago. She extended her range a lot, too. That's the goal, to improve each year. She has a high basketball IQ and that's why a lot of college coaches love her already. She needs to keep working on her game because things will continue to be harder at every new level."
Osuchukwu on Krasauskaite (quickly-rising prospect, Class of 2029) – "Gabby's originally from Lithuania. We got a call two weeks after school started that she was coming and she landed here. We didn't know if she could play or anything, she popped up and we've been grateful. How does she end up at Duluth Marshall? That's a good question. I have no clue. But I'm just happy she did. A lot want to play with Chloe Johnson, and she makes things easy for her teammates. Maybe that could be the answer. Gabby's 6-foot-7 and is very mobile for her age. She moves like a gazelle and loves to block shots. She has a great work ethic. She lifts twice a week. She's in the gym working out in the morning. She could be a major high-level player. She could play in the WNBA. I mean, that's her upside."
Osuchukwu on his team -- "We're very athletic. We like to push the tempo and get up and down the floor. This is probably the best offensive team I've had, and obviously, it helps with Gabby being down there to protect the rim. We like to get after people."
Osuchukwu on his team's offensive strategy – "We play a freelance offense and positionless in everything we run, even through Gabby. Everybody needs to be able to pass, everybody needs to shoot. Everybody also needs to be able to start the offense, so in that aspect we're positionless."
Osuchukwu on the Hilltoppers' road to state – "Crosby-Ironton is the defending champ, and then you've got Pequot Lakes and Proctor. We play two of those three teams during the regular season, so we can't wait to match up with them."
Today's Prep Games
Boys Hockey
East Grand Forks at Hermantown
Minneapolis at Duluth Denfeld
Roseau at Grand Rapids
Warroad at Rock Ridge
Girls Hockey
Rock Ridge at Crookston
Boys Basketball
Hibbing at Hermantown
Duluth East at Woodbury
Duluth Denfeld at North Branch
Grand Rapids at Hutchinson
Rock Ridge at Greenway
Cromwell-Wright at McGregor
Nashwauk-Keewatin at Deer River
Girls Basketball
Greenway at Duluth Denfeld
Esko at Jordan
St. Francis at Cloquet
Two Harbors at Moose Lake-Willow River
Rock Ridge at North Branch
Cook County at Floodwood
Northwestern at St. Croix Falls
Solon Springs at Mercer
