Benet’s Brayden Fagbemi was in the process of launching a desperation 70-foot shot as time expired in the third quarter Friday when a Nazareth player inexplicably fouled him.
Fagbemi calmly swished all three free throws.
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“It was lucky on my part,” he said.
Luck, however, has little to do with how Fagbemi has been playing lately. The 6-0 senior point guard is improving with every game, and his performance against the host Roadrunners was his best yet.
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In a dominant performance reminiscent of former Benet greats Dave Sobolewski and Frank Kaminsky, Fagbemi scored a career-high 31 points to go with six rebounds, four steals, two assists and a blocked shot to lead the Redwings to a 62-37 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory in La Grange Park.
The Johns Hopkins recruit tallied 23 points in the second half, with 16 coming during an incredible 27-0 run that turned a tight game into a laugher.
“That’s spectacular what he did,” Benet senior guard Brady Kunka said. “We knew what he’s capable of coming in. He’s a great offensive player.
“He usually plays the role of getting the other guys open and dishing to other guys to get shots, but tonight he was the guy.”
Benet coach Gene Heidkamp actually saw it coming.
“I could tell from the beginning of the game that Brayden was ready to play,” Heidkamp said. “Even when we struggled in the first quarter, he made some big shots.”
Indeed, Fagbemi made his first three attempts, including the first two of his six 3-pointers. He kept the Redwings (23-1, 11-0), who are ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A poll by The Associated Press, in the game.
Nazareth (8-15, 3-9) led 25-22 early in the third quarter when Dartmouth recruit Niko Abusara found Fagbemi for a 3-pointer from the left corner. It was the beginning of a pattern.
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“We had a number of guys who found him on open shots,” Kunka said. “Once we got going a little bit, he just got hot. It was fun to watch and fun to play.”
Fagbemi made 9 of 12 shots and went 7 for 7 from the line. None of the shots were forced.
“That’s the beauty of his game and what I appreciate very much — he’ll do whatever the game dictates,” Heidkamp said. “Tonight, they played zone, and our guys did a good job of finding him.
“A lot of his shots where catch-and-shoot shots. We assisted on a lot of his baskets, just as he does for his teammates.”
Fagbemi’s final 3-pointer capped the 27-0 run and gave Benet a 52-27 edge at the 6:03 mark of the fourth quarter. The massive streak did not stun Heidkamp.
“We have an ability to put a run on like that,” Heidkamp said. “It’s not just the 27. It’s the zero. We defended with some urgency, and that defense led to more offense. It makes the game easier when we’re out in transition and we’re able to score some easy baskets.”
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When they do, Fagbemi usually is involved, either as a passer or a shooter. He works fluidly with Abusara and Kunka.
Abusara had nine points, three assists and three blocks against Nazareth, while Kunka had eight points, nine boards and two assists.
“It’s just that trust that we’ve built,” Fagbemi said. “I give them the ball, and they can make shots. They give me the ball, and I can make shots. So it’s that rapport that we have with each other that makes basketball easy.”
It wasn’t easy at first for Fagbemi, who transferred from Neuqua Valley before his junior season. But his confidence is sky-high, as are Benet’s postseason prospects.
“If I miss a shot, I have confidence that the next one is going in,” Fagbemi said. “I never stop shooting and being aggressive. When I have teammates that know where to find me and they’re really unselfish, it’s really easy. That’s why I am comfortable.”
Kunka sees that up close.
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“When he transferred in last year, he came into a spot where it was a little bit tough for him,” Kunka said. “But once he got the bigger role this year, he’s just been playing with the utmost confidence.
“And when he plays with confidence, he’s one of the best point guards in the state.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
