Takeaways: Metro South Fall League (Part 2)
Hylton boasts physicality all-across the board
A major takeaway from Monday night was how physical CD Hylton is. It all starts in the back court with rising senior Josh Peterson. Peterson, who played AAU ball this summer with Higher Level, is a lanky, broad-shouldered lead guard with very strong hands. He applies an absurd amount of pressure on the ball, and does a good job of forcing opposing ball-handlers to make mistakes.
Hylton’s front line of Dwayne “DJ” Hill, Tyland Crawford, and Jerry Carter are all big, strong, athletes who rebound and defend. Now in his junior year, Hill has added muscle to his long and broad 6’5 frame as he continues to grow into his body. He’s a fluid athlete who can get up and down, and is an imposing paint presence.
Once the season begins, the Bulldogs are expected to welcome Delaware State Football commit Silas Dzansi to the team. Dzansi, a 6’6 260 pound post, will add another element of physicality to the Hylton front line.
New-look Potomac ready to make noise
Despite not returning a single starter from last year’s 5A North Regional Championship team, there are a lot of things to like about this new-look Potomac team.
Jeff Gordon, who transferred from Evangel Christian to play his senior year at Potomac, will step in and become a major two-way contributor for Head Coach Keith Honore. Gordon, who ran with DC Premier during AAU ball this summer, is a slashing wing does a good job attacking the basket. The senior, who holds an offer from the US Naval Academy, is also a pesky lock-down perimeter defender.
Juniors Charles Hyman, Jamal Washington, are strong, downhill-type guards who do an excellent job of finishing through contact. They also get after it defensively. These two are candidates to break out given their new roles this season.
One of the most improved players on Potomac’s roster is Nana Opoku. Now a junior, Opoku hit a major growth spurt this summer. Now at about 6’6, he is a long-limbed, mobile forward who has good defensive instincts. He’s also improved as a ball-handler. He’ll need to continue to improve his strength and footwork, but he could put up big numbers as he will play a major role in the Panther front-court.
Christ Chapel Making Strides
In just a few short weeks, Christ Chapel has improved a great deal since our last time seeing them. Defensively, they are becoming more cohesive as a result of their willingness to be vocal. Offensively, they do a good job of getting into their offense, and sharing the basketball.
Their primary ball-handlers, (Junior) Morris Williams and (Freshman) Dominic Bailey, do an excellent job of dealing with pressure. They can both attack off the dribble, and do a good job of distributing or scoring depending on the situation.
Another name to watch for Christ Chapel is Senior Daniel Merritt. Merritt is a gym rat, who does whatever his team needs for him to be successful. He came up with some timely plays for his team when they needed them.
Elijah Nicely, a developing 6’7 post, showed good instincts attacking the glass. He has soft hands, and showed that he can keep the ball high and go right back up after grabbing an offensive rebound. His continuous improvement will be key for Christ Chapel this season.
Extra Notes
- Based on his recent performances, Junior WG Joe Davis III looks like he could be in line for a breakout season. He earned MVP honors while leading the Big Shots top 100 camp in scoring and leading his team to the championship this past weekend. On Monday, he showed how efficient he can be as a scorer. At 6’2, Davis is a long-limbed scoring guard who does a good job of getting into the paint. He’s a good shooter, and knows how to keep defenders off balance. A good word to describe him as a scorer would be sneaky. He can fill it up in a hurry, and will be asked to do so this year.
- There was a ton of buzz from college coaches who were in the gym Monday night to see Patriot SG Garrett Cook. We didn’t get to see him, but the 6’3 SG is considered among the top 3 point marksmen in VA. He has gotten stronger, after adding some bulk this summer. Cook could be in for some huge numbers as he will be heavily relied upon as the primary scoring option for the Pioneers in his senior season.
- Shonari Street did an admirable on the glass Monday night. He is an active and aggressive rebounder. Street has also developed a nice repertoire of low-post moves. The 6’5 forward has excellent foot work on the low block, and will see plenty of touches there for Battlefield this season. Street is also developing into a scoring threat on the wing. He does a good job of attacking and finishing strong at the rim, particularly in transition. Look for the evolution of his game to continue as he operates in both areas this coming season.