Top VA Performers: Phenom National Showcase
Szymon Walczak – Mountain Mission
The unsigned senior played big minutes for Mountain Mission, and was a steady contributor throughout the tournament for them. Walczak handled pressure, and continually probed the defense to create for himself and others. He didn’t take too many shots, but the ones he did were good and in rhythm. He was effective scoring and creating for others, and is a real sleeper at the scholarship level for schools looking for a point guard still.
Harold Baruti – Mountain Mission
The athletic wing spoke about the recent high major interest he had picked up, and he showed flashes of why throughout the weekend. Baruti was a little erratic at times, but he was always in attack mode. In downhill and transition situations, he showed creativity in the air as he finished at and above the rim, and was a great help side defender on driving guards. He showed leadership as he was perhaps the most vocal player on Mount Mission, and his rapid rate of improvement and high ceiling as a wing makes him a high major prospect for sure.
Deshawn Corpew – Quality Education Academy
He de-commited from Arkansas Little-Rock and then went in for 26 points and 10 rebounds in their blowout over Virginia Episcopal on Friday night. The Virginia Beach native showed his trademark toughness, and was pretty unguardable as he showed the ability to score it in transition with ease. He shot it pretty well from deep, played hard on both ends, and was an energy guy from the get for QEA. His decommitment should shake up the high major recruitment trail, as anyone still looking for 2016 wing will likely try to get in the game.
Gerrard Simpkins – Bishop Sullivan
The Crusaders were undermanned this weekend, missing four key players who are still playing football and unfortunately weren’t able to compete with the high level of talent they matched up with. However, Simpkins was a stellar competitor who finished with double digits point in both of their games. The athletic wing showed an underrated handle as he broke defenders down off the bounce and finished at the rim. He showed an improved midrange jump shot, and his athleticism made him a lock down defender and an above the rim finisher in transition. Simpkins showed why he’s considered one of the best available wings left in VA.
Justice Kithcart – Virginia Episcopal School
In transition, he was unstoppable all weekend. Kithcart, who signed his NLI to Pittsburgh after their win on Saturday, showed his burst and athleticism in the open court all weekend as he got to the rim and finished through defenders. He showed his takeover ability, as he went on runs by himself in the both games to keep the Bishops in it. He also showed improvement on his jump shot, and as always was a dog on the defensive end.
Sacha Killeya-Jones – Virginia Episcopal School
The Kentucky commit had the biggest signing of the weekend, and was one of the biggest impactors with over 15 points and 15 rebounds in both games. Killeya-Jones showed leadership intangibles as well, remaining vocal on both ends and knowing when to get into his team when they needed a jolt. He was a major impact on the defensive end as well, anchoring the middle and protecting the rim, living up to the “no layups” mantra. Not only does he have skill and athleticism, but he plays with heart as well.
Marquis Godwin – Christ School
The Hampton product did what he did best, despite a Christ School team that still seems to be trying to figure out their rotation. However, when Godwin was in and got touches, he was an assassin from deep. He has great arc on his jump shot, and a quick release which allows him to shoot it over closing out defenders. He also plays extremely hard, and once the rotation is figured out, he could be a major player in that system the way they like to get up and down and shoot the three-ball. I’d keep an eye on him, as he could blow up on the recruiting trail much like former Boo Williams shooter Curtis Jones did.
Josh Hall – Genesis Academy
Genesis only played one game, a matchup they won against Greenfield High School in large part due to a breakout performance from the Nevada commit. Hall was especially good during the third quarter, where he helped break the game open with a 17 point quarter. The wing showed takeover ability as he came out firing from deep, hitting three triples and attacking the rim with ferocity. His athleticism and length always had him pegged as a high potential prospect, but his performance shows that he might just be ready to take the reigns as a go-to guy.