Victor Oladipo Skills Academy Day 1 Standouts
HYATTSVILLE, MD — The Victor Oladipo Skills Academy got underway at DeMatha on Wednesday, and with it being the start of July’s second live period, a host of division 1 coaches made the trip to take in the action. Literally every high…
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Continue ReadingHYATTSVILLE, MD — The Victor Oladipo Skills Academy got underway at DeMatha on Wednesday, and with it being the start of July’s second live period, a host of division 1 coaches made the trip to take in the action. Literally every high major division one conference was represented, with head coaches from Arizona State, Marquette and Minnesota among those in the crowd. Below is a rundown of some of the standouts from the first night of hoops. Stay tuned for continued coverage throughout the event.
PG Ryan Allen (DeMatha ’17)
Ryan Allen still has the hot hand from BSN Summer League. The strong lead guard is absolutely automatic from long range when he sets his feet. Allen did a great job attacking downhill and getting into the lane where he either finished in traffic or found an open teammate. Allen currently holds offers from schools such as Towson, UAB and George Mason, and has taken a recent visit up to Delaware. He should pick up some more offers before the end of the live period.
C Luka Garza (Maret ’17)
Luka Garza was easily one of the most active rebounders on the first day of action. The 6-foot-11 center has excellent hands and does a nice job tipping the ball to himself in the rare event he’s not able to initially secure it. Garza sets great screens, and does a nice job making himself available while he rolls hard to the rim. Iowa was the first high major school to offer him, and since then, a host of others including Alabama, Louisville, Georgia, Pitt, Indiana and Nebraska have each entered the mix. Look for him to narrow down his list in the coming months.
PG Anthony Harris Jr. (Paul VI ’19)
One of the youngest players in attendance, Anthony Harris Jr. showed poise and maturity beyond his years at the lead guard spot. While playing up against older opponents, there was a calmness which radiated from Harris as he made calculated decisions with the ball in his hands. The 6-foot-3 rising sophomore was solid on the ball defensively and did a great job pushing the ball in transition. He hit a shot from the perimeter, spaced the floor, and mixed it up by scoring in the lane over bigs. George Mason and UCF have already pulled the trigger by offering Harris scholarships, and it more than likely won’t be long before others jump in behind them.
PF E.J. Jarvis (Maret ’19)
Another relatively young but intriguing talent, E.J. Jarvis held his own while battling bigs up to two years older than him. The long-limbed, 6-foot-9 power forward is very nimble and runs the floor extremely hard. He closes out quickly and effectively alters shots as a result of his length and solid defensive instincts. Jarvis gets of the floor quickly, can finish in traffic, and is always available for a dump off. While he has yet to pull in his first offer, Jarvis exhibits terrific upside and projects among the best big men in his class. It will only a matter of time before his recruitment begins to expand.
G Noah Locke (McDonogh ’18)
One of the most talented pure scorers in attendance, Noah Locke demonstrated his ability to fill it up in a hurry during the night cap. Locke cashed in from long range off the catch, while curling off screens, and off the bounce. Kansas State, Providence, Rice, La Salle, George Mason, and Old Dominion have all offered him since July. Look for more programs to get in the mix with Locke while he continues to exhibit his killer offensive arsenal.
G Darryl Morsell (Mount St. Joseph ’17)
How can one not admire the sheer passion and intensity that Darryl Morsell plays with? The Baltimore native was at it again on Wednesday. Morsell did a bit of everything: boards, assists, points. He’s an exceptional athlete who thrives in the open floor and plays above the rim on both ends. Morsell seeks and absorbs contact around the basket, and defends well both on and off the ball. The Maryland Terrapins have recently offered him a scholarship along with Cincinnati, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, USC, and Pitt among others.
G Brandon Slater (Paul VI ’18)
One of the hottest rising junior names since Peach Jam, Brandon Slater put together a solid all-around performance on the first night of action. The sharpshooting 6-foot-6 wing drilled a couple of threes towards the end of the contest, showcasing his quick and confident shooting stroke. Slater was very active defensively and used his length to get in the passing lanes and create deflections. His versatility on both ends is quite appealing. The Virginia Cavaliers were the most recent school to extend him an offer. Look for more high major programs to get involved with Slater very soon.
PG Jason Wade (Hanover ’17)
He came in to camp as one of the more under-the-radar players, but Jason Wade more than held his own among top notch competition on Wednesday. The well-built 6-foot-4 guard did a terrific job attacking downhill and dishing out accurate passes to open teammates. He hit a three, finished consistently around the rim in traffic, and defended with aggression and tenacity. Wade currently holds just two offers from Campbell and Delaware, but has garnered interest from a variety of schools across the mid-atlantic and beyond. Look for the young floor general to see a serious uptick in his recruitment in the coming weeks.
PG Jelani Williams (Sidwell Friends ’17)
What isn’t there to like about what Jelani Williams brings to the table? He’s an athletic, 6-foot-5 point guard with an outstanding basketball IQ and terrific leadership intangibles. Williams is very good at working ball screens, and has the ability to consistently create shots for himself or others. He’s a confident shooter off the bounce and from the catch, especially from mid range. Williams also has the strength and body control to constantly finish through contact in traffic. GW, Temple, Princeton, Rice, BU, Loyola, Penn, Old Dominion, Hofstra, Colgate, and JMU are the schools who are currently involved in his recruitment. Don’t be surprised to see more mid-to-high major division 1 programs begin recruiting Williams.
PG Tre Wood (St. John’s ’18)
One of the quickest and most explosive guards in attendance, Tre Wood is nearly impossible to keep out of the paint. Wood did a nice job getting into the lane and consistently hit open teammates for easy looks. He dished out 9 assists while committing just two turnovers in a win for his team. Wood was also solid defensively, using his quickness and athleticism to stay in front and swipe two steals. He did a great job pushing the ball in transition and was able to finish with touch around the rim. Old Dominion, Towson, and Penn State have each offered Wood scholarships since July. Look for his recruitment to continue its upward trend.