Four Rising Freshmen Who Made Their Mark in SPSL
It’s rare to see a player who is a rising freshman come into their respective team’s summer league and have an impact considering the level and pace of the game is something completely different than they’re used to. Going from middle school to the Junior Varsity level is a significant leap as is, but when you consider a middle schooler going right to the Varsity level, you know they have the potential to be special.
In the St. Paul’s Summer League, there were four rising freshman that participated and had an impact for their respective team. It’s an assurance that the talent in the Baltimore area is safe and sound for the next four years, and these players could very well become household names in Baltimore high school basketball conversations very soon.
Ike Cornish | Dulaney | 2021 | 6’5
Cornish is a versatile wing/guard that can shoot the ball at an efficient clip. He’ll play alongside Che Evans this season for Dulaney High School. The two should make for an exciting duo. With Evans expected to carry more of the scoring load, Head Coach Matt Lochte will likely feature Cornish at the point guard position at times throughout games. Cornish filled the floor general role for significant minutes in SPSL play and not only did he score, but also showed some potential to be a solid distributor. At his size, Cornish rebounds very well considering he plays the guard position. As time passes and he continues to develop, he’ll be a match up nightmare for opposing teams with his ability to shoot over smaller guards and blow by taller, slower players.
Ahmad Harrison | Gerstell | 2021 | 6’1
Harrison really made a name for himself throughout SPSL play. He was a main piece in Gerstell’s success helping them advance to the championship game. The lefty is quick with the ball in his hands and displayed ability to operate in ball screen situations. He has a killer mentality. If he thinks he can take his match up he’ll look to do so every time. Just because he drives doesn’t mean he’s looking for his own shot, though. Harrison anticipated the defensive rotations well for a rising freshman and made some good reads off his penetration. While he still needs to improve his on-ball defense, Harrison’s effort and competitiveness make up the foundation for an eventual impact defender.
Darrius Tilghman | Calvert Hall | 2021 | 6’3
Tilghman has a unique feel for the game at his age. Throughout the SPSL season, there were times where he struggled taking care of the ball by trying to make the home run pass, but that’s expected with an incoming freshman. There were also spurts when he looked like a junior operating in pick-and-rolls with a tight pocket pass to one of his big men. The lefty plays at a good pace and gets good lift on his jumpshot. Defensively, he is always looking to jump the passing lanes to get a steal or deflection and create a fastbreak opportunity. Sometimes, those gambles resulted in defensive breakdowns and an easy basket for the opposing team. Tilghman will be one to watch this season as he plays with alongside a stout froncourt for the Cardinals.
Adam Walden | Calvert Hall | 2021 | 6’9
Because of his size, it’s hard to believe Walden is an incoming freshman. He is still a little stiff in his movement, but once the coaching staff at Calvert Hall have him fully at their disposal, his athleticism will improve. In terms of raw skill, Walden can be an impact in the rebounding department because of his height. He’s a capable shooter from 15 feet as well. In multiple games, Walden served as a high post presence when the Cardinals faced a 2-3 zone. Walden did a good job of catching and surveying the defense before deciding to shoot. Even with the hesitation, his shot looked smooth and natural. Defensively, Walden was solid at walling his match up when they had the ball on the block. He didn’t commit fouls, rather he was more worried about disrupting the shot attempt.