DMV Elite 80 Observations: DC & MD Prospects Part 1.

Matthew Balanc, 6'4", WG, Springbrook Blue Devils HS. Silver Spring, MD. Grassroots Team: Mid Atlantic Select Matthew was awarded to the 1st Team DMV Elite All Star team this Saturday & continued his blazing hot summer. In the spring he had no offers & now Matthew has accumulated many D1 offers since early June. He has limited his consideration list from 13 to 5 which now include, Florida Gulf Coast, Rhode Island, Quinipac, UMBC & UMass which are all D1 schools. Georgetown may still be in the mix but we think the Hoyas may be out of the picture. Matthew had an excellent summer in the DeMatha BSN Sumner League where he was awarded to the 1st team All Stars & Mid Atlantic Select in Grassroots play.  In August he was awarded Game MVP in the MD Elite Summer League and we wrote, "Matthew scored 50 points shooting a very high FG% scoring  off the dribble, pull ups, 3 pointers, & with rim attacking dunks. He also played very solid defense and was a very good facilitator."  We will providing extensive coverage this season for Springbrook HS, Matthew & his teammates.  This September we awarded Matthew to our Doctors of Dunk 1s Team featuring the best dunkers in the DC/DMV. Please read our Recruiting Report for Matthew win the link below:

Recruiting Report 2018: Matthew Balanc

      Video Courtesy of our friend Marc Stern of Capitol Hoops.   Christian Jones, 6'3", PG/CG 2018. Annapolis Running Panthers HS. Annapolis, MD. Grassroots Team: Team BBC Christian led Annapolis to the MD Sate 4A semifinals last year & had an excellent game in a losing effort to eventual 4A Champion Perry Hall from Baltimore. He is one of the most underrated players in MD/DC & flat out winner, with some elite skills. Currently, Christian is being recruited at the D1 mid major level & he has potential to move up. He is an elite pull up shooter off the dribble where he creates great spacing, a superb facilitator who possesses a very high Basketball IQ & a winner. Christian can get in the paint & finish very well. Adam Ayalew wrote an excellent Recruiting Report for Christian below: Junior Year Highlight Tape | Link: http://www.hudl.com/v/1cYQMW

Recruiting Report: Christian Jones (2018)

Video Courtesy of our friend Marc Stern @ Capitol Hoops, Christian is #12. Daniel Oladapo, 6'7", WG/WF,  Bladensburg HS Mustangs. Bladensburg, MD. Grassroots Team: New World 17u Daniel is one of the top players in the DC/DMV holding numerous D1 offers. He is a tremendous all around player & once again will be the Bladensburg HS Mustangs Captain. He is an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions & Coach Williams says he will be a rim protector this season. Daniel has become very skilled on the perimeter making him a powerful inside out offensive player. He can attack the rim off the dribble, drain pull ups & hit 3s. He plays with a very high motor, defends at high level & hits the boards with a great purpose. On Saturday he was one of the best players in the DMV Elite 80 & awarded to the 1st Team All Star team. When his career began at Bladensburg Daniel was low post player & has now evolved into a WG/WF thru his hard work & great coaching at Bladensburg.  Daniel is superbly conditioned & chiseled athlete & a powerful & versatile  player. He played very well for New World 17u this summer on the Adidas Grassroots Circuit & we will have a Recruiting Report for Daniel this week.       Earl Timberlake, 6'5", WG/WF, 2020. DeMatha Stags HS. Hyattsville, MD. Grassroots Team: Team Takeover 16U Earl is an elite talent for 2020 & ranked  in the nations top 50. Like every player in this article Earl is a winner with a huge heart & is a major addition for DeMatha this season. At this time he plays like a point forward & since DeMatha has landed 2 more high caliber PG/CG guards in Josh Wallace (2019) & Jahmir Young (2019). Earl stays engaged on both sides of the ball for the entire game & is a very consistent player. He can guard 1 thru 4, will do the dirty work & intangibles & impacts game with without scoring. However, Earl is capable of scoring outbursts & his go to scores would attacking the rim off the dribble & mid range pull ups. He can hit the 3, but his outside shot is a little flat but Earl is making progress. We firmly believe Earl is a high major D1 player. This summer he was splendid at the DeMatha BSN Summer League & was awarded 2nd Team All Star by Marc Stern of Capitol Hoops & our won Adam Ayalew who said this about Earl on 6-1-17," Earl Timberlake played all over the floor defensively for Team Takeover, and showcased solid playmaking ability with the ball. The athletic 6'5 freshman used his 6'11 wingspan to create turnovers, and made several unselfish plays with the ball. & on 8-18-17," Earl Timberlake was highly productive for 16U Team Takeover this summer. The 6'5 guard, who will attend DeMatha, showed that he could play some point during the summer league. The long and lanky lefty is a solid paint getter, a lockdown defender, and a team player." We have seen Earl extensively to date & will continue his coverage for DeMatha, Earl & his teammates this coming season.   Video courtesy of our friend Marc Stern @ Capitol Hoops Donovan Toatley,5'9.5", PG, 2018 Riverdale Baptist Crusaders HS. Upper Marlboro, MD. Committed to:  University of Tennessee Chattanooga: Grassroots Team: DC Premier Donovan is a tremendous PG for the RBHS Crusaders who will form one of the best back-court duos in DC/DMV with 6'6" WG Wayne Bristol Jr. Donovan is one of the toughest, & strongest pound for pound players in DC/MD. He is a vocal & emotional leader who can bull his way into the paint where he can score or facilitate. Donovan is dynamic in transition with his speed, quickness & explosion. He can score from all 3 levels & s a true floor general who can make elite passes from anywhere on the court. The UT Chattanooga commit will lead the powerful Crusaders who in our opinion should be top 10 DC/DMV good despite some key losses. We will be covering RBHS, Donovan & his teammates  extensively this season with live game reports & player articles.

Recruiting Report 2018: Donovan Toatley

Excellent video by our own Adam  Adam Aylew & Virginia Crew @ Prep Hoop Showcase Photo credits are  Earl Timberlake by Daniel Kucin)   Donovan Toatley (Washington Post)