5 Takeaways from Day 3 of Country Day Classic
- If St. Paul’s has a lead, it’s tough to take it away
When I walked into the gym, St. Paul’s had an 8 point lead over McDonough 35 with about 4 minutes to go, and St. Paul’s never gave 35 the opportunity to even get back into the game. The ball was kept mostly in Parker Edward’s hands, and his basketball IQ and handles are too good to try to make mistakes. 35 kept trying to double team him, but Edwards consistently make the correct read and got the ball to the open man. The Wolves ended up winning the game 57-47.
2. UAFS is getting a steal in Marc Bowie
Marc Bowie has been off to a great start in his senior season, and is going to be moving into the top 15 in our next update for the class of 2018. He elected to sign early with Top 10 D2 Arkansas Fort-Smith, and they are getting an abslolute steal in him. He is an incredibly bouncy off guard with skills to equal his athleticism. There was a stretch in Karr’s game against De La Salle that Marc went on a 8-0 run by himself, scoring a big dunk, a layup, and a pair of tough pull up jumpers. At times, he is simply unstoppable on the offensive end.
3. Donnell Jones is one of the most underrated players in the state
Donnell Jones of Curtis was the player whose opinion was affected the most by this tournament. He is 6’4 off-guard that can jump out of the gym. In their game against St. Thomas More, he was a highly competitive spark that the Patriots needed, and was able to get into the teeth of the defense time and time again. He also showed the ability to hit some deep 3s in rhythm. Any college coach that is reading this needs to check Jones’s game out immediately.
4. 2020 is going to be a great class
3 of the 4 teams in the semifinals of Country Day’s tournament featured some of the best players of 2020 making major contributions. In the matchup between Country Day and Catholic BR, there were 3 of the top 20 2020 players on the floor, in Country Day’s 6’5 G Shawn Royal and Justin Ibieta, and Catholic BR’s Collin Halloway. Catholic was also helped out by 2020 Kentrell Garnet. For Scotlandville, behind Javonte Smart, their next 2-3 best players are all sophomores, in guards Reece Beekman and Tai’Reon Joseph and forward Jonathan Horton. None of this is including guard Carvell Teasett for Scotlandville who is ineligible this season because of transfer rules. 2020 has the chance to have 20+ D1 players.
5. Riverside vs. Scotlandville game is one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen.
Boy was the matchup between Riverside and Scotlandville entertaining. Both of the teams feature top 50 players in the nation in Jared Butler of Riverside and Javonte Smart of Scotlandville. Both of those guys were flanked by enough talent to be able to compete even without both of those players. The top two guys both went for 33 points, and although Javonte Smart was able to finish with more rebounds and assists, Riverside was able to come away with the 78-69 win.