Clarksburg vs Springbrook : Ten Best
12-10-17. Springbrook HS. 201 Valleybrook Drive, Silver Spring, MD. 20904 (Special thanks to Karen Armstong who provided photographs lat night & was a great help to me.
I would like to thank Springbrook HS for their great hospitality in last nights contest This was a great game featuring high intensity & numerous highlight & clutch plays. Additionally, special thanks to Head Clarksburg Coach Steve Watson for chatting with me extensively before & after the game. Coach Watson is a superb Coach who does a fantastic job with his players on & off the court. Unfortunately, I missed chatting with Springbrook Head Coach Darnell Meyers & I will chat with him the next Blue Devils game I attend. Clarksburg & Springbrook now have identical 5-1 records. After tonight’s game Clarksburg is a threat to enter MOCO 4A tier 1 or top 3 teams with Paint Branch & Springbrook. The Blue Devils will face Largo HS on 12-27-17 while the Coyotes will travel to Tuscaroa in the MOCO vs Frederick County Challenge on 12-28-17.
Clarksburg Coyotes 81 Springbrook Blue Devils 79 OT
Player of the Game: Stephen Armstrong :
Clarksburg HS
Stephen Armstrong 6’5″ F/G, 2018. Stephen played a spectacular game last night & tied for game high scoring honors with 30 points. He impacted the game in every facet of basketball. He is always dialed in, plays with a very high motor, & IQ. I ranked Stephen as a Top 15 MOCO Player this preseason, but he will move into the Top 10 in the next update. He defended at a very high level & controlled the boards with teammate Cornell Hanna. Stephen’s performance was one of the best I have seen in person this season. He hit jumpers, scored on coast to coast baskets off the dribble, made at least 3 dunks, converted put backs & made several clutch plays. He is clearly a scholarship player, and I will watch Stephen play 3 plus times during the regular season & write a new Recruiting Report for him within 4 weeks. Despite scoring 30 & grabbing double digit rebounds, Stephen can impact the game without scoring. He has the IT factor & Stephen is one of the biggest sleepers in the DC DMV.
Offensive Player of the Game : Stephen Armstrong & Matthew Balanc
Matthew Balanc, 6’3″ WG, 2018. Matthew totaled 30 points, scoring on dunks, 2 treys & difficult contested jump shots utilizing his elite athleticism. Stephen scored an identical 30 with one trey. Matthew has committed to D1 Quinnipiac while Stephen is unsigned.
Defensive Player of the Game : Divin Wallington (Clarksburg)
Standing at 5’7″ Divin has the heart of a lion. This summer I watched him in the MD Elite Summer League where impressed me. He is a relentless defender who wreaked havoc on Springbrook in his man to man & 2-3 zone defense. Divin has great reactions to loose balls & gets the 5o/50s. His lateral movement, agility, quickness & anticipation of the next play are excellent. Divin can knockdown 3s & score in transition. He will play in college & I will write a Recruiting Report for him in the near future.
Best off the bench: Timitrius Whitney- Hawkins (Springbrook)
Timitirius Whitney Hawkins, 6’2″, CG/WG, 2019. This summer I scouted Timitruis in the MD Summer Elite League where he was named an All Star. He has great upside, & I was certain he would be a very good player this season. Since the summer, Timitrius has made a great hyper jump in his game. He has gown an inch plus, gotten stronger & become a superb all around player. He will enter the top MOCO 30 player rankings, but I will have to evaluate where he will be placed. Last night Timitrius totaled 16 points which included 2 treys. He has an excellent mid range pull up game & scored on 1 or 2 impressive dunks last night. Timirius has a very long wingspan which he utilizes very well on both sides of the ball. Timitruis should enter our 2019 DC/MD rankings.
Best Underclassman Timitrius Whitney-Hawkins (Springbrook)
Timitrius still has a great upside, which he will reach. He is averaging over 13 points a game this season. He is a superb all around player who clearly shows D1 potential. I will be scouting Timitrius 3 plus times n the regular season. The entire DMV is beginning to learn how skilled Timtrius is. I was initially told Timitrius was 2020, but just told he is 2019.
Most Versatile : Cameron Rucker (Springbrook)
Cameron Rucker, 6’6.5″, F/WG, 2018. Cameron is one of the most skilled & versatile players in MOCO & the DC DMV. Last night he played a fantastic game scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 4 assist & blocking 3 plus shots. He has beautiful jumper, mid range game & yesterday he attacked the rim off the dribble. Cameron played very tough in the interior for the undersized Blue Devils. He translates to a point forward, or a wing in college. He plays with a high IQ & is an excellent college prospect who still has more upside.
Best Floor General : Alex Behzadi (Clarksburg)
Alex Behzadi , 6’2″ PG, 2018. Alex is perhaps the biggest stock riser in Montgomery County from a production standpoint. Last season he came off the bench for the Coyotes & this season he is one of the best pure PGs in MOCO & is a Top 30 player whose rankings could very well move up. Last evening he scored 18 points & played an excellent & very efficient floor game. He drained 3 treys with his picture perfect jumper &showed he can score & facilitate from all levels Alex has a superb handle, court vision & IQ. He has translated his skills against high caliber D1 players. Alex brings high intensity & superb leadership each time out. People outside of Montgomery County need to know just how good of a player Alex is. He plays with a nice chip on his shoulder. rarely makes mistakes, dictates the tempo of the game & runs the Coyote Ball motion offense to perfection. Alex is committed to play for St. Marys College of Maryland. I must commend St. Mary Assistant Coach Solomon Zurier for landing Alex who is a hidden gem.
Best Intangibles : Alex Bezhadi & Cornell Hanna
Alex & Cornell made numerous plays that did not show up int he stats. Alex delivered key hockey assists, got the 50/50 balls, made deflections & played tough on ball defense. Cornell’s energy helped lead the Coyotes, he dove to the floor & got the 50/50s, made numerous tip outs & deflections. It is no coincidence both players are committed to a college.
Play of of the Game : Cameron Rucker
With no time on the clock Cameron hit a contested 3 pointer from the corner which looked good coming off his fingers to tie the game & force overtime. Cameron can score in bunches against D1 competition from all 3 levels which he did this summer in the DeMatha NSN league.
Special Mention : Cornell Hanna (Clarksburg)
Cornell Hanna, 6’4.5″ F, 2018. I scouted Cornell (left) this summer at he MD Elite Summer League & he made an immediate impression. Cornell is a critical player for the Coyotes. Last night he grabbed 10 rebounds & played stellar defense. Cornell uses his great length on both sides of the ball. He is an excellent defender & rebounder. Cornell possesses a very quick 1st & second jump with high elevation. He is very strong & is very crafty around the basket for scores, put backs & dunks. He has a very high motor, runs the court at high level & plays with a high IQ. We congratulate Cornell on his commitment to Keene State College which is located in Keene, New Hampshire. Keene State is a member of the highly regarded Little East Conference. Cornell is an excellent student & will have a great career at Keene State on the court & in the classroom.
Rae Thompson, 6’3″, G, 2018. Rae hit 3 huge treys & was the Coyotes 3rd leading scorer with 14 points . Rae is averaging over 11 points per game this season. We will scout Rae this January & write a Recruiting Report for him. He is a college prospect.
Corey Bullington, 5’11 CG, 2018. Corey scored 7 points last night & is averaging 8 ppg this season. He made several key passes last night & played very well.