Five Takeaways: Archbishop Carroll vs Thurgood Marshall
12-1-17 More Than Basketball Season Tip Off @ Archbishop Carroll High School, Washington, DC.
We would like to thank & congratulate More Than Basketball Founder Arize Ifejika & Archbishop Carroll High School & their Athletic Director Robert Harris, Head Basketball Coach Mike Powell & all other parties involved which include Friendship Tech HS, The Virginia Academy, Sidwell Friends, Theodore Roosevelt HS, Cesar Chavez, Rock Creek Christian, & Woodrow Wilson HS for great basketball event which showed excellent sportsmanship, atmosphere, safety/security, organization, & fantastic games before an overflow & sell out crowd. Game 1 began @ 4pm in the beautifully renovated & historic Archbishop Carroll Gymnasium. The gym hardwood floors are sensational with Archbishop Carroll logos and a very safe non slip/skid shine.In the DC DMV, Archbishop Carroll is known as the birthplace of DC Basketball. The Lions 1958-60 teams won 55 straight games, 2 City Titles & a National Championship. Archbishop Carroll recorded a 7-2 record against college freshmen teams which was an amazing accomplishment since 1972-73 was the 1st season the NCCA allowed freshmen to play on the college varsity level. In the late 195os, 1960s & early 1970s there were several freshmen teams that were better than varsity teams. One such team was UCLAs 1966 freshmen team with Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) who is one the great basketball players ever. In the 1958 -60 seasons (59-60 team pictured right) the Lions featured legendary John Thompson who turned Georgetown into a national power during his tenure, All American HS guard George Leftwich who starred at Villanova & was a sure fire NBA star before a major knee injury, 6’9″ Tom Hoover who played in the NBA for 5 seasons & the ABA for 3. The Rev. Edward (Monk) Malloy served as president of Notre Dame from 1987 thru 2005 was a key member of the teams. Sadly legendary Head Coach Bob Dwyer & then Assistant Coach Maus Collins have passed away. Coach Collins turned the Lions into a 3 decade football power & when he retired in 2000 his record at Archbishop Carroll was 322-74-9 making him the 9th winningest Coach in the nation. In basketball the Lions remained very competitive thru the 1990s, but have compiled an unacceptable 18-83 record the last 4 seasons. On Friday Coach Powell & Archbishop Carroll began their journey to get back into the upper echelon of the powerful WCAC where many of us know they belong. The Lions may have very well found their man & in 1st year Head Coach Mike Powell.
Archbishop Carroll Lions 64 Thurgood Marshall 50
New Head Coach Michael Powell is changing the culture at Archbishop Carroll basketball
Archbishop Head Coach Powell is DC native who is a former All Met Player when he played at Annacostia HS in 1992-93. I remember Coach Powell as player & he was a tremendous. Coach Powell played 1 season at Virginia before illness placed his playing career on hold & he relocated to D1 Loyola of MD where he averaged 19.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 3.3 apg, earning him on Loyola’s All-Century team. After graduating Loyola in 1998 Coach Powell had an NBA tryout with the LA Lakers & worked in the business. In 2006 he began to Coach with Eric Singleatry at Sidwell Friends becoming Associate Head Coach & they built the Quakers into an excellent basketball program. This past August Archbishop Carroll hired Coach Powell to become their Head Basketball Coach. We met with Coach Powell in mid November & we immediately realized he could get the job done at Archbishop Carroll where he has assembled a great staff. The Lions came out with a roar going on a tear & built a 23-13 1st quarter lead. We immediately could sense our prediction was begriming to take shape. Carroll came out with extreme energy diving for loose balls & playing team basketball. At halftime the Lions lead 38-19.
2021 6’4″ Archbishop Carroll Aminu Mohammed awarded MVP & is a top DMV freshmen
Aminu Mohammed made his much awaited debut & he showcased why there is such a buzz about him. He scored a game high 24 points on 10-17 FG shooting, grabbed 15 rebounds, dealt out 4 assists & recorded 2 steals earning him MVP honors. Aminu scored in every possible manner from mid range jumpers, follow ups, transition to dunks. In the second half he caught fire & nullified a Thurgood Marshall rally in the 3rd quarter & early 4th as the Lions then cruised to their 65 -50 victory. Aminu brings great length, athleticism, a high motor, nice jumper & more to the to the table. We will be scouting Amimu & Archbishop Carroll more this season with game & team updates. Aminu is on the cover on the left standing next to More Than basketball Founder Arize Ifejika & Thurgood Marshall MVP Mike Panton.
Thurgood Marshall has a nice 1-2 punch in Savion Gallion & Mike Panton
We know Savion Gallion (picture right) very well. On Friday might he was in foul trouble early & had to sit most of the 1st half. In his absence 5’8″ CG Mike Panton played very well & proved to be a tough sniper who can put the ball in the basket. Mike really caught our eye with is IQ & beautiful shot mechanics. He appears to be a very good college college prospect who we will keep an eye on & contact. When Savion started the 2nd half he helped lead Thurgood Marshal’s come back. He is ranked #72 in our 2018 rankings & we really like his game which has has some George Hill in it. Other players we like are seniors : 6’4″ Darias Richardson , 6’5″ Janoski Mcnei & 6’4″ Michael Stevenson. Please read our recruiting report for Savion below:
https://prephoops.com/2017/07/recruiting-report-2018-savion-gallion/
Archbishop Carroll junior Jamal Muhammad proves to be a very solid PG prospect & floor general
We were very impressed watching Jamal in first game this season where he scored 11 points & dished out 4 assists. He is a very crafty PG who can dictate the tempo of the game. He can run the Lions half court sets or get out go in transition. Jamal can score from all levels & get in the lane to facilitate or finish strong with either hand thru contact. He is a high energy very tough player who will go the floor & perform the intangibles. Jamal is a very good ball handler & the lefty uses both hands very well with an array of handling moves. On defenses Jamal moves laterally very well & will get up on his opponent. Jamal’s twin brother Jibril , missed the game & could be back next game if he feels better.
6’10” sophomore Tegra Izay shows promise for Archbishop Carroll
Tegra Izay pictured left scored 4 points, grabbed 4 rebounds & blocked 3 shots in 29 minutes of playing time his 4 points were loud scores, one being a jump hook with nice footwork & extending well above the rim. He runs the court well, but needs work on his lateral movement. He is in good hands at Archbishop Carroll & we look forward to watching Tegra develop on & off the floor. Other key players for Archbishop Carroll include Elijah Perkins- Cross who scored 10 points & dished out 4 assists & wing Corey Barnes pictured right added 11 points 4 rebounds & 3 steals.