Five Takeaways: Morgan Wootten Tip Off
ARLINGTON, VA — We stopped by Bishop O’Connell for the last three games of the Third Annual Morgan Wootten Tip Off Tournament. Below are five takeaways from our time in the gym.
MORSE LEADS BULLIS TO EASY WIN
Vado Morse recorded 16 points and 5 steals in the first half, and Takoma Academy had no answer for his crafty offensive package. The Mount St. Mary’s commit, who will likely hit the 1,000 point mark in his next game, is one of the more underrated players in the area and a great get for Coach Jamion Christian.
FLAHERTY LOOKS SHARP
Talk about underrated, Christian Flaherty defines that. The athletic combo guard had a very good game despite the loss to Bullis. His decision making still needs some work, but he played very hard and showed that he can defend at a high level as well.
GIBSON THE DIFFERENCE IN BEY/LOCKE MATCHUP
Saddiq Bey recorded 24 points and 8 boards, but struggled with his jumper. The 6-foot-7 NC State commit went 0/6 from three, and 9/20 from the field overall. Noah Locke on the other hand fared a bit better with his shot. The Florida Gator commit, who scored 25 points, shot 7 of 17 from the field, including 4 of 12 from three. Locke had a relatively weak night from the line, converting on 7 of 12 attempts. Drew Green had some nice moments for McDonogh, but Jason Gibson made the difference in this one. The class of 2019 point guard scored 14 points on 5 of 13 from the field, including 4 of 9 from three. Gibson also added four assists, three rebounds, a steal, and a charge taken.
XAVIER JOHNSON PROPELS DJO PAST PREP
Xavier Johnson recorded 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in what most would consider a statement win over Georgetown Prep. The Nebraska commit did a great job on both ends of the floor, and helped his team pick up an important win to open the season. Quick shout out to ’20 TJ Gadsden who stepped up and provided big minutes down the stretch after Charlie Weber fouled out.
AYAN TEEL PLAYS VITAL ROLE
The most impactful bench player in this game was certainly Ayan Teel. The diminutive lead guard used his quickness and crafty skill set to keep defenders off balance. Teel recorded 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the win.