Five Takeaways: National Hoopfest
HYATTSVILLE, MD — The National Hoopfest returned to DeMatha last weekend, and we were present for two days full of action. Here are five takeaways from our time in the gym.
STAGS LOOK STRONG & BALANCED
DeMatha, our new top ranked team in the updated , recorded two impressive wins vs. Oak Ridge and Archbishop Wood in back-to-back days at the National Hoopfest. The stags, who defended very well over the course of the weekend, were paced offensively by a balanced attack. Justin Moore, Jahmir Young, Earl Timberlake, and Hunter Dickinson demonstrated impressive chemistry, and each produced consistently on the offensive end for Head Coach Mike Jones. Carsten Kogelnik, the fifth starter, displayed patience, commendable vision, and the ability to make shots. The Stags, who also received contributions from senior Deven Richmond, 2019’s Josh Wallace, Jamel Melvin and 2021 guard Brayon Freeman, have considerable depth.
KEELS IMPRESSES FOR PVI
6-foot-4 freshman Trevor Keels, who picked up his first offer from Wake Forest this weekend, wasn’t phased by the moment at all this weekend. The versatile guard, who just turned 14 years old, showed a ton of poise. Keels dished out six assists and committed zero turnovers in the Panthers’ win over Wesleyan Christian, and followed it up with a 23 point-6 rebound-4 assist-2 steal performance in their shocking loss at the buzzer to Oak Ridge.
HUNT BREAKS OUT AGAINST IMG
SJC was in dire need of offense on Sunday against former Head Coach Sean McAloon and IMG, and DeLonnie Hunt was able to deliver. The sophomore lead guard, who missed time this summer on the AAU circuit during injury, scored 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 15 minutes. Hunt also provided tenacity on the defensive end, where he recorded a steal and won his team a few extra possessions.
BYNUM LEADS PREP TO SIGNATURE WIN
Many times in the past, we’ve spoken about Jared Bynum‘s ability to run a team at a high level, and his performance against Westtown on Saturday was a perfect example. Without committing a turnover, the Saint Joseph’s commit recorded 29 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Bynum made all three of his three point attempts, and pulled down 4 rebounds while shooting 8 of 11 from the foul line. 2018 Will Mulquin, who scored 10 points off the bench, was another integral factor to Prep’s upset win.
REDDISH MAKES STRONG CASE FOR #1
Duke commit Cam Reddish put on a flat out show this weekend, averaging 44 points in two games. His signature performance, however, came on Sunday in a win over Holy Spirit. The 6-foot-8 guard, who scored all 14 of his team’s first quarter points, would go on to score a career-high 53. While many national analysts consider Reddish either the second or third best prospect in the country, he definitely made a strong case for the #1 spot this weekend.