Top performers: St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Fairland
St. Vincent-St. Mary sleighed the Fairland Dragons 81-79 in a offensive showcase between Division II State Title contenders.
Less than 24 hours after dropping a game against Wayne, the Irish will return to Akron above .500 after a strong performance from their backcourt.
More on this farther down the page, but Kollin Van Horn was the real winner, scoring 33 points on 65 percent shooting and grabbing eight rebounds in front of a sideline of coaches.
Scott Walter (2018), 5’10” PG, STVM
Walter is the heart and soul of the Irish, both with effort and by leading his young troops vocally. He scored a team-high 21 points, and more on that in a second, but he was most impressive on defense. He’s a very quick athlete who slides his feet in man-to-man situations. On help-side, Walter swiped a couple post entries away from Van Horn by flying in on the back-end. As a scorer, Walter hits spot-up 3s and displays great end to end speed in the open floor. He finished with either hand, confusing Van Horn as a shot blocker a couple times.
Walter would be a steal at the D-III level and could be grabbed by a NAIA late.
Seth Wilson (2021), 6’1″ PG, STVM
Wilson didn’t shoot it well in the first half. So what. He came out firing after the intermission, dropping four 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the half. Wilson would finish with 18 total points. Using a pump fake, Wilson also made plays in the lane with his vision. Stout 6’1″ frame with long arms. Will likely take over point guard duties for his next three years at STVM.
Lunden McDay (2019), 6’3″ W, STVM
In two weekends, McDay has quieted our concerns about his ability to score from the perimeter. The lengthy, versatile defender is gaining confidence in his jumper and handle. He knocked down enough jumpers on a face-up that defenders starting biting on his pump-fake. McDay came up clutch late with a couple physical finishes in the lane. Used his body to frustrate Fairland’s Isaiah Howell, a 1,000-point scorer for the Dragons.
Kollin Van Horn (2018), 6’8″ F, Fairland
Van Horn took advantage of his size advantage by finishing over the top, applying pressure with quick post moves, and converting on pick and rolls. As a big-bodied 6’8″ kid, Van Horn can run the floor extremely well for his size and has the body control to contort himself in the air to avoid defenders. Van Horn also shoots a solid line-drive 3-point shot with his feet set.
The unsigned forward should have Division II programs all over him after this game.
Luke Thomas (2018), 6’2″ G, Fairland
Thomas shot the ball with confidence and rhythm from deep, scoring 15 points on five 3-pointers. The lefty has a pretty release and found separation with ball fakes and rip-throughs. He might be able to play both guard spots at a small college, as the senior showed off his vision on a scoop pass to Van Horn once a defender jumped to block his layup.
Kendrick Cunningham (2018), 6’1″ G, Fairland
Cunningham is Fairland’s best slasher and a kid they rely on to draw two defenders. He scored 11 points and assisted eight times, including a couple balls into Van Horn after breaking the defense. Cunningham changes speeds well, has a strong frame, and protects the ball.
Isaiah Howell (2018), 6’4″ F, Fairland
Howell is another quality Division III prospect on this balanced Dragon roster. Projects as a face-up four that can put it on the floor and finish through contact. Howell didn’t have a great game as a shooter, a skill colleges will want to see. Good feel for a forward.