D-II First Team All Tournament
St. Vincent-St. Mary added an eighth State Championship banner yesterday, the most all-time in Ohio. Furthermore, it was the second in a row for head coach Dru Joyce and the Irish.
The champs are well represented in the D-II First Team All Tournament. They have a balanced group with a couple stars worthy of the honor. Those three STVM players are joined by a dynamic duo from Trotwood, the state runner-up.
*MVP* Lunden McDay – 34 PTS (57%), 9 REB, 4 AST
Amari Davis – 40 PTS (64%), 10 REB, 2 AST
Myles Belyeu – 38 PTS (58%), 8 REB, 5 AST
Scott Walter – 23 PTS (47%), 8 REB, 6 AST, 4 TO, 4 STL
Keyshawn Jones – 17 PTS (75%), 8 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLK
Lunden McDay (2019), 6’3” W, STVM
McDay impacted the championship game in so many ways on Saturday afternoon. He’s an active cutter with a good feel inside the paint. The lengthy wing looked like a LM/MM recruit all weekend with his versatility. Although his jumper didn’t extend beyond the arch, he can pull-up at the elbow with confidence now. McDay cuts up a defense.
Amari Davis (2019), 6’4” G, Trotwood
I think a year ago, maybe even more recently than that, we made the mistake of thinking Davis was too much of a scorer to play point and too small to play the two. We weren’t the only ones. The point is: forget about all that! Davis can definitely play the two at a MM/HM school. He splits defenders in one dribble to get to the lane and has great body control for finishes. Defends 1-3. Unfortunately for Trotwood, their best zone offense against STVM were put-backs from Davis, yet another example of his athleticism.
Myles Belyeu (2018), 6’3” W, Trotwood
The bruising wing from Trotwood left his heart on the floor in their loss to STVM. The unsigned senior remains one of the top available D-II prospects in the state. He can defend multiple positions and thrives in a fast-paced game. Although his jumper isn’t quite where you’d want it to be, his toughness and athleticism are both unteachable qualities. Belyeu has also improved as a passer, including accurate full-court lasers to teammates that leaked out.
Scott Walter (2018), 5’10” PG, STVM
Walter looked every bit of a scholarship-level point guard in their game against Trotwood. His lack of turnovers explains why Trotwood fell about 40 points below their season average in points in the title game. Walter ensured a quality possession for STVM time and again with his low dribble and decision making. He can also mid-range jumpers off the dribble. Walter was doing this thing where he looked off defenders to free himself up for uncontested layups.
Although Daemen College is the only to offer thus far, Walter can absolutely play NAIA or D-II basketball.
Keyshawn Jones (2019), 6’5” F, STVM
Jones is a mobile, physical post player that came out of nowhere for us. While we’d tagged him as a utility forward prior to the weekend, his physical tools were impossible to ignore. He has a strong chest and stays disciplined in defending the rim. He can finish on smooth post moves, including a powerful spin, or face-up for a short jump shot. We’ll watch him closely in the summer when we get the chance.