Super 80 Showcase-Class of 2021 Notebook
This past Saturday, I hosted the inaugural Super 80 Showcase, an event designed to showcase the top freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. There was no shortage of talent in any of the four games that took place. The 2021 game was filled with a number of highly touted sophomores who are looking to capitalize after having big freshmen campaigns.
Here are some notes from this game:
Ryan Conway steals the show
By this point, Conway is used to having the spotlight on him whenever he steps on the floor. Saturday was no different as he took over in the fourth quarter to complete a dominant 36-point performance for a team white squad that won 115-108 in what was the best game of the day. To go with his 36 points, Conway dished out five assists, pulled down five rebounds and collected three steals to earn the MVP award for the game. The 6-foot-1 guard was scoring however and whenever he wanted. It’s now no secret this he should put up huge numbers for a Dulaney team that will be favorites to win the Baltimore County title.
Trae English is a fearless bucket
English doesn’t have much weight to go with a 5-foot-10 frame, but he doesn’t let that stop him from scoring at all three levels. The crafty guard attacks the basket ferociously and doesn’t shy away from contact on his way. In this game alone, he made all six of his shots from the charity stripe to finish with a total of 22 points in the loss. English is a Mt. St. Joseph transfer who will be an immediate impact for a Poly team that won back-to-back 3A state titles. With their need of a scorer at the two-spot, he should fit in just fine with his ability to heat up quick and in a hurry.
Byron Ireland catches everyone’s attention
Ireland was a key contributor to a good Annapolis team last season just as a freshman. But now that he is 6-foot-2 and added a little bit of size to his frame, it makes him a handful for his defender. Ireland was showing soft touch on drives to the basket when he wasn’t hammering down a one-handed dunk in transition. He also nailed two three’s on his way to 20 points to assist Conway in the victory. While Conway stole the show, Ireland may have caught the most attention from scouts considering how much he has improved over the past year.
Marlon Lewis is the biggest diamond in the rough
I’m confident with this statement: Marlon Lewis is neck and neck in terms of athleticism with St. Frances’ Jordan Toles. If you know Toles, who is ranked as the top safety in the 2020 class, that says a lot. If you need further proof, a video will follow this write up. However when Lewis wasn’t finishing 180 reverse slam dunks, he was showcasing his improved jump shot by canning two three’s on his way to 16 points in the win. Lewis plays with tremendous energy and is likely the best player that nobody is familiar with in the city of Baltimore. After a very productive season for Woodlawn, Lewis has decided to transfer to Havre De Grace in Harford County, Maryland where he resides. There’s little doubt that he will be the favorite to land player of the year in that area.
Dennis Smith got some COMPETITION 🤯 (via @eliteballer9250) pic.twitter.com/DHlx2GqvLv
— Overtime (@overtime) August 17, 2018
David Brown introduces himself to the area
Brown is a St. Mary’s Ryken transfer who will have an immediate impact for young, skilled McDonogh team in the MIAA. Brown, who is coming off of a productive summer with Team Durant, had an all around solid performance finishing with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss. The 6-foot-3 guard was effective finding seams off the dribble and knocking down mid-range shots. When he saw lanes, he attacked and finished efficiently as well. Brown will be yet another athletic guard for head coach TJ Jordan to game plan with this upcoming season.
Cam Blount shows potential
At 6-foot-4 with good size, Blount fits the mold of a solid shooting guard prospect for college programs. He still has a way to go in terms of development of his overall game, but he can without a doubt put the ball in the basket a variety of ways. He shoots at a good clip off the catch and can put the ball on the deck and finish through contact as well. Blount finished with 14 points in the loss. Defensively, he moves his feet well laterally and with his size, can hold his own when things get physical.
Jeremiah Stanton catches fire early
Stanton was the game’s smallest player at 5-foot-10, but he didn’t let that lessen his impact, especially in the early goings. He nailed three triples in the first half on his way to 12 points for the game. He also did a nice job facilitating and enforcing movement off the ball for the blue team. You won’t see Stanton try to play out of his limitations too often, and that’s a quality that is overlooked today.