Five Key Questions: St. John’s vs. Imhotep Scrimmage
Washington, DC — Philadelphia powerhouse Imhotep, ranked as a top-15 team in the country by several publications, traveled to Military Road to take on St. John’s in a competitive four-quarter scrimmage. Here we recap this high level matchup by answering five key questions.
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?
St. John’s outscored Imhotep 46-43 in a competitive scrimmage that saw each team win two quarters. Casey Morsell did an excellent job containing Donta Scott. Morsell, a 6-foot-2 guard headed to UVA, used his length, physicality and instincts to neutralize the 6-foot-6 Maryland commit for most of this contest.
WHICH PROSPECTS STOOD OUT?
Aside from Morsell, Darius Maddox and John Square really stood out for SJC. Maddox provided a decisive scoring punch down the stretch for the Cadets. The 6-foot-4 junior had some trouble creating room to operate due to the physicality of Chereef Knox, but responded well and broke free to find several good looks late in the contest.
For Imhotep, 6-foot-8 junior Elijah Taylor and 6-foot-6 senior Jamil Riggins both had some nice moments to go along with Chereef Knox. Taylor was a commanding presence in the paint and did a nice job helping his team control the glass. Riggins, a Binghamton commit, took a couple of charges but also worked hard on the glass and finished well around the rim. Knox was a vocal leader who showcased his skill set and versatility by scoring from all over the floor, rebounding, and defending well on the perimeter.
WHAT SCHOOLS IS CHEREEF KNOX CONSIDERING?
Knox initially had stated that his top three schools were Hofstra, George Mason, and Old Dominion, but he has decided to wait things out and see what other offers he can get over the course of the season. He says schools like Cincinnati and DePaul are interested among a handful of others. Knox is one of the best glue guys on the country, and could fit on almost any college roster.
HOW GOOD CAN ST. JOHN’S BE THIS YEAR?
It looks like St. John’s will be in good position to challenge for the WCAC, DC State, and ACIT titles this year, especially once they really establish their rhythm on offense. Defensively, the Cadets are usually solid, and it looks like they will be once again this year. With emerging prospects such as Devon Savage and Ishmael Leggett improving every day, and the integration of new lead guard John Wilson still progressing, this team still has a lot of room to grow and the future looks bright.
WHAT CAN WE WATCH FOR MOVING FORWARD?
Keep a close eye on sophomore post Victory Naboya this season. With his length at 6-foot-8, he has the potential to be a disruptive interior force in the WCAC and at the next level, but right now he is still maturing, looks inconsistent, and is having difficulty carving out a significant role. If things start to click for Naboya, it will improve the ceiling of this team to another level.