Jack’s National Hoopfest Standouts (Part 2)
This past weekend DeMatha played host to the National HoopFest which was arguably one of the top events of the high school season. There was talent on the floor all weekend long and this article takes a look at some of the top performers from Saturday.
Armando Bacot | 6’9” PF | IMG Academy 2019
The UNC commit came to what amounted to his homecoming, playing less than two hours from his hometown of Richmond, VA. Bacot was steady throughout the game, finishing plays in the paint and rebounding well on both ends of the floor. He also showed off one of his more underrated parts of his game as a rim protector, coming up with three blocks on the game including some impressive and timely ones down the stretch. Although it wasn’t his best game, Bacot finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds on the game.
Jeremiah Earl-Robinson | 6’8” PF | IMG Academy 2019
Earl-Robinson had announced his commitment to Villanova not too long before the event, and what he showed Saturday in their win over DeMatha on their home court is that he looks like a perfect fit for Jay Wright’s system. At 6’8” he can play on the perimeter on both ends of the floor, rim runs well and has an advanced skill set for a guy his size. He can shoot out to the three-point line, he rebounds the basketball with strength on both ends and he’s efficient around the basket with both hands. He finished with a game high 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field and he pitched in 13 rebounds as well.
Jaden Springer | 6’5” WG | IMG Academy 2020
One of the prospects I was most excited to see here, Springer showed a lot of what makes him a top 20 prospect but he also showed me a little more than I thought he could do. Springer showed improvement off the bounce as a shot creator and maker. He’s already a strong kid who can get downhill and finish way above the rim, but his improvements off the bounce and in the midrange were great to see. He’s also a good rebounder and versatile defender, and he stepped up big time when they needed him to. He finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and three assists, scoring 12 of his points in the second half.
N’Faly Dante | 6’10” C | Sunrise Christian (KS) 2020
Of the three bigs mentioned so far, Dante may have a chance to be the best long term prospect of the group. The big man has all of the tools to be a one-and-done guy with a high ceiling once he reaches the league. He has a solid frame that allows him to carve out space inside, he can score over either shoulder, he runs the floor and finishes above the rim and he can protect the rim defensively. There’s nothing super flashy about Dante’s game, but he’s productive and efficient and he can dominate any game he plays in.
Earl Timberlake | 6’5” WG | DeMatha 2020
Timberlake’s versatility is one of the most impressive things about him as a prospect, and he showed that as DeMatha almost upset one of the top teams in the country in IMG. At 6’5”, he can play all over the court and he typically takes the task of guarding the best player on the other team at whatever position they may be playing. He was all over the floor on both ends making plays, and he made sure he didn’t settle and forced the issue, getting to the rim and the foul line regularly. He finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
Josiah Freeman | 6’5” WF | Paul VI 2020
Freeman was extremely impressive against Montverde, as the junior wing stepped up big time in the absence of nationally ranked guards Ant Harris and Jeremy Roach. The stocky and athletic wing got hot early and didn’t turn it off, hitting five three-pointers in the first half on just seven attempts. The Eagles honed in on Freeman in the second half, but he still had an impressive 24 points and in his coming out party, showed that he’s ready to bear the load and step up moving forward.
Knassir “Dug” McDaniels | 5’9” PG | Paul VI 2022
The Panthers’ have seemed to get one of, if not the, best freshman guard in the area the past three seasons. It was Ant Harris in 2015. Jeremy Roach in 2016, Trevor Keels in 2017 and now, it’s Dug McDaniels in 2018. The pint sized freshman guard walked into the bright lights of the National Hoopfest and wasted no time awing the crowd with his super tight handle and unreal passing ability. He’s able to rock defenders with his crosses, get in the lane and he sees the game faster than anyone, but it’s his ability to thread the needle and make passes other guys wouldn’t be able to that was impressive. He’s different than these other guards they’ve had in the past, and he finished with seven assists to just two turnovers against the best team in the country.