As some enjoyed the football season officially kicking off, we at Prep Hoops are counting down the days until the hoops season tips. For the time being, we’ll be getting in to the gym and watching showcase events along with…
As some enjoyed the football season officially kicking off, we at Prep Hoops are counting down the days until the hoops season tips. For the time being, we’ll be getting in to the gym and watching showcase events along with open gym workouts. In this edition of the DMV Roundtable, Adam Ayalew, Houston Wilson and Colby Giacubeno cover some takeaways from the DMV Elite 80 and also give their insights on the 2021 player rankings.
1. Which player that you didn’t know much about prior to the DMV Elite 80 left the biggest impression on you?
Giacubeno: For me it was Kaylen Oweh. Oweh is a 6-foot-4 point guard who played last year at Rutgers Prep alongside elite talent. He’ll be a key piece to the puzzle for Mercersburg Academy this season with his ability to score at the rim. Oweh continuously blew by his match up in the half court and finished athletically at the rim. He has a strong frame to go along with shifty moves when he is heading downhill. Last season at Rutgers Prep, Oweh had to take advantage of any opportunities that came his way with his limited touches. For Mercersburg, Oweh will be a primary scoring option and really be able to show what he’s made of. Canisius, Stony Brook and NJIT have all offered Oweh. It wouldn’t surprise me to see some legitimate mid major programs get involved.
Ayalew: Kevin Siakam from Veritas Collegiate Academy. Listed at 6’9″, the unsigned senior is a really good athlete who plays hard all the time. Siakam is a good rim protector who enjoys running the floor and punishing rims in transition. One other thing I liked about his game was his court vision. Siakam releases the ball quickly upon securing a defensive rebound to initiate the break and is a competent post passer in half-court situations.
Wilson: I thought Isaiah Folkes had the best day in the gym on Saturday as he had it going from the jump in every game I watched of him. Folkes was thriving getting to the basket and finishing in traffic. He made multiple floaters during the day and was efficient scoring the basketball. Throughout the day his ability to get passed the defenders while dribbling the ball was something that really stood out. If Folkes continues to score at the level he did on Saturday during the high school season, his recruitment will definitely take off even more than it is right now.
2. Which player(s) do you feel will translate their play from Saturday into a successful high school season?
Giacubeno: I’m going to stay on the Mercersburg front for this answer as well. Quintin Metcalf may be the best player that not many know about. At 6-foot-8, Metcalf is a prototypical stretch four option in today’s game. He brings size, versatility and athleticism to the position that helps give him an advantage in almost any situation. He’ll be the bell cow for Mercersburg this season and I expect him to end the majority of games boasting a double-double stat line. On Saturday, that versatility came to the forefront as he showed range on his jumper off the catch, had at least a dozen above the rim finishes in transition alone and caused issues defensively with his length and anticipation skills. Metcalf holds offers from St. Bonaventure, Howard, Drexel and Farleigh Dickinson.
Ayalew: Ryan Prather Jr. from Clarksburg. The 6’4″ junior guard impressed on Saturday with his efficiency and ability to score from multiple areas on the court. Prather has the ability to create his own shot and showed that he can hit tough ones even when smothered. He was also active on the boards but also showcased good court vision and decision-making skills with the ball in his hands.
Wilson: Zaakir Williamson was an absolute beast on Saturday at DMV Elite. There was nobody that was able to stop him from scoring in the low post. Teams also had trouble stopping him from getting rebounds on both sides of the ball. Williamson is part of a Rock Creek team that has tremendous guards and those guards will be looking to pass the ball to Williamson down low all season as he will be the go to option down low. After talking to him this past weekend, he is entering a big time high major recruitment as he is one of the toughest forwards in the DMV region.
3. Our player rankings will be updated at the end of this month. Who took advantage of this spring and summer the most and will see the biggest boost in their ranking?
Giacubeno: I feel like I write about Jared Billups daily, but it’s for good reason. He’s now 6-foot-6 and continues to put muscle on what was already a chiseled frame. It adds to his versatility and with today’s game of seeing more fours playing out on the perimeter, he can legitimately guard from the point guard to forward position. His ball handling and play making ability has improved as has his finishing in transition. Billups is making finishing above the rim routine and is no longer shying away from contact. The one flaw in his game is his jump shot, but it isn’t like he is incapable of watching a few go in from three when he has time to set his feet. Billups is the type of player that you could throw into any system and he’d find a way to have an impact. I expect his offer list to grow this season along with his ranking.
Ayalew: Dylan Edwards from St. Andrew’s will definitely moving up at least a few spots when the new rankings drop at the end of this month. The 6’1″ junior lead guard prospect was one of the better shooters in attendance on Saturday. Edwards demonstrated good playmaking skills and intangibles. He showed a good understanding of the game and was a consistent communicator throughout the day. If Edwards can continue to build off his performance and carry that momentum with him into the high school season, he should continue to rise in the rankings.
Wilson: We have previously talked about Billups a lot and once again, I think he fits the bill for this question. Going back to last years Top 250 camp, he really made a name for himself. Since that camp he has continued to make great strides and I think that will continue during the high school season. Right now he is currently slotted at 35 but I believe he will have a solid jump up in the rankings when we publish the updated rankings at the end of the month.