10 Things I’m Buying in the 2019-20 Season
The official start of the upcoming high school basketball season is inching closer with each day that passes. In the upcoming weeks, the Prep Hoops Staff will be providing comprehensive preview content as our eagerness grows. Below is a rundown…
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Continue ReadingThe official start of the upcoming high school basketball season is inching closer with each day that passes. In the upcoming weeks, the Prep Hoops Staff will be providing comprehensive preview content as our eagerness grows. Below is a rundown of 10 things I’m buying for the imminent hoops season.
THE 2021 CLASS
The sheer depth of talent in and around the DMV area is quite remarkable, particularly when you consider the list of 2021 prospects available. Prioritizing bigs? Look no further than Richmond, where you will find Efton Reid and Roosevelt Wheeler pridefully anchoring the paint at their respective schools. There is also an abundance of wing prospects with high potential in this region. Quincy Allen, Benny Williams, David Brown, Jordan Hawkins, and Jared Billups are just a few names who fit into that category. Who’s the best lead guard in the junior class? That’s definitely still up for debate, but guys like Trevor Keels, Ryan Conway, and more recently Erik Reynolds have put their names in the hat for that argument. Between Maryland, DC, and Virginia, you can easily identify at least 60 kids in the ’21 class that will eventually play at the D1 level, and that’s probably an under-estimation.
GUARD PLAY
One of the things this region has always been known for is its guard play. This year will be more of the same in that regard. Jeremy Roach, Paul VI’s Duke commit who is fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him last season, is on a mission to show why he is arguably the best point guard in the country. Baltimore is commonly referred to as “guard city” these days. Ace Baldwin, Rahim Ali, and Mike Gray are three lead guards who have racked up a ton of wins for their respective teams and should continue to do so over the next several months.
IAC/MAC RIVALRIES
SSSAS beat Episcopal a whopping five times last seasonOne thing you absolutely have to love about the local hoops scene is the fever-pitch atmosphere that can form on a given night. The IAC and the MAC both produce great examples of this. Episcopal vs. SSSAS comes to mind at once when talking about the IAC. The two schools are in close proximity and the rivalry is always fierce. Landon vs. Georgetown Prep is also a super fun matchup to watch in that conference. Basketball in the MAC features a few competitive rivalries of its own. Potomac School vs. Flint Hill is always packed. You also have to love watching Maret and Sidwell go at it.
IMPACT FRESHMEN
All over the area, freshmen will get the opportunity to show what they can do from day one. It’s still early, but we’ve begun to decipher who the biggest impact “diaper dandies” could be. Amani Hansberry of St. John’s and DeShawn Harris-Smith of Paul VI are two impressive prospects who could be relied upon to make an immediate impact sooner rather than later. Given all the expected changes at O’Connell, Mason So is a name who could become prominent in the near future. Kwame Evans, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Poly, has drawn rave reviews from his coaches and is expected to establish a clear role in their rotation. Top 250 Expo standout Bryson Wilson should also be able to carve out a nice role at Maret this season.
A POLY 4-PEAT
One of the safer bets you can make is to pick the Poly Engineers to win it all once again. The road will be long, and this statement will likely serve as bulletin board material for many, but that all goes out the window once its time to step on the court. The versatility of Poly’s roster is insane. Coach Sam Brand has the luxury to go big by starting 6-foot-5 tank Brandon Murray at the 2 alongside Ali at the 1. He can then go 6’6 at the 3 with Ian Wallace, 6’8 at the 4 with Justin Lewis, and 6’9 at the 5 with Adam Walden. Brand can also go small and bring in Bryce Lindsey, considered one of the best shooters to come out of Baltimore in recent memory, and put him off the ball alongside Ali. Trae English offers a good change of pace while Hassan Massenburg the aforementioned freshman Evans will add more length and versatility to the frontcourt.
SHOOTERS
Can Milton Matthews hit 100 threes this season?In the D.C. Metro Area alone, there were over 20 players who hit 50 or more threes last season. Guys like Milton Matthews of Rock Creek and Mike Katsock of St. Albans should be among the area’s leaders once again this season. Rodney Rice of Bullis, Darius Johnson of Episcopal, and Chris Asamoah of Magruder could also emerge higher up on the leaderboard than they did last year. One player in particular who could really jump up the ranks is Garrett Johnson, a 6-foot-6 sharpshooter who will find himself with more room to operate and playing at a faster pace in his new surroundings.
THE SHOT CLOCK
It’s inconceivable that only 10 states require the use of the shot clock in high schools. Fortunately for us, Maryland and DC are included in that minority, but when will Virginia jump on board? Make whatever excuse you may, but it makes absolutely no sense that we can’t all agree one way or another. Conventional wisdom says that since it’s used at all higher levels, the shot clock should not be omitted at the high school level.
SOUTH COUNTY AS A STATE TITLE CONTENDER
In recent years, Northern Virginia has taken home its fair share of VHSL State Championships. South County is one of three local schools to win a state title in the last five years, and the Stallions appear to be legit contenders once again this season. Andre Speight, a lefty representing this area’s ever-so-deep 2021 class, is a flat out matchup problem with his long-range shooting and playmaking ability. Speight is an improved defender and a legit two-way threat as a result. His classmate Trenton Picott, an athletic 6-foot-6 forward who is developing at a rapid rate, is also due for a major breakout. These two juniors lead a deep and talented squad that should be able to bring home some more hardware.
UNDERDOGS
Yes, each league will have favorites that feature players known on a national scale, but it’s the underdogs that often move the needle most locally. Kino Lilly, a skilled and productive junior guard who was a big part of the Bears’ hot start a year ago, could possibly be the area’s leading scorer this season. If he is able to do this and Landon is able to win, he could become an All-Met POY Candidate. There is certainly a world where this is possible, not just for Lilly, but for others as well. Look at Jalen Miller up at Bishop Walsh. He’s not the flashiest kid in the world, but he plays the right way, gets the job done, and is a proven winner. If the Spartans can knock off Oak Hill and he can do a good job defending Cam Thomas or Darius Maddox, Miller’s recruitment could soar. The underdog theme doesn’t apply to just prospects, but teams as well. Bishop Ireton is a team that could catch many by surprise in the WCAC this season. Sidwell’s memorable win over Wilson is just one example of a massive underdog prevailing in this area as recently as last season. Who will it be this year?
THE WCAC
The WCAC will once again show why it’s considered the best high school basketball conference in the nation. No disrespect to any other leagues, but DeMatha, Gonzaga, and Paul VI are often found in the top-10 of national rankings. This year will be no different. The Stags, Eagles, and Panthers boast rosters full of four and five stars. Outside of those three programs, the league’s steadily improving depth is becoming more prominent. St. John’s, Ireton, McNamara, O’Connell, Good Counsel, and Ryken all have good talent. One thing that makes this league so special is the coaching. Playing in the WCAC is like playing at a college program. From strength and conditioning to skill development, to x’s and o’s, everything is first-class. The fans also deserve a shout in this section. One of the best things about going to a WCAC rivalry game is the fever-pitch atmosphere. Go to a DeMatha/Gonzaga or PVI/O’Connell game and you’ll see what I mean.