Five Key Questions: Sidwell Friends vs. Good Counsel Scrimmage
WASHINGTON, DC — Sidwell Friends and Good Counsel matched up in a preseason scrimmage on Thursday night, and Prep Hoops was in the gym to observe. The Falcons put on an impressive team performance and won three out of the…
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Continue ReadingWASHINGTON, DC — Sidwell Friends and Good Counsel matched up in a preseason scrimmage on Thursday night, and Prep Hoops was in the gym to observe. The Falcons put on an impressive team performance and won three out of the five quarters played. Here we recap this contest by answering five key questions.
WHO WAS THE X-FACTOR FOR GOOD COUNSEL?
Montell Cooper, a 6-foot-1 unsigned senior guard, was the X-Factor for Good Counsel in this contest. It all started with his aggressiveness on the defensive end. Cooper is slender but has broad shoulders and long arms. His length helps him be disruptive defensively by recording deflections, steals and blocks. Cooper’s effort resulted in a lot of easy looks offensively. He was very active on the offensive glass and came up with a few second-chance points as a result. Cooper filled the lanes in transition, got to the basket aggressively, and showed that he can finish with either hand in traffic. Overall it was a solid performance for Good Counsel’s emerging senior.
WHAT WAS SIDWELL MISSING?
It should be noted that the Quakers were without the services of Afamdi Achufusi, a versatile 6-foot-4 guard who is currently ranked in the top-15 in his class. He is the most important returning player for Sidwell and would have certainly made a difference with his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court.
WHAT LEVEL OF PROSPECT IS RYAN CORNISH?
There’s no doubt that Ryan Cornish has all the tools to be considered a legitimate Division One Prospect. He is very skilled, but what stood out most about last night’s performance are the intangibles he brings to the table. As a point guard, Cornish understands the nuances of the game. He runs tightly off screens and keeps the defense off-balance with shot fakes. Cornish knows how to sell contact, which makes him a constant threat on both ends of the floor. He also realizes the importance of communicating. Cornish was the most vocal player on the floor and was very vigilant on the defensive end. He took a few charges, which has become a staple of his game. These next several months will tell us a lot about exactly what level of D1 ball Cornish can play, but for right now he looks like a solid Mid-Major prospect.
WHAT IS GOOD COUNSEL’S CEILING?
Good Counsel is certainly moving in the right direction. They made it to the WCAC Elite 8 at Gallaudet last year, and one would imagine that their goal for this season is to make it to the Final Four at American. Last night’s performance was a step in the right direction, even without experienced senior guard Justin Graham. Newcomer Dylan Williamson had a strong showing in his first run with his new team, and he certainly gives this group a boost. Only time will tell if this team has what it takes to be considered a legitimate threat for the traditional powers in the league. With all that being said, their ceiling looks to be much higher than it was last year.
WHICH UNDERCLASSMEN IMPRESSED?
There were a handful of underclassmen who stood out as a result of their performances last night. Here is a brief rundown of each prospect and what they bring to the table respectively.
Antonio Avery (Good Counsel ’23) Avery brings size to the Falcons frontcourt and the ability to score inside out. He plays with a high motor, runs the floor, and crashes the boards relentlessly.
Cam Chesley (Good Counsel ’23) Chesley is a long-limbed wing who is a big-time athlete. He is a threat to block shots defensively but can also get downhill and attack the rim on offense.
Chris Gamble (Sidwell ’22) Gamble, a key contributor from the previous season, has become more athletic and is close to becoming a knock-down three-point shooter. He defended well on the ball and is a good rebounder for a guard.
Cam Gillus (Sidwell ’23) Gillus started this game at the point for the Quakers. He plays with great pace and sees the floor well. Gillus is a good rebounding guard. He knows how to attack closeouts and has nice touch when finishing around the basket.
Reico Hellams (Good Counsel ’23) Hellams is a diminutive left-handed point guard with tremendous speed. He has good lateral quickness which helps him stay in front of his man on defense and break him down on offense. The next step for Hellams will be to learn how to change speeds so he can keep the opposing defense off balance.
Chris Russell (Sidwell ’23) At about 6-foot-5, Russell has long arms, strong hands, and an incredible motor. He’s a chase-down artist, a put-back threat, and a productive rebounder.