Hargrave Tip-Off Standouts (Part 2)
The season is about to get underway, and what a wonderful way to start it with the Hargrave Military Academy Tip-Off in Chatham, VA, featuring some powerhouse programs and some up and coming ones as well. I was able to…
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Continue ReadingThe season is about to get underway, and what a wonderful way to start it with the Hargrave Military Academy Tip-Off in Chatham, VA, featuring some powerhouse programs and some up and coming ones as well. I was able to get to the second day of the two day event, and while I missed the first day there was still plenty of standouts on the day featuring eight teams. Here’s a look at some of the junior standouts for the event, featuring eight guys.
Kenard Richardson | 6’3” G | Life Christian 2021
Richardson had a nice debut for LCA after being one of the best players in public school last year at Varina, as he finished with 17 points and 4 rebounds in a very close win over VES. Richardson got off to a fast start, scoring 12 of his 17 in the first half, and his tenacity and all-out style of play is something that his teammates fed off of and upped their game as well. He made some big plays down the stretch, he got to the line regularly and showed improvement in his deep ball going 2-for-3 on the game.
Ikechi Chantilou | 6’4” WF | Life Christian 2021
Chantilou also had a great debut for LCA this weekend, as he had arguably the best individual performance of anyone in attendance on Saturday. The long wing who was a star at George Wythe the past two years did what he does best as he used his quickness and bounce to get the rim in straight lines and get to the line regularly. He finished with 24 points, going 6-for-10 from the field and 11-for-14 from the line, including what turned out to be the game winning three-point play with less than 10 seconds left. He took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his 24 after the break, and was also good on the glass and as a playmaker as well.
Rodney Roane | 6’2” G | Life Christian 2021
The best part about Roane is that he knows his role and has no problem doing what his team needs him to do, which is defend the best player on the other team. He’s a big and strong guy who has no problem getting in the face of guys and getting under their skin while following them everywhere they go. He guarded whoever they needed him to, even forcing turnovers with three steals, and he showed a good midrange game as well while also contributing on the glass with 7 points and 5 rebounds.
Isaiah Folkes | 6’2” G | Middleburg 2021
A dynamic point guard that is part of a trio of Middleburg transfers that I will mention here that stood out, Folkes dominated the game from the very beginning on both ends of the floor and was a major reason the Dragons were able to beat Veritas by almost 40 points. He has a dog like mentality and the athleticism to go with it, as he’ll pick guys up the length of the floor, force turnovers and then throw down in a big way in transition when he gets loose. He’s a freak athlete that can set the tone on both ends and get in the lane where he’s able to finish or make plays for others. He finished with an impressive stat line of 19 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field and added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks as well.
Jaden House | 6’3” WG | Middleburg 2021
A natural scoring wing, House didn’t get off the best start for Middleburg with only four points in the first half, but he stepped it up and scored 19 in the second half to finish with 23 on the game. He helped open the game up when he stopped settling and decided to get to the rim, where he showed good strength and athleticism as a finisher in traffic, and he got to the line often as well. The fact that he didn’t shoot the ball great from deep, which is one of his best attributes, but still finished with 23 points shows just how impressive of a scorer he is.
Xzavier Long | 6’5” F | Middleburg 2021
A transfer from St. Andrews in Maryland, Long gives Middleburg a versatile forward who can play inside-out and will be a mismatch problem moving forward. They were without Lehigh commit Ben Li, so Long played the four for most of the game, but he showed the ability to be an impact guy on both ends as he guarded multiple positions, was good in the press and while he didn’t take many shots he took advantage of his opportunities. He finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in the win.
Markus Malleschitz | 5’11” G | Oak Hill Red 2021
A native of Austria, Malleschitz impressed me more and more as the game went on as he took over ball handling duties and initiated the offense well while he made plays for himself and others. He’s a tough nosed kind of kid that doesn’t back down on either end, he took advantage of his opportunities and he made some for others as well. He can play both guard positions and make shots from all three levels, and while he isn’t the biggest or most athletic guy his mix of skill and toughness makes him an impact guy on both ends.
Matthew Mealy | 6’5” F | Veritas Collegiate 2021
Mealy was the most consistent player for Veritas in their blowout loss to Middleburg, as he banged in the post with guys much bigger than him and was effective scoring both with his back to the basket and in face up situations. He showed good touch with both hands, he was able to face up and get by his man and he dominated the glass on both ends. He finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.