A Scout’s Take: Montverde Academy vs Dematha (Francisco’s Finest/Part 1)
A Scout’s Take: Montverde Academy vs Dematha (Francisco’s Finest/Part 1) HYATTSVILLE, MD—Montverde Academy exhibited zero weaknesses in their dismantling of Dematha, but that’s not to say Dematha did not display a roster booming with college-level talent. Cade Cunningham and Scottie…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA Scout’s Take: Montverde Academy vs Dematha (Francisco’s Finest/Part 1)
HYATTSVILLE, MD—Montverde Academy exhibited zero weaknesses in their dismantling of Dematha, but that’s not to say Dematha did not display a roster booming with college-level talent. Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes were the two best players on the floor, but I liked the upside of up-and-coming 6-foot-5 Tyrell Ward (Dematha) and skill level of Hunter Dickinson (Dematha).
A Jack of all Trades
Cade Cunningham (Montverde Academy)
2020, PG, 6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Cade Cunningham proved to be the best all-around player in the gameJoel’s Take: Arguably the best all-around player in the country is Cunningham. The do-it-all point guard plays the game at a different level than his peers. Whether it’s pulling up in transition and converting a jump shot or dropping off a nifty dime, he impacts the game in multiple ways. His head is always up navigating the defense and his passing is efficient. Did I say he’ll grab boards in traffic? Well, he does that too. A true winner with a great demeanor on the court.
Best Passer since Lonzo Ball
Scottie Barnes (Montverde Academy)
2020, PF/WF, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: Lonzo Ball (New Orleans Pelicans) mesmerized crowds near and far with his passing prowess. Well, meet another kid that can dish out the rock as good as I’ve seen since Ball. Barnes is a point forward type with a basketball IQ that trumps his competitors. Whether it’s in the half court set or in transition, Barnes delivers. His jump shot is a concern at this stage, but this Draymond Green type of prospect should be playing this game for a while.
Forced the Issue
Earl Timberlake Jr. (Dematha)
2020, SG, 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: Timberlake had his hands full in this tilt with Montverde. As the primary ball handler he converted some deep shots with that nice lefty stroke, but they were tough shots. He tried to do it on his own far too often, but it was not surprising considering what he was up against. Getting Dickinson more involved and slowing down the pace would have helped in my opinion, but Timberlake was on a mission. Overall though, he has the skill set to be a good one for the Miami Hurricanes.
Most Explosive
Dariq Whitehead (Montverde Academy)
2022, SG, 6-foot-5, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: Whitehead plays this game as if he is shot out of a cannon. The ultra-athletic wing-type excels in transition where he explodes to the rim with grace and authority. He has a terrific basketball body with long arms and his upside is just oozing. He can shoot it from deep, but his shot needs to get a bit more consistent, but overall he is a Top Five talent in the Class of 2022.
The Next Generation
Tyrell Ward (Dematha)
2022, SG, 6-foot-5, 165 pounds
Ward is one of the better looking wing-types in the Class of 2022Joel’s Take: Ward started off slow, but he showed off his up-and-coming talent as the game wore on. The wiry scoring guard gets great lift on his shot and his slashing skills are high-level as he has the manueverability to get around defenders in the tightes of areas. Defensively, he has the length and lateral quickness to be a high-level defender.