National Hoopfest Junior Standouts
For the past 10 years, the National Hoopfest has brought together some of the best teams from across the country to compete with each other, and giving the opportunity for big time DC area teams to see how they stack…
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Continue ReadingFor the past 10 years, the National Hoopfest has brought together some of the best teams from across the country to compete with each other, and giving the opportunity for big time DC area teams to see how they stack up nationally. This year was no different, and while we were only able to attend the first day of the stacked two day set, there was still plenty of talent from all over the country in attendance. Here’s a look at some of the junior standouts from last Saturday.
Zaakir Williamson | 6’6” PF | Rock Creek Christian (MD)
One of the most underrated prospects in the mid-atlantic, Williamson had a breakout game on the national level that had many scouts and coaches thinking it’s about time to overlook his height at the four spot and consider him as a high major prospect. The 6’6” Williamson has done a great job getting his body in shape, and he showed a terrific motor on both ends of the floor. He has a soft touch out to the three-point line, he gets downhill and uses his frame to finish in traffic, he played hard in the paint on both ends and was money from the line going 8-for-9 on the game. He finished with the MVP in their win over First Love (PA) as he finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Rahsool Diggins | 6’3” G | Archbishop Wood (PA)
Part of a talented junior backcourt for a good Archbishop team, Diggins was phenomenal in spurts as a guy who can get in the lane and make plays for both himself and others off the bounce. He scored the ball well from all three levels off the bounce, he got to the line a ton and converted and still was able to make plays for others and lead the team defensively as well. He finished with an impressive stat line of 32 points (12-15 from the line), 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in their loss to Cornerstone Christian.
Jaylen Stinson | 6’0” G | Archbishop Wood (PA)
The other part of their talented backcourt, Stinson was on fire early for his team and he showed that he’s a very talented shot maker that can play either guard position. With his team struggling in the first half offensively, Stinson took it upon himself to take over as he scored it in bunches, ringing off 11 points by hitting three from deep in the first half. While he slowed down in the second half he still made some big shots to keep them in the game and finished with 18 points going 5-for-10 from deep on the game.
Jerrell Colbert | 6’9” F | Cornerstone Christian (TX)
While there were other guys, mainly their guards, who shined pretty bright, Colbert showed a ton of tools that should make him a very desirable big man for high majors moving forward. He has an athletic frame that should fill out when he gets to college, he runs the floor like a gazelle and can finish above the rim and he’s able to guard multiple positions while still getting it done on the glass. He finished with 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field and 6-for-6 shooting from the line and he pitched in 7 rebounds as well.
Jalen Miller | 6’2” PG | Bishop Walsh (MD)
I thought Miller was fantastic in their loss to a very good Word of God team and stick by the fact that I believe he’s one of the most underrated point guards in the mid-atlantic. He isn’t the biggest or most athletic PG in the area, but he’s very smooth and heady off the bounce, he’s a terrific leader that his team is willing to follow and he brings it against whoever it is he’s matched up with. He changes pace well, he handles pressure and reads the defense and he’s able to both score it and make plays for others whether it’s in transition or within the flow of the offense. He finished with 11 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in the loss.
Kendall Brown | 6’7” F | Sunrise Christian (KS)
One of the best and most talented prospects in the entire event, Brown was fantastic in their win over Gonzaga as he dominated the game, all while just taking 8 shots from the field. He has the perfect frame to play the game at the highest level, he’s a natural athlete who knows how to use his athleticism on both ends of the floor and he’s able to make plays without having to dominate the ball on the offensive end. Despite dealing with foul trouble throughout the game, he finished with a game high 18 points while going 7-for-8 from the field and making some plays that left all us shaking our heads.
Moussa Diabete | 6’10” PF | IMG (FL)
Diabete had to step into a bigger role this game since it was their first event without Duke commit Jalen Johnson, and I thought he did a great job doing a little bit of everything for his group. He’s a long and athletic forward that can step out and open the lane or get it on the glass from crashing. He didn’t shoot the rock from deep but he did work on the perimeter out of the triple threat, he got to the rim well and took advantage of his opportunities without dominating the basketball. He finished with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 6 rebounds in their loss to Paul VI.
Trevor Keels | 6’3” WG | Paul VI (VA)
Trevor Keels (Left)While Duke commit Jeremy Roach was the one who was cooking in the first half against IMG, it was Keels who broke the back of them in the fourth quarter when he rang off 11 straight, not missing a shot on four straight possessions. The junior wing stepped up in a big way on both ends, earning co-MVP and showing that he is indeed one of the top two-way wings in the country. He impressed a number of national programs this weekend with two great games, as he finished the win over IMG with a game high 25 points, going 5-for-12 from deep and scoring 15 of his 25 in the second half.
Tyler Coleman | 6’6” F | Paul VI (VA)
The big question for PVI coming into this season is who would be the man in the middle, and while they don’t have a traditional big man they have a few guys who played the role and did well, led by Coleman who finished with 8 points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field and battled against multiple guys much bigger than him. He fits their uptempo style as a guy who can run the floor, he can step out and allow them to play five out and he’s a tough kid who got after it the entire game.