IAC/MAC Challenge Superlatives
POTOMAC, MD — The IAC/MAC Challenge, which is officially in the books, finished 4-2 in favor of the IAC. Coaches from Columbia, George Mason, George Washington, Lehigh, Quinnipiac, and St. Joseph’s were all spotted in the gym throughout the day.…
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Continue ReadingPOTOMAC, MD — The IAC/MAC Challenge, which is officially in the books, finished 4-2 in favor of the IAC. Coaches from Columbia, George Mason, George Washington, Lehigh, Quinnipiac, and St. Joseph’s were all spotted in the gym throughout the day. It’s time to take a closer look at what we’ve learned. Here is a rundown of 10 superlatives from Saturday’s action.
BEST ATHLETE | TYMU CHENERY | EPISCOPAL ’20
In our preview, we tabbed Chenery as the X-Factor for the Maroon. The Quinnipiac commit played one of his best games and his team impressed as a result. Chenery showcased his athleticism early and often throughout his team’s win. The 6-foot-6 wing dunked the ball regularly and with relative ease. Chenery covered ground quickly which along with his anticipation skills made him effective defensively. He looked to get out and run whenever possible and this was when he was at his best.
Honorable Mention: Quincy Allen, Maret ’21; Elliott Black, SSSAS ’22
BEST DEFENDER | DARIUS JOHNSON | EPISCOPAL ’21
Johnson drew the initial assignment of guarding Ryan Cornish from Sidwell, and he did a tremendous job. His combination of strength and quickness proved to be effective. Johnson also demonstrated his versatility by defending in the post and showing that he is not easily moved off his spot.
Honorable Mention: Spencer Hayes, St. Andrew’s ’20
BEST INTANGIBLES | JACK FITZPATRICK | EPISCOPAL ’20
Fitzpatrick stood out as one of the vocal leaders of his team. Whenever the coaches needed to get a message across to the team, he was the one who delivered. One could argue that Fitzpatrick was pound-for-pound the toughest player in the gym on Saturday.
BEST MOTOR | BROCK DAVIS | GEORGETOWN DAY ’22
GDS fell in overtime to a hard-playing St. Albans squad, but not before a furious comeback. Brock Davis gave his team a major spark with his effort level. He matched the intensity of his opponents by rebounding out of his area, chasing every 50/50 ball, and putting his body on the line for the team.
Honorable Mention: Stefan Marcelle, Georgetown Prep ’22, Teo Rice, Maret ’20
BEST NEWCOMER | DYLAN BRONNER | GEORGETOWN DAY ’22
Bronner was a prospect who we had not seen in person before Saturday, but he is certainly intriguing. Listed at 6-foot-4, he is a crafty scorer who looks to get downhill aggressively but can also score off the bounce from the perimeter. Bronner is a fundamentally sound guard who made smart cuts off the ball, was active on the glass, pushed it in transition, finished with both hands at the rim, and made plays for his teammates.
BEST PROSPECT | BENNY WILLIAMS | ST. ANDREW’S ’21
Williams dominated the game at times against a Landon team that had no answer for him. In the past, we’d mentioned how he is still learning how to use his 6-foot-8 frame, but he’s made strides in that department. Williams is now comfortable posting up and scoring or making sound reads with the ball. His lateral quickness enables him to switch ball screens on defense but he’s also coordinated and athletic enough to protect the rim at a high level. Williams exhibits a commendable feel for the game. He plays with a high motor and is coming into his own of late.
Honorable Mention: Garrett Johnson, Episcopal ’21
BEST RIM PROTECTOR | JAMEL MELVIN | POTOMAC SCHOOL ’20
Melvin’s combination of length and timing make him an excellent rim protector. When he’s in the mood, he can easily block 5 or more shots on a given night, and that’s what he did on Saturday.
Honorable Mention: Andre Screen, SSSAS ’20
BEST SCORER | RODNEY RICE | BULLIS ’22
Rice scored in a variety of ways on Saturday. He made threes off the bounce, from the catch, and standstill positions. Rice also scored it well in transition, where he was a threat to grab a board and go coast to coast or fill the lanes off the ball. He worked ball screens very well and was able to consistently create scoring opportunities from the in-between areas.
BEST SHOOTER | MIKE KATSOCK | ST. ALBANS ’20
While he could have shot it a little more consistently from the field, Katsock hit 5 threes and showed why he is regarded as one of the best shooters in the area, especially when his team needed him most. The 6-foot-5 wing, who scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in overtime, did not miss a free throw in the entire game. Katsock moves well without the ball, has a quick release, and is always shot ready.
Honorable Mention: Max Freishtat, Sidwell ’21; Nate Pabis, Flint Hill ’22
BEST UNDERCLASSMAN | CAM GILLUS | SIDWELL FRIENDS ’23
One could argue that Gillus was Sidwell’s best player on Saturday. The freshman lead guard showed nice scoring touch from the in-between areas but also had the presence of mind to consistently involve his teammates. Gillus was active on the glass and alert defensively off the ball. He pushed the ball effectively in transition and had good body control when finishing in the paint.