Maryland/DC All-Freshman Teams
Now that the season is over, it’s time to go recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Freshmen Teams from Maryland and DC. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first,…
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Continue ReadingNow that the season is over, it’s time to go recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Freshmen Teams from Maryland and DC. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first, second, and third teams was no easy task. Our staff deliberated for a significant amount of time before finally coming up with the names below. Stay tuned for much more postseason coverage right here at Prep Hoops.
FIRST TEAM
Bullis guard Zane Adnan made our first teamG – Zane Adnan | Bullis
Ayalew – Adnan’s development was accelerated as a result of injuries. As we saw in the summer, he had what it takes to contribute right away.
G – Cam Gillus | Sidwell Friends
Ayalew – Gillus became an indispensable fixture in Coach Singletary’s lineup from day one, and never relinquished his spot. He is quickly making a case as one of the best true point guards you will find in the DMV regardless of class.
G – Jacoi Hutchinson | DeMatha
Wilson – Jacoi is looking to be one of the future stars at DeMatha. The 6’2 freshman guard showed great abilities as a playmaker this year and saw himself get a ton of valuable minutes in important situations during the season. Hutchinson is certainly someone to keep your eye on.
F – Kwame Evans | Baltimore Poly
Giacubeno – Evans is one of the most unique prospects at this age considering his size, length and ability at 6-foot-9. The lefty gave teams nightmares with his outside shooting presence, which contributed to making Poly a nationally ranked team. Evans showed comfort leading the break, crashed the glass with aggression and used his length to disrupt shots around the rim.
F – Amani Hansberry | St. John’s – Player of the Year*
Wilson – Hansberry was the easy vote for player of the year as he made an impact for St. Johns right away. He has touch around the rim, rebounds the ball tremendously and his size helped him play great defense against some of the top big men in the area this year.
*unanimous selection
SECOND TEAM
McDonogh guard Mathani Paul-Swinson was a no-brainer choice to make this listG – Malik Mack | St. John’s
Wilson – The future is bright for Mack. His small size does not phase him one bit as he has a smooth game and plays with good confidence. Mack was a solid role player for Coach Behan and guided the Cadets offense well whenever he was on the court.
G – Mathani Paul-Swinson | McDonogh
Giacubeno – Paul-Swinson was thrown into the fire immediately and had to adjust to becoming a floor general. As the season progressed, McDonogh experienced a slew of injuries which called for the 5-foot-10 guard to become more of a scorer. Transitioning in both of these instances took some time, but eventually, he became consistent and gained much respect going up against tough point guards in the MIAA A Conference.
G – Mike Williams | Calvert Hall
Giacubeno – It was no secret that Calvert Hall was one of the youngest teams in the area. Williams had to shoulder more responsibility than other freshmen. Although the Cardinals struggled to compile wins, Williams showed promise with his ability to make plays off the bounce and finish athletically around the rim through contact.
F – Bryson Wilson | Maret
Ayalew – Injuries opened up even more opportunities than anticipated for Wilson, and he was able to take advantage. The athletic wing gained plenty of valuable experience this season and is still just scratching the surface.
C – Chris Russell | Sidwell Friends
Ayalew – Russell is a major building block in Sidwell’s talented young core. It’s only a matter of time before the active big man is fully unleashed and striking fear into his opponents.
THIRD TEAM
Georgetown Prep’s Ben Woodward earned a spot on our third teamG – Tjay Beckles | Overlea
Giacubeno – Beckles may not be a name that gets thrown around as much as the others, but there’s no denying his success this past season. As a team, Overlea struggled, but it had nothing to do with Beckles as he averaged 18.2 points per game. He kept the Falcons in many games where they were significant underdogs. His limitless range off the catch or the dribble is what makes him special.
G – Jahnathan Lamothe | St. Frances
Giacubeno – Lamothe joined a stacked St. Frances roster, but was ready to contribute once two starters left early to enroll in their respective universities. The 6-foot-3 guard added much-needed outside shooting for players like Ace Baldwin and Jamal West Jamal West 6'5" | PF St. Frances Academy | 2020 State #334 Nation MD , who constantly force the defense to collapse with their drives to the rim.
G – Raymond Watts | Bishop McNamara
Wilson – Watts always seemed to do something well when he had the opportunity to get in the game this year. Watts knows where to be on defense and can finish around the rim but also hit shots from different spots on the floor. There is a lot to like about him moving forward.
F – Ben Woodward | Georgetown Prep
Ayalew – Woodward quickly established a reputation as one of the best young shooters in the DMV. There is a lot to like about his potential moving forward.
F – Jason Moore | DeMatha
Wilson – Known as a big-time football prospect, Moore can get it done on the basketball court too. Moore was trusted by Mike Jones in certain situations this year and always seemed to produce when he had an opportunity.