Team Durant vs District BC 15U Takeaways
Yesterday in Laurel the Team Durant and District BC came together to have their 15s, 16s and 17s play against each other. First and foremost, it was a controlled environment where each player had to use hand sanitizer on stoppage…
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Continue ReadingYesterday in Laurel the Team Durant and District BC came together to have their 15s, 16s and 17s play against each other. First and foremost, it was a controlled environment where each player had to use hand sanitizer on stoppage of play, the ball was wiped down with Clorox wipes and all coaches were masked. The programs did a great job of separating those who were in attendance and keeping crowds to a minimum in certain spaces.
Now to the game. Team Durant is an uber-talented team who would’ve likely been in the top 3-5 range nationally had the EYBL Circuit took place. For a 15U team they present elite size, length and versatility throughout their roster. Each one was on display as they went on to win by a final score of 81-37.
Now for some takeaways:
Team Durant ‘s potential
There were multiple scouts in attendance for this game and all came away with the same mindset of this being one of the best 15U teams they’ve seen put together. The size, length and versatility come to light when looking at 2023 Kwame Evans Kwame Evans 6'9" | SF Montverde | 2023 State #20 Nation FL (6’9), Amani Hansberry Amani Hansberry 6'7" | C Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State #52 Nation MD (6’7), Shawn Simmons (6’6) and Jamie Kaiser (6’5), all of which can contribute in a multitude of ways and score inside or out. Even their size in the backcourt is solid, but where they separate themselves is their shot-making ability. In playing against this team, your margin for error is very small. To make matters worse, they’re all committed on the defensive end with pressure defense that eventually turns into transition opportunities. It would’ve been fun to see the damage they could’ve done on the EYBL Circuit this summer.
Don’t let the final score dictate thoughts on DBC
As stated many times now, this Team Durant squad is a special group. There were things to like about this DBC team as well with how hard they competed. Although they struggled getting the ball up the floor against pressure, the mistakes they were making were more unforced rather than bad decisions. Where they were relentless was on the offensive glass. Even with Durant’s size in the paint it didn’t stop from guys like 2023 Anthony Davenport and 2023 Lynn King going in and trying to grab the ball at its peak. More than a handful of times their efforts resulted in second-chance possessions for their team. It’s easy in a game like this to start seeing frustration between players, but they all stayed together. It’s also a compliment to the coaching staff.
Amani Hansberry Amani Hansberry 6'7" | C Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State #52 Nation MD ‘s development
Hansberry established himself in the DMV area immediately as a freshman putting together a productive campaign for St. John’s (DC) in the WCAC. His game reminded me of an old school big who operates with his back to the basket on the block. He possesses tremendous footwork and feel as a scorer over both shoulders and can finish through contact. It’s no secret that today’s game calls for bigs to step out and knock down outside shots as well as being able to defend smaller, quicker players for short stints. Yesterday, Hansberry showed the growth in both of those area. While he didn’t hit any three’s, he caught the ball multiple times from 15-18 feet and made plays for himself and others. There was a stretch where he was matched up against the opposing guard that brought the ball up the floor and was effective moving his feet without fouling. Before yesterday those areas were ones of concern for me with Hansberry’s game, but after seeing what he did yesterday I know that he’s more than capable of becoming effective with his versatility.
Kris Johnson settles in
Durant was applying pressure for the majority of the game which made it difficult for DBC to manufacture good looks in the halfcourt, but eventually 2023 guard Kris Johnson settled in and made some plays off the bounce that hinted at his potential. A 6-foot-2 guard who attends Georgetown Prep, Johnson had a quick burst in his first step and knows how to finish with craft around the rim. It was a daunting task to get a shot up around the shot-blockers that Durant has, but Johnson’s poise and instincts came to the forefront, which ultimately gave his team a boost of confidence toward the end.
Lamothe and Kaiser pace scoring for Durant
If you saw Jahnathan Lamothe Jahnathan Lamothe 6'3" | CG St. Frances | 2023 State #204 Nation MD play at St. Frances as a freshman last season, let me be one to tell you he looks nothing like that version. He’s put an emphasis on transforming his body by shedding extra weight he carried and is now a lean, 6-foot-3 guard with more explosiveness. While he can still snipe from deep, Lamothe has proven this spring/summer that he can also consistently make plays off the bounce. Getting in shape has also seemed to impact his anticipation defensively in passing lanes. Multiple times yesterday Lamothe creating turnovers with deflections or interceptions while guarding his man off the ball and created fastbreak points for his team.
It was my first time seeing Kaiser live and it didn’t take long for him to impress. He’s a 6-foot-5 wing that can shoot from three off the catch. He has a strong frame with plus athleticism, making him a handful in transition and a lob threat as he runs the floor. A willing communicator on defense, Kaiser competes at a level that any coach would admire. Between his defensive impact and the efficiency in which he scored, Kaiser will be one to watch going forward.