January Recap: Emerging Underclassmen

<p>January was an eventful month for hoops in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Now that we’re about halfway through this unique basketball season, it’s a good time to review what we’ve learned. 10 emerging underclassmen are highlighted below.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957041" first="Thomas" last="Batties"] | Gonzaga (DC) ’23</strong></p> <p>It’s probably just a matter of time before <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957041" first="Thomas" last="Batties"]</strong> becomes a household name on Eye Street. The rangy wing plays with a high IQ, a motor, and can stretch the floor but also does his due diligence defensively. </p> <p><strong>Ty Bevins | Gwynn Park (MD) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>Ty Bevins</strong> is a big guard who can grab the ball off the boards and go in transition. He’s a slasher who embraces contact in the paint and defends with tenacity. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1115502" first="Caleb" last="Foster"] | Oak Hill (VA) ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1115502" first="Caleb" last="Foster"]</strong> is already logging heavy minutes as the point guard of the future for Coach Steve Smith. Foster’s size along with his proficiency from the mid-range makes him a tough matchup for smaller guards. </p> <p><strong>Darren Harris | Paul VI (VA) ’24</strong></p> <p>2024 wing <strong>Darren Harris </strong>has impressed on multiple fronts so far this season for the Panthers. Yes, he’s a knockdown shooter. But as the son of a coach, he naturally does all the little things that contribute to wins. Harris will take a charge, keep the ball moving, and help his team rebound among other things. </p> <p><strong>Jamari Hodnett | Bishop Ireton (VA) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>Jamari Hodnett </strong>has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff at Ireton, and when you watch him play it’s easy to see why. He’s a very good shooter who knows how to mix it up. Hodnett is also a good rebounding guard. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957038" first="Jaden" last="Johnson"] | Bishop McNamara (MD) ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957038" first="Jaden" last="Johnson"]</strong> is steadily growing in his role at Bishop McNamara. He’s a shifty, downhill type guard who handles the ball well and can score.</p> <p><strong>Jaeden Mustaf | DeMatha (MD) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>Jaeden Mustaf</strong> has earned consistent minutes at DeMatha, which is rare for a freshman. He’s a big guard who embraces contact when finishing in traffic. There is plenty to like about Mustaf’s long-term potential as a two-way guard.</p> <p><strong>Manny Okitondo | Oak Hill (VA) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>Manny Okitondo</strong> has proven himself as a difference-maker in crunch time already for the Warriors. The energetic big man has tremendous hands and excels as a rebounder and shot-blocker. </p> <p><strong>Ke’Juan Richburg | St. Mary’s Ryken (MD) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>Ke’Juan Richburg</strong> is a nice guard prospect coming up in the Ryken program. He’s a good shooter who is standing out in the early part of the season. </p> <p><strong>AJ Swinton | DeMatha (MD) ’24</strong></p> <p><strong>AJ Swinton</strong> is a physical 6-foot-4 wing who plays with a high motor. Swinton impacts the game in multiple ways. He rebounds well and is a very good athlete.</p>