MIAA Mid-Season Junior Standouts

We are now halfway through the MIAA A Conference schedule and will be taking a look at the prospects from the various classes who have stood out thus far. The current junior class has always been a fun group to watch develop over the past two and a half years. They’re now maturing physically and mentally to the point where we really see their potential being tapped into. Here’s who continues to stand out among the 2022 group. Cameron Whitmore Cameron Whitmore 6'7" | PF Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State #97 Nation MD | 6’7 | Archbishop Spalding Whitmore has cemented himself as the top prospect in the Baltimore Metro area regardless of class. His versatility and elite explosive athleticism allows himself to perform dunks, blocks and other plays you simply don’t see on a yearly basis. Since losing their opening game to St. Frances, Whitmore has this Cavaliers group surging and is averaging over 20 points per game as they sit with a 7-1 overall record. Christian Winborne Christian Winborne 6'1" | PG The Gilman School (MD) | 2022 State #137 Nation MD | 6’2 | Gilman The Hounds have experienced their fair share of struggles but Winborne refuses to let his team go down easily. The 6-foot-2 combo guard averages a league-high 24.5 points per game and has shown the ability to carry a team with lesser talent as the primary scorer. Gilman is currently 4-4 and is going through the toughest stretch of their season. While they’re over-matched when facing the top teams in the league, you can never count them out with Winborne’s ability to go for 30+ on any given night. Deon Perry Deon Perry 5'8" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2022 State MD | 5’8 | Mt. Carmel Perry has been on an absolute tear this season and has the Cougars shocking the league as they boast a 8-0 record. The 5-foot-8 point guard has been terrorizing defenses with his deep three-point shot and his quickness off the bounce that gets him into the paint whenever he pleases. I knew that Perry was primed for big junior campaign, but to say that he’d be playing at this sort of level and his team would be 8-0 halfway, I would’ve called you a liar. Toby Nnadozie | 6’3 | Mt. Carmel Nnadozie’s Most Improved Player of the Year campaign continues as he and Perry make up two of the three-headed monster (along with 2021 Kevin Kalu Kevin Kalu 6'9" | C Mt. Carmel | 2021 State MD ). Nnadozie’s all-around game continues to shape nicely and it starts with his improved outside jumper. It’s a given that he’ll have his handful of poster dunks in transition and he’s done that thus far, but he is lifting his team to another level establishing himself as a capable shooter from outside. CJ Scott CJ Scott 6'4" | SF Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State #211 Nation MD | 6’5 | Archbishop Spalding Coming into this season, consistency was a point of emphasis for me with Scott. He still has some ways to go in that regard, but there’s no doubt that when Scott is rolling, this Cavaliers team becomes even more difficult to beat. He recently recorded 26 points in a drudging over Goretti. Scott has been making consistent plays in transition when the ball is in his hands. His versatility as a defender has been valuable to rattling off seven-straight wins. Cesar Tchilombo Cesar Tchilombo 6'8" | C John Carroll | 2022 State #114 Nation MD | 6’8 | John Carroll Tchilombo has expanded his offensive skill set and become more of a threat on face-up opportunities in the mid-range. He has yet to show off his improved three-point jumper, but that’s because the Patriots need all they can get inside at this point. He’s been an anchor on both ends and when Tchilombo is playing well, it usually means John Carroll is in good position to pull out the win despite sitting with a 3-5 overall record. Tyheil Peterson Tyheil Peterson 5'10" | PG Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State MD | 6’0 | Archbishop Spalding Peterson has emerged through the last handful of games as a consistent secondary scorer next to Whitmore. He’s knocking down three’s off the catch, stopping on a dime in the mid-range for jumpers and continues to attack the basket with aggression while embracing contact on the way. Going forward his consistency as a scorer will play a huge role in the Cavaliers pursuit of a title. Jordan Pennick Jordan Pennick 6'1" | CG Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State MD | 6’0 | Archbishop Spalding While Pennick has put together a few impressive scoring outings, it’s been his focus defensively that has caught my eye most. Head coach Josh Pratt gives Pennick the responsibility of locking down the opponent’s best perimeter player and Pennick has embraced the challenge. His strong frame combined with his lateral quickness makes life hard for any guard he matches up against. Offensively, Pennick is knocking down three’s with regularity as well as finishing efficiently at the rim. Tyson Commander Tyson Commander 6'4" | SG John Carroll | 2022 State #159 Nation MD | 6’4 | John Carroll Commander has put up some recognizable scoring numbers reflecting back on his breakout sophomore season which forces himself on this list. However, one thing I’ve noticed with Commander is the increased arc on his release. It seems to be affecting the overall accuracy of his shot and as a result, he’s has quite a few come up short on the front end of the rim. I didn’t see anything wrong mechanically with Commander’s shot last season as he lit up the nets on a routine basis. I’m hoping he can get back to that as the back end of the schedule approaches.