Southern Jam Fest-MD/DC 17U Wings Notebook
Over the weekend, one of the best events annually took place in Hampton, Virginia at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. Southern Jam Fest is always a can’t miss event and it lived up to that reputation once again. For this series…
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Continue ReadingOver the weekend, one of the best events annually took place in Hampton, Virginia at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. Southern Jam Fest is always a can’t miss event and it lived up to that reputation once again. For this series of articles, I’ll break down prospects by position with notes on their performances throughout the weekend.
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Justyn Fernandez | 6’6 | DC Premier ’22
Fernandez took full advantage of the stage and as he has all spring, produced at a high level while supplying the videographers and fans with plenty of footage. Fernandez is one of the most explosive athletes in the DMV, but that’s not all he does. He can mix up his scoring attack from all three levels and his versatility is shown with his ability to grab defensive rebounds and lead the break himself. Virginia Tech, VCU, Robert Morris, Radford and Norfolk State have all offered Fernandez since this event.
Christian Watson Christian Watson 6'6" | SF St. John's | 2022 State #121 Nation MD | 6’7 | DC Premier ’22
Watson’s stock had been on the rise prior to last weekend and it’ll only continue to trend upward after his performance for DC Premier . The 6-foot-7 wing is finishing above the rim with authority, defending multiple position and most importantly, becoming more comfortable and confident making plays off the dribble. Consistency has been the aspect lacking with Watson’s development throughout his high school career, but it’s clear that he is blossoming into a true high major prospect with upside. Watson received an offer from South Carolina prior to the weekend, but was just offered by Miami last night.
Justin Taylor Justin Taylor 6'5" | SG IMG Academy | 2022 State #156 Nation FL | 6’6 | Team Takeover ’22
Taylor played a major role in helping Takeover advance to the 17U Platinum championship game where they would ultimately come up short against Team Final. The 6-foot-6 wing has one of the smoothest shooting strokes you’ll find and he was particularly impressive coming off pin down or elevator screens. His shot preparation and footwork are two aspects that will translate seamlessly at the high major level as will his athleticism that he uses to finish over the rim on his drives. Taylor is a competitor who takes pride in his individual matchup defensively. North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia seem to be the programs in the lead with Taylor.
Dariq Whitehead Dariq Whitehead 6'5" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State #5 Nation FL | 6’6 | Team Durant
Whitehead can be categorized as many different positions based on all that he brings to the floor. He handles it like a guard, finishes at the basket at an elite level and guards multiple position on defense. As summer looms closer, Whitehead has proven himself as not only a blue-chip prospect in the 2022 class, but also continues to put himself in the conversation as a future lottery pick. Whitehead consistently makes good defenders look completely overwhelmed with his blend of size, strength and athleticism. The Montverde Academy standout announced his first official visit to Duke in early June.
Cameron Whitmore Cameron Whitmore 6'7" | PF Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State #30 Nation MD | 6’7 | Team Melo ’22
Whitmore is another prospect that’s expected to fill many roles for his team. He logged plenty of minutes at the five and was expected to battle in the paint with bigs who were 6-foot-9 and taller. There were occasions where he was matched up against guards on the perimeter that attempted to isolate him and take him off the bounce. Whitmore thrived in all scenarios and given his unique ability to get above the rim in an instant, he was a shot-blocking presence on the defensive end. Offensively Whitmore scored inside more than he did out. The majority of the time a big was guarding him beyond the arc, so he would use his quick first step to get an advantage and finish in the paint. Illinois and Pittsburgh offered the Baltimore native and other high major programs are beginning to prioritize him. Whitmore has an official visit set with Maryland in early June.
Tyrell Ward Tyrell Ward 6'7" | SF DeMatha | 2022 State #56 Nation MD | 6’5 | New World ‘22
Ward had a solid weekend overall and showed off some continued progression within his offensive skillset. He finished in the paint with soft-touching floaters using both hands, attacked closeouts in order to get into mid-range pull ups and ran the floor in transition to make himself available for lobs. Ward plans to set up visits to Maryland, LSU, Xavier and Indiana.