Hoops and Dreams Day 2 Standouts (Part 2)
Both the Vantage Hoops and Prep Hoops NC team were in Fayatteville, NC for the inaugural Hoops and Dreams Showcase. It featured some of the top teams in both the area and the country, including Oak Hill Academy (VA), Huntington Prep (WV), Liberty Heights (NC), Northwood Temple (NC), Word of God (NC) and more. It also marked the start of the basketball season for many of these prep schools, which in itself is something to celebrate!
Here’s a look at part one of the standouts from Day 2, written by Vantage Hoops’ Jack Herron, featuring nine standout players from four of the teams.
- Max Farthing | 6’4” WG | Word of God 2019
The best shooter on the day, Farthing was lights out for Word of God despite their 30 point loss to Oak Hill, as he finished with 26 points on the day. The most impressive part of the game was that he scored 24 of those points in the second half, hitting seven of his eight three-pointers after the break. At 6’4” he has good size for a designated shooter and he isn’t afraid to let it go and he’s an efficient shooter going 10-for-16 on the game from behind the arc.
- Quinn Slazinski | 6’8” WF | Huntington Prep 2019
Slazinski was one of the most impressive prospects at the event, and his recruitment that consists of Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Texas A&M and more shows that. The 6’8” Houston native is a very skilled wing that makes shots from all over the floor, he can put it on the floor and he can finish at all three levels. He has a good feel for the game on both ends of the floor, is a high IQ leader and his versatility and size allows him to play and guard multiple positions. He finished with 20 points and four assists in Huntington’s win over Northwood Temple.
- Marvin Price | 6’5” WG | Huntington Prep 2019
Price showed the ability to be a legitimate high major scoring threat with his efficiency and shot making ability in Huntington’s win Saturday. The 6’5” wing opened the game by making a couple of catch-and-shoot three balls, and followed it up with some tough transition makes to finish the first half with 10 points on just five shots from the field. Working off the ball, Price showed that he has good understanding of spacing, moves well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release and the ability to make shots from all over the floor. He finished with 17 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, and chipped in three assists and three rebounds as well.
- Mike Christmas | 6’5” WG | Huntington Prep 2019
Playing in the sixth man role, the Virginia Beach product who was Virginia’s 6A Player of the Year provided immediate offense off the bench with his ability to shoot it from deep. He hit three deep balls in the first half, showed strength when attacking the basket and was a big time rebounder showing grit in the paint. With his mix of athleticism and shooting ability, Christmas is a perimeter oriented scorer that also gives the added bonus of a good rebounder from the guard position. He finished with 14 points and eight rebounds in their win.
- Jonathan McGriff | 5’11” PG | Huntington Prep 2019
While the thee above are all talented scorers, McGriff is the straw that stirs the Huntington drink. The 5’11” point guard from Maryland is as talented a playmaker as you will come across. He has a tight handle, he changes pace well, he lives in the paint and he has extraordinary vision. He has a natural feel to his game that can’t be taught. He sees the game one play ahead on both ends of the floor, he sets tempo and pushes in transition, he runs the pick-and-roll and he knows how to get the ball into his scorers hands in situations that make them better. He finished the game with 12 assists and three steals.
- Jaemyn Brakefield | 6’8” WF | Huntington Prep 2020
While some of the more experienced Huntington kids put up bigger numbers, Brakefield turned heads as a sophomore with a ton of potential. A 6’8” hybrid forward, Brakefield has a high motor and good athleticism and he showed that off with a couple alley-oop finishes way above the rim. He has soft touch from the midrange, he can put it on the deck in transition and rebounded well on both ends. In limited minutes, he finished with 8 points and seven rebounds, but it was the way he played not his stats that showed the most.
- Keyontae Johnson | 6’5” WF | Oak Hill Academy 2018
One of the best available seniors who cut his list to Florida, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Texas Tech, he’s planning on making a decision tomorrow and he showed why he’s so sought after with an impressive 20 point, four rebound and three assist outing in their blow out win over Word of God. Johnson’s a freak athlete, and he showed it with a couple of big time dunks, and he just missed what would have been one of the best dunks I would have seen in person. He has a great frame and looks to have improved his handle and his jump shot, and it’s no wonder whatever school lands him will make a huge jump in the 2018 recruiting class rankings.
- Dave McCormack | 6’10” C | Oak Hill Academy 2018
The best player on the floor for this game, the Kansas commit finished with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds and was a dominant force in the paint throughout the game. He’s improved his footwork and touch over the past couple of seasons, showing a solid jump hook with both hands, a nice pull up from 15 feet and he was still a monster that tried to finish everything above the rim. He’s a physical specimen that has got his body college ready, he protected the paint and was solid in the back line of their press as he had three steals and two blocks. His overall improvement should have him ready to play meaningful minutes for one of the best programs in the country next year.
- Keldon Johnson | 6’6” WF | Oak Hill Academy 2018
The other available Johnson, he isn’t related to Keyontae but they both have similarities right now. Johnson is also down to four schools in NC State, Kentucky, Texas and Maryland, and he also plans to make a decision very soon. He finished with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals in the win, showing his high motor and finishing ability in the paint. Johnson has great length and gets off his feet fast, meaning he’s able to clean up his own shot misses and score before others can get off their feet. He showed the ability to finish above the rim in traffic, shoot the pull up out to the three point line and attacks and gets to the free throw line. A top 10 player in the country, Johnson’s decision will be the highlight of any of those recruiting classes.
- Evan Johnson | 5’11” G | Oak Hill Academy 2020
The newest Johnson, Evan transferred from none other than Word of God, and despite being the newest addition to the Warriors he showed he could be a solid scorer off the bench for them. A knock down shooter from deep, he entered the game and hit two three balls, one of them highly contested, then showed the ability to get out in transition and score there as well. He can score from all three levels, he can play both guard positions and he’s going to be a big player off the bench for them this season.