BSN Summer League Playoffs: Championship Preview
HYATTSVILLE, MD — The BSN Summer League concludes today with the championship contest between Georgetown Prep and DeMatha. Prep is coming off a win vs. McNamara while DeMatha defeated St. John’s. Below is a preview of what to expect from the upcoming championship.
Battle of the Guards
Ryan Allen of DeMatha and Jared Bynum of Georgetown Prep are looking like front-runners for MVP of the summer league playoffs. Allen and Bynum have both shot the lights out from the perimeter. Bynum is averaging 20 points per game through 3 playoff contests, where he has hit 11 threes and earned 28 trips to the foul line. In Prep’s win vs. McNamara, Bynum did a great job getting into the lane and drawing contact off the bounce. He scored 18 points and earned 18 trips to the charity stripe, but uncharacteristically missed 8 of his attempts. Allen is averaging just over 19 points per game through 3 playoff contests, where he’s hit 8 threes and converted on 12 of his 13 attempts from the foul line. Like Bynum, Allen has been adept at getting into the paint and seeking contact. Both guards have made an impact defensively as well, while getting their teammates involved as the point guard. Whoever is able to win this matchup will likely end up as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
Prep’s Balanced Attack
We mentioned earlier that Bynum has been getting his teammates involved. 3 of his teammates, Mezie Offurum, Curtis Mitchell, and Ike Nweke, are averaging double-figure scoring numbers throughout the playoffs. 6-foot-6 rising junior wing Mezie Offurum, who is averaging 12.3 points per his last 3 games, has shown the ability to mix it up offensively. He’s earned 16 trips to the foul line during that span, and has connected on a couple of shots from long range as well. 6-foot-8 rising senior Curtis Mitchell hit 2 threes vs. McNamara in a game where he scored 20 points. Mitchell sets solid screens, knows when to slip, roll, and pop, has good hands, and showed that he can finish through traffic. Look for 6-foot-5 rising junior forward Ike Nweke, who is averaging 12.7 points per game in the playoffs, to be very aggressive on both ends of the floor. Nweke hit 10 of his 15 free throw attempts in Prep’s win vs. St. Mary’s Ryken. Look out for rising senior Anthony Scafide, who is averaging 9.3 points per game in the playoffs, to provide a reliable long range threat for Prep. Rising sophomore wing Dejean Desire, who had perhaps the highlight of the week called off by a charge, has brought positive energy in his role.
Containing D.J. Harvey
One of the biggest things Prep has to do if they want to beat DeMatha is limit the production of 6-foot-6 rising senior wing D.J. Harvey. Easier said than done. Harvey, who is averaging 18.7 points per his last 3 contests, has been a major presence on the glass as well as a playmaker for the Stags. Once Harvey snares the ball off the defensive glass, he does a great job using pushing the ball in transition, where he’s able to showcase his high level athleticism and skill. He’s also done well to get into the lane and seek contact during the playoffs, where he’s earned 20 foul shot attempts through 3 games. It will likely take a team effort to contain Harvey on Sunday afternoon, but even that may not be enough.
The Stags Supporting Cast
6-foot-4 rising sophomore shooting guard Marvin Price went off for 17 points for DeMatha in their final four win vs. St. John’s. Price is averaging just under 10 points per contest throughout the playoffs. Another thing Price has done well is distribute the ball to his teammates. Rising sophomore guard Justin Moore, who is averaging nearly 11 points per his last 3 games, has been consistent and poised for DeMatha. He’s done a nice job mixing it up offensively, where he’s earned 11 trips to the foul line and hit three long range jumpers during the playoffs. Moore has also contributed defensively and on the glass. 6-foot-9 rising senior big man Josh Carlton, who is averaging 9.3 points per game during the playoffs, should look to control the paint area for the Stags. Carlton easily moves bodies down low and has strong hands. His ability to fortify the interior, along with support from 6-foot-10 rising freshman Hunter Dickinson and 6-foot-6 rising senior John Mcrae will be important.