Victor Oladipo Skills Academy Day 2 Standouts
HYATTSVILLE, MD — The Victor Oladipo Skills Academy resumed DeMatha on Thursday with a full slate of hoops. Once again, there were no shortage of division 1 coaches in attendance. Head coaches from Southern Cal, Providence, Notre Dame, Louisiana Tech, St. Joe’s,…
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Continue ReadingHYATTSVILLE, MD — The Victor Oladipo Skills Academy resumed DeMatha on Thursday with a full slate of hoops. Once again, there were no shortage of division 1 coaches in attendance. Head coaches from Southern Cal, Providence, Notre Dame, Louisiana Tech, St. Joe’s, Arizona State, Richmond, and Old Dominion were spotted in the crowd. Below, we take a close look at some of some of the standouts from a full day of hoops.
SG Alex O’Connell (Milton HS ’17)
Coming off a very strong performance on day 1, Alex O’Connell continues to have the hot hand here at DeMatha. The bouncy 6-foot-6 off guard is very quick, and moves well without the ball. O’Connell is a confident shooter from the catch or off the bounce, and exhibits a super quick release and solid rotation on his jumper. He’s very active, and has great body language on the court. O’Connell, who holds offers from Syracuse, Texas A&M, Butler and Auburn among others, is planning an official visit to Louisville on August 1. He scored a game-high 19 points in a win for his team.
SF Eddie Scott (Gonzaga ’17)
Eddie Scott was very solid on the defensive end this afternoon. The athletic, 6-foot-6 wing swiped three steals and did a great job filling the lanes in transition. Scott demonstrated his strength and body control on the break with a strong two-handed dunk through a foul. Scott’s versatility on both ends of the court is appealing. Scott, who holds offers from schools such as Dayton, GW, St. Joe’s, Lehigh, Loyola, Williams & Mary, Brown, and Rhode Island among others, has taken an official visit to Penn. He will likely plan more visits before he makes his final decision.
PF Jalen Smith (Mount Saint Joseph ’18)
6-foot-9 power forward Jalen Smith recorded 10 points and 8 rebounds in a win for his team. He vigorously crashed the offensive glass, and did a great job keeping the ball high when finishing in traffic. Smith’s lateral quickness and versatility was evident on defense. He effectively hedged on ball screens and was able to consistently keep guards in front. Smith, who has pulled in has pulled in recent offers from Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, and Southern Cal among others, is projecting as one of the top power forwards nationally in his class.
SG Howard Washington (Orangeville Prep ’17)
Howard Washington is a prolific threat from long range. The 6-foot-3 guard is effective both from the catch and off the bounce, and does a great job getting to his spots in transition. Washington showed some craftiness off the bounce and the ability to create space for his jumper. He hit 4 of 6 threes on his way to a game-high 20 points in a win for his team. While he’s yet to land his first offer, Washington could earn some after his performances this week.
PF Isaiah Whaley (Mt. Zion Prep ’17)
6-foot-10 power forward Isaiah Whaley is a long, mobile big who demonstrated the ability to finish through contact around the basket. Whaley has a soft touch with either hand. He contests shots, runs the floor, and fills the lanes correctly in transition.
SG D.J. Harvey (DeMatha ’17)
D.J. Harvey possesses a rare blend of high level athleticism along with a high basketball IQ and an expansive skill set. At 6-foot-7, Harvey is an excellent rebounder who often racks up double-digit boards. He’s recorded a double-double in each contest at camp thus far. He recently narrowed down his list to 10 schools and has planned three official visits as he prepares to make his decision.
PG Ryan Allen (DeMatha ’17)
We mentioned Ryan Allen in our standouts on day 1, but he was so good today he deserved another mention. While he’s a capable knock down threat from long range, Allen does an excellent job attacking downhill and finding creases in the defense. From there, Allen often creates easy opportunities for himself and others. The reliable 6-foot-2 lead guard recorded 15 points and 6 assists without committing a single turnover in the night cap.
C Luka Garza (Maret ’17)
Another day 1 standout, Luka Garza once again made his case among the camp’s top performers on day 2. For what he lacks in athleticism, Garza makes up for with his fundamentals, motor, and instincts. At 6-foot-11, Garza is able to fortify the interior defensively and score down low, but also has the ability to efficiently stretch the floor from the catch. Garza recorded 16 points and 8 rebounds in a win for his team during the night cap.
PF Hasahn French (Commonwealth Academy ’17)
One of the top overall performers through two days at camp, Hasahn French didn’t show any signs of slowing down on Thursday. The well-built, 6-foot-7 forward is a terrific athlete who demonstrates solid versatility on both ends of the court. French is often in the right place at the right time, and is always looking to rip off the rim on his dunks. One of the most intriguing abilities he possesses is his crafty ball-handling ability. French should slot in as a 3 or a 4 at the next level and contribute right away.