Three’s a Crowd: Best Backcourt Trios in VA (Part 2)
With the evolution of the game over the past twenty years, teams are steering more toward small ball then the traditional way of pounding it inside to your big and opening up shots that way. This is especially true at…
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Continue ReadingWith the evolution of the game over the past twenty years, teams are steering more toward small ball then the traditional way of pounding it inside to your big and opening up shots that way. This is especially true at the high school level, where skilled big men are harder to come by, the three point line is shorter and teams like to press and zone a lot more. With the trend we have seen more teams go to three guard sets to push the pace and stretch the floor, and it’s no different in Virginia than it is anywhere else. With that being said, here’s part one of our Best Backcourt Trio segment, featuring five of the top backcourts in the state.
Bishop O’Connell
2018 Xavier Johnson, 2017 Matt Lewis, 2018 D’Marco Baucum
With the departure of three year point guard starter Ako Adams comes a new day for O’Connell, but their depth in the backcourt means they should have no problem competing in the WCAC again this year. Taking the reigns at the point guard position will be rising junior Xavier Johnson, who showed plenty of poise down the stretch when Adams went down with an ankle injury. He’s explosive off the bounce, commands a lot of attention in the paint and end-to-end he’s one of the fastest guards in the state.
Joining him will be rising senior Matt Lewis, fresh off of a breakout summer where he picked up three offers with Baltimore Elite. Lewis has great size on the wing at 6’4”, making him a great rebounder and versatile defender at the guard position. He’s strong enough to finish in the lane and can hit shots from the outside, making it hard to cheat off him when Johnson is attacking.
The third guard position is still up for grabs, but our guess would be 6’5” D’Marco Baucum who has improved his perimeter game immensely on the offensive end. His bullish demeanor makes him a mismatch problem, cause he can take smaller wings to the post and use his strength to finish at the basket. He’s another one that will help on the glass, and he gives them an added dimension since most teams won’t have the size to matchup with this big backcourt.
There’s still some loose ends that need to get figured out, but expects O’Connell to be in the running come WCAC/VISSA playoff time.
IC Norcom
2017 Travis Ingram (Arkansas State Commit), 2018 Darien Allison, 2017 Quivon Crittendon
It’s hard to replace two time player of the year Travis Fields, and they also lost two year starter in 2018 Tommie Pope who transferred to Cape Henry, but Head Coach Leon Goolsby has built a program based on the next guy up, and they should be just as competitive as they were last year when they won their third straight state championship.
Led by two year starter and Arkansas State commit Travis Ingram, Norcom’s group is athletic, skilled and have shown time and time again they’ll do whatever it takes to win. Ingram brings ridiculous athleticism on both ends, and he’ll be thrust into a leadership role where he’ll be looked at to handle pressure and get involved more than just the highlight reel dunks we’ve come to know him for, a challenge he’s been itching for since he became a Greyhound.
Joining him will be junior Darien Allison, who played a big part down the stretch in their state championship run. He was primarily a knock down shooter who stretched the floor, but he’s shown that he can also be a strong ball handler when needed. Add in Wilson transfer Quivon Crittendon, a two-time All Conference selection that has a knack for a bucket as well and you have a lot of firepower in three guards who play on both ends of the floor.
That’s not all the Greyhounds have, as they also will use 2018 DaSean Roberts and 2020 Jose Gonzalez in heavy doses as well. Roberts is instant offense off the bench, and Gonzalez has shown in a short amount of time since he came from California that he may be one of the best rising freshmen in the state.
There will likely be some tinkering to find the best combination of these five, but there’s no slouch in the rotation and Norcom will be tough to matchup with yet again for teams in 3A this season.
Miller School
2018 Jaylin Reed, 2019 DeArvae Heard, 2018 Deshaun Wade
After his first season at Miller School, Head Coach Danny Manuel reloaded in a big way with three really good transfers in Wade and Heard from the 757, along with nationally ranked wing Aundre Hyatt from New York. Their backcourt features three guards that all have good size and should compliment each other well as they mesh together before the season starts.
Reed, the only returner that will likely start this season, is a 6’1” combo guard that averaged over 14 points per game last season. He’s deceptively athletic, is a crafty finisher around the basket and finds his way to the free throw line a lot, racking up easy points by finding the body of bigs in the lane. Fellow 2018 and his backcourt mate for BWSL WAWG this summer Deshaun Wade joins him from Green Run in Virginia Beach, where he headed one of the most talented and deep teams in the 757 the last two years. He has great size at 6’3”, can see over defenders and keeps defenses honest by making shots at all three levels.
Perhaps the best long term prospect of the three however is rising sophomore DeArvae Heard who transferred to Miller School after a short stint at Maury last season. At 6’3” Heard is a strong combo guard that is adept at finishing through contact and has improved his midrange game to where he can get in the lane and make plays while avoiding the charge. The three of them, along with Hyatt, make for a big and strong backcourt with interchangeable positions that are athletic enough to guard multiple positions all over the court.
St. Stephen’s St. Agnes
2017 Denmark Slay, 2018 Domenick Bailey, 2019 Christian DePollar
The Saints’ have a completely different looking group than last year’s trio of Donovann Toatley, Chauncey Pittman and Denmark Slay, but the one that returns should help set the tone for the newbies from the jump. Coming off of a terrific summer with District Basketball Club, Slay is a natural born leader who gets after it on both ends, refuses to back down and will run through a brick wall if it helps his team win. Despite his 5’11” frame, Slay played well enough this summer to earn multiple division one scholarships, and he’ll gladly take the reigns as team leader both on and off the court this season.
Also returning for the Saints is rising sophomore Christian DePollar, a 6’4” shooter who will likely play more on the wing this year than he did last season where he was more of a stretch four. The lefty has a smooth stroke, strong frame and a high basketball IQ, which will likely make him and Slay best friends on the court.
They also picked up a big addition in rising junior Domenick Bailey, who transfers in after earning All State honors as a freshman at Christ Chapel. The 6’1” Bailey can play both guard positions, is athletic and aggressive offensively but he still plays under control and with a chip on his shoulder. He lost a year of eligibility after transferring to SSSAS, but he’ll be an immediate impact player who fills a big void on both ends of the floor.
While losing Toatley seems tough, having Slay move on the ball and bringing in Bailey gives them much more size in the backcourt, which should help them defensively. It will be interesting to see how the new dynamics work, but with an unselfish and competitive group the Saints should still be a contender in the VISAA.
Cape Henry Collegiate
2017 Malik Marrow, 2017 Izaiah James, 2018 Tommie Pope
After what could be called a subpar year in Cape Henry terms, the Dolphins picked up two big transfers in the backcourt this summer, including one that returns home. After taking a one year stint at Legacy Charter in South Carolina, defensive minded Izaiah James returns to give them such much needed toughness in the backcourt. James has an “all-out” mentality on the floor, as he will exude energy on both ends, locking up ball handlers, hitting shots and getting into the head of the best player on the other team while doing so.
Joining him is fellow transfer and defensive specialist Tommie Pope, who started for Norcom as a freshman and sophomore winning two straight state titles. His winning experience, along with his defensive prowess and ability to take care of the basketball in crunch time, will be a welcomed addition to a Cape Henry team that looks to get on top.
Last but not least is the straw that stirs the drink in rising senior Malik Marrow. The brother of former Heritage star and current Hampton Pirate Jermaine Marrow, Malik showed flashes of brilliance last year, including scoring 18 points in the second half of their upset win over nationally ranked Huntington Prep. Marrow knows what it takes to lead Cape Henry back to the dominant program it once was, but his inconsistency last year plagued him and his team down the stretch. Still, he’s a tough minded kid that is a walking bucket and doesn’t shy away from anyone, playing his best games when they lights are shining the brightest.
If the three of them can play as a cohesive unit, there’s no doubt that Cape possesses not only one of the most talented backcourts in VA, but one of the toughest as well.