Recruiting Report 2018: Ayinde Hikim (Washington, DC)
Joseph Katz
Ayinde Hikim, 5'11”, PG, 2018. Woodrow Wilson HS Tigers. 
Washington, DC.
Grassroots Team: DC Premier 16U
We scouted Ayinde 5 plus times last season & 2 times this summer playing for Woodrow Wilson HS, & he is clearly a D1 talent. On each occasion we watched Ayinde play, we could not find any weaknesses in his game. Last season Wilson won the DCIAA Title finishing @ 29-4 & a #3 ranking in the Washington, DC DMV according to the Washington Post.
Ayinde started every game for the Tigers & we saw Wilson take the #8 team in the nation, Gonzaga HS (Washington, DC) to the brink in the Washington, DC State Tournament semifinals before losing in the final minutes. Wilson returns 6 of its top 7 players, and the Tigers will challenge for the #1 ranking in the DMV & a national ranking. Wilson is long, athletic, tough, smart & have an excellent Head Coach in Angelo Hernandez. After leaving our 1st Wilson game last year, we realized the Tigers were clearly one of the best Washington, DC public school teams we have seen in a long time. For the 2017/18 season Wilson has added 2 key D1 transfers in 6'3", 2019 CG Jay Heath & 6'5" 2020 Dimingus Stevens which could give the Tigers the best starting 5 in the DMV. 6'7" 2018 W, Ricardo Leonard & 6'8" 2018 PF/C Josiah Marable who has made huge strides this off-season round out the probable. starting 5. Ayinde will run the show at PG & the bottom line is that Ayinde is a winner & a very talented high IQ PG. This spring Ayinde was awarded to our 3rd Team All I -495 DMV All Star team & is a 1st Team or 2nd Team candidate for 2017/18 in very deep,& talent rich Washington,DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia region.
This week we chatted with Ayinde who says,"On offense, my strengths are attacking off the dribble & finishing at the rim with or without contact. I am slasher & I like to pull-up in the mid range. While I am a triple threat & can score from all 3 levels, I am a PG 1st. My main priority is to run the offense & get all our players involved creating fast ball movement. My ball handling is a strong suit & I can dribble with both hands getting buy my defender."Ayinde is a very powerful player who can bull his way inside, use his quickness & moves to get in the paint. He posseses excellent decision making & he can split zones & traps off the dribble. We are very impressed by Ayinde's explosion & we have seen him dunk in games numerous times. On the defensive end, Ayinde can be a lock down defender & strip opponents & cause chaos in the passing lanes for steals. Ayinde adds,"Coach Hernandez emphasizes team defense & I take great pride in my help defense & my own." Off steals or outlets Ayinde is a coast to coast threat & can finish at the rim with an array of acrobatic moves or make the correct pass, whether it be an alley-oop, drop off or hockey assist. This spring & summer Ayinde played for DC Premier who plays on the Under Armour Circuit. He he averaged 14.5 ppg, 5 assist and about 2 steals & Ayinde played for Wilson HS in their summer league where the Tigers went undefeated. Despite all his success, Ayinde says,"I work with my trainer David Johnson almost daily. We train with weights, do plyos, and all aspects of strength, conditioning, flexibility & explosion.
During some part of each daily workout we work on basketball skills. My jump shot has improved & my swimming pool workouts have helped my explosion & defense. For the rest of may basketball career I will always work to improve. There is no such thing as a prefect basketball player."Growing up in Washington, DC can be hard for some young players, but Ayinde has great focus & role models. He adds,"My Trainer David Johnson & his father, Coach Ty mentor me & help by giving me structure & foundation. My mother is great & Coach Hernadez & the Wilson Coaches are a huge help."In the classroom Ayinde has a very solid 3.0 GPA & to date he has one offer which is from D1 Quinnipac. While his offer list will expand this season, Ayinde may consider Prep School since he is very young for his age to hone his basketball skills.
Like many young players of today Ayinde studies NBA players & says'"I watch Russell Westbrook & watch his energy, athleticism, transition game & how he attacks the rim. For PG skills & ball handling I study Chris Paul." Next month Ayinde will be playing in Fall Leagues in organized game settings & shortly after the regular season. 
He adds,"We want to win as many games & possible, but our 2 main team goals are winning the DCIAA Championship and The Washington, DC State Championship. Prep Hoops will be at both events & will cover Ayinde, his Tiger teammates & coaches extensively this year.
Ayinde is in the middle with 2017 Isaiah Jennings (2017 All I-495 DMV) on his left & 2019 sharpshooter Carlos Dunn on Ayinde's right.
Video courtesy from our friend Marc Stern @ Capitol Hoops.
Video courtesy from our friends at DMV Elite.
Washington, DC.
Grassroots Team: DC Premier 16U
We scouted Ayinde 5 plus times last season & 2 times this summer playing for Woodrow Wilson HS, & he is clearly a D1 talent. On each occasion we watched Ayinde play, we could not find any weaknesses in his game. Last season Wilson won the DCIAA Title finishing @ 29-4 & a #3 ranking in the Washington, DC DMV according to the Washington Post.
Ayinde started every game for the Tigers & we saw Wilson take the #8 team in the nation, Gonzaga HS (Washington, DC) to the brink in the Washington, DC State Tournament semifinals before losing in the final minutes. Wilson returns 6 of its top 7 players, and the Tigers will challenge for the #1 ranking in the DMV & a national ranking. Wilson is long, athletic, tough, smart & have an excellent Head Coach in Angelo Hernandez. After leaving our 1st Wilson game last year, we realized the Tigers were clearly one of the best Washington, DC public school teams we have seen in a long time. For the 2017/18 season Wilson has added 2 key D1 transfers in 6'3", 2019 CG Jay Heath & 6'5" 2020 Dimingus Stevens which could give the Tigers the best starting 5 in the DMV. 6'7" 2018 W, Ricardo Leonard & 6'8" 2018 PF/C Josiah Marable who has made huge strides this off-season round out the probable. starting 5. Ayinde will run the show at PG & the bottom line is that Ayinde is a winner & a very talented high IQ PG. This spring Ayinde was awarded to our 3rd Team All I -495 DMV All Star team & is a 1st Team or 2nd Team candidate for 2017/18 in very deep,& talent rich Washington,DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia region.
This week we chatted with Ayinde who says,"On offense, my strengths are attacking off the dribble & finishing at the rim with or without contact. I am slasher & I like to pull-up in the mid range. While I am a triple threat & can score from all 3 levels, I am a PG 1st. My main priority is to run the offense & get all our players involved creating fast ball movement. My ball handling is a strong suit & I can dribble with both hands getting buy my defender."Ayinde is a very powerful player who can bull his way inside, use his quickness & moves to get in the paint. He posseses excellent decision making & he can split zones & traps off the dribble. We are very impressed by Ayinde's explosion & we have seen him dunk in games numerous times. On the defensive end, Ayinde can be a lock down defender & strip opponents & cause chaos in the passing lanes for steals. Ayinde adds,"Coach Hernandez emphasizes team defense & I take great pride in my help defense & my own." Off steals or outlets Ayinde is a coast to coast threat & can finish at the rim with an array of acrobatic moves or make the correct pass, whether it be an alley-oop, drop off or hockey assist. This spring & summer Ayinde played for DC Premier who plays on the Under Armour Circuit. He he averaged 14.5 ppg, 5 assist and about 2 steals & Ayinde played for Wilson HS in their summer league where the Tigers went undefeated. Despite all his success, Ayinde says,"I work with my trainer David Johnson almost daily. We train with weights, do plyos, and all aspects of strength, conditioning, flexibility & explosion.
During some part of each daily workout we work on basketball skills. My jump shot has improved & my swimming pool workouts have helped my explosion & defense. For the rest of may basketball career I will always work to improve. There is no such thing as a prefect basketball player."Growing up in Washington, DC can be hard for some young players, but Ayinde has great focus & role models. He adds,"My Trainer David Johnson & his father, Coach Ty mentor me & help by giving me structure & foundation. My mother is great & Coach Hernadez & the Wilson Coaches are a huge help."In the classroom Ayinde has a very solid 3.0 GPA & to date he has one offer which is from D1 Quinnipac. While his offer list will expand this season, Ayinde may consider Prep School since he is very young for his age to hone his basketball skills.
Like many young players of today Ayinde studies NBA players & says'"I watch Russell Westbrook & watch his energy, athleticism, transition game & how he attacks the rim. For PG skills & ball handling I study Chris Paul." Next month Ayinde will be playing in Fall Leagues in organized game settings & shortly after the regular season. He adds,"We want to win as many games & possible, but our 2 main team goals are winning the DCIAA Championship and The Washington, DC State Championship. Prep Hoops will be at both events & will cover Ayinde, his Tiger teammates & coaches extensively this year.
Ayinde is in the middle with 2017 Isaiah Jennings (2017 All I-495 DMV) on his left & 2019 sharpshooter Carlos Dunn on Ayinde's right.
Video courtesy from our friend Marc Stern @ Capitol Hoops.
Video courtesy from our friends at DMV Elite.
