Five Takeaways: DeMatha vs. St. Stephens & St. Agnes

<p><em>HYATTSVILLE, MD</em> -- Two of the top teams from the area, DeMatha and St. Stephens &amp; St. Agnes, met on Sunday evening to determine who would become champions of the DeMatha Christmas Classic. The matchup lived up to the hype, with both teams leaving it all out on the floor. DeMatha ultimately prevailed but not before withstanding an impressive run from the Saints. Here is a look at five takeaways from this heavyweight matchup.</p> <h5>BATTLE OF THE BIGS TAKES CENTER STAGE</h5> <p>Two of the top bigs in the area, <strong>Hunter Dickinson</strong> and <strong>Andre Screen</strong>, played effectively for their respective teams. Dickinson, who recently committed to Michigan, imposed his will physically on Screen to start the game, but Screen came alive during his team's comeback bid. Both post prospects are reliable scorers and prideful rim protectors. You don't often see two high-level bigs match up at the high school level, but when they do it's a sight to see. </p> <h5>SAINTS WINGS IMPRESS</h5> <p><strong>Jamal Barnes</strong> and <strong>Jared Cross</strong> can flat-out play. Cross has committed to Army, and it's looking like they got themselves a steal. Barnes meanwhile, has some division one interest, but more schools need to be on him. Both wings are crafty scorers who are fearless. They can dribble, pass, shoot, and compete on the defensive end. It's been fun watching them grow, and it's going to be fun watching them finish up their high school careers. </p> <h5>ELIJAH HAWKINS STANDS OUT</h5> <p>It seemed like whenever DeMatha needed a play, <strong>Elijah Hawkins</strong> delivered the goods. Whether it was finding an open teammate, getting a stop, or a bucket, the diminutive floor general was prepared to make it happen. </p> <h5>LOTS OF POTENTIAL ON THE COURT</h5> <p>Several younger players made their mark on this game respectively. For DeMatha, '21 <strong>Jordan Hawkins</strong>, '23 <strong>Jason Moore</strong>, and '23 <strong>Jacoi Hutchinson</strong> had some nice moments. Hawkins was active defensively and efficient offensively. Moore played with good physicality and Hutchinson came up big down the stretch with his ability to make shots and create. For SSSAS, '22 <strong>Garrett Brennan</strong>, '21 <strong>Eric Gordon</strong>, and '21 <strong>Miles Webb</strong> made an impact. Brennan with his effort on defense and playmaking skills, Gordon with his ability to find the open man on offense, and Webb with his length and versatility. </p> <h5>WARD COMING INTO HIS OWN</h5> <p><strong>Tyrell Ward</strong> looked like arguably the best long-term prospect on the court. The class of 2022 wing, who stands at least 6-foot-5, has tremendous defensive potential to go along with potent offensive ability. It's only a matter of time before things click consistently, and when they do, things could get scary for his opponents. </p>