DMV Roundtable: Most missed event, ’22 prospects gaining national attention, teams to watch in 2020-21

<p>We're almost at the mid way point of May and it's still hard to believe we're without any live action. In a usual year, we'd be collecting our findings from various live events and keeping our eye out on local happenings to monitor a player's development. Nevertheless the discussions must go on and this week for the DMV Roundtable we tackle what our most missed event was from this spring, 2022 prospects who would've gained national attention with a spring platform and what teams to watch next winter.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>1. What event did you miss attending this spring which would have been good for us as evaluators?</strong></span></p> <p><em>Giacubeno:</em> I always really enjoyed Hoop Group's Spring Jam Fest up at Spooky Nook. The facility is flooded with college coaches, prospects and others involved in the business so it wasn't only a great opportunity to get eyes on new players, but also presented a tremendous networking outlet. </p> <p><em>Ayalew:</em> Hoop Group Pitt Jam Fest. It's one of the top unaffiliated events I've ever been to and it occurs during a live period. You typically find a large contingent of DMV prospects at this event, including some of the area's top shoe circuit teams. The Pitt Jam Fest has traditionally been a proving ground for local prospects who aim to get their name out there on a larger scale. </p> <p><em>Wilson:</em> <span style="font-weight: 400">For me it is not necessarily one particular event but it is the first weekend of the live period. That first live period seems to always really set the stage for how the rest of the spring and summer will go. It is always a great time to interact with coaches face to face which was something I really missed doing this spring.</span></p> <p><em>Herron:</em> While I planned on attending one of the shoe circuits during the first live period, one event I was really looking forward to was Hoop Group's Pittsburgh Jam Fest during the second live period. Last year was the first time I didn't attend it since I got into the scouting world and it's something I regretted because there is great talent there and the atmosphere is second to none. They rent out the Pittsburgh Convention Center and put close to 30 courts under one roof, they have great talent in their HGSL league and they always have a number of younger shoe company teams with great talent there as well. It's a great stop for college coaches of all levels and they have great teams from all over the country that come to compete.</p> <p></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>2. From a national standpoint, which 2022 DMV prospect do you think would have established a name for himself?</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Giacubeno:</em> One prospect who gained a ton of momentum this winter was Spalding's [player_tooltip player_id="837927" first="Cameron" last="Whitmore"]. The 6-foot-7 wing bounced back after a freshman season on the sidelines dealing with a knee injury. He responded by supplying crowds with impressive over the rim finishes and really imposing himself by using his strong frame in the paint. Also, his ability to score from inside out is required criteria for a prospect his size in today's game. Towson, UMBC and Virginia Tech have all extended offers and I would've expected for A-10 and Big East programs to get heavily invovled.</div> <div> </div> <div>Word had seemed to spread about John Carroll's [player_tooltip player_id="837919" first="Tyson" last="Commander"]. The 6-foot-3 lefty is an elite three-point threat that can extend out to NBA range on his shot with consistent efficiency. Even without the spring platform, Commander collected three Big East offers from DePaul, St. John's and Xavier. As other programs got wind, I feel confident in saying after they would see Commander live, more offers would certainly follow.</div> <div> </div> <div><em>Ayalew:</em> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] </b>from Varina. The lanky 6-foot-5 guard, who recently landed his first offer from VCU, <span style="color: #000000;font-family: Arial">is a multi-faceted prospect who can do a bit of everything on both ends of the floor and is just scratching the surface. Expect many more schools to follow suit once they're able to get eyes on him.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Wilson:</em> <span style="font-weight: 400">[player_tooltip player_id="904621" first="Rodney" last="Rice"] is starting to get the attention he deserves but I think his offer list could have even grown larger during his time with Team Durant on the EYBL circuit. Rice is one of the best scorers I have seen in high school basketball regardless of class and I feel like he is still a little bit unknown.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Herron:</em> <span style="font-size: 1rem">There's a couple of guys I thought would make a name for themselves in the national level for the 2022 class from all over the area.</span> <div> </div> <div>[player_tooltip player_id="904621" first="Rodney" last="Rice"] of Bullis School is a guy who has already been on the national scene and picked up a recent offer from Louisville, but I thought playing on the 17U circuit would have netted him quite a few offers this April. The 6'4" guard is one of the smoothest scorers I have seen in the class, and with his mix of size and skill set I expected him to have a good showing on the EYBL.</div> <div> </div> <div>DJ Hand out of Virginia Beach is another guard with good size that I think coaches will get on as soon as they can see him. The 6'4" combo guard picked up a recent offer from TCU and the sharp shooter is set to blow up as one of the best in VA moving forward.</div> <div> </div> <div>A guy that maybe wouldn't have picked up offers but would have found himself more on the radar is [player_tooltip player_id="897404" first="Paul" last="Lewis"] of Bishop O'Connell. He was set to be the lead and go-to guy for Premier this year and after a sophomore year where you saw his confidence skyrocket he's a guy who can put up big numbers while also running the show and he comes from a basketball family as well.</div> <div></div> </div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>3. It's become routine to see a massive amount of transfers in the summer. Many of which are unable to be predicted at this point, but who are some teams you saw this year that you think will take a big step for the 2020-21 season</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Giacubeno:</em> Spalding is the first team that comes to mind. The group really started to mesh at the end of this season and considering the bulk of the rotation is comprised of sophomores, the only way they can go is up. Led by Whitmore, the Cavaliers also have the dynamic versatility of '22 [player_tooltip player_id="837924" first="CJ" last="Scott"], the guard play from the '22 duo of [player_tooltip player_id="904646" first="Tyheil" last="Peterson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="954640" first="Jordan" last="Pennick"] and others that can produce in limited roles. After proving what they did this winter, they've entered themselves into the championship discussion if they can keep their roster in tact.</div> <div> </div> <div><em>Ayalew:</em> <span style="font-size: 1rem">I think Sidwell Friends is due for a bounce-back season. The Quakers fielded a relatively young team last year, with just 2 seniors on their 13-man roster. Incoming freshman </span><b style="font-size: 1rem">Caleb Williams</b><span style="font-size: 1rem"> should make an impact from day one and fit in seamlessly with the talented young core. </span> <div class="yj6qo ajU"> </div> </div> <div><em>Wilson:</em> <span style="font-weight: 400">I think Bishop O'Connell has a chance to move up the pecking order a little bit this year in the WCAC. I can't remember the last time they finished as low as they did this previous season in the conference but with Wes Peterson entering his senior season, another year older for [player_tooltip player_id="897404" first="Paul" last="Lewis"], with the improvement of Mason So and some other intriguing young pieces, I think the Knights can turn it around a little bit. </span></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Herron:</em> <span style="font-size: 1rem">While much of the transfer talk is mostly rumors, the boarding schools in the western part of VA are always primed to bring in some big names. Virginia Episcopal in Lynchburg landed a big transfer in Monacan junior [player_tooltip player_id="697146" first="Justyn" last="Fernandez"] who will reclassify to 2022 and should see division one schools come his way by doing so. A gifted combo guard with good size, athleticism and scoring ability, he's a guy who should provide a needed scoring punch for them.</span> <div> </div> <div>Miller School of Albemarle outside of Charlottesville has been a school at the center of some rumors as well. They return quite a few guys next year that had good seasons but they are in the running for quite a few of the top young players in the state and will need them for depth moving forward.</div> <div> </div> <div>On the post grad scene, Hargrave has already landed a few guys including Elijah Wood who is seeing high majors come his way since decommitting from Rhode Island and saying that he will head to Hargrave. Massanutten and Fork Union have also landed some kids and it's only getting started for them.</div> </div>