St. James Winter League: Saturday Standouts

<p><em>SPRINGFIELD, VA</em> -- Saturday’s slate at The St. James Winter League was chock-full of interesting matchups. Here is a closer look at some standouts from the action. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1049866" first="Jovani" last="Galarza"] | Team LAB ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1049866" first="Jovani" last="Galarza"]</strong> is an assertive guard with a motor that does not stop running. He was the engine for Team LAB’s offense because he can slash and finish in traffic at a high level. One of Galarza’s best traits is his willingness to rebound. He snagged 5 boards on Saturday night. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"] | DC Cadets ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"] </strong>operated comfortably as the Hub for his team’s offense. Dominating in the post with his ability to seal, show for the ball, and knife through traffic with nifty footwork. Hansberry routinely thwarted double-teams with his extraordinary passing skills. And he controlled the glass on both ends of the floor. Hansberry finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal after a hard-fought win. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="904673" first="Miles" last="Hicks"] | Mass Ave ’22</strong></p> <p>Not many guards are left standing after facing relentless pressure from a tough DC Lions backcourt. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="904673" first="Miles" last="Hicks"]</strong> not only stood tall but passed a tough test and continues to show encouraging signs of progression. The unheralded lead guard is an excellent shooter who proved that his ball-handling and playmaking skills are high quality. Hicks is still gaining valuable experience but his outlook is promising. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="837969" first="Iyan" last="Johnson Jr."] | Team LAB ’23</strong></p> <p>Team LAB has a talented trio of guards, and <strong>Iyan Johnson</strong> is the straw that stirs the drink. He’s a quick, crafty point guard who gets downhill and consistently finds others. Johnson is still learning how to harness his extra gear, but he’s probably one of the better pure playmakers we’ve seen in the entire league. He had 5 assists on Saturday. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902012" first="Kino" last="Lilly Jr."] | DMV Sports Academy ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902012" first="Kino" last="Lilly Jr."]</strong> is a deadly three-point shooter. The Brown commit shot 4 for 9 from three, but that wasn’t the only thing he did well. Lilly was active and alert defensively. He recorded a steal to go along with several deflections. Lilly also led his team with 3 assists. </p> <p><strong>Mike Teal | EHS Elite ’21</strong></p> <p>This was supposed to be the breakout season for <strong>Mike Teal</strong> at TC Williams. Known for his energy, Teal became a staple in Coach Prue’s rotation. He took the opportunity to run with EHS Elite and made an immediate difference. Teal applied pressure on the rim as a slasher, kept the defense honest by hitting a corner 3, and tried to dunk on an opponent in transition. He set the tone early and often by making the little plays that no one else wanted to.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="904648" first="Gavin" last="Walsh"] | DMV Sports Academy ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="904648" first="Gavin" last="Walsh"]</strong> did not score much, but his effort did not go unnoticed. The big, athletic forward hit the boards with aggression. Walsh finished the game with 10 rebounds. The extra possessions he helped manufacture on the offensive glass were a crucial factor in his team’s win. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999626" first="Khalil" last="Williams"] | Team LAB ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999626" first="Khalil" last="Williams"]</strong> shifts the gravity of his defense because of his shooting. He is not hesitating like he did in the past and this makes him a constant threat while he’s on the floor. One of the things Williams does best is rebound out of his area. This is in part because he has a broad frame and is very rangy. </p>