St. James Winter League Superlatives

<p>The St. James was a fantastic host to its competitive high school league throughout the past winter. Prep Hoops was a mainstay in the gym and was keeping a close eye on the abundant action. Here is a rundown of the superlative award winners from the league. </p> <p><strong>Best Athlete - [player_tooltip player_id="902002" first="Quincy" last="Allen"]</strong></p> <p>No one we saw in the league can match the pure athleticism that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902002" first="Quincy" last="Allen"]</strong> possesses. When you consider his combination of positional size, dexterity, fluid agility, and explosive leaping ability, it doesn’t take long to conclude that he is one of the better athletes in the area. </p> <p><strong>Best Ball-Handler - [player_tooltip player_id="957022" first="Cam" last="Gillus"]</strong></p> <p>All great ball-handlers keep it low and on a string. [player_tooltip player_id="957022" first="Cam" last="Gillus"] does exactly that. He gets bonus points not just for being an excellent ball-handler, but one who controls the tempo of games. Gillus is very patient. He knows how to change speeds and gets consistent paint touches as a result. </p> <p><strong>Best Duo - [player_tooltip player_id="902033" first="Kris" last="King"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="902049" first="Kent" last="King"]</strong></p> <p>The King twins have blossomed into a dynamic duo that can keep their team in a game against any opponent. They are good athletes who play both ends of the floor. Their unselfishness is evident and contagious as well. </p> <p><strong>Best Interior Scorer - [player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"]</strong></p> <p>Throughout the winter, [player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"] had his way in the paint. He routinely produced despite contending with double and triple teams each time he hit the court. Hansberry’s footwork in the low post is exceptional. He has a deft touch and a wide arsenal of go-to moves. </p> <p><strong>Best Leaders - [player_tooltip player_id="902025" first="Malcolm" last="Dread"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="902007" first="Jao" last="Ituka"] </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902025" first="Malcolm" last="Dread"]</strong> was often seen leading with his words and by example. The senior, who is heading to Richmond in the fall, often communicated with and encouraged his teammates during times of adversity. Dread was efficient with the ball and often made smart plays. </p> <p>Team S.T.A.T. dynamo <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902007" first="Jao" last="Ituka"]</strong> put forth a spectacular effort throughout the league for one of its main contenders. He kept a positive demeanor during tough times, and his toughness was commendable.</p> <p><strong>Best Motor - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devin-ceaser/">Devin Ceaser</a></strong></p> <p>One thing you can always expect from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devin-ceaser/"><strong>Devin Ceaser</strong></a> is maximum effort. He is a premium athlete with an engine that doesn’t stop. Whether it means scoring, defending, or making all-around impact plays, Ceaser will keep coming at you until you figure out a way to slow him down. </p> <p><strong>Best Passer - [player_tooltip player_id="904623" first="Trey" last="Thomas"]</strong></p> <p>One of the best traits that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="904623" first="Trey" last="Thomas"]</strong> possesses is his court vision. At close to 6-foot-4, he can see over the top of defenses and has the eye for a pass. Thomas is an instinctive passer with impressive variety. He can thread the needle with a bounce pass, push the ball ahead quickly with a full-court outlet, toss an accurate lob, or zip a crosscourt overhead skip on a dime with his left hand. </p> <p><strong>Best Perimeter Defender - [player_tooltip player_id="837925" first="Chris" last="Gamble"]</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="837925" first="Chris" last="Gamble"]</strong> uses his low center of gravity to get up under his opponents and his quickness to stay in front. He is a physical guard who can wall up and absorb contact, but knows how to sell it and tends to take charges at an above-average rate. Gamble’s on-ball defense can be suffocating to even the very best scorers. </p> <p><strong>Best Rebounder - [player_tooltip player_id="1107107" first="Brian" last="Ayafor"]</strong></p> <p>At first glance, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1107107" first="Brian" last="Ayafor"]</strong> might not stand out. He is an undersized interior player who has length, toughness, and determination. Ayafor is a put-back threat who plays much bigger than his listed height. He can rebound out of his area and has a strong grip that helps him keep possession of the ball in traffic. </p> <p><strong>Best Rim-Protector - [player_tooltip player_id="902092" first="Reis" last="Jones"]</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="902092" first="Reis" last="Jones"] </strong>is a long-armed paint protector who repels shots at the rim with relative ease. He exhibits good hand-eye coordination and timing, which enable him to track and connect with the ball consistently.</p> <p><strong>Best Scorer - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darius-johnson/">Darius Johnson</a></strong></p> <p>The scoring exhibition that <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darius-johnson/"><strong>Darius Johnson</strong></a> displayed in the playoffs was nothing short of marvelous. Johnson is skilled, strong, and explosive. He can shoot from anywhere inside half-court but is best when he attacks the rim. Johnson strides through the lane with the power of a Mack truck, but the grace of a figure skater. He’s frequently seen hanging in the air like a skydiver and pumping multiple times in mid-air before casually putting the ball in the hole. </p> <p><strong>Best Perimeter Shooter - [player_tooltip player_id="562690" first="Ryan" last="Cornish"] </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="562690" first="Ryan" last="Cornish"]</strong> has worked hard to become a very good all-around player, but shooting is still his trademark skill. Whether standing still or on the move, he is consistently accurate from long range. Cornish has a compact shooting stroke. He gets a good lift off the ground and exaggerates his follow-through as all good shooters do. </p>