MD/DC Roundtable: Updated 2022 Rankings

The updated rankings for the 2022 class in MD/DC went live yesterday. As the updated rankings flow and with the season right around the corner, it's time to ramp up our roundtable articles addressing some questions that can stir up debate. 1. It took longer than usual to break down the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. What was you argument for the final decision? Giacubeno: The No. 2 and No. 3 debate between [player_tooltip player_id="777065" first="Tyrell" last="Ward"] and [player_tooltip player_id="777061" first="Favour" last="Aire"] was very tough. The argument for Aire is that he’s a double-double machine. You can sharpie him in on the stat sheet to collect a dozen boards and finish on majority of his attempts in the paint. At DMV Live, he proved himself as a knockdown free-throw shooter as well, which should only increase his point per game average this season. We all are strong believers that Aire will transition seamlessly to the college ranks as well given his athleticism and ability to impact both ends of the floor. Ward had some impressive outings at DMV Live as well. The Xavier commit is a dynamic scorer and tough shot maker. The ultimate reason why he holds the edge in my opinion is because what today’s game has turned into. Long, skilled wings are coveted in this era at all levels. If Ward can continue to polish his play making ability for others off the bounce, stay locked in defensively and add some muscle, his ceiling is extremely high. Ayalew: [player_tooltip player_id="777061" first="Favour" last="Aire"] enjoyed a dominant run of play during the summer. His overall game continues to develop at a promising rate. He made a strong case to claim the second spot, but [player_tooltip player_id="777065" first="Tyrell" last="Ward"] ultimately held on because of his versatility. With the way the game is trending today, a premium is being placed on rangy wings. Wilson: I think [player_tooltip player_id="777065" first="Tyrell" last="Ward"] is one of the biggest stock risers from the area on a national level after a dominant showing at DMV Live and in July with Boo Williams. Aire is coming off a productive summer as well and is one of the top shot blockers I have seen from the 2022 class. This was a very hard debate as both can be impact players right away in college but I think a very important factor in these rankings are where we think these kids will be in years to come and I think Ward has proved he is a better long term fit. 2. What was your toughest decision with these rankings? Giacubeno: One that stumped me was the the setting the trio of forwards including [player_tooltip player_id="904630" first="Jerrell" last="Roberson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1110544" first="Elijah" last="Jones"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1215151" first="Cesar" last="Tchilombo"]. I think it’s safe to say that these guys offer different aspects to their respective teams, but all still have holes in their game to give one a significant edge over the other two. Roberson caught a ton of eyes at DMV Live with his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter and finish strong above the rim following dump-off passes from penetrating guards. Ultimately, he got the nod of the three to move up in the rankings. Jones has shows spurts of being a legitimate mid-major big prospect and potentially a low-end Big East guy. However, there needs to be more consistency with his production and that should certainly be the case this year as he steps into his senior season with Mt. Zion. As he learns to assert himself physically, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jones pile up double-doubles against top notch competition. Tchilombo makes coaches fall in love with him simply off his energy and motor. The reigning BCL Defensive Player of the Year should be the heavy favorite to repeat and will once again be the anchor to last year’s BCL championship team. Tchilombo is a competent finisher around the basket and can finish with thunderous dunks. One thing I’m hoping to see this season is for him to shoot one three-pointer per game. He has the capability to make those shots especially as the trailer in transition. The 6-foot-8 forward proved this throughout the EBA Summer League. I strongly believe if he can show this in official games, more programs will get involved. Ayalew: Deciding where to place [player_tooltip player_id="904628" first="Deon" last="Perry"]. No, he is not the biggest guard you will find. But he does often make the biggest impact while on the floor. While the decision was tough initially, placing him in the top-10 turned out to be a no-brainer in the end. Wilson: The toughest decision for me was ranking [player_tooltip player_id="837921" first="Devin" last="Dinkins"]. We have not seen a 100 percent Dinkins in quite some time because of an injury but I think he is set to have a big senior season being the guy at Gonzaga for Steve Turner’s bunch. Dinkins is currently committed to George Mason 3. Who are some of the biggest sleepers on this list? Giacubeno: I’m going to go with [player_tooltip player_id="1049815" first="Travis" last="Roberts"] for this question. Personally, I think he should be a bit higher in the rankings given his size, versatility and ability to shoot the ball with range. His athleticism continues to improve as he matures and I think he has the tools and makeup to be a very valuable prospect at the next level. Bishop Walsh will participate in the highly-touted NIBC this season, so it’ll be a good chance for evaluators to get a feel for Roberts on a national stage and a chance for Roberts to prove himself among stout competition. Ayalew: [player_tooltip player_id="1110550" first="Jeremiah" last="Littlejohn"] is the first name that comes to mind. He has all the tools to play at the highest level of college basketball. I’d bet that his best playing days are ahead of him. <div> </div> <div>I really like [player_tooltip player_id="1110551" first="Aidan" last="Mess"] as a sleeper. He is a flat out workhorse. You know what you will get from him each time he steps on the court. </div> <div> </div> <div>Archbishop Carroll marksman [player_tooltip player_id="954641" first="Rihards" last="Vavers"] is another sleeper. He is one of the better shooters you’ll find in this area.</div>   Wilson: I think [player_tooltip player_id="904658" first="Masai" last="Troutman"] is a player that has yet to showcase his full ability and has the chance to have a big year for Kevin Jones at St. Andrew’s. Troutman is a good athlete standing at 6’5 and is a versatile option on offense. I’m curious to see the type of traction he gets this fall with coaches from varying different colleges. Another sleeper for me is [player_tooltip player_id="1049817" first="Shaquille" last="Samuels"] out of Mt. Zion Prep who just made the move there from Avalon. Samuels is a strong wing that is constantly playing with good energy. He is a good shot maker for the wing position and can score the ball at all three levels. He is not going to do anything flashy that will make him stand out but he is a guy you can count on to defend and be a good option on offense.