DMV Elite Next Eye-Catchers

In the inaugural event held by DMV Elite Next yesterday at Archbishop Spalding, there was no shortage of talent. The stage showcased a number of prospects from the DMV area that were of the 2024 and 2025 classes. I stayed in the main gym for the entirety of the event and wanted to shine some light on a few prospects who caught my attention with their play. Jaquan Womack | 6'6 | Paul IV '25 It's impossible to start with anyone but Womack given his dominance throughout the game portion of the event. First off, he has great size and a strong frame for such a young age, but what impressed me most was the confidence, toughness and coordination he has already. Womack scored however he wanted to. He was a handful in transition, consistency blew by his defender to get to the rim in the halfcourt and converted on jumpers from both mid-range and three at a respectable clip. There were over a handful of time where Womack would crash the defensive glass with determination and lead the break himself for coast-to-coast finishes. All in all, it's safe to say that Womack projects to be one of the top prospects of his class in the DMV area and given the history of how Paul IV players translate to the next level, Womack's recruitment should pick up early. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Aaron-Jackson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1310581" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Aaron-Jackson-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Aaron Jackson | 5'10 | Wise '24 I wasn't aware of the talent that Wise would be working with this season, but two of their prospects really caught my eye yesterday with one being Jackson. A southpaw point guard who operates with the ball on a string, Jackson seemed to catch the crowd's attention every time he touched the ball following a swift crossover or no-look pass to set up a teammate for a score. When he wasn't distributing, Jackson was breaking down his man in isolation and creating space to get his shot off from outside. He also had a number of crafty finishes. Jordan Jackson | 6'1 | Wise '24 Jordan Jackson was the other Jackson from Wise who stood out. He didn't overwhelm his defender with quickness or elite athleticism, but he had great feel for his ability and sticking to his strengths. He hit multiple catch-and-shoot three's after rotating around the perimeter and making himself available for driving teammates. He ran the lanes wide in transition and finished through contact around the basket. Jackson also made sound bounce passes or advance passes in the open floor, something that seems to get overlooked in today's game. The Jackson duo should be a fun one to watch this season and result in Wise being another tough out in MPSSAA play. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Almani-Aw.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1310582" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Almani-Aw-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Almani Aw | 6'9 | Rock Creek Christian '24 Awa caught my eye in warm-up lines due to his height, but it didn't take long for him to give substance to my assumptions once the ball was tipped. Awa is a major paint presence and both ends. He comes with massive hands and on several occassions in face-up scenarios, he'd drive right and palm the ball on his last two steps to the rim with his defender banging into him before softly laying the ball in. He rebounded with aggression and showed a good motor especially hunting down offensive boards. Landry Barbour | 6'4 | St. John's '24 Barbour was an intriguing prospect when trying to project what he'll be as a senior. He's still very thin, but comes with a nice frame and plus length for his size. He was dynamic off the dribble and created space for his shot with regularity. Barbour had a few nice finishes at the rim and seems to play at a smooth pace. Jamari Jenkins | 5'7 | Jefferson High School '25 Jenkins was one of the smaller players in attendance, but played with a confidence that resonated through his team. He was also extremely tough, displayed a great feel as a primary ball-handler and once he started games by burying deep three's, his defender was at his mercy. One aspect I liked about Jenkins was he never took his foot off the gas. Every time he caught the ball he was looking to make something happen and if he missed a shot, he didn't allow it to impact his effort on the defensive end. Dezmond Hopkins | 5'11 | Patriot School '24 There weren't too many at this event that could keep Hopkins in front of them. The 5-foot-11 lefty has a quick burst with his first step and some wiggle with crossovers that allowed him to get to the basket in the blink of an eye. Once he got there, he showed good feel for finishing creatively and avoiding rotating shot-blockers. Quinn Gorman | 6'7 | Flint Hill '24 Gorman didn't light up the scoring column throughout the games that I saw, but it was his size, smoothness and shooting mechanics that made me buy into his as a long-term prospect. You can tell with how tight his shooting form is, Gorman can get it going once one falls. He was comfortable handling the ball even in transition with pesky guards attempting to tap the ball from behind.