Sleepy Thompson Day 2 2023 Standouts

The oldest basketball tournament in Virginia is back after a year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it just feels right heading to St. Stephen’s St. Agnes for the 65th Annual Sleepy Thompson Boys Basketball Tournament. I was there for day two, taking in four games with tons of talent around the DMV and Virginia area. Here’s a look at some of the 2023 standouts from the day. Franklin Ayissi Etoh | 6’0” CG | Archbishop Carroll <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Ayissi-Etoh-Franklin.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341055" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Ayissi-Etoh-Franklin-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> The breakout performance of the day has to go to Ayissi Etoh, who went crazy in Carroll’s win over SSSAS on their home court. The 6’0” combo was the first guy off the bench and one of the smallest players on the team, but that didn’t stop him from putting up a huge double-double of 31 points and 13 rebounds while also pitching in 4 assists. He plays with a great motor and has a natural instinct of where to be and is always around the ball, he brings it on both ends and he he made shots from all over the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="992531" first="John" last="St. Germain"] | 6’2” PG | STAB <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/St.-Germain-John-STAB.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341057" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/St.-Germain-John-STAB-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> St. Germain and his STAB group had a good outing against Carmel after dropping their first game of the tournament to Episcopal, and he was the straw that stirred the drink. He constantly beat pressure by himself and lived in the lane, he finished well around the basket and made shots from multiple levels and he was efficient and made the right play consistently. He finished with 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting in their win. [player_tooltip player_id="999617" first="Carter" last="Lang"] | 6’10” C | STAB <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Lang-Carter-Sleepy.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341059" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Lang-Carter-Sleepy-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Lang battled some foul trouble against a smaller and quicker Carmel School front court, but he still was able to use his size to overpower them in the paint and end up with a typically productive game. He showed a little bit of everything as he blocked shots and rebounded, he finished in the paint and through contact and he showed his ability to step out and make shots from deep too. He finished with an impressive double-double of 16 points and 20 rebounds in their win. [player_tooltip player_id="1165524" first="Connor" last="Dubsky"] | 6’4” WG | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes Dubsky, who is a new transfer to SSSAS, came out hot for the Saints as they struggled in the first half but he didn’t. He brought instant offense to his team working well off the ball to get open, hitting shots on curls and flairs and when he got it going he showed he can make tough shots off the bounce too. He scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half. Aaron Brown | 6’2” WG | Carmel School Brown was named to the All Sleepy Thompson team due to his play, and the 6’2” two guard looks like he’ll be a breakout player in the Richmond area this year. He played very confidently and very hard on both ends of the floor, he’s shooting the ball well from deep and he’s an explosive finisher and good defender as well. [player_tooltip player_id="958702" first="Buom" last="Jock"] | 6’6’” WG | Episcopal Jock is a new name in the DMV that will debut in our updated 2023 rankings when they come, and I have to say I was thoroughly impressed at first glance and he has a lot of intriguing tools moving forward. At 6’6” he has very long arms and runs like a gazelle, he is quick off of his feet and able to use his explosion and length to finish above the rim and block shots and he showed he can make shots as well. He finished with 17 points in Episcopal’s loss to Sidwell Friends. [player_tooltip player_id="999645" first="Patrick" last="O’Brien"] | 6’8” C | Highland School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/OBrien-Patrick.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341064" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/OBrien-Patrick-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> O’Brien is part of a young Highland School team that has a lot of size and young pieces to keep an eye on over the next few years, and he’s steadily improving and looking better and better every time I see him. He played hard and ran the floor getting a few dunks and put backs, he showed touch and shot the ball pretty well and he rebounded and defended too. He finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds in their win. [player_tooltip player_id="1241877" first="Cameron" last="Cole"] | 6’2” PG | Highland School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Cole-Cam.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341076" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Cole-Cam-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Cole is a new addition to this Highland squad this year, and he was fantastic in their win doing a good job getting them into sets, making plays for himself and others and setting the tone on both ends. He’s a crafty ball handler that changes speeds and directions well, he can create space and make shots from multiple levels and he has a poise to him you can’t teach. He finished with 10 points and 5 assists in their win.