DTLR High School Basketball Classic Notebook

<p>Archbishop Spalding was the venue for the 2022 DTLR High School Basketball Classic featuring teams from Baltimore, DC and Philadelphia. A talent-filled three-game slate, there were plenty of prospects included in our rankings that were on display. Plus, some new faces who used the stage to help bolster their name.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Isaiah-Williams.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1368411" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Isaiah-Williams-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Calvert Hall vs Georgetown Prep</strong></span></span></p> <p>The first game of the day was a BCL/IAC matchup between the Cardinals and the Hoyas. Both teams rely on their underclassmen to produce and that was especially the case for Georgetown Prep as 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="777082" first="Stefan" last="Marcelle"] and 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="904654" first="Bryce" last="Sewell"] were DNP’s. Sewell’s absence was missed and could’ve been effective against 2024 Calvert Hall lead guard [player_tooltip player_id="1127301" first="Isaiah" last="Williams"], who led with a game-high 58-52 points. The Cardinals don’t have many guys who can create for themselves other than Williams, so while at times he can take some questionable shots, they’re often better looks than what they’d manufacture otherwise. He operated often in high ball screens to gain an advantage on his defender, get to his spots within 15-to-17 feet and stop on a dime for jumpers. If he wasn’t pulling up, Williams was seeking contact on drives to the rim and making them pay at the line.<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Khani-Rooths.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1368415 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Khani-Rooths-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1127315" first="Khani" last="Rooths"], the No. 2 ranked player in our updated rankings, filled up the stat sheet for the Hoyas. He was effective in using his first step and limited dribbles in getting to the rim. On a few occasions he used step-throughs or pump fakes to create easier looks. He was patient in his approach overall. In transition he made sound passes to streaking teammates or finished the job himself with dunks inn open space. </p> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="957105" first="Karim" last="Harris"] chipped in with 13 points for Calvert Hall. The undersize forward did a nice job of converting on his looks around the high-post and even hit a three at the top of the key in the first half to help keep his defender guessing. 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1366890" first="Brendan" last="Johnson"] was more of a floor spacing presence as six of his 11 came from beyond the arc.</p> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1366897" first="Rulian" last="Stewart"]’s minutes were valuable for the Hoyas in the backcourt as their other guards struggled to produce. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Cam-Whitmore-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1368417" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Cam-Whitmore-2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Archbishop Spalding vs West Catholic</strong></span></span></p> <p>In the first of two games featuring top teams from Baltimore and Philadelphia, Spalding topped the Burrs by a final score of 81-67. Villanova commit [player_tooltip player_id="837927" first="Cameron" last="Whitmore"] exploded in the second half and brought the crowd to their feet a handful of times with above the rim finishes. Whitmore, who led with a game-high 23 points, used his explosive strength on attempts in the paint to finish through contact as well. Keeping him at bay in that sense was borderline impossible. He switched his approach from the first half where he settled for a few three’s and let the defense off easy. Whitmore closed down the glass and rebounded out of his area at a high rate.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Kaseem-Watson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1368419" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Kaseem-Watson-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1122111" first="Kaseem" last="Watson"] impressed with his size and versatility as a lead guard at 6-foot-7. The CSU Bakersfield signee showed plenty of potential long term as both a shot-maker and distributor on his drives. Watson’s twin brother Kareem, also a CSU-Bakersfield commit, is equally versatile and did a nice job of setting up his brother and others for good looks thanks to his playmaking. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Jordan-Pennick-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1368422" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Jordan-Pennick-3-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>2022 Spalding guard [player_tooltip player_id="954640" first="Jordan" last="Pennick"] was fantastic for the Cavs to the tune of 21 points and connecting on five triples. Pennick has always been a guy who the defense must account for beyond the arc, but this season he’s been exceptionally efficient. Pound-for-pound, you won’t find many guards who can produce and compete at both ends quite like Pennick. Gannon and Chestnut Hill have extended offers. He also has an offer from Navy. More Division II programs and even low Division I’s looking for a scrappy, shot-making guard should monitor closely.</p> <p>I loved the passion and intensity that 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1121734" first="Zion" last="Stanford"] brought for West Catholic. The 6-foot-5 wing refused to back down to anyone on the floor and continuously put his head down for strong drives and finishes. He’d let everyone in the gym know what he was doing, which helped his team rally some late momentum, but it got the best of him around 4 minutes to go where he received his fifth foul 50-feet away from the basket while letting Whitmore know that he just scored a tough bucket. Again, I loved the passion, but Stanford’s value to the Burrs is massive. He needs to keep himself on the floor.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Bryce-Lindsay.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1368423" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Bryce-Lindsay-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>St. Frances vs Imhotep</strong></span></span></p> <p>2023 wing [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] proved himself as good as advertised in last night’s main event as he helped his team to win over St. Frances by a final score of 75-68. The 5-star southpaw was the leading scorer of the event with 29 points and put on a scoring clinic for the prototypical lanky wings of today’s game. He knocked down two three’s, scored off the bounce after catches on the perimeter and scored in the mid-post using his length to rise over the defender. Edwards refused to be denied in transition as well where his length and athleticism came into play as he wiggled his way to the bucket. There’s a reason why Edwards is garnering blue-blood attention and why Kentucky recently extended an offer. He showed it last night.<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/daquan-davis-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1368424 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/daquan-davis-1-241x300.jpg" alt="" width="241" height="300" /></a></p> <p>While Edwards put on an overall scoring clinic, 2022 St. Frances guard [player_tooltip player_id="777095" first="Bryce" last="Lindsay"] demonstrated elite range and shooting as he kept the Panthers in reaching distance with 16 points. The 6-foot-3 guard converted on three three’s at the volleyball line in effortless fashion off the dribble. He used his threat as a shooter to his advantage in ball screens where he’d probe to find open spots in the mid-range due to the lack of communication by the defenders. Lindsay will begin his official visit to South Carolina tomorrow.</p> <p>2024 St. Frances guard [player_tooltip player_id="1089572" first="Daquan" last="Davis"] battled through a hurt ankle and still contributed with 18 points. He continues to show improvement with the range on his shot as he made four shots from deep, two of which were in transition stopping on the dime and rising up with balance. Along with Pennick, Davis is one of the most mentally tough guards that you’ll come across scanning the DMV regardless of class.</p>