Week 10 Scouting Report: Standout Upperclassmen

<p>This week I took a break from the public-school schedule and decided to scout some of the local private school teams instead. I made it out to a pair of Week 10 games. The Prestonwood Christian Academy Lions hosted and defeated the Nolan Catholic Vikings 41-40 on Tuesday, and the John Paul II Cardinals earned a dominant 91-41 home victory over the Parish Episcopal Panthers on Friday. There were several individuals who caught my attention during these matchups. With that in mind, here are 10 standout upperclassmen from this past week’s action:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958565" first="Vinny" last="Sigona"] | 2022 | 6’0’’ Combo Guard | Prestonwood Christian Academy</strong> - Sigona is a dynamic three-level scoring guard. He can consistently hit while spotting up or off the dribble from mid to long range, has a nice mid-range pull-up, and is a crafty finisher who can convert off the glass from difficult angles when penetrating. The PCA senior is a threat to put the ball in the basket from just about any spot on the floor. He ended the game with 11 points. </p> <p><strong>Nathan Stafford | 2022 | 5’7’’ Point Guard | Prestonwood Christian Academy</strong> - Stafford’s athletic future may be on the gridiron, as the 2022 two-sport athlete just posted an incredibly productive football season, accounting for 16 touchdowns and over 1,300 all-purpose yards. However, he was brilliant on the hardwood Tuesday night. He was extremely efficient as a scorer finishing well vs. size down low despite his lack of it, converting three-point plays at the foul line on multiple occasions. He absorbs contact very well, likely a result of his football background. Furthermore, he knocked down the three-ball consistently and was at has best when the game was on the line late in the fourth quarter. </p> <p><strong>Dylan Drake | 2022 | 6’7’’ Power Forward/Small Forward | Prestonwood Christian Academy</strong> - Drake displayed some nice footwork in the paint vs. Nolan Catholic. The 6-foot-7-inch forward is mobile and fluid enough to operate on the wing but spent most of his time at the four spot. He looked athletic when elevating for rebounds and when receiving entry passes, showing good athleticism in addition to explosiveness as a leaper. This is a versatile prospect who can play all over the place in a number of different roles. </p> <p><strong>Patrick Hoffman | 2022 | 6’6’’ Power Forward | Nolan Catholic HS</strong> - Hoffman is a fluid and mobile power forward who can stretch out and threaten teams from mid-range. He does a little bit of everything for his team. The Nolan Catholic senior runs the floor well in transition, has solid variety in the post as a scorer, and does a nice job of impacting shots at the defensive end. He is also a sneaky good passer. The ball looks really good coming out of his hands. Hoffman was also great as a screener, even taking out multiple players on a few occasions. </p> <p><strong>Jaden Thomas | 2022 | 6’1’’ Point Guard | Nolan Catholic HS</strong> - Thomas plays fast and downhill. He never settles for perimeter shots, but instead opts to get inside and attack off the dribble. He was able to either get the ball to his teammates with drop off passes at the rim or score himself, utilizing his shifty ball handling to get around defenders. Even without the threat of a jump shot, he still found ways to produce as a slasher and playmaker. His raw athleticism is evident. Moreover, the senior guard has great speed in the open court and is a solid defender. </p> <p><strong>Michael Jones | 2022 | 6’0’’ Shooting Guard | Nolan Catholic HS</strong> - Jones displayed shooting ability from behind the arc and mid-range. He can comfortably drill long twos off the dribble. His catch-and-shoot game from the corners looked strong too. He got himself squared up and didn’t waste time getting into his shooting motion, all while remaining in rhythm. The senior two-guard ended the night with nine points and four rebounds. Beyond that, I noticed some nice hustle plays from Jones, including going to the ground to force a tie-up. He has some grittiness to him. </p> <p><strong>Elijah Obaseki | 2022 | 6’7’’ Power Forward/Small Forward | John Paul II HS</strong> - I’ve labeled some of the previous individuals in this article as athletic, but none of them compare to Obaseki. He is a freak in that department. The JPII forward can explode from a standstill and finish above the rim with power, runs like a gazelle in transition, and hustles back on defense for chase down blocks. He is so bouncy. Whether it was his putback dunks, layups through contact, or just his overall rebounding, Obaseki’s athletic ability was on full display. He ultimately accounted for 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks vs. Parish Episcopal. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1332712" first="Gabriel" last="Warren"] | 2023 | 6’7’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | John Paul II HS</strong> - Warren is a physical finisher who can absorb bumps and blows on his way to the basket. He did exactly that on Friday, converting several and-1 finishes vs. Parish Episcopal. He is an all-around stud with very few holes in his game. He is capable as a shooter from the outside, consistent as a scorer in the paint, contributes on the glass, passes the ball well, and exudes toughness whenever he is on the court. Paired with his size and build, it makes him a guy with the potential to be a key piece of a D1 roster. Warren finished the contest with 13 points and seven rebounds. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787344" first="R.J." last="Jones"] | 2023 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard | John Paul II HS</strong> - Jones was very impressive in his matchup against Parish Episcopal. I loved seeing him produce within the flow of the offense while still taking advantage of mismatches when they presented themselves. He was steady as a scorer, hitting a three and showing good body control at the rim both in half court drives and in transition. His playmaking caught my attention as well. The junior guard exhibited unselfishness and stellar vision as a passer. Jones put up 16 points and five assists in the Cardinals’ Friday night victory, and he only needed three quarters to get it. </p> <p><strong>Donavan Darthard | 2022 | 5’11’’ Combo Guard | Parish Episcopal School </strong>- Darthard and the Panthers didn’t have their best game vs. the size and talent of JPII’s roster, but he did show some flashes of excellence in an otherwise forgettable night for his team. The 2022 combo guard displayed great quickness and agility when penetrating off the dribble, as well as some craftiness with ball fakes when he got deep into the paint. He also showed the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers off the bounce, elevating well on his jump shot. His decision making and passing on the break also stood out. </p>