Best Available 2023s in MD/DC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the weekend we witnessed our top player in the 2023 class, [player_tooltip player_id='957018' first='Amani' last='Hansberry'], make his commitment to Illinois. That now brings us four commitments in the current top-10 (updates coming soon). Hansberry to Illinois, [player_tooltip player_id='957025' first='Jahnathan' last='Lamothe'] to Maryland, [player_tooltip player_id='1114066' first='Carlton' last='Carrington'] to Pittsburgh and [player_tooltip player_id='957030' first='Jeannot' last='Basima'] to Yale. As more players should be off the board prior to the season starting, I figured it was a decent time to take a glace at who remain the best available on our board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957026' first='Malik' last='Mack'] | St. John's (DC)/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mack helped [program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'] to a strong showing during Peach Jam which resulted in an appearance in the championship game. His ability to stretch the floor with his outside shot, act as a facilitator when called upon and defend either guard position effectively holds value. Mack will play a significant role for St. John's this season in the WCAC and is currently being recruited by LM-MM programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957022' first='Cam' last='Gillus'] | Sidwell Friends</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillus didn't participate in AAU this spring/summer, which seemed to force many to forget how much he brings to the table from the point guard position. He's a heady floor general that understands how to dictate pace, pick his spots as a scorer and ruthlessly defend opposing ball-handlers the length of the floor throughout the game. More importantly, he comes from a winning program and succeeds at a high level in the classroom. Gillus has heard from programs in the Patriot and Ivy League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1219879' first='Tyler' last='Perkins'] | Landon/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'] National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following a summer that cemented his name as a Division I prospect, Perkins is in the process of lining up visits and deciding between from over a dozen programs that offered him. Perkins plays with an endless motor that contributes to an offensive approach that doesn't allow his matchup an easy possession. Whoever is lucky enough to land him is getting a productive, gritty guard for four years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957020' first='Mike' last='Williams'] | Bishop Walsh/[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams will see a boost in the rankings update after acting as a catalyst for a [program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill'] squad that took home the UAA 17U title. The 6-foot-3 combo guard has developed as a balanced scorer who can do so from all three levels and continues to improve his ability to create for others. He's impactful as an off-ball defender in the passing lanes, a willing rebounder and isn't afraid to give up his body on a charge. He has set up officials with five programs: Clemson, DePaul, Wake Forest, LSU and Syracuse. He will also visit VCU unofficially before making his decision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957059' first='Austin' last='Abrams'] | Mount St. Joe/[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fact that more schools aren't lining up for Abrams confuses me. He's 6-foot-3 with the possibility of growing another inch or so, has elite shooting ability and is a proven winner as witnessed by helping the Gaels capture both MIAA and BCL titles this winter before helping [program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill'] to their circuit title this summer. Abrams holds one offer from UMBC and while he has garnered interest from a few more LM-MM programs, I have a feeling there will be programs kicking themselves for not pulling the trigger when they look back on it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1164831' first='KJ' last='Gardner'] | Springdale Prep/Global Squad</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gardner had a solid summer and was able to gain Division I attention with some strong showings at a series of Hoop Group events. The 6-foot-2 lefty has a strong, nice frame with good burst and athleticism. He finishes at the rim through contact and can really be an impact on the defensive end when dialed in. Gardner also rebounds at a good rate for his position. Becoming more consistent with the jump shot will ultimately be the deciding factor of Division I's pulling the trigger or Division II's waiting happily for what would be an instant impact prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957109' first='Jeremiah' last='Quigley'] | Bishop McNamara/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quigley is a quick-twitch guard who can orchestrate a team as a floor general. He showed ability to do so in several ways through the DMV Live sessions or in the July Live sessions. He's difficult for others to keep in front, is always looking to make the extra pass for a better shot and can get after it defensively. Quigley holds offers from UMBC, Radford and NJIT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114027' first='Aidan' last='Harris'] | St. Mary's Annapolis/DMV Stags</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris is going to push to be one of the more productive players in the DMV statistically this season. He's a double-double threat each time he takes the floor and in the instances in which I saw him this summer, has the ability to fill it up for 25+ points quickly thanks to his ability to score inside/out or finish through contact and convert at the free-throw line. Harris has offers ranging from Division I-Division II programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others to monitor:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957041' first='Thomas' last='Batties II'] (Gonzaga/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1364988' first='Ezekiel' last='Avit'] (Churchill/Global Squad)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1482973' first='Jake' last='Stout'] (Boys' Latin/ Mid-Atlantic Select)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Favor Okigweh (Parkville/Mid-Atlantic Select)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957040' first='Corey' last='Chesley'] (Good Counsel/[program_tooltip program_id='2078456' first='DC' last='Premier'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957046' first='Terrell' last='Webster'] (McKinley Tech/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'] National)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957038' first='Jaden' last='Johnson'] (Bishop McNamara/New World)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1362686' first='Kevon' last='Corley'] (Rock Creek Christian/[program_tooltip program_id='2078456' first='DC' last='Premier'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyron Henderson (Rock Creek Christian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957045' first='Rieco' last='Hellams'] (Good Counsel/[program_tooltip program_id='2076999' first='Team' last='Melo'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marvin Brimage (Jackson-Reed/[program_tooltip program_id='2078456' first='DC' last='Premier'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957107' first='Jaden' last='Winston'] (DeMatha/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->