Damascus vs Paint Branch Observations

Last night I made the trip to Damascus to check in on the 19-0 Hornets as they prep for a potential postseason run. They played host to a Paint Branch team that had some intriguing young prospects, but are still finding their footing overall. The experience, size and overall skill of Damascus overwhelmed Paint Branch from the start and they’d go on to win by a final score of 75-41 to improve to 20-0. Despite the loss, there were still bright spots for Paint Branch. Let’s take a look at some observations made during the contest.

Peter Mangan Peter Mangan 6'2" | CG Damascus | 2023 State MD controls the pace

Mangan is a point guard that any coach would love to have. He boasts size at 6’3, a strong frame and a high IQ for the game at both ends. He does a great job of playing at his own pace and using different aspects of his game to his advantage. Mangan is a guy who takes whatever the defense gives him. I wouldn’t categorize him as a pass-first point guard nor a scoring lead guard, but just a guy who can adapt to whatever the given situation is. He led Damascus with 16 points last night and was extremely effective with his looks in the paint. Often times he would find driving lanes, keep his defender on his back and react accordingly to the help defense’s rotation before making a decision of scoring or dishing. He’s a leader who gets his teams into their sets in a half court setting, but also seeks out teammates streaking in transition for crisp advance passes.

Joey Lutz Joey Lutz 6'3" | SG Damascus | 2023 State MD lives up to the hype

Even if you follow the high school basketball scene closely, Lutz may be a name you haven’t come across before. But I’ve been hearing about him since the beginning of the season and folks would rave about his shooting ability. He was the main reason I wanted make the trip and he didn’t disappoint. Lutz followed Mangan with 14 points that included four triples in the win and is a legitimate shot maker the second he crosses half court. Despite his ability, he isn’t a shot hunter and did a good job of making sure he was square before getting into his release. After he buried his first couple of shots, defenders starting sprinting out on catches. He had a couple of catches in the corner where he’d attack the closeout and finish at the rim or draw the big’s defender and deliver a dump off pass for an easy bucket.

Sanjay Harrison leads Paint Branch

Senior guard Sajay Harrison refused to go down quietly for Paint Branch and had himself a day from beyond the arc. Whether it was catch-and-shoots or getting into his shot after creating space off of 1-to-2 dribbles, Harrison was confident and it showed in his five three’s.

Conor Shifflet’s balance in the post

Damascus is a senior-laden group who you can tell has great chemistry and awareness of where guys are at all times. Shifflet was impactful with his post touches thanks to his ability to finish over either shoulder. When he’d begin to operate towards the middle of the paint, he was smart at anticipating the double-teams and always seemed to locate Lutz for skip passes that were delivered in his shooting pocket. The 6’6 forward battled on the glass, did a good job of sustaining verticality during shots around the rim and communicated with his guards effectively on ball screens. Shifflet finished with 13 points.

Michael Baskerville Michael Baskerville 6'5" | SF Damascus | 2023 State MD ‘s upside

Another available senior on this Damascus roster that is starting to gain steam is Baskerville, a 6’6 wing/forward with plus length and a budding overall skillset. He does a lot of his damage as an off-ball mover making timely cuts on the baseline where he has good hands on zip passes or can be a lob threat with space. His blend of length and size make for an effective defender who can guard multiple positions. Baskerville contributed 11 points and did his due diligence on the defensive glass.