EPL Championship Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The inaugural Elite Prep League held it's Conference Championship in Richmond this past week, and there was tons of talent in front of a number of college coaches! Champion Hargrave defeated Massanutten in an absolute classic in the championship game, and tons of players improved their stock heading into the final stretch of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the standouts from the Maryland and Pennsylvania schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1579092' first='Malachi' last='Palmer'] | 6'5” CG | Mt. Zion Prep '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1622959,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Palmer-Malachi-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Palmer-Malachi-CBG-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1622959" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palmer came back from an ankle injury that kept him out for the last few weeks, and while he showed some rust at the beginning of the game he got his groove back and started to show why he's one of the top prospects in the Elite Prep League. The 6'5” combo guard has a college ready frame and plays with great pace with the ball in his hands, he got to his spots in the midrange and showed his ability to consistently make tough shots in the 15-18 feet range and showed his rebounding and finishing ability too. He finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals playing essentially on one leg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Levi Lawal | 6'7” PF | Mt. Zion Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawal was one of Mt. Zion's more consistent and efficient players throughout the season, and by the time the conference tournament came around he was playing his best basketball and had a great showing in their loss to Massanutten. The 6'7” forward is an inside enforcer who plays bigger than he is, he converts in the paint and out to 15 feet with crazy consistency and he controlled the glass on both ends of the floor. He finished with 17 points going 7-for-10 from the field and pitched in 9 rebounds too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MJ Smith | 6'2” CG | Mt. Zion Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1662712,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/IMG-0726-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/IMG-0726-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1662712" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith emerged throughout the season as one of Mt. Zion's best scoring guards and often did so on the biggest stages, and the EPL Conference Tournament was one of those stages. The 6'2” Portsmouth, VA native was aggressive looking for his shot working both on and off the ball, he showed both deep range and the ability to get to spots in the midrange and at the rim and he made plays on the defensive end too. He finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in their loss to Massanutten.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominic Stewart | 6'4” WG | Mt. Zion Prep '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1800913,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Stewart-Dom-MZP.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Stewart-Dom-MZP.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1800913" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Stewart didn't have his best shooting night for Mt. Zion, he still found ways to be productive and make plays for his team on both ends of the floor, showing a lot of growth over the season and looking like a big time recruit moving forward. The 6'4” off guard put pressure on the defense off the bounce and got to the line a lot, he showed great instincts on the defensive end and he continued to compete despite his shot not falling. He finished with 15 points going 8-for-9 from the line and pitched in 5 rebounds and 2 steals in their loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1017200' first='Aaron' last='Davis'] | 6'6” WF | First Love</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1821340,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Davis-Aaron.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Davis-Aaron.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1821340" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Love looked like they were ready to make a run at the title as the 2 seed trounced Fork Union in the first round, but unexpectedly had to cancel their season due to administrative and budge problems, so they couldn't come down for the semifinals. However, in their first game Bryant commit [player_tooltip player_id='1017200' first='Aaron' last='Davis'] put on an absolute shooting and scoring display that had the gym buzzing. The 6'6” wing showed incredible shot making from deep getting his feet set quickly and showing the quick release with defenders bearing down on him, he showed his ability to get to spots and score it from different levels and he showed his athleticism rebounding and on the defensive end. He finished with 31 points going 7-for-14 from deep, pitched in 7 rebounds and had 3 blocks too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seth Brown | 6'4” WG | First Love</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1798855,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Brown-Seth.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Brown-Seth.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1798855" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown really caught the short end of the stick as he was seeing his stock rise throughout the season and would have had a great chance to play in front of coaches in the EPL Tournament and the National Prep Championship. The 6'4” California native was great picking his spots and knocking down shots, he showed his range and consistency as a knock down shooter and he did it all within the flow of the offense. He finished with 15 points on just 9 shots from the field in their win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Manning | 6'2” PG | First Love</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manning maybe didn't get the same attention as their scorers who put up big numbers all season, but he was the straw that stirred the drink for them and he showed that against FUMA. He's a tone setter on both ends who controls the tempo with pressure defense and good ball handling, he has terrific vision and feel with the ball in his hands and he can impact the game without taking many shots. He finished with 7 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in their win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kahlil Singleton | 6'2” CG | Scotland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789230,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Copeland-Kahlil-EPL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Copeland-Kahlil-EPL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1789230" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scotland shares a campus with First Love, so they were in the same boat after upsetting the 3 seed Combine and weren't able to return to play their semifinal matchup. However, throughout the year Singleton showed he's a natural scorer who can fill it up with the best of them, and he did just that in their win. The Holy Cross commit is super crafty off the bounce and knows how to create space, he's an absolute driller from deep both off the catch and off the bounce and he has a knack for knocking down tough shots from multiple levels. He finished with 22 points going 8-for-15 from the field and pitching in 6 rebounds and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tylik Weeks | 6'6” F | Scotland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789241,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Weeks-Tylik-EPL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Weeks-Tylik-EPL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1789241" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weeks is another player who would have benefited greatly from another game or two, as the 6'6” forward has been one of the most productive players in the EPL throughout the year and showed that in their win over Scotland. He's a walking mismatch as he has the body and power game to finish in the paint and rebound, he has good ball skills and nimble feet to make shots and make plays off the bounce on the perimeter and he brings a toughness and gritty attitude to his team. He finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds in their win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->