WCAC Semis/Finals Standouts (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best conferences in the country, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, had their conference tournament this weekend and it did not disappoint. All of the semifinals and finals were super close games with all of them being decided by single digits and the championship coming down to the final seconds where junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1089572' first='Daquan' last='Davis'] hit the game winning layup to give St. John's of DC the win over Paul VI of Va.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of the standouts from the final three games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999616' first='DeShawn' last='Harris-Smith'] | 6'5” CG | Paul VI 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1496894,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/IMG_5085.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/IMG_5085.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1496894" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The WCAC Player of the Year showed why he was the easy pick for that, as DHS was hands down the best player in the semifinals and finals despite PVI falling to St. John's at the last minute. The 6'5” Maryland commit was fantastic in so many different ways as he got downhill and used his strength and footwork to finish around the rim, he posted up smaller guards and was money in those isolation situations, he shot the ball well from multiple levels and he made plays as both a rebounder and on the defensive end too. He finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds in their semifinal win over DeMatha and had 24 points in their loss to St. John's in the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pat Ngongba | 6'10” C | Paul VI 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1341252,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Ngonba-Patrick.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Ngonba-Patrick.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1341252" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ngongba has steadily improved and come into his role all season with the Panthers, and he owned the paint for them in their two games I watched in the tournament. The 6'10” big man is a force in the paint as he has long arms and can contest and block shots at the rim without fouling, he has terrific footwork and touch in the post to be able to score over either shoulder, he is always a threat on the lob from driving bigs and he was efficient in the paint in both games. He finished with 9 points on 3-for-3 from the field with 8 rebounds and 7 blocks in their win over DeMatha, and finished with 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field with 6 rebounds and 4 blocks in their loss to St. John's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259620' first='Darren' last='Harris'] | 6'6” WG | Paul VI 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1583861,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Harris-Darren-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Harris-Darren-CBG-scaled.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1583861" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The First Team All WCAC selection and Duke commit didn't have his best shooting performance of the season, but the way he's steadily rounding out his game is impressive and scary moving forward. All eyes have to be on the 6'6” wing when he's on the floor as he's an absolute driller from deep who sets his feet quickly and has effortless range with a quick release, he attacked closeouts well and finished above the rim in ways we haven't seen often before this year and he's a smart defender who rotates well and is able to make plays defensively. He finished with 14 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 from the line in their loss to St. John's and finished with 13 points and 3 rebounds in their win over DeMatha.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957107' first='Jaden' last='Winston'] | 6'1” PG | Dematha 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1725835,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Jaden-Winston.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Jaden-Winston.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1725835" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another First Team All WCAC selection, Winston was huge for a new look DeMatha team that exceeded expectations this season, and he was the guy who stepped up big time against the best teams and this was no exception. Winston is a smooth and quick guard who can use his handle and first step to get to spots on the floor, he makes good decisions and doesn't force things and he's able to score it from multiple levels and go get a bucket when his team needs him to. He finished with 15 points and 2 steals in their semifinal loss to PVI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142023' first='Adam' last='Fox'] | 6'6” PF | Dematha 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1599773,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/user-uploads/Adam-Fox-DeMatha-Media-Day-2022-Photo-7.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/user-uploads/Adam-Fox-DeMatha-Media-Day-2022-Photo-7.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1599773" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fox was another player that stepped up big for DeMatha, starting off the game on fire and giving DeMatha a lot of confidence in the first half before they eventually fell by 2 in the end. The 6'6” forward was strong in the paint as he boxed out and cleared out space for him and others to rebound, he shot the ball well from deep stretching the floor and giving his guards room to maneuver and he brought great energy and confidence to his team early against a team that beat them pretty handedly last time they matched up. He finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds, going 3-for-5 from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='957111' first='Isaiah' last='Arnold'] | 6'0” PG | DeMatha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1045197,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Arnold-Isaiah-Head-Shot.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Arnold-Isaiah-Head-Shot.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1045197" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arnold is the second piece in DeMatha's dynamic backcourt duo, and between Winston and him they were able to match up with almost any other backcourt in the league. Arnold is a high IQ two-way impact guard who sets the tone on both ends of the floor, he touches the paint and is a good finisher and knows how to draw contact and get to the line and he is efficient picking his spots and scoring it. He finished with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from the line, pitching in 3 rebounds and 3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->