DMV Live 1: Play In Tournament Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third annual DMV Live had their first session this past weekend, and they added a new wrinkle with a play in tournament on Thursday. D2 and D3 coaches were allowed to attend, as 8 teams battled it out for the final four spots to play in front of D1 schools on the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the standouts I saw on Thursday from VA teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1759729' first='Cameron' last='Mise'] | 6'0” PG | Hargrave 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mise helped will Hargrave to an opportunity to play in front of the D1 coaches in the play in, as the Richmond native made plays on both ends and came up big every time his team needed him to. He showed his wiggle off the bounce and ability to get to spots to score it from multiple levels, he finished well in the paint and created space off the bounce and made plays for others effortlessly. He finished the two games averaging 20.5 points, 7 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1948391' first='Dante' last='Kearse'] | 6'5” F | Hargrave 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1595577,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Kearse-Dante-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Kearse-Dante-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1595577" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearse was a force for Hargrave in the paint as he was both productive and efficient while using his athleticism and size to make plays on both ends of the floor. The 6'5” forward ran the floor hard and finished everything in the paint, he used his length and pop to challenge shots and rebound and he got a lot of deflections and jumped passing lanes too. He did a little bit of everything averaging 18.5 points on 60% shooting, 9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403925' first='Jaedon' last='Harris'] | 5'10” PG | John Paul the Great 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1302377,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Harris-Jaedon-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Harris-Jaedon-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1302377" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Boogie” wasn't the top scorer for them, but he came up with big shots when his team needed him to and he set the table and the tone for his team on both ends of the floor. He made great decisions with the ball in his hands and was excellent in the pick-and-rolls, he showed his deep range and ability to make shots in the midrange and he was very good defensively too. He finished the two games averaging 8 points, 8 assists and 2 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598928' first='Amarion' last='Custis'] | 6'2” CG | John Paul the Great 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1903377,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Custis-Amarion-rotated.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Custis-Amarion-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1903377" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Custis was fantastic as Harris' backcourt mate, and he benefited from the opportunity to play on and off the ball and make plays in different ways. He scored the ball well from multiple levels and got in the paint effortlessly where he was able to finish through contact, he rebounded well for his position and he played with great energy on both ends of the floor. He finished the two games averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1618939' first='Dakota' last='Sellers'] | 6'4” WF | John Paul the Great 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2024152,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Sellers-Dakota.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Sellers-Dakota.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2024152" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sellers was JPG's best player in their first win, as he went for 17 points and 19 rebounds in their win over Palli. The 6'4” wing showed his athleticism as he got up and down and used his leaping ability to rebound and finish above the rim, he showed good ball skills with the ability to take slower defenders off the bounce and he was excellent from 18 feet and in. He finished the two games averaging 12.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1963530' first='Marcus' last='Hancock'] | 6'2” WG | John Paul the Great 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2024153,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Hancock-Marcus.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Hancock-Marcus.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2024153" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hancock was JPG's most consistent player, and he showed why he should be in the conversation for best shooter in VA in the class of 2026 as he was lighting it up from deep throughout the event. He moves extremely well off the ball reading screens well and relocating when he needs to, he has a quick release and perfect form and he shot the ball at a very high clip going 11-for-19 from deep in the two games. He averaged 19.5 points shooting 60% from the field and 58% from deep in their two wins.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rodney Ekwoanya | 6'5” F | Evergreen Christian 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Evergreen Christian lost a close one in their first game to Rock Creek, they were without their top player, but that allowed Ekwoanya to assert himself and make his name known in the 2024 class. The 6'5” forward is long and very athletic as he was above the rim regularly as a finisher and a rebounder, he ran the floor hard and played with great energy on both ends and he showed solid ball skills with the ability to put it on the deck. He finished the two games averaging 11.5 points and 13 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956065' first='Jackson' last='Britt'] | 6'3” CG | Evergreen Christian 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Britt continues to show why he's one of the more underrated players in the 2025 class, and his stock should continue to rise if he plays the way he did in the play in games. He's a gritty and skilled guard who has good wiggle off the bounce and touches the paint regularly, he has crafty finishing ability around the rim and he can make tough shots from multiple levels and he's a good rebounder for his position who plays with a good motor too. He finished the two games averaging 12 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->