Gonzaga DC Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best opening events every year is the Gonzaga DC Classic, featuring 8 teams with a mix of local and national squads competing in a single-elimination tournament. This year's participants include Georgetown Prep (MD), Riverdale Baptist (MD), St. John's Catholic Prep (MD), Whitney Young (IL), Pallotti, Archbishop Ryan (PA), Jackson-Reed (DC), and Gonzaga (DC). We'll cover some of our favorite matchups, x factors, individual matchups, and much more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Favorite opening round matchup: Riverdale Baptist vs Georgetown Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some fun matchups to watch here with [player_tooltip player_id='1366893' first='Xavier' last='Pickett'] vs RJ Stewart, [player_tooltip player_id='1948338' first='Nate' last='Wooden'] and Akbar Waheed, [player_tooltip player_id='1489025' first='Ashley' last='Sims'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1127317' first='Goap' last='Kodi']. Both teams play hard on the defensive end and are aggressive in transition, Riverdale focusing primarily on paint touches while Georgetown Prep likes to get inside-out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Individual matchup:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1494074' first='Jayden' last='Fort'] (Jackson-Reed) vs Ryan Sorber (Archbishop Ryan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very interested to see how Fort holds up defensively against an opponent that he is giving up 3 inches and about 30 lbs to. Ryan likes feeding Sorber in the short corner, allowing him to get into a post move or find teammates as a passing hub. Will be interesting to see if Jackson-Reed doubles, where the double team comes from, and what 3 point shots they will live with as a result. Will also be interesting to see if Sorber is able to defend without fouling, as he is the only AR player over 6'6 and serves as their primary deterrent at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Under the Radar Prospects:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rico D'Alessandro '25 6'4 Whitney Young</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Energy player that comes off the bench to contribute on the glass, defensively, and in transition. D'alessandro plays incredibly hard and does all of the little things that make this Whitney Young team go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2333547' first='Nzube' last='Etolue'] '24 6'4 Pallotti</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Etolue gets after it defensively as an effective point-of-attack and help defender, hounding ball handlers and jumping passing lanes. He quickly turns defense into offense and is dynamic in transition as a play finisher at the rim. If Pallotti has success defensively and in transition- it will likely include Etolue spearheading those efforts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1963386' first='Aaron' last='Shoffner'] '26 6'5 W St. John's Catholic Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Shoffner already has a strong frame and knows how to use it, carving out space for rebounds and driving lanes with his shoulders. Despite the strength and physicality, the jumper has been falling at a consistent clip as he stretches his range beyond the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship prediction: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonzaga over Jackson-Reed </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Gonzaga will face a tough matchup in the second round if both teams advance with Coach Turner facing off with an old assistant in Georgetown Prep's Howard Blue. Blue's team is balanced with good perimeter scoring and a big man rotation that can hang with [player_tooltip player_id='1409272' first='Christian' last='Gurdak']. Gonzaga's perimeter shooting will be key in this one, with Will Harper/[player_tooltip player_id='2231719' first='Blake' last='Harper']/[player_tooltip player_id='1782769' first='Saxton' last='Simley'] needing to knock down shots off the ball to stave off the Hoyas. If they get past them, Jackson-Reed will again serve as a formidable foe with [player_tooltip player_id='1494074' first='Jayden' last='Fort'] manning the low post and [player_tooltip player_id='1366898' first='Lucas' last='Sekasi'] pacing play on the perimeter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->