Gonzaga DC Classic
In this article:
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.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOne 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!
Favorite opening round matchup: Riverdale Baptist vs Georgetown Prep
Some fun matchups to watch here with Xavier Pickett Xavier Pickett 5'11" | PG Riverdale Baptist | 2024 State MD vs RJ Stewart, Nate Wooden Nate Wooden 6'2" | SG Riverdale Baptist | 2024 State MD and Akbar Waheed, Ashley Sims Ashley Sims 6'6" | PF Riverdale Baptist | 2025 State MD and Goap Kodi Goap Kodi 6'10" | C Georgetown Prep | 2024 State MD . 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.
Individual matchup:
Jayden Fort Jayden Fort 6'8" | PF Jackson-Reed | 2025 State #128 Nation MD (Jackson-Reed) vs Ryan Sorber (Archbishop Ryan)
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.
Under the Radar Prospects:
Rico D’Alessandro ’25 6’4 Whitney Young
-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.
Nzube Etolue ’24 6’4 Pallotti
-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
Aaron Shoffner Aaron Shoffner 6'5" | PF St. John's Catholic Prep | 2026 State MD ’26 6’5 W St. John’s Catholic Prep
-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.
Championship prediction:
Gonzaga over Jackson-Reed
-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 Christian Gurdak Christian Gurdak 6'9" | C Gonzaga | 2025 State #156 Nation MD . Gonzaga’s perimeter shooting will be key in this one, with Will Harper/ Blake Harper Blake Harper 6'5" | SG Gonzaga | 2024 State MD / Saxton Simley Saxton Simley 6'7" | SF Gonzaga | 2026 State MD 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 Jayden Fort Jayden Fort 6'8" | PF Jackson-Reed | 2025 State #128 Nation MD manning the low post and Lucas Sekasi Lucas Sekasi 6'5" | SG Jackson-Reed | 2024 State MD pacing play on the perimeter