MLK Classic’s best performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLK Classic at the St. James had some outstanding performances. Here are the players that stood out to me the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1782660"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bishop McNamara played against Immaculate Conception in the first boys' game of the weekend, and it did not disappoint. The game went to overtime, and a couple of Bishop McNamara players had great games. Qayden Samuels is an elite shooter, and he showed that all game. He had a big buzzer-beating running three to finish the first half and a bunch of timely buckets. Qayden had a big week, and Saturday's 1-point win over Immaculate Conception was a great cap.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1782594"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Qayden Samuels is Bishop McNamara's guy when it comes to being the number 1 option for offense, but Sophomore G/F Jalyn Collingwood was just as important in their win. I loved his physicality and what he gave Bishop McNamara on both sides of the ball. His versatility on defense is big, and he ties what this team does together. Jalyn capped off his outstanding performance with two game-winning free throws.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2252287"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='2252287' first='Darius' last='Bivins'] on my best performers of the week, and what he did vs. John Marshall on Saturday was next level. [player_tooltip player_id='2252287' first='Darius' last='Bivins'] has endless moves he can go to to get his shots off all over the court. He's a magician with the ball and has the ball on a string. Throughout the game, he could get by his defender and finish over much bigger John Marshall defenders. He had a few nice mid-ranges and gave John Marshall problems throughout the game. Bivins finished with 24 points in a 12-point loss against a terrific John Marshall squad.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1259544"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"There were a lot of standouts from this John Marshall Vs. Alexandria City game, and arguably the biggest one, was [player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson']. John Marshall did not get much scoring from their backcourt outside of [player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson'], partly because of the absence of Aidan Argabright and off-games from the other guards. [player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson'] picked up the slack in a big way by putting in 39 points and doing it from all over the court. Thompson hit 4 threes and was aggressive getting into the lane against a smaller Alexandria City team. He shot 13 free throws and scored over half of John Marshall's points.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1782682"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1782682' first='Latrell' last='Allmond'] is one of the best bigs in the country for the 2026 class, and he showed why on Saturday. The size of John Marshall was the most significant difference in this game, and [player_tooltip player_id='1782682' first='Latrell' last='Allmond'] feasted on the size difference. Allmond had 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and his offensive rebounding was vital. I want to shout out Allmond's frontcourt counterpart, [player_tooltip player_id='1955968' first='Marcus' last='Jackson'], who had 7 blocks as well.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1591318"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1591318' first='Riley' last='Jacobs'] had a great weekend for St. Stephens u0026amp; St. Agnes. He had two double-doubles and was a significant interior presence. Jacobs had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 steals on Saturday. Then, on Monday, he had 16 points and 16 rebounds in another efficient and effective performance. Riley is a great athlete and has a lot of length—a very impressive weekend for [player_tooltip player_id='1591318' first='Riley' last='Jacobs'].","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a5e660eda18"} /-->