Mid-Atlantic Prep League: Semifinals Standouts
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With the MAPL playoffs behind us, I decided to recap the playoffs with key players from the semifinals round. Here they are: Destine Evans Destine Evans 6'6" | SF Pennington | 2025 State NJ | 6’5 W/F 2025 Pennington School …
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Continue ReadingWith the MAPL playoffs behind us, I decided to recap the playoffs with key players from the semifinals round. Here they are:
Destine Evans Destine Evans 6'6" | SF Pennington | 2025 State NJ | 6’5 W/F 2025 Pennington School
Evans may have had the toughest assignment of anyone in the semifinals. He had to defend Blair’s 6’10 center, while also serving as a key piece for his team on offense; and he fought valiantly. Using his leverage and agility, Evans did his best to limit Ihekwaba’s impact in the post. He didn’t turn around and rest on the other end either. The athletic swingman helped facilitate (4 assists) and cashed in three triples from NBA range, contributing 12 points in total.
Ethan Johnston Ethan Johnston 6'5" | CG Hill School | 2026 State PA | 6’4 G 2026 Hill School
Johnston didn’t start the game, but he definitely finished it. Once he got warmed up, he went off for 14 second-quarter points. The off-ball guard hardly had to dribble. He scored on a putback, got to his floater off of a cut, shot the gap for a transition lay, and knocked down three catch-and-shoot jumpers (2 threes, 1 two). In the end, he had 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Jacob Meachem Jacob Meachem 5'8" | PG Hill School | 2025 State PA | 5’6 G 2025 Hill School
For the majority of the game, Meachem opted to be the table-setter; and it worked. He only scored 2 points in the first half, but racked up 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. He picked things up in the second, making a layup and hitting a spot-up three. Then, in overtime, he grabbed another steal and went 4-for-4 from the line to close the game for the Rams. Meachem totalled 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
Erik Oliver-Bush Erik Oliver-Bush 6'4" | SG Mercersburg Academy | 2024 State PA | 6’4 G/W 2024 Mercersburg Academy
Oliver-Bush put the team on his back to start their game against the Hill School by scoring their first 13 points. He did whatever he had to do to get those buckets — pulling up from three, driving to the up, and cutting. He even showed off his bounce by finishing above the rim on a cut and a duck-in. In total, he put up 22 points (5-6 FT) and 7 boards.
Deron Rippey Jr. Deron Rippey Jr. 6'1" | PG Blair Academy | 2026 State NJ | 6’0 G 2026 Blair Academy
An endangered species at the point guard spot, Rippey let the game come to him and made sure the rock got exactly where it needed to be. He forced turnovers and flipped those into instant offense, getting a layup for himself and kicking it ahead to his teammate for a corner three. With no fluff to his game, Rippey also got high percentage looks by attacking off-the-catch. He had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in just three quarters of action and the Bus got the big win.
Jayden Williams Jayden Williams 6'0" | PG Blair Academy | 2024 State NJ | 5’11 G 2024 Blair Academy
Williams came out with a sense of urgency that got everyone else going. He hit three triples — two pull-ups, one off movement — on his way to 11 first-quarter points. After that, he made a point to get others involved and get to the paint, highlighted by a reverse lay-up on a baseline drive. Williams put up a game-high 17 points, plus 3 boards and 3 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter.
MAPL Semifinals Honorable Mention
Jack Bailey Jack Bailey 6'9" | PF Blair Academy | 2025 State #136 Nation NJ | 2025 Blair Academy
Quadri Bashiru Quadri Bashiru 6'10" | C The Hill | 2025 State PA | 2025 Hill School
Bryson Brown | 2024 Mercersburg Academy
Nemo Holmes | 2024 Hill School
Eric Ihekwaba Eric Ihekwaba 6'10" | C Blair Academy | 2024 State NJ | 2024 Blair Academy
Noah Johnson Noah Johnson 6'0" | PG Pennington | 2027 State NJ | 2027 Pennington School
Lukas Schmid Lukas Schmid 6'2" | PG Blair Academy | 2024 State NJ | 2024 Blair Academy
Dwayne “DJay” Snead Jr | 2025 Pennington School
Aivaras Uosis | 2024 Hill School
Josiah Wright | 2025 Mercersburg Academy