Wk. 3 Open Gym Notes: DeMatha+Bullis

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30 for discounted subscription</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we travel to open gyms across the DMV to get a look at the local talent before the upcoming season begins, we wanted to share with our readers our perspective of the team and some of the top players. Today, we'll look at the DeMatha Catholic Stags and Bullis Bulldogs of Maryland. Let's get into it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bullis Bulldogs (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Bullis looks to continue a dominant run through the IAC as the last ride for a really talented 2025 group. [player_tooltip player_id='1955967' first='Eric' last='Reibe'] returns after a really productive summer on the circuit showing his versatility as a big man that can stretch the floor with high-level perimeter shooting but also score and defend on the low block. Marquette commit [player_tooltip player_id='1367431' first='Adrien' last='Stevens'] looked great, knocking down perimeter shots against a slew of different defenders and finishing above the rim. Stonehill commit [player_tooltip player_id='1956025' first='Darren' last='Moore'] steps into a bigger role as a defense-first PG that can also knock down shots off the ball. Chris Richards will turn some heads this year as a versatile wing that can guard multiple positions, rebound the basketball, and hit C+S perimeter looks. Jeremiah Johnson transfers in from Wisconsin to provide high-level play-making and defense to the Bulldogs rotation. [player_tooltip player_id='1768968' first='Michael' last='Hemann'] proved this summer that he's ready for a larger role as a shooter with size that can space the floor for his teammates. Aki Pham wins every 50/50 ball and has an opportunity to earn minutes off the bench this season with his shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1782596' first='Angelo' last='Dickerson'] enters his junior season as a competent three-level scorer that will take advantage of the defensive attention teams will need to pay to Reibe and Stevens. [player_tooltip player_id='2194788' first='Xavier' last='Skipworth'] will give Bullis lineup versatility as a guard that can likely play 1-3 at both ends of the floor and fill it up as a midrange scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='2454536' first='Zayvion' last='Williams'] will need to sit out a transfer year but will be a key piece in the future as a versatile 2/3 tweener with offensive upside. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2564073' first='Timmy' last='Zubatyuk'] lands at Bullis from Russia and will likely be a pretty big piece as a 6'3 scorer with a strong frame. Sophomore southpaw [player_tooltip player_id='2893749' first='James' last='Boisi'] ('26) will also look to carve out a role with the varsity team this season as they chase another IAC championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DeMatha Stags (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everything with the Stags starts with the point guards. Jamaal McKnight ('27) looked great as a scorer that attacks his matchup well off the bounce and is starting to shoot/distribute at a high level from the perimeter. Ace Meeks ('26) needs very little airspace to cash out from 3 and plays with great discipline with the angles and footwork coming off of screens for shots. Senior 2-way PG [player_tooltip player_id='1494077' first='Jacob' last='Wallace'] will distribute and play pesky POA defense after returning from the gridiron. American commit [player_tooltip player_id='1351693' first='Kade' last='Sebastian'] hit some acrobatic layups in traffic, got in passing lanes, and knocked down some back-breaking threes in pickup. Fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1956027' first='Caden' last='Walton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1579108' first='Cole' last='Bowser'] fill out DeMatha's wing rotation as 3+D prospects. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2353578' first='Daniel' last='Abass'] has really improved his conditioning to crash the glass for longer spurts of time and can put it on the deck well versus most of his matchups. Senior W/F Charles Thomas will add in rebounding, defense, and a consistent 18' C+S threat while fellow senior Soloman Davis makes his return from injury to block shots, rim run, and hit the glass. Expect to see bigger minutes out of sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2353574' first='Christian' last='Proctor'], a 6'6 wing that can stretch the floor with his shooting, take his matchup off the bounce, and guard multiple positions. Jeremiah Boyer ('25), [player_tooltip player_id='2450403' first='Mike' last='Driscoll'] ('25), Nijel Cross ('25), Jaden Smothers ('26), and Donovan Wright ('27) will compete for minutes for DeMatha in an already-deep rotation. If the Stags offense is humming at a higher level and the defensive pressure fuels easy buckets at the other end, DeMatha could take some people by surprise in the WCAC this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->