The Challenge: 2026 Standouts

New readers: Use code "Proia30"   Our scouts covered a great tournament this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, with 80 teams from the DMV and surrounding states converging on Loyola Blakefield to compete in a showcase event. We enjoyed catching some intriguing intra-conference matchups played next to a court with in-state rivals squaring off. Let's break down some of our top junior standouts!    -Dynamic scorer that can create his own shot, one of the best shooters in the area when he catches the ball in rhythm. Cannady knocked down 7 triples in a big win over Polaris Prep, thriving both on and off the ball as he heads in to what figures to be a big junior year as the leader of the Panthers. His ability to impact the game defensively as well as when the shot is not falling, will be the next stage in his development as a PG. But you can see the growth as a scorer that is starting to see some of the kickout reads and a player that is keeping his head up looking to find teammates-- he's just playing on a team that doesn't have a ton of shooting.     -Hopes played assertively in a win over Virginia Academy, leaving an impact on the game at both ends of the floor as an aggressive defender that looked to turn steals into points at the opposite end. Hopes does a great job of not allowing middle and didn't fall for pump fakes, jumping passing lanes twice and swatting a shot attempt after forcing his matchup baseline. Offensively, he was aggressive cutting to the rim off the ball and driving at the rim when he was on the ball-- using his size and frame to bully his matchup to spots. A reliable C+S target on the perimeter, Hopes should pop onto some radars this season with an upstart BL team in the MIAA A Conference.     -First time seeing Jones and he stood out as a versatile CG prospect that contributes to winning in a variety of ways. Jones knocked down C+S looks, attacked the basket, did a great job of getting into gaps well and creating for teammates, and hit the glass hard at both ends of the floor. He's not a crazy athlete but times his jump well and is usually in the correct spot to come down with rebounds in traffic. Will be interesting to track his development to see if he focuses on specializing in one area or continues to impact with his all-around skillset, but both figure to help Virginia Academy win some games this season     -Carmichael popped in a matchup with Loyola as an athletic defender that can strap up either guard spot. The South County transfer was physical throughout the afternoon, bumping his matchup off their spot and providing good help defense to stunt at ballhandlers without fouling. Offensively, he'll need to get up to speed on Hayfield's system before thriving at that end his putbacks around the basket kept Hayfield in the game.     -Howard had one of the plays of the day when he cut backdoor and collected a nice shovel pass from a teammate to throw down a 2-handed poster dunk on a defender. Howard's defensive activity as a helper, weakside shot-blocker, and rebounder was accentuated by a great rotation and pinned block off the backboard to ignite a fastbreak. Howard already possesses the ability to knock down C+S midrange looks, finish around the basket in traffic, and hit teammates with one-handed passes-- if he does the little things at a consistent level, he can really boost OLMC's ceiling as a unit as they head into a season with heightened expectations in the BCL and MIAA.     -Loved Olofintila's activity and motor throughout both games that I watched in a new setting with Loyola Blakefield. A W/F tweener that can finish plays around the basket, guard forwards and perimeter players, and providing a consistent rebounding force around the rim-- Olofintila's versatility gives the Dons different lineup options in a season that they will look to overwhelm opponents with their depth and ball movement. Excited to see how he is used and how he is developed

New readers: Use code "Proia30"