Fresh New Faces Of The Week

After taking in a full week of hoops across the DMV, there was no shortage of talent that stood out. With so many games and matchups to unpack, a long list of guys made their case and left plenty to cover moving forward. Now with a fresh slate of prospects emerging, here's a breakdown of the players who helped define the week!    Kennard had a clutch performance against RM from beginning to end and played like a guy built for close games. Throughout the night he was consistently making momentum baskets and had a great feel for when to turn it on, especially in the later stretches when the game tightened up. He was confident with every look he got and didn't hesitate when big shots came his way, knocking down key buckets late that helped swing the game. On the opposite end, Kennard was a menace defensively, playing tough physical defense and coming away with multiple steals that sparked transition offense. What stood out was how well he finished on the break, converting layups even through solid defense and contact. Overall, he impacted winning in every way and was one of the most reliable players on the floor when the pressure peaked.     Kem had one of those shooting performances where it felt like the jumper was automatic once he got any type of daylight. Throughout the game, Kem did a great job working off the ball, running off screens nonstop and constantly relocating to create clean looks. He understands how to leverage his speed with awareness, using screens effectively and setting up defenders before popping open on the perimeter. Once he caught the ball, Kem was ready to fire and he made shots from all around the perimeter with consistency. His movement and shot readiness were a major key in spacing the floor, and this was a strong statement game for him as a spot-up threat.     Jamari put on an absolute show against Great Mills and was lethal from the opening tip all the way through the final stretch. Early on he came out scoring in bunches and immediately set the tone by drilling deep threes and ripping away possessions that took the air out of the opponent. He continued to hit triples all night and punished any defensive mistake with high-level shot-making. He also brought an edge defensively, jumping passing lanes and ripping the ball at least five times in both the backcourt and half-court. Around the basket, Jamari showed high-level footwork with pivots and patience, creating angles and opening up layups through traffic. He finished strong through contact, living at the line and converting and-one plays that kept momentum on his side. There were a couple moments where loose dribbling led to a turnover and easy points the other way, but overall he was the most dangerous player on the floor and stayed aggressive the entire night.     Izzy continues to leave his stamp on games with his physical presence and efficiency around the rim. Early on it was about owning the glass and cleaning up everything in sight, grabbing rebounds at a high rate and giving his team consistent extra possessions. He finished in the paint with ease and made it look simple, getting to his spots and converting without needing a lot of dribbles or complicated moves. Through two games against WCAC opponents, he's been extremely efficient and his game translates because of how direct he is. He consistently rebounds, finishes quickly, and scores in one-on-one situations with limited actions. The impact is constant, and he's the type of interior piece that keeps a team steady even when the pace speeds up.     Jakai is a big guard with a smooth, mature approach to his game. He played a major role in his team's comeback push against St. Charles. Early on he found his rhythm quickly, using his length and speed to dribble his way into driving lanes and put pressure on defenders. He consistently used his size to rise over the top and score against smaller matchups, but what stood out was how under control he stayed while doing it. As the game went on, Jakai really started to impact winning with his slashing ability, attacking downhill and creating advantages for his team. He also knocked down a few open threes that were huge in swinging momentum and helping bring Great Mills back into the game. His play style is mature beyond his grade level, and he looks like a sophomore guard who understands pace, space, and how to get to his spots.

After taking in a full week of hoops across the DMV, there was no shortage of talent that stood out. With so many games and matchups to unpack, a long list of guys made their case and left plenty to cover moving forward. Now with a fresh slate of prospects emerging, here's a breakdown of the players who helped define the week!