CHSL Playoffs: Top Performers

New readers: Use code Proia30     I pulled up to DeMatha Catholic to check out all 8 playoff games tonight in a single-elimination bracket second playoff round of basketball. I got to see teams from all 3 states in the DMV compete with their HS group fresh off of scholastic live period competition, which was a quick turnaround for several of the teams. Let's dive into the top standouts that I saw yesterday!    21p 4r 2b vs Potomac School   -A nice blend of skill in Wootton's matchup with Potomac as Wadhwa flashed inside-out ability as a skilled wing prospect that can do a little bit of everything. Wadhwa shot 40% from the 3 point line as a confident C+S sniper that also showed that he was capable of attacking closeouts in the halfcourt. He timed a nice backdoor cut from the corner and hit a slow euro step between two defenders to lay the ball in off the backboard. He also showed good timing on two rotations over from the other side of the paint to block a shot on two different possessions for his team.     19p 8a 3r vs Bethel   -The efficiency (50/50/100 shooting splits) really stood out in a nice upset win over the #4 seed in Bethel to advance to the quarterfinals. I came away impressed with his ability to deliver not only on designed reads but to get two feet in the paint to dish to open teammates to come so close to registering a 20-point double double. Love his first step and his processing on those downhill drives has really improved to react to help defenders' stunts to deliver the right read to give his team the best chance to score. He also functioned effectively as an off-ball movement shooter that found open pockets in the defense to knock down four treys throughout the course of the game.     18p 6r 4a 1s 2b vs Gonzaga   -One of the more underrated inside-out wings in the area, Fitzgerald kept the good times rolling as the head of the snake for a Flint Hill team that #1 seed. Fitzgerald blocked shots both on and off the ball, showed a great scoring touch in the lane--especially off of offensive rebounds-- in traffic, and played well through contact around the basket. Loved that he found ways to impact the game on a night when the perimeter jumper wasn't falling to knock off Gonzaga and advance to the Quarterfinals tomorrow evening.     12p 7r 2a 4s 1b vs Loyola   -Hawkins turned in a stat sheet-stuffing performance in a nice win over Loyola to advance to the Quarterfinals Wednesday night. Hawkins read the ballhandler's eyes very well to jump passing lanes for four steals, 3 of which led to open layups for teammates at the other end of the floor after a beautiful leading outlet pass from Hawkins. Loved Hawkins' patience weaving through traffic after grabbing offensive rebounds to score effectively in a win that came all the way down to the wire over Loyola. He fits in nicely with a Takoma Academy team that usually throws out 4-guard lineups to give his team a versatile offensive threat capable of playing both on or off the ball with his blend of perimeter shooting and playmaking vision.     12p 12r 4a 1s vs New Hope   -Love Floyd's willingness to do the dirty work at both ends of the floor to serve as an underrated but important piece to the puzzle for a young Bullis group in need of that unselfish leadership. Floyd turned in a double-double performance as a mobile W/F tweener capable of coming up with tough rebounds in traffic that immediately looks to outlet the basketball to get the fastbreak opportunity rolling in the opposite direction. He runs the floor well, times his cuts to the basket, and has improved both his touch around the basket with either hand and his finishing bag around the rim as the game has now slowed down for him at both ends of the floor. Excited to see how his game develops over the next two years.     22p 5r 3a vs Wootton   -Conley has been incredibly effective over the last month or so of basketball and continued that stellar two-way play in a win over Wootton. The rising junior turned in an effective shooting performance (53/50/100) because of the discernment to turn down good looks in search of great ones, utilizing an extra dribble or taking an extra second to come off a ball screen to knock down jumpers off of movement and off the bounce. He stole away a rebound and threw an assist over the top to a teammate under the rim, grabbed his own rebound and laced a 3, hit a three movement 3's from the wing, snagged B2B2B offensive rebounds in traffic that led to an assist, and put the icing on the cake when he inbounded the ball then curled to elbow for a quick C+S jumper for some crisp BLOB play execution. Would not be surprised to see him work his way into a scholarship as he has now turned in efficient double-digit scoring performance in the last 11 games that he has played in this offseason.     19p 9r 7/15 FG 5/5 FT vs Takoma Academy   -Haysbert continues to function effectively as the offensive lynchpin for a young Loyola Blakefield group on the low block. Haysbert is carving out space effectively on the low block and holding that seal to create better pocket passing angles or passing angles for the throw over the top for the catch and finish in traffic under the rim. His touch around the rim is consistent and he has the strength to hold onto post entry passes through double teams and not turn the ball over by bringing the ball low where guards can swipe away at a steal. I like that he is getting into his move much more quickly and decisively, and think the next stage in his development is using that low post scoring gravity to find his teammates on the perimeter for open jumpers to open up his ability to operate around the rim.

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