DMV Hoop Madness: Saturday Notebook

DMV Hoop Madness tipped off this morning at Archbishop Spalding as teams from all down the East Coast made their way to Severn for some preseason run. It was a loaded slate of games with top tier competition.   Below is my notebook on the teams I was really able to zero in on throughout the day.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boys' Latin</h2>   Games: loss v Springdale (MD); loss vs Gonzaga (DC)   Despite taking two losses, it was a very productive day for the Lakers. They'll have one of the youngest rotations in the MIAA, but 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2621950' first='Noah' last='Sulaiman'] and 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2882931' first='Brayden' last='Whitaker'] proved their worth as the pillars for head coach Dom Milburn.   Sulamain impressed me with his court vision and willingness as a distributor. Not that he wouldn't rack up assists in the past, but he had a bit more of downhill slashing mindset. His physical style allows him to operate through bumps and convert around the rim through fouls, but his anticipation with his deliveries off the live bounce showed that he'll demand honesty from not only his defender, but those looking to cheat on the weak side.   Whitaker is a fearless scorer who gets to the rim in a flash when he attacks in straight-line fashion. Whenever he has an advantage in a driving lane, chances are he's going to find a way to sneak a layup off the glass before the big can rotate or he baits his defender into a foul, where he's efficient from the stripe.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DeMatha</h2>   Games: win v Skyline Boys; loss v Patrick School   It's clear that the strength of this DeMatha team comes from their 2027 frontcourt duo of Danny Abass (Richmond) and [player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers'], who announced his commitment to VCU at noon today.   They were nothing short of dominant in the win over Skyline Boys to start the day as both of them took turns collecting offensive rebounds in bulk. If they weren't converting the second chance opportunity themselves, they were quickly kicking it out to a guard for spot-up three or to reset the offense. The key for how well they do in the WCAC this season will come down to the guard play from 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2194567' first='Major' last='Jones'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3656958' first='Isa' last='Camp'].   Back to Jeffers, he made news today as he made his pledge to VCU, a top program in the A10 who is no stranger to hoarding DMV talent. When you consider the strides Jeffers has made with his skillset in the past year and the upside that remains given his young age for his grade, it's a great move for both parties that could result in him being an anchor for the Rams in the future.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gonzaga</h2>   Games: win vs Boys' Latin; win vs The Patrick School   I was looking forward to getting another glimpse of a young, but experienced Gonzaga group who I think is a dark horse in the WCAC this season. Their day was capped with a tough-earned three-point victory over a scrappy, physical Patrick School team. While they don't have any massive size in the frontcourt, 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2194753' first='Dave' last='Mbuyamba'] showed plenty of signs last season that he'll be a double-double machine from this day forward. The All-Conference first teamer manned the paint again, using his improved frame anchored by his strong lower body allows him to position himself perfectly for rebounds on both ends of the floor. The majority of his looks come around the rim, so the efficiency is expected and was the case with his play on in both wins.   The shotmaking from 2029 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2974117' first='Dylan' last='Higginbotham'] is routine. The 5-foot-9 southpaw sticks three's or pull-ups off the dribble with the utmost confidence to the point where every time it leaves his hands, you think it's going in. Speaking of sharpshooters, 2030 [player_tooltip player_id='2975282' first='Axton' last='Scott'] hit huge triples throughout the two contests and ultimately hit one late against The Patrick School to seal the win.   On the wing you have 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2524418' first='Jahlil' last='Waheed'], who is capable of making plays off the bounce in spurts, drilling shots from deep when his feet are set or can make athletic plays in transition. 2030 [player_tooltip player_id='2768347' first='Khyri' last='Tomlinson'] is one of the more impressive freshmen I've evaluated in the DMV since covering the high school scene. The strength, athleticism and versatility he brings at such a young stage of his career is impressive. He played through contact, pinned shots against the glass and was on the receiving end of a lob that that ended up swinging the momentum for Gonzaga late in their second win of the day.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Florida Talons (Montverde)</h2>   Games: win vs Mt. Zion Prep; win vs Bridgeport Prep (CT)   Steve Turner made his return back to the area as he prepares a largely revamped Montverde roster to defend last year's Nike Scholastic title. The early returns were favorable as the returners consist of foundational pieces in the backcourt such as [player_tooltip player_id='2522643' first='Javion' last='Tyndale'] (Seton Hall) and [player_tooltip player_id='2125504' first='Oneal' last='Delancy'] (Houston). Both are two-way impacts and while Tyndale made it a point of emphasis to drive with intentions of creating for others, Delancy plays a nice complementary role as a guy who can knock down shots off the catch or get downhill and finish while embracing contact. Tyndale and Delancy harassed opposing ball handlers throughout the day and caused turnovers that they quickly turned into points.   Two new faces in 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2982719' first='Isaiah' last='Hamilton'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2194788' first='Xavier' last='Skipworth'] both had efficient days putting the ball in the bucket. Both are considered top 25 prospect in the country nationally. Skipworth's skillset has been polished and his jumper looks as fluid and confident as ever. There's no questioning the elite talent that Hamilton is. Putting him in a system with structure could take his IQ to the heights necessary and allow him to project playing at the highest levels.   2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='3660289' first='Maddox' last='Davis'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2909264' first='Joel' last='Patrick'] had their moments on both ends and will be key pieces in the rotation for Turner this winter.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sidwell Friends</h2>   Games: win vs Central Dauphin (PA); win vs Bonner (PA)   Sidwell stayed true to their brand as they cut the water off for Central Dauphin for much of the second half. Central Dauphin did catch some life at the end to pull things close in the second half, but ultimately it was 2028 Jadah Washington and 2027 Ian Condon who kept answering when they needed it most to maintain control   In their second matchup against a scrappy Bonner (PA) group, Condon asserted himself early with a quick eight points capped by a powerful one-handed dunk in the first give minutes to establish a lead. As expected, Bonner wouldn't go down easily and would claw their way back into the game to the point that it was a one-possession contest with less than 30 seconds left.   In the end, Condon's 24 points was too much to overcome and Sidwell would leave the Quakers with two nice wins, but points of emphasis will include finishing games with execution and discipline.    Washington's defense was elite as usual and he still has a firm grasp on the DMV's top defensive player overall. On offense, he broke down the defense by getting into the paint and making high-level reads to create easy looks under the bucket for others, but I've never seen a player get as much joy from defending as much as Washington. He genuinely loves guarding the other team's best perimeter threat and giving them no space to breath.   2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2974116' first='Elijah' last='Schneeberg'] had some good moments as a shotmaker. A combo guard with great positional size at 6-foot-5, the sophomore converted on a couple of three's and a few nice mid-range jumpers with nice touch.   Last note on Sidwell has to do with Condon approaching his commitment date (Sept. 29). The No. 3 overall ranked prospect in our rankings will announce where he'll head to college next summer. The 6-foot-7 versatile forward will choose between Boston College, Florida, Georgia Tech and NC State. Condon completed official visits with all four programs.

DMV Hoop Madness tipped off this morning at Archbishop Spalding as teams from all down the East Coast made their way to Severn for some preseason run. It was a loaded slate of games with top tier competition.