MD/DC Roundtable: Draft prospects and Eye-Catchers

<p>We’re back with another week of the roundtable discussion where we look at three questions surrounding prospects who were selected in last week’s NBA Draft, look ahead to who may be next and prospects who have caught our eye recently.</p> <div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>1. We just saw three DMV guys get drafted, thinking about on your time covering them, what is one memory you will always remember about one of them? </strong></span></div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Giacubeno:</em> I first came onto the high school scene when Immanuel Quickley (Knicks) and Jalen Smith (Suns) were seniors. In just that one year it was very easy to tell they were head and shoulders not only with their skillsets, but also the intangibles they brought to the floor. The one memory I will always have when covering Quickley is during a regular season matchup with Mt. St. Joe. Smith got hurt in the third quarter and was out for the remainder of the contest. John Carroll traded leads throughout, but it ultimately came down to a last possession shot and the ball was in Quickley’s hands. The Gaels executed their possession to perfection and got a lay up to gain a one-point lead. With five seconds left, Quickely received the inbound pass and immediately sprinted the ball up the floor for what would be a straight-line drive to the rim. He was bumped on his way to the rim, but still finished the floater as the buzzer sounded to cap off the exhilarating win.</div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto">I always reflect on that game and wonder if Quickley would’ve been able to get that shot off had Smith been on the floor. Known for his elite shot-blocking prowess, the Suns’ rookie would’ve certainly challenged it. </div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Ayalew: </em>I’ll share a memory I have of <b>Immanuel Quickley</b> from Adidas in Las Vegas. He was suiting up with Team BBC, and they were blowing the Big Ballers out. LaVar Ball had created a scene, asking for a new referee among other heinous acts. During the stoppage of play, Quickley calmly stepped to the foul line and shot free throws until play resumed. This speaks to his professionalism and high level of focus no matter the situation. It’s no coincidence he shot 90+% from the foul line in college.</div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Wilson:</em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">To be honest, no one memory completely stands out but the development and progress Saddiq Bey conquered during his time is quite amazing. This was a kid that went through a lot during his recruitment but ultimately ended up at one of the best college basketball programs in the country and made a huge impact in both of his two college years at Villanova</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></em></div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2. Which DMV prospect are you most excited about for next years draft? </strong></span></div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"> <div dir="auto"><em>Giacubeno: </em>I haven’t been able to find any mock drafts with players from the DMV included. I’m sure a lot will change between now and next year’s draft, but the player that has a chance to create some buzz is Justin Moore of Villanova. The former DeMatha star proved to be one of the under-the-radar freshman last season averaging 11.3 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three. Moore is slated to step into a much bigger role for head coach Jay Wright this season, which will give him the opportunity to make his case to NBA teams. Next year’s draft is stacked with talent and I do think that Moore is better off staying at Villanova, but he’s the one prospect that comes to mind with this question.</div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Ayalew: </em> For me, it will be interesting to see how <b>Luka Garza</b> is perceived at the NBA level. I will never doubt him because he’s been an underdog his whole life, and he’s been able to consistently exceed expectations in part because of his relentless work ethic. </div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Wilson: </em><span style="font-size: 1rem;">He is not quite DMV but he is from Virginia and that is Keyontae Johnson. Johnson is a junior at Florida and was just voted preseason player of the year for the SEC. Johnson has elite athleticism to go with a prototypical NBA body. Johnson will be able to defend multiple positions at the next level and a player you can count on to rebound the basketball. One of Johnson’s best attributes is getting out in transition and finishing above the rim.</span></div> </div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Julian-Reese.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1055957" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Julian-Reese-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>3. Who is one player regardless of class that has caught your eye recently?</strong></span></div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"> <div dir="auto"><em>Giacubeno: </em>I write about [player_tooltip player_id="712747" first="Julian" last="Reese"] routinely on here, but I’d be failing at my job if I didn’t use him for this question. The future Maryland Terp has been on an absolute slaughter streak and last week was proof. Reese recorded 40 points, 22 rebounds and 10 blocks in a win over National Christian and followed that performance with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks in a dominant win over Rock Creek Christian. The improvements that Reese has made over the last six months has been astonishing and it’s to the point where he’s making these crazy stat lines look easy. Bigs are usually late in developing their overall game, so it’s no surprise that Reese is starting to roll on all cylinders as a senior. If there is a season and he maintains this level of play, we could see a no-brainer selection for the McDonald’s All-American game.</div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Ayalew: </em>There’s a hidden gem playing at Woodberry Forest named <b>Spencer Legg</b> who I recently came across. Legg, a 6-foot-7 forward, has been playing with Prospect U in the offseason. He’s an unsigned 2021 prospect who can add value as a shooter with size at the next level. </div> <div dir="auto"> </div> <div dir="auto"><em>Wilson: </em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This past weekend I was in the 757 for the inaugural event “Feast Jam” and I walked away extremely impressed with 2023 Josiah Rickards. Rickards has a tight handle that he can use to get to his spots and score the basketball either at the rim or from his jumpshot. Rickards will be a name to monitor from the 757 as he has some [player_tooltip player_id="775314" first="Erik" last="Reynolds"] to him. </span></div> </div>