Spalding vs Glenelg Country: Evaluations and Recruiting Updates

Last night I made the trip to Howard County to take in some MIAA A Conference action between Glenelg Country and Archbishop Spalding. It was a closely contested game throughout the first three quarters, but eventually No. 8 Spalding took control and went on to win 78-64 to improve their record to 11-2. Here are evaluations from the contest along with some recruiting updates with a few key unsigned seniors. [player_tooltip player_id="954640" first="Jordan" last="Pennick"] | 6’0 | Spalding ’22 Pennick got to work early and shot the ball with extreme confidence from three. He buried four triples in the first quarter to supply the Cavs with some early breathing room. In the second half, majority of his point came by way of the free-throw line. Between a few technical fouls being handed to Glenelg Country and them getting into foul trouble early in the third frame, Pennick converted on 12-of-14 from the charity stripe in the second half alone. A stout defender, knockdown shooter and overall tough-nosed guard, Pennick is focused on his two division II offers from Chestnut Hill and Gannon. He has an offer from Navy, but is still awaiting test scores to see what the next steps could be in that realm. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Tre-Green.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1366149" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Tre-Green-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1277444" first="Tre" last="Green"] | 6’4 | Glenelg Country ’22 I only caught Green in limited games over the summer with Team Choo, but judging from last night, he has drastically improved his overall game in the last six months. The 6-foot-4 lefty recorded a game-high 29 points that included five three’s. He looked comfortable shooting off the catch, coming off pin downs and creating space on his own and comfortably getting into his shot despite a bit of a contest from his defender. When Spalding began crowding him on the catch, he used his dribbles and body wisely to get to spot in the mid-range for pull up with soft touch. Green was also a dependable finisher around the basket on drives with either hand. Green will attend Bridgeton Academy next season for a post-grad year where he has a good chance of developing into a low-to-mid major prospect based off the progression that I saw in last night’s game. [player_tooltip player_id="837927" first="Cameron" last="Whitmore"] | 6’7 | Spalding ’22 (Villanova)<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Cam-Whitmore.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1219974 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Cam-Whitmore-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Whitmore finished this one with 26 points and as usual, overwhelmed the opposing defense with his explosive athleticism and violent finishes at the rim. He was settling for three’s too early for my liking, but as the game went on and Glenelg’s team and fanbase gained energy, he started to impose his will inside to secure the win. The Dragons played zone for much of the second half and where Whitmore was so good was on skip or swing passes as he’d gain momentum as the ball was in flight to him, quickly attack the gaps of the rotating defense and finish above the rim or get fouled in the process. Whitmore was a presence on the glass throughout and while he didn’t block a bunch of shots, forced missed layups simply due to his presence. Dominic Carr | 6’7 | Glenelg Country ’24 This was my first time seeing Carr in action and I can see why he brings intrigue to other scouts who’ve seen him. He’s 6-foot-7 with a lanky frame that still has filling out to do, but plays with a respectable motor for his age. He helped the Dragons with 11 points and took advantage of his looks in the paint where he showcased soft touch on his attempts. He also was consistent on the glass at both ends, four of his 11 points came from offensive put backs. Continuing to get stronger, develop a dependable mid-range game and become more comfortable with his body is what I’ll be looking for going forward as I track Carr. [player_tooltip player_id="1198795" first="CJ" last="Scott"] | 6’5 | Spalding ’22 Scott contributed with 15 points in the win, 10 of which came in the first half where he was aggressive as a scorer. When Scott plays with that sort of aggression, this Spalding team is really good. He was getting to the rim with regularity in the half court, making plays in space and hit a nice catch-and-shoot three to help gain momentum of the game. His most impressive play came off a missed shot from a teammate in the first half when he perfectly timed a two-handed put back. Scott has a couple of Division I offers, but with the transfer portal and other was that Division I programs are approaching recruiting, it’s tough to say what Scott will end up doing next season. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Rivers-Josh-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1219218" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Rivers-Josh-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="904660" first="Josh" last="Rivers"] | 6’4 | Spalding ’22 Rivers provided the floor spacing needed when Glenelg switched to zone. The defense had to account for him on each catch, so even when Rivers wasn’t shooting, he was impacting the driving lanes presented to other teammates. He finished the game with six points on two triples. Recruitment wise, Rivers is hearing from a slew of Division III programs. He recently took a visit to Hampden-Sydney, and continues to be recruited heavily by Hood, Randolph Macon and Stevenson among others. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/McKenna-Drew-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1342598" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/McKenna-Drew-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1225253" first="Drew" last="McKenna"] | 6’7 | Glenelg Country ’24 I walked into the gym welcomed by the unfortunate news that McKenna would be sidelined for the next six weeks due to suffereing a broken thumb in practice on Thursday. The 6-foot-7 sophomore had been on a tear this season averaging 23.5 points per game on 53/44/81 shooting splits. He’d also haul in 7.2 rebounds and dish out three assists per game. I still caught up with McKenna after the game to get a feel for his recruitment. He told Prep Hoops that schools such as Georgetown, Louisville and Marquette have began reaching out to him. Georgetown, Howard (offered) and Marquette are the programs pushing to get him on campus this spring.