Pitt Jam’s Most Impressive WV Players: Part 3 (Eastern Panhandle)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part 3 of the Pitt Jam series we're going to highlight the Mountain State Academy Basketball program's appearance at the Hoop Group signature event as well as PrimeTime Performance's two most outstanding players. Both program's are eastern panhandle based with kids from almost primarily the Martinsburg area. MSAB is a first year program who's playing the Hoop Group Showcase League circuit, which is one of the toughest circuits in the east. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1966428' first='Anthony' last='Owunna'] of PrimeTime Performance gave us our first glimpse of him in person while in Pittsburgh. Owunna is a smooth and athletic wing who easily slices and dices through defenses with ease. Owunna has great length and likes to turn and burn after rebounds and does a great job pushing the ball up the floor in those situations. The Martinsburg High product should be able to play either wing position at the next level if his perimeter shooting catches up with the rest of his game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2303399' first='Anden' last='Santamaria'] also of PrimeTime Performance has already been mentioned in part one but we'll elaborate and add context to further his talent on the floor. Santamaria we believe could develop into an elite (as far as WV is concerned) level 4/PF player. Already very smooth and athletic even while traversing a growth spurt, Santamaria has a great looking jumpshot and handles the ball at a high level for a big man. We're somewhat hesitant to put a solid projection for him because he has a very high ceiling and room to grow physically. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2310767' first='Akwasi' last='Opoku-Achampong'] who up to this point we had only seen at the wvssac state tournament where he left a strong impression with us. Akwasi has floor vision and IQ of a senior while athletically able to hit his marks with the ball, put up shots when necessary and defend on ball at the other end. Many might argue Akwasi's success is in part to the crazy talented cast around him, but its not secret in higher level basketball that super talented teams are still nothing without a point guard, especially one like Akwasi that is a true distributor and floor general. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2208852' first='Chayse' last='Shipley'] was one of the players we were most interested in seeing during the weekend. Having heard so much positive about Shipley as a player we weren't left disappointed. Shipley looks to be a good combo-guard style player who had to mesh with new point guards while on the floor with MSAB over the weekend and did so in the best of fashion. Shipley finishes with both hands, has a quick trigger to get shots off when bigger defenders are in his area as well as defends at a high level. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2303405' first='Kris' last='Doleman'] yet another eastern panhandle prospect, Doleman did a great job over the weekend taking up the job of role player to primary scorer at times. Doleman will be the top returner for an upstart Washington squad expecially after spending the offseason on the HGSL circuit with MSAB and gaining the experience and knowledge to raise his game to a higher level. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2208821' first='Caleb' last='Thomas'] has been hot as a firecracker lately, and not necessarily on the court. But Thomas has been the subject of many D1 coaching circles as to "what position will he play at the next level" which is only a good thing because that means Thomas has the ability to play multiple positions now. And that alone is a difference maker in so many games this past school season or with his AAU team. His ability to get defenses off balance in two dribbles after a defensive rebound is huge in these aau games. Thomas makes it look so easy handling the ball and does it like a guard.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1309597' first='Xavier' last='Kirk'] who has been mentioned in an earlier article, has recently had interest from three different D1 programs after the Pitt Jam event as confirmed by BlueChips Nation. Kirk took a year off from AAU last year, participated and excelled in track and field as well as developed himself physically and it has paid off. We believe Kirk will eventually get a formal D1 offer or he's going to get some serious prep school offers to prepare him for that level. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->