Standouts: Team Loaded Coaches for Cure
The annual Team Loaded Coaches for Cure featured eight of the best teams in the state, and was some exciting basketball from the start to finish. It was a great day of basketball, and an event for a great cause…
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Continue ReadingThe annual Team Loaded Coaches for Cure featured eight of the best teams in the state, and was some exciting basketball from the start to finish. It was a great day of basketball, and an event for a great cause that honored cancer survivors and raised money to help stop the terrible disease. There was tons of talent, and we break down who impressed us the most.
Class of 2016
Malik Johnson – 5’9” PG – Blue Ridge – Cannisius Commit
Johnson was arguably the best point guard throughout the event. He’s a blur in transition, and lives in the paint where he’s able to create for others or finish through bigger players. He’s strong, quick and tough on both ends of the floor, and finished with an impressive stat line of 16 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
Travis Fields – 5’10” PG – Norcom
Fields showed why he is considered both a true winner and one of the best available PGs in the state. With his team trailing going into the fourth quarter, Fields made play after play on both ends of the floor willing his team to a 7 point victory. Fields was good in all facets of the game down the stretch, and showed incredible intangibles at the lead guard spot. He finished with 26 big points for Norcom.
Charles Falden – 6’3” Guard – LC Bird High School
Falden followed up his big performance at the Vantage Hoops High School Showcase with another solid outing for LC Bird in their win over a strong Millwood team. Despite not being their most touted prospect, Falden has shown leadership in his role as a senior scorer, and continually came through with big buckets when his team needed it. He showed why he is one of the best available scorers in the state, finishing with an efficient 14 points.
Cutch Ellis – 6’7” PF – Benedictine
Ellis played one of his better games all season in their loss to an elite team in Blue Ridge. He’s not very athletic, but Ellis has a solid skill set at the four spot, and is able to stretch the floor and rebound well because of his size. He finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Vilontae Eanes – 6’2” CG – Millwood
Eanes continues to play well as the season winds down, and has embraced his role as a point guard despite that not being his true position. Eanes worked well against pressure, got Millwood into their sets and showed his pure stroke from deep with three 3-pointers. He finished with 12 points for Millwood.
Xavier Trent – 6’4” G – John Marshall –
Trent is one of the better unknown prospects left in the state, and has been lights out the last few weeks for John Marshall. He’s a wing with good size that shoots it well from deep and helps his team on the boards on both ends. He’s an above average athlete with good length, and finished with 17 points for John Marshall in their loss.
Class of 2017
Aamir Simms – 6’8” PF – Blue Ridge
One of the most coveted prospects in the state, Simms was phenomenal for Blue Ridge in their win over Benedictine. He showed great touch in the mid range, as he stepped out on multiple occasions to hit 15-18 footers. He was a force in the post on both ends, and his mix of length and skill is the reason he has over 15 offers already. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Johquin “Pinky” Wiley; 6’1 PG; LC Bird
Wiley was phenomenal again leading his troops. He not only kept his head during a heated battle, he was able to calm down his teammates, showing great leadership. The game seems to be in slow motion for Wiley, who always sees the right pass or knows the right move to make when attacking the rim.
Mastadi Pitt – 6’2” PG – Atlantic Shores
Pitt was relentless when attacking the rim on Saturday in their loss to Carlisle. A strong guard who can absorb contact at the basket, Pitt lived in the lane and got the foul line often. He’s a three level scoring guard with a great frame and the ability to create with the ball in his hands.
Gabe Osabuohien – 6’7” F – Carlisle
A long forward that can play on both the perimeter and in the post, Osabuohien has a very high ceiling at the next level. He’s comfortable in one-or-two dribble scenarios in the mid range, can score it out to 18 feet and runs the floor well. His length made him an impact player on the defensive end to, where he deflected passes, guarded well on the perimeter when he switched and blocked shots on the help side. His recruitment should see a jump this summer.
Travis Ingram – 6’3” G – Norcom
Ingram is one of those players that makes you leave your seat at least once a game. He was dynamic in transition, and had multiple highlight worthy plays including one of the best dunks we’ve seen all season. He continues to fine tune his jump shot, but his size and explosiveness are things you can’t teach, and makes him a solid mid major prospect.
Miles Gibson – 6’6” F – Millwood
Gibson continues to be the most consistent offensive weapon on a deep Millwood team. He shot it well, ran the floor and played hard on both ends for them in their loss. He doesn’t have a true position, but he always finds a way to impact the game and finished with 14 points.
Class of 2018/2019
Rasir Bolton – 6’1” PG – Carlisle
Bolton was unguardable for much of the game, and his improved consistency of his jump shot makes him a real weapon at the point guard position. He has good size and a high IQ, and is able to create for both himself and his teammates in the half court and in transition. He’s one of the most skilled PGs in his class in the mid-atlantic, and should show that on the Adidas Gauntlet with Team Loaded VA.
Darian Allison – 6’1” G – Norcom
He’s built like a power forward, but can run and shoot with the best of them. Allison was left open on multiple possessions in the middle of the fourth quarter, and he canned multiple big shots from deep for Norcom. On a guard heavy team, his ability to shoot it and guard players on both the perimeter and in the post made him a key piece.
DeMarr McRae – 6’2” WG – John Marshall
McRae is an interesting prospect because he is a strong wing that can jump out of the gym and hit the outside shot. He’s a lock down defender on the wing, that prides himself in shutting down the opposing team’s best scorer.