The All-State selection is off to a strong start with DC Assault this spring. A quick, strong, left handed lead guard, he brings a scoring mindset and plays with toughness and confidence. He makes good decisions with the ball, consistently puts pressure on the defense, and does a nice job sneaking in from the perimeter to rebound.

DC Assault finished the weekend with a 2-1 record as they lost to Team Breakdown FL P32 in the semifinal round on Sunday morning. The final two games were stronger outings for the southpaw floor general as he played his typical controlled, but bursty pace getting to his spots when his team needed offense. A killer in the mid-range, Asare uses the combination of twitch and a frame that resembles a running back to establish separation where he can quickly get into his pull-up. He was also efficient from his catch-and-shoot opportunities in transition when he wasn’t leading the break himself as he flared to the wing or corners once the ball handler crossed half court. Asare averaged 11.3 points per game.

Amani Asare Amani Asare 6'0" | PG Highland School | 2027 State VA has shot up in the rankings lately and for good reason. The state of Virginia’s number 1 point guard put on a clinic for DC Assault. Asare has freakish lower-body explosiveness and has a developed frame that makes him a nightmare for teams to contain. Its simply very hard to keep Asare out of the paint. His low dribble stance maximizes his explosiveness moving upwards. He pairs all this with shooting ability, absurd change of direction, and ball-handling ability. Asare has a playmaking style full of flair, making his whole team better in style as well as effectiveness.

Asare is a quick, strong, scoring lefty lead guard who plays with toughness and confidence. He is a good decision maker who can control the game, create offense, and consistently put pressure on the defense. Active on the glass for his position, he will mix it up and rebound for a guard A First Team All-VISAA selection and Second Team All-EPL honoree, Asare averaged over 16 points per game for the Hawks.

18p 9a 6r vs Massanutten

-The play-making has really evolved for Amani Asare Amani Asare 6'0" | PG Highland School | 2027 State VA as a scoring point guard that can really fill it up in bunches. Asare’s patience and pace in side ball screen PnR opportunities allows him to gain and keep advantages on drives to the rim for easy finishes with either hand. He’s not only gotten quicker but has gotten stronger at Highland, giving him the ability to absorb and mete out contact on drives to the rim to finish plays on his feet when before he would turn the ball over or lose his balance. The near triple double shows the growth that he’s made as a play-maker that is starting to see passing options develop a half beat before they’re open to allow him to deliver more timely passes as his ambidexterity has also improved over the course of the season. Asare is an absolute gamer that takes individual matchups personally and that passion should lend itself well to success at the next level.

Amani Asare Amani Asare 6'0" | PG Highland School | 2027 State VA had a strong showing in the Highlands semifinal game against Bishop O’Connell. The game featured a matchup showcasing the state’s #1 and #3 point guards, and it did not disappoint. Asare is extremely bursty with a developed frame. He has a low dribbling stance, allowing him to explode into the lane, and has a flexible lower body, as evidenced by his shin angles when performing dribble moves. Asari catches the ball in a triple threat stance and is comfortable driving either way or quickly squaring up to catch and shoot. On top of that, Amani is a walking paint touch, whether off attacking closeouts or off the dribble with his ability to explode from a standstill or having already been in motion. Asare’s brilliance nearly willed his team to a victory in the second half.

Took home MVP honors after a masterful floor game as the southpaw lead guard came out from the gates dictating tempo from the point of attack. Set the stage quickly while knocking down his first four shots from the field in a variety of ways depending on the defensive coverage. Make Clinton Grace’s guard pay for gambling in driving lanes playing off the catch where he got to his spots for pull-ups, when pressured heavily he gained an edge on his defender and was successful in keeping them on his back hip before bursting to the bucket or knocking down a mid-range off a step back. In the second half, he faced constant double-teams and never wavered or panicked. Instead, he processed the floor quickly to find open teammates. In ball screen actions, he strung out the hedging big just enough to deliver pocket passes to his rolling screeners. The definition of a floor general who uses his energy to dictate the approach to the game for his team and it showed behind his team-high 16 points and six assists.

Asare is such a key piece for this Highland team because of his ability to get to the paint and make plays to go with being a true disruptor defensively. He keeps you honest with his ability to hit outside shots off the bounce, allowing him to get to the paint at will with his quick first step. Not the biggest guard, Asare gets underneath opposing ball handlers and embraces every matchup regardless of who it is. He’s clearly got the keys to this Highland team and looks to be more than capable for the task at hand. He’ll end up showcasing his ability on big stages with HoopState and CBG all season long, inevitably seeing an uptick in recruitment.

11p 7a 7r 1s vs StJ; 8p 8a 3r 3s vs Mt. Zion

-Asare has really, really made strides as a creator in the halfcourt by showing his improved vision. He’s seeing plays and setting his teammates up in tight windows but also hitting singles with 1-more dimes from the wing to the corner shooter. Love how he is picking his spots to score on the ball to as he continued to demonstrate that he is a consistent midrange scorer that doesn’t need a ball screen to get to his spots. Also really loved his competitive fire at both ends of the court as his team won big matchups in both games that I saw.

In any event that I evaluate Asare, I feel obligated to write about him due to the impact and importance he plays for this talented Highland group. At this point it’s beating a dead horse, but the 5-foot-11 southpaw bring a calming presence as the floor general who has a good feel of how to control the tempo of a game to benefit his team. His change-of-speed attack while remaining poised and maintaining vision of the entire court improves with each viewing. He sticks it from mid-range off the bounce, cannot be forgotten about on catches from beyond the arc, and is no stranger to absorbing contact on drives.