Expecting a huge spring and summer on the horizon for Avery, who is one of the more gifted athletes when scanning a talented 2028 national class. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward will be the bell cow for this Melo 16s group and have the freedom to grab-and-go after hauling in defensive rebounds to lead transition opportunities and showcase his playmaking skills. Over the weekend he had several possessions where he tapped into another gear while in space and blew by defenders with a clear takeoff path and once that opportunity presents, there are very few who can deny him above the rim. Also had moments in picking his spots against the zone from the perimeter as his offensive skillset continues to round itself out. One of the more tenacious shot blockers you’ll find in the region, Avery looks to become a certified national name that quickly climbs up boards despite already being considered a top-50 prospect depending on which recruiting service you frequent.

-Avery showed his value as a versatile wing prospect that continues to add to his game for the Cavaliers. Avery proved much more capable of taking his matchup off the bounce from the wing, made improvements to his motor and attention to detail defensively, and improved his handle to get him up into his jumpshot more cleanly off the bounce. Consistency in his production will be key to turning heads this summer as a dynamic wing prospect with a ton of upside. But Avery possesses possibly the highest long-term upside in the class.

Avery and Spalding went down in a tough overtime defeat but the versatile and athletic forward still stood out as the top long-term prospect in either matchup. He was particularly effective in the second half and overtime, scoring 15 of his 19 points after halftime once he turned his energy up and committed to imposing his will near the basket. Avery flushed a handful of easy dunks and repeatedly found his way to the line where he converted 9 of his 10 attempts. His defensive activity was also noteworthy as he racked up 3 blocks while showcasing his blend of size, mobility, and explosiveness. The ceiling is undeniable for Avery as he learns to consistently streamline his approach.

19p 5r 2a 2b 9/13 FG vs John Carroll

-Avery showed the full skillset as a wing that can take his matchup off the bounce, hit midrange jumpers off of movement, be a dynamic play-finisher in transition, and serve as a mobile shot-blocker on the backline. Nash started things off with a baseline pullup going right, knocked down a face up 1-dribble J from the left elbow, threw down two alley oop finishes, dove to the rim off the back screen to catch and finish through contact, and showed a much-improved motor running the floor hard at both ends. His mobility in ball screen coverages will be crucial in the semifinal tonight against a SFA team that likes to play with pace.

There’s no question that in terms of upside and potential, Avery is one of the more special prospects in the region with his combination of size, athleticism and versatility. When his motor is running high like it was on Tuesday evening, his impact is felt heavily on both ends. The return of point guard Kam Carter Kam Carter 5'9" | PG Archbishop Spalding | 2026 State MD has benefitted Avery’s strengths tremendously as he’s now equipped with a savvy playmaker who anticipates lob opportunities or can deliver pocket passes on-target for easy looks. Where his value doubles is defensively as the weak side shot blocker as he has impeccable timing and instincts to avoid contact in the air and draw a whistle before volleyball spiking the lay-up attempt into the stands. Avery finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks against a massive frontline that Mt. Carmel poses.

-Avery threads the needle well between upside and production as a wing prospect whose down games usually still net a near double-double. He’s got great positional size, has improved his jumper both off the catch and off the bounce, has improved his handle to play more effectively in transition and in taking defenders off the bounce from the wings, and has picked up his defensive motor to have more of a 2-way impact on the game. If he can continue to improve his consistency game to game and bring the fire as a mobile defender for the Cavaliers, the sky is the limit.

22p 8r 2a 1s 2b vs Calvert Hall

-Even on a night where the shot wasn’t particularly falling, Avery still found a way to impact the game to finish with a near 20-point double double. Avery used his pivot to create better finishing angles off of offensive rebounds, jumped a passing lane for the steal and kicked ahead to a teammate for the runout, had a great cross court cut and duck-in for several buckets around the rim that either scored or drew a foul. His best sequence was midway through the 3Q as he recovered well on his matchup to glass a layup attempt, scored on a transition extension lay, and had an acrobatic 2-handed alley oop finish in transition. The blend of size, athleticism, and ball skills combine for a prospect with big-time upside.

Avery’s impact has been well documented by us so far this season and to leave him off such a list would be irresponsible. He has arguably the highest ceiling of any prospect in the region and he’s shown why in Spalding’s first 10 games in the manner of high-flying posters, violently blocking shots, and being a constant presence on the glass. The Cavs have been battling injuries in their backcourt to go with a tough schedule and currently sit 5-5 overall, 4-2 in conference.

Spalding faced a Paul VI (VA) team coming off a double-overtime war on Saturday night against Prolific Prep (FL), but weary legs wouldn’t play a factor for the Panthers as they’d defeat the BCL program by 13. Avery left his fingerprints on the game and led the Spalding effort with 19 points and six rebounds. He made his routine, above the rim finishes attacked closeouts or sprinting the floor. Six of his 19 came from beyond the arc, a layer of his game that continues to progress in the right direction. Avery also grabbed six rebounds.

In the matchup mentioned above, Avery also shined as a 2028 prospect with a high ceiling as he led Spalding with 16 points and seven rebounds. What was most impressive with Avery’s performance was his relentless attack of the rim and as a result, he shot 13 free-throws, making nine total. Avery is capable of throwing down poster finishes that only elite athletes can pull off. He had a few of his above-the-rim slams in this one early on, which put the pressure on the backline of St. John’s defense to rotate. Each time, Avery’s burst and explosion resulted those rotations in being a half of a second slow and therefore, out of position when he went up to finish. Look for Avery to be a household name in the DMV before long this winter.