DeStefano continues to set the table for a big sophomore season, especially after the move to Landon where he’ll be a key piece for head coach Chris Bohlen. His inside/out presence offensively to go with his size at 6-foot-7 is simply uncommon for his class at this point. He can make you pay with any time or space from beyond the arc and give his frame, DeStefano typically draws an opposing big on him, which forces them away from the rim and to try and get clean contests on catch-and-shoots. If a skinnier wing is on him, he’ll resort to operating in the mid-post, get low position on seals by the block or wear on them throughout the possession as he put himself in good spots for offensive boards.

Landon would finish 1-1 with a dominant win over St. Paul’s (MD) and a 3-point loss to Canada Top Flight, but DeStefano was tremendous in both games as he averaged 14PPG and knocked down three triples in each contest.

Expected DeStefano to have a productive day and the 6-foot-7 sophomore lived up to the billing. His biggest threat offensively, in my opinion, is his ability to space the floor. Whether he’s in the corners or used in pick-and-pops, he demands opposing forwards to cover ground throughout possessions. After he converted a few from deep, DeStefano attacked closeouts well or took advantage of smaller guards being matched up on him by establishing position in the mid-post, on the block or demanding leverage for offensive rebounds.

DeStefano looks to make a splash at his new school in Landon after gaining valuable experience as a freshman at Damascus. He caught my eye at DMV Live with his blend of size and shooting to pose as a valuable floor-spacing forward who can get it going from the corners, but also looks to take advantage of smaller defenders by putting them in the post and using patience footwork to get over his shoulder. While these events usually favor guards because of the up-and-down pace, guys like DeStefano can stand out easier if they’re able to take advantage of mismatches, convert away from the rim when open and be able to read the defense quickly as the screener in pick-and-roll/pop actions.

Previous Rank: Unranked

-DeStefano debuts in our rankings after transferring from public school hoops into the Landon School to serve as an immediate impact player in the frontcourt. Love his feel for where the ball is coming off the rim to beat his matchup to spots for rebounds, the timing of his off-ball cuts to serve as a one-more playmaker from the high post or as a play-finisher on a back door cut, and usually in the right spot to contest shots around the basket. The form has looked great on made 3s, free throws, and midrange jumpers from the elbow or from the baseline. His blend of skill and intelligence in the frontcourt should make him a valuable piece of the rebuild at Landon.

10p 9r 1s vs Bethel

-DeStefano transferred into Landon a few weeks ago and fits like a glove into Coach Bohlen’s system as a skilled frontcourt prospect that affects the game in several areas. Love DeStefano’s feel as an off-ball mover that cuts to open space in the middle of zone defenses or along the baseline to catch and quickly throw a pass to an open teammate to force rotations. He sets great screens and came up with some tough post entries and pocket passes to finish well around the rim. He also continues to show that he can space the floor as a C+S threat that doesn’t need much space to get off a jumper. Should be an impact player in the MAC this season.

-Still a raw prospect but has an intriguing combination of size and skill with a motor that runs pretty hot at both ends of the floor. DeStefano moves to space well off the ball, sets hard screens, and is a capable passer from the high post as an unselfish teammate that reads the floor well. DeStefano did a pretty good job of crashing the glass and finished most of his opportunities around the rim as a PnR threat that hit teammates with one-more passes on the movement when he didn’t have the best finishing angle. Intriguing prospect to track in the local freshman class