Looking to find wherever a ball is bouncing as usual, this past Saturday (8/24) involved me covering my third consecutive ‘Assist Student Athletes' high school showcase event now, led by Coach William Carter. After back-to-back prospect camps the other weekend (8/17 – 8/18), the ‘ASSIST 804 Top 48' and ‘ASSIST DMV Top 100', Carter and his crew decided to again gather up players/teams in Richmond, VA for the 2019 ‘ASSIST East Coast Team Camp.' In a different type of fashion compared to the previous week, local high school players competed on their respective teams this time. Sixteen schools from around the Richmond, Tidewater, Martinsville, and Northern areas of Virginia all played 2-3 games at two different gymnasiums: Henrico High School (Henrico, VA) and St. Joseph's Villa (Richmond, VA). Once again having the privilege to catch up with my Phenom Hoops co-worker, Frank Bennett (aka Coach Frank), for the third weekend in a row, the day went by smoothly and gave an early impression of some capabilities within these upcoming 2019-20 rosters.
Some Team Notes
- If any team made a statement that they're ready to assert their dominance this winter, my pick would go to the host Henrico Warriors. They came up just short of a perfect record for the day, ending 2-1, but caused great excitement with their energetic play. Similar to last season, Henrico still doesn't seem to have a lot of size but indeed shows that 'speed kills.' Those athletic tools translate to the defensive end too and their perimeter players do very well going after defensive rebounds. After posting a strong 18-5 record in 2018-19, I personally feel they could sneakily emerge as a title contender in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 5 division. Their last two state championships happened back in 2013 and 2015.
- Having gained acknowledgement from pretty much everyone in the basketball community as one of the 804's top teams over the past few seasons, this year's group at John Marshall High School (Richmond, VA) contains the looks to keep that trend going. They have good depth and multiple guys to fill in all five positions. Still, I've always deemed the Justices' collective grit as the main asset that puts them ahead of the pack. The team just knows how to take the will out of most opponents they face; it's never easy to defeat programs that play with heart before anything else. Skills stands out equally too, however, and I noticed on Saturday how strongly John Marshall can go on shooting streaks; using different players. They won the VHSL Class 3 state crown in 2018 and lost in the state semifinals last February. We shouldn't expect anything less from the passionate program to come out in November with a vengeance.
- Representing one of two Northern Virginia schools (Freedom High School in Woodbridge, VA being the other), it felt good to watch Osbourn Park High School (Manassas, VA) take on talent outside of their area. The Yellow Jackets played remarkable team defense all day long; something that I felt looked just as good as any other participant in the gym. There's optimism in the team's future potential mainly due to their youth alone. Head coach Jeremy Coleman explained to me that he'll likely have several underclassmen on this year's roster. Last year's leading scorer for Osbourn Park and one of the best shooters in Manassas, Ethan Wilson '20, will return as a senior veteran. So, the 6'0' guard should likely hold a big responsibility in making sure the others all fall in line.
- Church Hill Academy (Richmond, VA) definitely deserves recognition as one of Saturday's most successful teams. I didn't get a chance to see them play due to time confusion but learned the Phantoms went 3-0 with only six active players. This doesn't surprise me too much, however; Church Hill showed good things back in June when they partook in the two-part ‘Virginia Live Period Shootout' They're fast, defend, and never quit in trying to make winning plays. With mainly guards and wings taking up their roster, including Nicholas Booker-Nelson '22, Christian Wilson '21, David Jackson '21, and Le'Khi Eddins '22, others should start becoming more familiar with the Richmond private school.
Saturday's Standouts
Jahme Ested '20 – Henrico HS (Henrico, VA): The Warriors' primary ball-handler just knows how to stand out each and every time I watch him play; it's as simple as that. In noting the potential of this year's Henrico varsity core, it's Ested who will likely dictate the pace of everything. He's always been a good bucket-getter (18 points per game as a junior in 2018-19) but the 6'1' guard's perimeter shooting has undoubtedly improved the most within his arsenal. Against Lakeland High School (Suffolk, VA) on Saturday afternoon, I remember Ested going through a quick stretch of making three trey balls in a row. That confident shooting, along with better playmaking skills, gives him the look of a complete guard currently. In my eyes, he's a top two returning point guard in Richmond and should start to float above the recruiting radar if he keeps it up.
Khaliyl Davis '20 – Woodrow Wilson HS (Portsmouth, VA): Nobody was safe in trying to score near the basket if the 6'6' Davis stood by. Showing off a quick jump and timing, he swatted away more shots than any other forward I watched all day long. The senior has terrific athletic traits and a lengthy frame, which he uses to an advantage. He can finish high above the rim on short drives, pump fakes well, and draws fouls in transition. Davis can step out to the perimeter a bit but ultimately appeared more effective closer to the paint. His three-point shot had solid mechanics but looked very streaky. When talking about effort on both ends, however, he's a beast. That high motor and killer mentality makes him a highlight reel who can really give Woodrow Wilson a spark.
Dana Woodley '21 – John Marshall HS (Richmond, VA): Nobody had a better coming-out party than Woodley, who's a new face for the John Marshall Justices this year. I last saw him back in early June, playing for Underground Phenoms 17u at the ‘Zero Gravity Southern SuperCup' tournament. The 6'4' wing played with a smoothness back during that initial showing and displayed much of the same in his team's two wins on Saturday morning/early afternoon. Woodley's efficiency makes him such a key player…he doesn't need many attempts to rack up points. Acrobatic finishes, a nose for the ball, quick hands for steals, and open floor dunks all describe his game the best. Spot-up shooting works best for the junior outside of the perimeter. He's a great fit for the Justices and a 2021 name who's on the brink of achieving greater local and next-level attention.
Clint Wright, Jr. '20 – Lakeland HS (Suffolk, VA): A calm guard who maintained a relaxed expression while performing, Wright, Jr.'s takes on the role of being an extremely important piece for Lakeland's offense. Out of his other teammates, he did best with the ball in his hands: mainly shooting off of the bounce from different levels. When he starts feeling it, his teammates tend to keep feeding him for looks but Wright, Jr.'s offensive IQ also allows him to read which shots are or aren't necessary. He contains good acceleration to push past opponents to the rim and cause contact often; mainly if they take away his shooting. I always enjoy watching scorers like him…ones who know they can get their shots up whenever they want but read the defense well enough to make proper plays. Coach Frank's also a big fan of Wright, Jr.'s and can detail how he comes from a family of exceptional athletes.
Roosevelt Wheeler '21 – John Marshall HS (Richmond, VA): The tallest forward to step in the gym, one can always expect some grown-man paint dominance whenever the imposing 6'11' Wheeler enters the vicinity. He did fantastic in protecting the interior for his Justices by rebounding everything that came off of the rim and powerfully rejecting shot attempts. Along with Davis, I'd definitely saw Wheeler had another one of the best days in blocking shots. He literally sent away four shots in one possession when John Marshall faced Woodrow Wilson. Offensively, the big fella had some strong moves but looked a bit sluggish in stretches. Sometimes he tends to try and finish plays too fast, versus taking his time and knowing there's few opponents whom can stop him. The more patient he becomes, the more high-level his game will transcend.
James Wallace III '20 – Henrico HS (Henrico, VA): Bringing athleticism and energy, Wallace seamlessly fits into Henrico's fast offensive tempo. I feel the senior wing's added another inch or so, around 6'4,' and put on more muscle ever since this past school season concluded. He's still one of the 804's best at picking off steals and completing plays in transition. It's hard to slow down Wallace because he uses agility so well once he gets any bit of space while aiming to finish in the air. He covers ground well, hustles for 50/50 balls, and now can use his added-on strength to overpower smaller defenders at that same position. I also noticed an even higher release on Wallace's shot that proved efficient. Another underrated 2020 guy in the area who made my 2019 ‘804 All-Defense' second team.
Dominic Shoemaker '22 – Osbourn Park HS (Manassas, VA): Within that Osbourn Park young core, Shoemaker showed a great understanding of the game at his age already. As an off-the-ball threat mainly, he did well moving around both in the half-court and transition to get open for either shots or quick layups. His quick release from three-point range looked very solid and the 6'0' guard's strong build allows him to muscle for difficult finishes through opponents if he spots a slashing opportunity. Even with those skills, Shoemaker's vocal leadership on the court gives him the first look. He's constantly calling out defensive assignments and obviously takes pride in that area. That's an intangible that always impresses, especially from a sophomore.
Dennis Parker '23 – John Marshall HS (Richmond, VA): There's youthful talent all around the 804, yes, but I now find myself convinced that Parker holds one of, if not, the highest ceiling of any incoming local freshman. There's not much that he can't already do on the court with his strong 6'5' frame. The wing's an aggressive defender who pesters other ball-handlers, protects his handle to get to the rim, and rebounds. Parker gets his shot off VERY quickly with a unique type of form but nonetheless can cash it in from all over the floor. His feel for the game is just different at that age; there's no telling how good he can become. Even as a youngster, I'm suspecting he'll jump right into the fire early and give John Marshall valuable minutes.
Thank you to Coach Carter for the hospitality, as always. Players, good luck adjusting back to the school flow and make sure to keep getting at least 1% better each day.
