Drew McKenna Is the Hottest Prospect in the Country in the Class of 2024

 

Drew Mckenna, 2024, 6-foot-8 scoring wing from Laurel (MD) who competes on the NIKE EYBL circuit with Team Melo (Baltimore, MD.) and attends Glenelg Country School  will be making an unofficial visit to Villanova University on Mar. 1, 2022.

This is just days after Mckenna received an offer from one of the top 20 teams in the country, the Illinois Fighting Illini and Associate Head Coach Chester Frazier.

It is anticipated that Drew Mckenna will be exploding onto the national scene with his recruitment to sky-rocket after a stellar sophomore season in which he posted some eye-popping numbers:

Points 23.5

Rebs 7.25

Asst 3 

FG 53% 

3Pt 44%

FT 81%

Highlighted by a season highs 38-pt vs Flint Hill (Va) where he shot a jaw-dropping 11-17 (6-9 from 3 /10-11 FT) while snatching 7-rebounds. 

He also had an instant classic in the much anticipated match up with Archbishop Spalding's McDonald's All-American  Cam Whitmore where he pumped in an impressive 29-points.

In addition to Mckenna's multiple Division I and Power 5 offers he is also currently receiving interest from:

Duke, Marquette, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Pepperdine, George Washington, George Mason and several HBCU's  

Not only is Mckenna the areas top 2024 prospect; he is a clear top 50 talent nationally - the young man is the quintessential "can't miss" - whose talent can’t be denied.  

Drew and his family are looking to establish strong relationships early-on as this is will play a pivotal roll in their final decision for the next level.  

ANALYSIS/SKILL SET:

Drew Mckenna is a walking bucket ~ one of the best pure scoring wings to come out of the DMV in over a decade and that's saying a mouthful.  He flat out has a gift for scoring the ball.  A solid shooter off both the catch and possibly even more lethal from distance off the deck ~ with the size/skill combination Mckenna projects as a big 2G who can play/guard 2-4.  At 6'8/195lbs the options are endless on both ends of the floor.    

"Big Smooth"/ "Baby Melo" has a solid mid-range package including some impressive footwork working out of the mid-post with the ability to slash and finish at or over a defender with either hand.  Due to his varied skill set his passing is often overlooked, but not only is he a willing passer who enjoys this aspect of the game - his vision and passing acumen makes him a very intriguing long-term prospect as a point forward type.

As a scoring wing the combination of great size and killer instinct is only bested by what may be his most exciting traits - his winning attitude.  After a year of continued development Drew Mckenna is now an elite level prospect.  With his continued development the sky's the limit.  His willingness to defend especially when challenged where he utilizes his 7-1+ wing span reminds you on the defensive end of a Scottie Barns but with the ability to score in very similar ways as a Johnny Juzang.  Think Sadiq Bay and Mikal Bridges.

McKenna Explodes for 38

McKenna & Whitmore Go Head-to-Head

The Hunted to the Hunter: Saxby Sunderland is Offically On the Rader

Generally when a high school basketball player is scoring at will against defenders, possesses a silky smooth jumper, athleticism and has his team at the top of his conference, you hear about him.

Usually when a guy drops 22+ point per game, people start to take notice.

That player ascends up the national ranking board, gets the attention of national ranking services and is tossed around in college and university conversations. And generally, it's well-deserved. Usually they get noticed.

But not always.

Saxby Sunderland is a prime example of a truly remarkable talent simply floating under the radar, firmly attached to his small school identity, not getting the luxury of a big stage spotlight.

Sunderland isn't the next flavor of the month Hype. He's the next impact player at the high school level – that is just looking for a chance to prove it to those who doubt or simply don’t know any better.

Let's face it: Saxby plays for Flint Hill. Flint Hill doesn't get great exposure and is not overly well respected as a national high school basketball program. In fact, if it weren't for Saxby, we wouldn’t be discussing or mentioning Flint Hill right now.

So, needless to say like it or not, Saxby Sunderland is one of the best guards in the area and in term should be on the radar, being in this marker, of many of the top NCAA programs as of today – Saxby without question is an elite shooter who can get his teammates involved.

Specifically, he is true points that possesses length, skills, and feel for the game. As we said, he can get others involved and score as much as needed and in a variety of ways. Sunderland is a long, athletic playmaking combination guard that is a high major prospect with tremendous upside.

Long and quick with an excellent first step - he slashes in between defenders; his rhythm dribble three point shot is fluid and often get’s him in a scoring flow leading to multiple dominating possessions in transition and in the half-court.

On the other side of the ball Saxby is capable of defending both guard positions. He’s at his best and most confident when he plays to his strengths and plays position less basketball.

DMV 2022 PLAYER RANKINGS

Name	Height	High School	AAU Team
1. Cam Whitmore	6'7	Archbishop Spalding	Team Melo
2. Favour Aire	6'10	McNamara	New World
3. Rodney Rice	6'4	Bullis	Team Durant
4. Darren Buchanan Jr.	6'5	Wilson	Team Durant
5. Knasir "Dug" McDaniel	5'10	Paul VI	Team Takeover
6. Tyrell Ward	6'6	DeMatha	New World
7. Trey Thomas	6'2	Wise	Team Loaded
8. Judah Mintz	6'5	Gonzaga	Team Takeover
9. Tyson Commander	6'3	John Carroll	Team Melo
10. CJ Scott	6'4	Archbishoop Spalding	Team Melo
11. Noah Batchelor	6'7	Glenelg Country	Team Thrill
12. Yann Ferrell	6'8	West Nottingham	PSA Cardinals
13. Christian Watson	6'5	St. Johns	Team Takeover
14. Christian Winborne	6'2	Gilman	Team Thrill
15. David Solomon	6'6	Lake Braddock	TBD
16. Cesar Tchilombo	6'9	John Carroll	Global Squad
17. Stepaun Walker	6'8	Coolidge	Team Takeover
18. Kevin Kalu	6'9	City	Team Melo
19. Devin Dinkins	5'10	Gonzaga	Team Takeover
20. George Perkins	6'8	Sidwell Friends	Team Takeover
21. Shane Lancaster	6'5	St. Johns	Boo Williams
22. Zach Bolgert	6'8	Fairfax Christian	TBD
23. Byrce Lindsay	6'1	Poly	Team Melo
24. Dylan Williamson	6'1	Good Counsel	Team Durant
25. Antonio Hamlin	6'1	Combine Academy (NC)	Team Thrill
26. Adam Angwafo	6'8	Severn School	Team Takeover
27. Stefan Marcelle	6'7	Georgetown Prep	TBD
28. Deon Perry	5'8	Mt. Carmel	Team Melo
29. Tobi Nnadozie	6'4	Mt. Carmel	Team Melo
30. Kyle Gaskins	6'0	Coolidge	Team Takeover
31. Jared Turner	6'5	Gonzaga	Team Takeover
32. Hassan Massenburg	6'6	New Hope	TBD
33. Quinn Clark	6'7	Gonzaga	Team Loaded
34. Dylan Bronner	6'4	Georgetown Day	TBD
35. Gideon Sahlen	6'10	Bullis	TBD
36. Jerell Robinson	6'9	DeMatha	Team Takeover
37. Preston Howard	6'7	McDoungh	Team Melo
38. Brock Davis	6'4	Georgetown Prep	Oklahoma Run
39. Tyheil Peterson	6'0	Spalding	Team Durant
40. Alex Cadet	6'7	Takoma Academy	TBD
41. Jordan Green	6'6	St. Maria Goretti	TBD
42. Dani Dennis-Sutton	6'6	McDoungh	Team Melo
43. Chris Gamble	6'1	Sidwell Friends	6th Man Warriors
44. Dut Koul	6'10	National Christian	TBD
45. Carlos Alexander	5'10	Mervo	Team Thrill
46. Tyree Davis	6'5	Dematha	Team Durant
47. Evert Cooper	5'10	McDoungh	Team Melo
48. Adam Walden	6'10	Poly	Team Thrill
49. Joel Turay	6'7	John Carroll	TBD
50. Gavin Sween Jr.	6'8	Glenelg Country	New World
51. Willie Rivera	6'1	Rock Creek Christian	Team Takeover
52. Noah Jones	6'8	Mt. St. Joe	TBD
53. Logan Blair	6'4	St. Johns	Team Durant
54. Amir Dade	6'0	St. Charles	New World
55. Warren Mouganda	6'2	Pallotti	TBD
56. Delante Raynor	6'4	Fairmount Heights	TBD
57. Wisdom Rogers	6'6	St. Mary Ryken	TBD
58. Derrick Key	6'5	Fairmount Heights
59. John Thomas	6'4	Patterson	Team Thrill
60. Amare Wimbush	6'6	Wise	TBD
61. Sammy Scott	5'8	Milford Mill	Team Thrill
62. Tre' Green	6'2	Boys Latin	Team Choo
63. Andrew Rheubottom	6'3	Milford Mill	Team Thrill
64. AJ Thomas	6'4	Georgetown Prep	The District
65. Sam Ejindu	6'0	Glenelg Country	Mid-Atlantic
66. Jacory Wilkes	6'7	Thomas Stone	TBD
67. Mahkai Arnold	6'0	Frederick Douglas	TBD
68. Gavin Walsh	6'6	Loyola Blakefield	Team Loaded
69. Darus Dorsey	6'3	Riverdale Baptist	TBD
70. Masia Troutman	6'4	St. Johns Catholic Prep	TBD

Enter the Dragon - GCS Introduces Lethal Weapon 3

23' Franklin Ayissi-Etoh, 22' Noah Batchelor, 23' Kamal Francis where all selected to the Triple Threat 2020 All-Star Game

Picking the right high school transfers centers around properly evaluating the calculated risk.  While many programs take on these ricks as a complementary process to roster building; Glenelg Country School may have mastered the art. For the second year in a row the Dragons out of Ellicott City secured another talented  Top 100 prospect; this time in the class of 2023.

Franklin Ayissi-Etoh, the 6’3 combo guard from Montgomery County who appears on multiple national boards announced that he will be taking his talents to GCS.  Etoh will join class of 2022 USA Basketball /Top 60 National Prospect 6’7 SF Noah Batchelor on a roster that also includes  the MIAAs top JV scorer 2023 6’2 Kamal Francis.  Francis got valuable experience throughout the season practicing with the varsity squad and competing in the team’s non-conference and post-season schedule.

The Dragons went into last season with a senior laden team that many expected to vie for the conference championship.  Losing 4-seniors for a lot of programs might be cause for a rebuild, but in this instance the GCS program; it’s simply a reload.  The 20-21 will look vastly different in appearance and in style.  Look for Head Coach Garrett O’Donnell in employ a more up-tempo attacking approach on both ends.  With the combination of skill, talent and athleticism they will look to learn on the job; and produce a similar result to another young team from this past season – Archbishop Spalding. Spalding after gaining experience used their talent to make a late season run; making it to the conference’s final 4 before bowing out to eventual champion Mt. St. Joe.

What they lack in experience they will look to make up in talent starting with Noah Batchelor; who currently holds offers from Georgetown, Memphis, Maryland, Florida, Virginia Tech, Clemson and George Washington.  Batchelor who reminds you of former FSU sharp shooter Bob Sura; is a confident shooter himself that possesses great size and length. He has a big time stroke, quick trigger and deep range. His size and length allow him to shoot over smaller opponents with ease. Every shot he takes looks to have a chance to go in. Noah will take some tough contested shots but when his feet are set he can knock down many jumpers in a row.

Batchelor sprints the floor in transition looking to spot up on the side of dribble penetration. He also has great shot preparation when the ball is reversed to him. Noah comes off screens well and also does a good job of setting up his defender in order to obtain separation. If Batchelor adds a mid range game and develops a “Plan B” when opponents make him dribble in addition to working on passing/handling the ball under pressure he will be a All-Met consideration. Noah goes to the offensive glass but has the ability and athleticism to be productive in this area and average double figures on a nightly basis. He is a great in O’Donnell’s system of set plays which will find ways to get him open.

Add a second top national prospect in “The Artist’ Franklin Ayissi-Etoh - Etoh makes plays from either guard spot with a plethora of tools in his arsenal. Known for his shiftiness and moves-on-moves in the open floor he also displays a high level skill set that allows him to operate effectively in the half court as well. He keeps the ball on a string with his handle, showing a high IQ in ball-screen situations - while able to knock down shots of the catch and the dribble.

A machine when it comes to creating offense for himself and others and plays an unselfish brand of basketball – with such an advance offensive repertoire with the ball is in his hand; his defensive  acumen may be just as elite as he is an active communicator who is excellent with trapping, helping and rotating.

Etoh’s backcourt running mate will be 6’2 sophomore Kamal Francis, this fearless guard will play both guard positions and has shown promise at  running the team, making good decisions and taking care of the basketball . Francis pushes the ball and attacks the lane when in transition and the defense falls asleep.

He is athletic and strong enough to score through contact having put on 15lbs since the end of the season. He has a strong middle game that includes elbow and dribble pull ups showing good elevation on both. He is a streaky three point shooter but makes enough to make the defense respect him.  He has a excellent basketball IQ and the confidence and scoring ability to put up big numbers. He can drive, draw and kick when he draws multiple defenders. Francis should be an x-facotr player for the Dragons next season because of not only his talent but his energy, effort, toughness and willingness to compete on both ends of the floor.

Put those together with a front-line containing a 3-player rotation over 6’7/6’8 and they should be in the conversation when all the chips fall.

ALL DMV PREP 2020

Roach's Resume includes McDonald's All-American, USA Basketball, All-Met & a Duke Commitment

ALL DMV PREP 2020 2020 DMV PREPS MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYERS Jeremy Roach, SR, G - Paul VI - DUKE FIRST TEAM Hunter Dickinson, SR, C - DeMatha - MICHIGAN Adrian Baldwin, SR, G - St. Frances - VCU Terrance Williams, SR, F - Gonzaga - MICHIGAN  Justin Lewis, SR, F - Poly - MARQUETTE Earl Timberlaks - SR, G - DeMatha - MIAMI  Cam Whitmore - SO, F, Spalding - UNDECIDED Trevor Keels, JR, G, Paul VI - UNDECIDED Brandon Murray, SR, G, Poly - UNDECIDED  Ishmael Leggett, SR, G, St. Johns - Rhode Island Ryan Conway, JR, G, Delaney - UNDECIDED  SECOND TEAM Favour Aire, SO, F, McNamara - UNDECIDED Jamal West, SR, F, St. Frances - S. Alabama Trey Thomas, JR, G, Wise - UNDECIDED Jason Edokpayi, SR, F, Mt. St. Joe - Fairfield  Corey Dyches, SR, G, Potomac - UMD Football Tyson Commander, SO, G, John Carroll - UNDECIDED  Tyler Brelsford, SR, G, Mt. St. Joe - George Washington Rodney Rice, SO, G, Bullis - UNDECIDED  THIRD TEAM Avery Ford, JR, F, Centeville - UNDECIDED  Dominick Carrington, SR, G, City - UNDECIDED  Ronald Polite, SR, G, Oxon Hill - GEORGE MASON Mitchell Fischer, SR, F, Loyola Blakefield - UNDECIDED  Benny Williams, JR, F. St. Andrews  - UNDECIDED  Chris Winborne , SO, G, Gilman - UNDECIDED Xaviar Lipscomb, SR, G, St. Stephen/St. Agnes - Radford Delonnie Hunt, SR,G, Rock Creek Christain - WAGNER  FORTH TEAM Will Thomas, SR, F, Marvo  - UNDECIDED  Mike Gray, SR, G, Lake Clifton - UNDECIDED  CJ Scott, SO, G, Spalding - UNDECIDED  Martez Robinson, SR, G, New Town - DELAWARE Knasir "Dug" McDaniel, SO, G, Paul VI - UNDECIDED  Myles Stute, SR, G, Gonzaga - Vandibuilt  Chuck Harris, SR., G, Gonzaga - BUTLER  Zach Blackwell, SR, G, Lake Clifton - UNDECIDED  HONERABLE MENTION  Rahiem Ali, SR, G, Poly/Noah Batchalor, SO, F, Gleneg Country, Cam Gullis, FR, G, Sidwell Jaylin Albury, SR,G, Newbury, Deon Perry, SO, G, Mt. Carmel Rasheed Dupree, JR, G, KIPP/Darren Buchanan,SO, G, Wilson/Landon Hawes, G, SR, Potomac Falls  Max Brooks, SR, G, St. Charles/Darius Johnson, JR, G, Episcopal/Jakia Robinson, JR, G, National Christian  Saveon Jackson, JR, G, KIPP/Lorenzo Donadio, SR, G, Boys Latin/Caleb Johnson,SR, G, Curley Corey Barns, SR, G, Archbishop  Carroll, Adam Angwofu, SO, F,Severn, Julian Reese, JR, PF, St.Frances, Khyee Staten, JR, G, St. Frances/Wes Patterson, G, JR., O'Connell/ Amani Handsberry, FR, F, St. Johns Juhda Mintz, SO, G, Gonzaga/Barry Evans, JR, G, Oakland Mills/ Devin Dinkins, SO, G, Gonzaga,  Paul Lewis, SO, G, Bishop O'Connell/Erick Reynolds, JR, G, Bullis/John Godinez, SR, G, Pikesville Caleb Bowers, SR, G, Williamsport/Andrew Mills, SR,F, New Town/Jao Ituka, JR, G, Gaithersburg Bez Mbeng,JR,G, Good Counsel/Ty Bishop, JR, G, Ireton