Watch Out - THESE GUYS RUN DURANT 2023

Dwayne Wise, Recruiting Coordinator for Team Durant has an embarrassment of riches in the backcourt – Wise stated “we want to be two deep at every position” and he has certainly put that together with the group of guards they have in the stable.   Now his challenge becomes somehow finding meaningful minutes to keep these guys developing and happy.

PG, Cam Gillus:  Cam is one of the purest point guard in the area already garnering attention from Division I schools. He has a wiry frame with long arms and is sneaky athletic. Gillus has tremendous speed and quickness with the ball and can finish with creativity over defenders. Cam can score from the point guard position, however, he also does a great job setting up his teammates. On the break he gets rid of the ball quickly instead of over handling it like many other guards have a tendency of doing. In the half-court set he is able to breakdown defenders off the bounce - has a pretty lethal crossover - and will either set up a teammate for the score or finish it himself. 

PG, “Ace” Valentine:  “Ace” he is very quick and athletic while being a true leader, and has the proper mentality to play the point and run a team. He can really push the ball down the court and he gets wherever he wants with it - his ability to get into the paint and find people its uncanny. Valentine has great vision and is a very good passer. He can also score spacing the floor for his teammates with his perimeter jumper and extend his range out to the 3-point line so defenders can not back off him at all.

SG, Mason So:  So has unbelievable range on his jumper. He frequently connects from well beyond the 3-point line. He has a nice, quick release on his jumper and expends very little wasted energy on getting the shot off. He ranks as one of the best shooter in the class of 2023 in the area - He does a great job of staying within the team concept and not disrupting the offense in lieu of getting his own shots. Given his consistent jumper, Rosario should find a number of opportunities to score this upcoming season.

SG, Shawn Simmons:  Clearly the best of the bunch – Simmons will get heavy minutes at both wing positions but is slated ot start at the 2-Guard.   At 6’6 Simmons can be one of the best players in the Class of 2023. He is strong and quick. He understands how to play. He can score in a variety of ways, from three-point land, driving to the basket and finishing with either hand, posting up a smaller defender or getting to the free throw line by creating contact. He is difficult to guard in the half court and impossible to guard in the full court when he has a head of steam. 

A big-time scorer. Who scores with ease over and around defenders. Does it all with the ball in his hands. He can post-up with his size/strength. Drives to basket and has an uncanny ability to finish with either hand. In transition, he can handle the break and score or fill the lane and finish. He can shoot it well from mid-range 15', his 3pt shot needs work. At the present time, he is not a great shooter but certainly makes shots. A dynamic scorer with the ball in his hands, he must learn how to play off the ball. (Spacing the floor, screening, and cutting).  He has great size and length for a guard (strong with long arms). Not explosive going to the basket but an extremely effective first step. He changes speeds/direction well with the ball and puts the defender off balance. 

With these four horsemen in the stable and big-time wing KJ Evans (6’7) the perimeter is on lock – they will be the one’s carrying the water, getting the headlines and taking the shots. 

BREAKING NEWS: Antonio Hamlin Does What He Has To Do - Announces Transfer

In major breaking news Antonio Hamlin has announced his transfer to Combine Academy in Lincolnton, NC, leaving Mt. Saint Joseph in Baltimore, Md.  

At Combine Academy Hamlin will be able to look forward to a tailored made recruiting plan and an opportunity to develop and play his natural position at the lead guard; something MSJ was either unwilling or unable to do.  Ultimately it cost MSJ one of the top area prospects, but kudos to the individual(s) brain trust who put the players future ahead wins for program.

Combine Academy is a player-first program that works every day to ensure that their players are making progress toward their goals.  He will play a national schedule and close to 40+ games while working on his skill set under the guidance of Ex-NC Tar Heels Jeff McGinnis.  

Hamlin is blessed with great athletic ability. He is explosive and uses this athleticism to place his stamp on games. He is a tremendous leaper who right now is more of a scorer than shooter, with the ability to erupt for impressive offensive outburst at any given moment. 

He has the ball-handling skills and quickness that allow him to get to the rim, blowing right by defenders. He will stick the open jumper if defenders do not play him honest. At this juncture, he is more of a two-guard than a point guard. However, this will not remain the same as he is taught by one of the best guards to come out of the state of NC.  

Antonio really excels on the defensive end, using his quickness to cause fits for opposing guards. He plays all out, exhibiting great intensity, hustle, and desire. His competitive nature truly sets him apart from many players.

Zion Harmon's Roar Still Rings Bells in the DMV

Zion Harmon has committed to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first major surprise of the spring.  The Hilltoppers over the last five years have continued to dabble in the conversation of top 30 players in the county. They have again landed a big fish for their small pound in DC native Zion Harmon.  Harmon thanked his doubters in his commitment speech – twice – but few to this day understand how such a talent born and breed in this area didn’t play a single minute for the plethora of schools in his home state. 

Harmon has all of the tools that coaches love to see in point guards ad without the convoluted situation at some of the high major we may be discussing and looking at an entire different situation as it pertain to commitments. 

“The Lion” has great strength for size for a point guard and will be an immediate starter for WKU. Despite being powerfully-built, he has the quickness to penetrate past defenders and get to the rim. He also shoots the ball well, extending out to well beyond the three-point stripe - all of this is well known in this area. 

His feel and understanding of the game is beyond his years, bordering on a professional level that point guards have to possess to be successful at the high major level. He is vastly underrated in his ability to incorporate his teammates into the offensive framework. He also handles the ball adeptly as if it is on a string. He does a great job spacing the floor with his shooting and ability to breakdown defenders, which put him in an elite status among guards – the same status he has enjoyed as Top 20 ESPN Prospect and one he enjoyed as a Top 5 Middle School player. He penetrates to the basket fearlessly. He plays with a great amount of poise and confidence.

Harmon would have never left the DMV if  a local recruiter with NIKE  had met his request to play on the EYBL Circuit as a 7^th grader – at which time he average 14ppg and 6ast before entering the 8^th grade.  Its amazing how one mistake in the evaluation of a single player can change the narrative of a program and a player.  Harmon went on to finish as a Top 20 player in the country in his classof 2021 according to ESPN prior to re-classing into the 2020 class.

Harmon will long be considered a DMV legend with the final chapter to his story still to still be written – but many never understand why he left; he didn’t have believers or individuals with the ability to evaluate at young age what he would end up being.  Harmon turned down Louisville, Kansas, Maryland and Kentucky in picking Western Kentucky emphasizing what it takes at even a young age to properly gage talent.

Favour Aire - He's Still #1 In the Class of 2022 #FACTS

Any publication, internet website or otherwise that does not have Favour Aire as the number #1 player in the DMV should be discredited.  

Aire is a  is a super active long skilled versatile stretch 4-four. He has a good handle for his size and is quick with the ball while being relentless on the glass. When in transition he can really get going. Favour has consistently shown the ability to finish is transition or off the catch. Likes to drive the ball hard when bigger or smaller are guarding him. We love the fact that he is an active around the basket and can get creative when finishing at the rim. Has an attacking mindset that will translate at the next level.

At 6’11 Favour currently holds offer from Rhode Island, IUPUI and Rutgers but has not visited he college campuses – so evening with a summer that remains extremely unpredictable its anticipated that the interest is going nothing but growing.  

There is not player in this class in the area that has the upside and ability that Favour does.  This is a bandwagon that doesn’t have many seat remaining get on and enjoy the ride.

Malik Bowman When You Bite You Don't Have To Bark

At 6’9 Malik Bowman’s growing athleticism and size combined with his ability to rebounded, put the ball on the floor and defended 1-5, positions him to make a his presence felt nationally.  

At 6’9 it’s hard to remain a under the radar player but Bowman has barely scratched the surface of the attention his game with garner a few years from now.  With plans to hone his game at the 17u level on hold; an appearance on one of the shoe circuits at any juncture will provide him a pathway to national prominence.  Immediately thereafter look for the offers to start to roll in from all the high major conferences.

Malik is still growing and is the owner and operator of an excellent mid-range game while being able to get to the rim finish with authority while rising to a floor most simply can’t visit.

He also has everything it takes to be an elite guy yet is still an unselfish passer. A true star in the making - it frankly may be a foregone conclusion for Bowman to matriculate into the Top 100  in the class, a luxury that often accompanies all the top guys in the DMV market.  

There are very few who possess this package of size and skill and there is a premium on this on the high school side  – this is the model that scouts look for at the next level; the bottom-line is that many of Malik’s boxes are already checked.  Playing a national schedule against many of the nations best teams and players at Bishop Walsh will do nothing but continue to sharpen him.

Check out the video to understand why Malik Bowman will be considered among  one of the nation’s best players in class – he has done it by meeting very specific developmental milestones and from what we can see he will only continue to do so.