DC Metro Showcase Grab Bag

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Information was flowing at the DC Metro Showcase.

June 30, 2010 - Previously the championship rounds of DC Metro Showcase action were covered briefly by i95Ballerz.com. In an attempt to provide even more information, updates on certain participating players are presented here.

Philly Attack: Team Philly’s Malik Garner sports a 4.0 GPA at Chestnut Hill Academy (PA), and being a smart young man shared “I have to get stronger, develop my handle and further my shooting range” to prepare for a collegiate role of “small forward or shooting guard”. Standing around 6’5” and weighing 205 pounds, Garner is a rising junior that competed ‘up’, playing in the 17 and under ranks (along with all his teammates). During Showcase action, he displayed good defensive effort, rebounding tenacity and solid midrange shooting skill.

Though Garner was not dialed in to what schools are recruiting him, saying “I let my father handle that”, his 6’6”, 210 pound rim-rocking rising junior forward teammate Savon Goodman, was; his list includes “Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, Xavier, Temple, Rutgers, St. Joes, LaSalle, Miami of Florida, Texas” and others.

Savon Goodman is a human highlight reel.

Goodman has worked on his handle, as now he’s able to slash fairly well (most with his right hand), and is also improving his shot. Savon established his workout regime is “Shooting 600 shots a day, and dribbling forty five minutes to an hour…Everyday”.

This high flying student athlete thinks highly of the “Big 12 and ACC”, viewing them as ‘free flowing offensive leagues”. He also tabbed the BIG EAST “the best”, and would love to play there.

That duo’s frontcourt mate, Amile Jefferson may be spindly at 6’7” and around 180 pounds, but is quickly becoming one of the best frontcourt guys in the Class of 2012, as he can hit mid-range shots, rebound and generally out thinks opponents.

Using his wits to compensate for desired strength development – a self-appraised need – is something Jefferson was forced to do greatly in the recent NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp. Comprised of top high school aged players nationally, Amile proved he more than belonged.

“It was good competition, I learned a lot” said Jefferson of the NBAPA Top 100. “They were able to teach me about basketball and life”.

Though his team bowed out to eventual runner up Crusader Nation in the Showcase’s quarterfinals, Jefferson left many people quite impressed. He is also a top student at Friends Central (Pa).

Of Team Philly, coached by Cedric Jones, Garner said “It’s like my family”, sentiment shared by Goodman. This writer forgot to ask Jefferson, who was visibly upset with officiating in his team’s playoff loss.

Step Up: B’More Elite (17u) won the Showcase despite being down starters Nick Faust and Ronald Williams; Faust, a rising senior guard missed championship day to attend the Kevin Durant Camp, flying out after playing Saturday. Williams, a rising senior point guard visited George Mason on Saturday (for CAA fans, he’s also visited VCU recently).

In their absence DaQuan ‘Day-Day’ McNeil was promoted from 15u to the big team, and did quite well, playing both guard positions, scoring and defending (see the championship game report linked above). He enjoyed the promotion, saying “I like it better. I get to shoot from the perimeter more and I get to create for other people”. The 6’2”, 160 pound baller also knows playing exclusively at guard highlights the need to become “a lot better” in terms of constantly making good decisions with the ball”.

Offers: Faust recently received an offer from Maryland, as did Elite teammate, rising senior forward Greg Lewis. The Terps hosted both after they participated in the NBAPA Top 100, an event Lewis enjoyed as he had “more flexibility, they allowed me to play my natural position of power forward instead of center”. He is 6’8”, weighs around 220 pounds and believes Maryland’s flex offense a good fit.

Tevin Hanner, here boxing out Goodman while Jefferson shoots a free throw, is tough around the cup.

Faust not long ago visited Marquette, and reportedly received a schollie offer from that school. The same source indicated “UMass, UNLV, Delaware, Penn State and Virginia” have also offered.

Crusader Nation’s Isaiah McCray, a strong, 6’1”, 185 pound, solid all around guard shard “Holy Cross, Delaware, William and Mary, American, the old staff at Mount St. Mary’s, Loyola, UMBC, Bucknell, Navy and Southern Florida” have offered him. His 6’4”, 180 pound slashing forward teammate, Tevin Hammer, himself a rising senior, listed “UMBC, Towson, Mt. St. Mary’s, American and Robert Morris” as suitors. Hammer has a 2.7 GPA while McCray shared one of 3.5.