MD Hurricanes Tourney 17u All-Star Selections

Ron Bailey, Publisher

July 2, 2007 – This past weekend, the Maryland Hurricanes held their tournament at the Capital Sports Complex in District Heights, MD. While several of the anticipated boys travel teams canceled at the last minute, DC Assault didn’t, and eventually walked away with both the 16u and 17u championships.

In the process, a number of standout players separated themselves. To that end, we have compiled a list of 17 and under All-Tournament performers.

Gus Gilchrist (MVP)- Easily the most physically dominating player in the tourney at 6’10” and 230lbs, Gilchrist did what he does best – catch the ball in the low or mid post, turn and attack the basket. His workouts with trainer Terrell Woodley are continuing to pay dividends, as Gilchrist is becoming ‘diesel’, and shared he will continue developing his “ball handling, shooting, passing, and everything”.

A previous Virginia Tech signee, Gus will possibly attend Notre Dame Academy (VA) this year, where his recruitment will reopen. Colleges nationwide are salivating with anticipation.

Due to his physical presence and overall production over the weekend, Gilchrist, a DC Assault athlete gets our nod for MVP of the 17u classificaton.

Wallace Judge – Judge, 6’8”, and over 210lbs, has been expanding his game away from the basket and it shows, as he’s capable of playing in both the high and low posts. Wallace is also a very good interior passer, while seeming to have a good feel for the game. Judge defined his desire to improve as “I want to be number one”.

A rising junior who attended Bladensburg High School (MD) last year, Judge is one of the best in the D.C. area and accordingly was the most highly recruited high school student athlete to compete at this event. Georgetown, Akron, UVA, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, MD, Kansas State, Kansas, Villanova, Pitt, and Syracuse have all shown interest. According to him, the first four have offered scholarships.

Expect Judge to continue his assent into the nation’s consciousness. With his work ethic and the exposure garned from playing with DC Assault, that supposition is a no brainer.

Dwayne Davis – Hailing from North Philly, this rising senior at Strawberry Mansion (PA) High School almost led the PA Storm to an upset of Judge’s DC Assault team; Davis did what he wanted to, shooting, patting the rock, moving without the ball, and not backing down an inch.

According to Storm coach Joe Gill, such a performance is old hat. “The last three or four years” recalled Gill, “he’s always the best player in any tourney we play in”.

While Davis at 6’4” and over 200lbs provides outside and inside play and possesses the knowledge of when to do either, that doesn’t mean he’s content, as Dwayne shared “I’m working on my stop and pop jumper, quickness and explosion”. That critique is a solid self-analysis.

Colleges have taken notice of what he can do. According to him “Clemson, St. Bonnaventure, LaSalle, and the University of Nebraska” are all recruiting him, with the Bonnies, LaSalle, and Nebraska having offered. Hometown LaSalle may have an uphill climb though, since Davis desires “to get out of Philly” for school.

Antoine Watson – A Raleigh, NC native, Watson, at 6’3” and tipping the scales at 217lbs and can dominate a game from the backcourt. Recently returning from an ankle injury, Antoine is likely to attend Redlands C.C. (OK) in anticipation of playing for that high profile profile community college and its coach.

Currently Watson a MD Hurricanes baller, is becoming a solid point guard, a position he “would rather play”. There, he can use his athleticism, size, and shooting ability to wreck havoc.

Playing for the MD Hurricanes, he did just that. As for the experience of doing so, Watson is grateful, noting “I like playing for them”, including Mike Smith, the squad’s coach. “They are some good guys”.

Justin Rodriquez – Hailing from Reading, PA’s Reading High School , and playing AAU ball with his high school team, Rodriquez is a super-quick, rising junior point guard who can penetrate with some of the best. According to Justin, he’s always been a good ball handler, as he stated “It just happened I guess”, though he has started to work tirelessly on his long distance outside shot – the present shortcoming in his game.

Despite that and his ,5’9”, 165lb frame, Justin penetrated virtually at wil. It wasn’t new to his coach, Rick Perez, who also coaches the young guy at Reading High as an assistant. “He’s started as a freshman…and has been put in a lot of tough situations”.

Perez went on to state “Justin is working hard”, as Rodriquez trains “Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday”, with the sessions including skill and weight training. During workouts and games as well, Perez noted “He has an attitude, not cocky, but he wants to be the best. He kind of wants to take it to the next level”.

St. Joseph’s and Penn State have shown some interested in Justin, but nobody else to date has. That will soon change.

Nafis Richardson – A Rising senior from Hodgson Vo-Tech (DE), the combo guard from Wilmington, DE can score and pass, in both half and open court settings. One coach summed Richardson as “He can get buckets”. Well said.

At 6’1, 175lbs, Nafis understands the need in college to be a point guard, and as such stated “I’m concentrating on my decision making and getting my teammates more involved”.

Currently, he shared “Old Dominion, Rider, Central Connecticut, Albany, Cecil Community College”, and Howard have all shown interest.

Rodney McGruder – Though he didn’t have a boatload of his trademark dunks, McGruder (above left, shown with Syracuse commit Kris Joseph) displayed his increasing all-around perimeter game, including defending small forwards away from the cup - a point of emphasis for him.

A 6’5”, 190lb rising junior, Rodney is highly recruited in his own right, attending Archbishop Carroll High School (DC). George Mason and Pittsburgh have offered McGruder, while many other schools have shown interest in doing so.

If he continues to defend away from the cup, knock down his mid-range jumpers, and improve all around - and there is no indication he will not - many more schools will clarmor for Rodney.