Snapshots, Part 4

Ron Bailey, Publisher

July 9, 2007 - We are back at it, with even more snapshot introductions of talented student athletes viewed this spring and summer during the 2007 AAU/travel team season.

Haben “Hobbs” Petros – 6’6”, 202lb 2009 forward – The son of Eritrean parents, Petros is a junior at Lake Braddock High School (VA), where he shared averages of “13 points, 6 rebounds, 50% from the field, 40% from three point”, and “70% from the free throw line” were garnered last season.

Playing AAU/travel team ball with the Virginia Rapids for his third year - an experience Hobbs characterized as “I’m loving it” - the versatile young guy proved why he impacts the game in multiple ways: You can stick him at the high post against zones, and he’ll pick it apart with passing or shooting. If Petros is in the low block, he can defend and score. Wherever he is situated, Hobbs hustles.

Expect him to work developing better handle and becoming stronger, points of improvement he identified. In doing so, Navy and other mid-majors, which Petros tagged as showing interest, will certainly continue doing so.

David Gibbs - 6’3”, 170lb, 2008 point guard – Hailing from Connecticut and playing for the CBC AAU/travel team, Gibbs may be the biggest sleeper of the spring/mid-summer: He flat gets it done, with great handle, a knack for distributing the rock, and the ability to score.

His CBC coach, Pat Sullivan, added “tough defender” and “very fast” to Gibb’s skill set, before suggesting “He’s the best junior (in April) in New England. He has pro potential, definitely”.

Gibbs has verbally committed to UMASS, and according to Sullivan received prior interest prior from Georgetown and UPenn. The Minutemen of UMASS have a steal, as this kid is definitely a talent.

Isaiah Armwood – 6’8”, 200lb 2009 forward – Possessing hops that allow him to alley oop dunk with the best of them, Armwood is developing his half court offensive skills, including shooting from mid-range to three point land, passing, overall awareness, and handle.

The Woodlawn, MD resident readily admitted doing so, stating “The main thing I need to work on is perimeter skills…I’ve worked on them. I’ve started dribbling the ball, shooting, and attacking after facing up”.

At his high school, Montrose Christian (MD), Armwood is a traditional post presence, hence his use of AAU/travel team ball as a way of developing other skills useful in college for a player desiring to play on the wing. His father, Gerald Armwood, is happy for his son’s dual experiences with the Baltimore Stars (AAU/travel team) and Montrose Christian, as they will eventually create a greater completeness in Isaiah’s game. This summer, that education was further augmented by USA Basketball, as Armwood also participated in one of their events.

According to the younger Armwood, Maryland, Syracuse and Villanova have shown recruiting love: Expect that list to grow tremendously after July. Currently, he has favors no school.

Maalik Wayns – 6’1”, 175lb, 2009 point guard – Another tough Philadelphia guard, Wayns impressed greatly at the NBA Player’s Association Top 100 Camp in June. Hailing from that city’s West Oaklawn section, Wayns, who stars at Roman Catholic in the City of Brotherly Love, amply demonstrated his ability to get to the rim with strength, pass (he was 8th in the camp for assists going into the last game), and run the floor – all self described strengths. Maalik was also the event’s leader, going into it’s conclusive round, amongst point guards for rebounds: To be so, despite his size, speaks volumes of Wayns’ toughness.

At the time of the camp, Maalik shared “Villanova, West Virginia, Pitt, Virginia, St. Joes, and Temple” comprised his college list, with Villanova likely being chosen in the near future. Since that time, he in fact verbally committed to that school. The ultimate reason for his choice? “I feel comfortable there” is what Wayns shared.

As a junior at Roman Catholic this year, expect Maalik to “work on my jumpshot”, which will invariably allow him to improve upon last season’s scoring average, supplied as “14 (points), and could advance his “five (assists)” a game as well; when defenders fear his jumper, it will open up driving lanes, from which he can more easily find open teammates. In terms of besting last year’s “four rebounds” per contest, with his increased physical growth and development, that should occur.

Camp counselor Rick Brunson, formerly of the NBA and himself a Illadelphia product, said “Make sure you write Philly makes the best guards”. While those in D.C., Baltimore, New York, L.A., Chicago and elsewhere would beg to differ, Wayns supplies credence to the claim.