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Oak Hill vs. Toronto Academy & Johnson High School

January 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Future Indiana recruit Troy Williams soars in for a dunk for Oak Hill Academy. (Picture courtesy of OHA)

Future Indiana recruit Troy Williams soars in for a dunk for Oak Hill Academy. (Picture courtesy of OHA)

The Oak Hill Warriors returned from their lengthy holiday break and won convincingly 91-54 over Toronto Academy. The win moves Coach Steve Smith and the Warriors to 18-2 for the season. While the game was never in doubt, the Warriors used this game to shake off the rust since their last game played on December 22nd.

The majority of the team got into the scoring column with four Warriors leading the way with double figures as Troy Williams led the way with 17 points. RJ Curington chipped in 16 points while Sindarius Thornwell added 15 points and sophomore Terrence Phillips finished with 12 points. Ike Iroegue, Lennard Freeman, and Rokas Gustys all had 8 points apiece.

Troy “Double Double” Williams once again led the team in scoring and rebounds with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Williams went 7-13 from the floor for 53.8% while going 3-5 from the FT line. Williams also enjoyed 3 dunks for the game. Williams continues to be the most consistent player on the Oak Hill team thus far this season.

RJ Curington finished with 16 points going 6-12 from the floor (2-5 from the 3 point line) and 2-4 from the FT line. Curington finished with 4 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. Sindarius Thornwell chipped in 15 points going 7-14 from the floor and collected 7 rebounds while dishing out 3 assists. Sophomore Terrence Phillips got into double figures with 12 points going an efficient 5-8 from the floor and 2-2 from the FT line. Phillips had 3 rebounds, 3 steals and led the team with 5 assists.

For the game, Oak Hill shot 38-72 from the floor for 52.8% while knocking down 4-14 from the 3-point line for only 26%. Oak Hill went 11-17 from the FT line for 64.7%. However, the biggest concern for Coach Steve Smith continues to be the turnover to assist ratio. The team dished out 20 assists but also had 21 turnovers, which is uncharacteristic of an Oak Hill team. This is an area where they miss PG Nate Britt who is out with a torn meniscus. Oak Hill moves to 18-2 and plays Johnson High School of Georgia next.

Oak Hill 84 Johnson High School 59

Oak Hill defeated Johnson High School on Saturday night 84-59 and moves to 19-2 for the season. While the Warriors shot consistently from the floor going 32-59 for 54.2%, Coach Steve Smith has to be concerned in three areas for his Warriors. First, the Warriors have been an inconsistent 3-point shooting team and the team only went 2-15 for 13%. Second, the team only shot 18-30 from the FT line for 60% and this was a major reason for their two earlier season losses. Third, the assist to turnover ratio has not been the normal for a typical Oak Hill team. Against Johnson High School, the team dished out 23 assists but also had 16 turnovers.

Oak Hill did have balanced scoring which has been one consistent factor this season and over the years. Leading the way once again was Troy Williams with 23 points going 9-13 from the floor (1-5 from the 3-point line) and went 4-7 from the FT line. Williams also had 5 dunks for the game. He finished with 7 rebounds and dished out 5 assists for another solid all around game.  RJ Curington finished with 21 points going 7-14 from the floor (1-5 from the 3-point line) and went 6-8 from the free throw line. Curington also collected 6 rebounds and dished out 3 assists. 6’8 Junior Rokas Gustys continues to improve and make an impact on the interior. Gustys finished with 12 points going 6-8 from the floor and collected 6 rebounds. He also had 3 block shots and even dished out 2 assists. Sindarius Thornwell added 10 points going 3-8 from the floor (0-2 from the 3-point line) and 4-6 from the FT line. Thornwell had 10 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. Lennard Freeman led the team in rebounding with 11 boards while scoring 9 points. He went 3-3 from the floor and 3-6 from the FT line.

As Oak Hill moves into the second half of the season, the team will benefit from the return of Nate Britt. While Britt has not been putting up huge scoring numbers, it is his leadership on the court that has been sorely missed. For the season, Oak Hill is shooting 46.7% from the floor and only 66.1% from the FT line. The team has shot a dismal 27.4% from the 3-point line. That being said, the most telling statistic is the assist to turnover ratio of 17 assists to 13.2 turnovers. The team is not 19-2 for the season. On the bright side, the team has played consistently on the defensive end of the court and the speed and athleticism of this year’s team has created a lot of turnovers for the opposing teams. They have played good pressure defense and with a few bounces in their favor the team could have easily been a perfect 21-0. If the team can improve in their perimeter shooting, free throws and limit the turnovers in the second half of the season, we see no reason why the Warriors won’t run the table. They have tremendous talent and athleticism and Coach Steve Smith always finds a way to get his team playing at the highest level. We expect no differently moving forward.

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Oak Hill Academy mid year review

January 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
RJ Curington (center) is one of the top unsigned guards in the country. (PHOTO by Justin Young)

RJ Curington (center) is one of the top unsigned guards in the country. (PHOTO by Justin Young)Tro

Oak Hill moved into the Holiday break with a 17-2 record with losses coming to Paul VI (56-54) in double overtime and a loss to LaLumiere (70-67) at the Iolani Prep Classic in Hawaii. The Warriors will return to action on Monday, January 11th against Toronto Academy at Turner Gymnasium on the campus of Oak Hill Academy.

For most programs, 17-2 midyear record is impressive, but the goals and expectations each and every season at Oak Hill Academy are not “most programs.” That being said, it will be interesting to watch how Coach Steve Smith’s Warriors respond for another tough second half schedule.

Below is a midterm look at the 2012-13 Warriors with their most current statistics.

6’6 2013 Troy Williams (Indiana): The multi-talented WG is unique in his ability to play multiple positions. A natural wing, he can score from any spot on the floor and when his perimeter jumper is falling is a difficult match up for the opposing team. Without question, Williams is a relentless rebounder and his impeccable timing for defensive rebounds is impressive. Williams leads the team in scoring with 15.7 PPG and has connected on 114-220 shots from the floor for 52%. He has converted on 18-60 3-pointers for 30% and has connected on 41-58 FT for 70%. He leads the team in dunks with 49. More importantly, Williams is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.5 RPG and is third with 53 assists. Without question, Williams has been Oak Hill’s most consistent player the first half of the season.

6’5 2013 Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina): Thornwell is a truly gifted offensive player that has a vast arsenal of offensive skill sets. Thornwell is physically mature with long arms and we consider Thornwell the best defender on the team. He is a tough defender and his ability to put pressure on the offensive player is often under stated. Thornwell is averaging 15.3 PPG going 93-203 from the floor for 46%. He is shooting 22-65 from the 3-point line for 39% and has hit 83-109 FT for 76%. Thornwell leads the team in FT attempts and there are very few guards on the national level that possesses his strength and ability to get to the rim. He is a strong finisher and is a master of iniating contact for fouls. He averages 5.1 RPG and is second of the team with 57 assists.

6’5 2013 R.J. “Microwave” Curington (Unsigned): Curington is a member of the 2011-12 National Championship team and he brings experience and maturity to the team. Properly nicknamed “microwave” simply because he brings instant energy and scoring once he steps onto the court. Curington has a full throttle approach to the game and his effort, enthusiasm, and readiness is appealing. Curington is averaging 13.8 PPG and has shot 96-216 from the floor for 44% while connecting on 30-97 3-pointers for 31%. He has connected on 40-52 FT attempts for 77%. Curington has a strong work ethic and plays with 100% effort 100% of the time.

6’1 2013 Nate Britt (North Carolina): Britt is a true lead PG that knows how to facilitates and control the tempo of the game. Britt has been sidelined with a torn meniscus since the Paul VI game and his services on the court have been truly missed. While Britt has put up modest numbers, it is his calming demeanor and team leader approach that makes him so valuable. Britt is averaging 7.9 PPG going 36-90 from the floor for 40% while connecting on 11-32 3-pointers for 31%. The one stat is really surprised me was his FT shooting percentage. He has only connected on 20-37 FT for 54%. He leads the team in assists 5.3.

6’8 2014 Rokas Gustys: Gustys is a tough and physical player from Lithuania. He is a physically strong PF and is a two handed rebounder. While Gustys is not the most athletic player, he is fundamentally sound and possesses a high basketball IQ. He has nifty feet in the low post area and has extremely soft hands. While Gustys scored the majority of his points on the interior, he has the ability to step out and consistently knock down the perimeter jumper. Gustys is averaging 7.0 PPG going 57-108 from the floor for 53%. Although he has a nice touch, he has struggled at the FT line going 19-39 for only 45%. He averaged 5.7 RPG and look for Gustys to be a major target for his position in the 2014 class.

6’8 2013 Lennard Freeman (Unsigned) Freeman is a physically mature PF that is long and athletic. He is a relentless rebounder and has the ability to defend his position extremely well. He uses his strength and length to his advantage and will do all the necessary things for his team such as blocking shots and taking charges. He does lead the team in charges taken which is a luxury in the low post. Currently, Freeman is averaging 5.1 PPG going 41-77 from the floor for 53% while connecting only on 14-31 FT for 45%. He is averaging 5.6 RPG and should be a high priority of mid major schools.

6’2 2013 Ike Iroegbu (Washington State) Iroegbu is also a member of the 2011-12 OHA National Championship team. Iroegbu is an ultra athletic guard that can easily play both positions. Not many players in the country possess his athleticism and quickness on the court. His leaping ability is off the charts and has the ability to become a solid college prospect. He is currently averaging 5.4 PPG going 38-86 from the floor for 44% while connecting on 8-24 from the 3-point line for 24%. He has connected on 18-30 FT for 60%.

5’10 2014 Terrence Phillips: Phillips is the only sophomore on the team. He is one to put into your SIM CARD for future references. Phillips provides depth at the PG position, but his full throttle approach and game changing defensive prowess will be giving offensive players fits for years to come. He has an excellent shooting touch and proper fundamentals/technique and has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble.

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Oak Hill Loses in Double OT: 56 game winning streak comes to an end

December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This past weekend, Oak Hill traveled to the Washington DC area to play a pair of games. First up, was a homecoming game for Troy Williams and the game on Saturday was a homecoming game for Nate Britt.

Last Thursday night, Oak Hill trounced Kecoughton HS by the score of 82-45. Leading the way was hometown hero Troy Williams who netted a double double. Williams scored 24 points going 11-17 from the floor (1-4 from the 3 point line) and had 4 monster dunks. He grabbed 13 rebounds with 10 being on the defensive end. In addition, he dished out 3 assists for another outstanding game. All this was done in 20 minutes of action.

Sindarius Thornwell continued his outstanding play by scoring 16 points going 6-11 from the floor (4-7 from the 3 point line) and had one dunk during the contest. Coming into the game, Thornwell had the reputation of a player that loved attacking the rim and not one of being a prolific 3-point shooter. That being said, Thornwell had improved his outside shooting touch and is becoming a more complete player. Thornwell did have only 3 rebounds but managed 4 steals for the game. We have often spoken about his defensive intensity and he again proved us correct.

Lennard Freeman was the only other Oak Hill player in double figures as he tallied 10 points going 5-7 from the floor. He grabbed 7 rebounds and had 2 steals and blocked shots for a solid performance in 19 minutes of play. Rounding out the scoring for Oak Hill was Ike Iroegbu with 9 points, Nate Britt with 7 points, Terrence Phillips and Rokas Gustys with 5 points apiece. RJ Curington had a quiet game with 4 points.

For the game, Oak Hill shot 35-69 from the floor for 50.7% while only netting 4-8 from the free throw line for 50%. Poor foul shooting has been a problem for the team and will need to improve. The team shot 8-21 from the 3-point line for 38% and collected 46 rebounds. Oak Hill dished out 25 assists as a team to only 16 turnovers, which is good but not great. Oak Hill now moves to 12-0 for the season and travels to Washington DC to play Paul VI.

56 Winning streak comes to an end

Oak Hill came into the game against Paul VI with a 56 game winning streak and just 9 games short of the Oak Hill record. Oak Hill lost a heart breaker in double OT to Paul VI by the score of 56-54. What makes the lost more depressing is Oak Hill probably played their worst game of the year and still had a chance to win the game. Oak Hill shot only 32.3% from the floor going 21-65 (while going 4-22 from the 3 point line for 18%) but the game was simply lost at the free throw line. Oak Hill went a dismal 8-18 for 44.4% and after looking at the stats; you can only imagine that the powerful Warriors were even in the game. In addition, Oak Hill had more turnovers (12) than assists (9).

RJ Curington led the way for Oak Hill with 21 points and 8 rebounds. He went 8-18 from the floor (3-10 from the 3 point line) Curington went 2-2 from the free throw line and was the one bright spot for the Warriors.

Troy Williams finished with 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the game. Williams went 6-15 from the floor (0-5 from the 3 point line) and went 2-6 from the free throw line. He did have 3 steals but had 4 turnovers as well.

The only other player in double figures was Sindarius Thornwell with 10 points. Thornwell went 4-14 from the floor (0-2 from the 3 point line) and 2-4 from the free throw line. Thornwell collected 4 rebounds but also had 4 turnovers for the game.

Curington, Williams, and Thornwell have been the BIG THREE all season for the Warriors and the supporting cast did little to help the cause. Nate Britt was playing injured and only tallied 3 points going 1-8 from the floor (1-4 from the 3 point line) Britt had 5 rebounds, 5 assists and only had 3 turnovers. It should be noted that Britt played with a torn meniscus and will be out for a minimum of 6 weeks.

Oak Hill will be off a week for exams before traveling to Columbia, SC to play a double header before heading off to Hawaii for a pre-Christmas tournament. Oak Hill is now 12-1 for the season.

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Oak Hill goes to 11-0and extends winning streak to 55 games

December 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Oak Hill traveled to Benton, Kentucky last weekend for a serious challenge for the young season, but the Warriors coached by Steve Smith came ready and prepared for the challenge. Not only were they prepared for the challenge; Oak Hill had two impressive wins at the 17th Annual Marshall County Hoopfest Challenge. In the first game, it was all Oak Hill from the opening tip off to the ending buzzer as the Warriors captured a 72-39 win over Chicago Curie on Friday night. In the second game for Oak Hill on Saturday night, they cruised to an 89-73 win over Memphis Southwind.

In the 72-39 win over Chicago Curie, the game was quickly determined by the end of the first quarter and all twelve players received adequate playing time. Leading the way for Oak Hill has been Mr. Reliable Troy Williams with a game high 16 points. Williams went 6-11 from the floor (0-3 from the 3 point line) and 4-7 from the free throw line. He had 3 impressive dunks in transition and collected 5 defensive rebounds, which has become his specialty. He completed his all around performance with 2 steals, 4 blocked shots and dishing out 1 assist. (Not a bad stat line for just 22 minutes of play!)

RJ “Microwave” Curington also enjoyed a solid game in 18 minutes of action. Curinton finished with 15 points going 6-11 from the floor (2-3 from the 3 point line) and 1-3 from the free throw line. Curington also collected 5 rebounds; had 1 steal and dished out 2 assists. Curington’s play this season for Oak Hill warrants strong consideration from high major schools looking for a high-energy player that can simply score buckets. In our opinion, too many programs are sleeping on him.

Sindarius Thornwell finished with 9 points going 2-8 from the floor (1-4 from the 3 point line) but knocked in 4-4 from the free throw line. Thornwell did have 2 rebounds; 1 steal and dished out 4 assists in 16 minutes of action. 6’8 junior Rokas Gustys chipped in 9 points going 3-4 from the floor and 3-3 from the free throw line. He led the team with 6 rebounds, but also had 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 1 assist in 19 minutes of action. While Gustys lacks the athleticism, he has nifty feet in the post and soft hands that will garnish him high major interest for teams looking for a highly skilled power forward that have a great feel for the game.

Others that got into the scoring column for Oak Hill was 5’10 sophomore PG Terrence Phillips with 8 points, Nate Britt with 6 points, Ike Iroegbu with 4 points, Gonzalo Santana with 3 points, and Khadim Dieng finished with 2 points.

For the game, Oak Hill shot 24-51 from the floor for 47.1% (6-16 from the 3 point line for 37.5%) and 18-27 from the free throw line for 66.7%. The team dished out 19 assists to 17 turnovers and if there is one Achilles heel for the Oak Hill 2012-13 team is the assist to turnover ratio. Oak Hill moves to 9-0 and extends their winning streak to 53 games.

Next up was Memphis Southwind and coming in this was supposed to be Oak Hill’s biggest challenge of the season. Like the night before, Oak Hill stepped on the accelerator early and never let off. Oak Hill won 89-73 and the score of the game was closer than the actual contest. Again, all twelve players received adequate playing time and Coach Steve Smith knew early that his team would move to 10-0 for the season and see their winning streak stretch out to 54 games. Leading the way for Oak Hill was Sindarius Thornwell as he was simply sensational in all areas of the game. He had a team high 33 points going 11-18 from the floor (3-4 from the 3 point line) and 8-11 from the free throw line. He also had a team high 8 rebounds and team high 6 assists. It’s not too often one player will lead the team in points scored, rebounds and assists! Offensively, he was scoring from all parts of the floor. He knocked down 3-4 three pointers but also used his strength and power to have two rim punishing dunks. Defensively, he has been excellent all season long and again he was splendid as he had two steals. Without question, Thornwell put on a clinic and show for all in attendance.

RJ “Mircowave” Curington finished with 19 points going 8-15 from the floor (2-5 from the 3 point line) and 1-1 from the free throw line. He had 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 assists for another impressive stat line for the unsigned senior.  Senior PG Nate Britt also finished in double digit scoring with 10 points going 3-8 from the floor (1-1 from the 3 point line) and 3-5 from the free throw line. Britt also had 3 steals and dished out 5 assists. Troy Williams finished with 9 points going 4-9 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line). Williams only managed 3 rebounds this game but was very unselfish and passed out 5 assists.

For the game, Oak Hill shot 34-62 for 54.8% (8-14 from the 3 point line for 57%) while only going 13-23 from the free throw line for 56.5%. Oak Hill had team high 24 assists to only 13 turnovers. Oak Hill moves to 10-0 for the season and extends their winning streak to 54.

 

After returning from a successful Marshall County Hoopfest, the Warriors came home to play a tough and aggressive Flora MacDonald team. Without question, this is one of those trap games where the team is riding high and playing exceptionally well. Oak Hill came out a little flat and couldn’t find a rhythm throughout the game, but found a way in the second half to pull out a 58-50 win. Without question, the game was much closer than the final score. At the end of the first quarter, Flora MacDonald led by one while Oak Hill did manage to go into halftime with a 3 point lead. Again for Oak Hill, it was the BIG THREE of Sindarius Thornwell, Troy Williams and RJ Curington leading the way. Since the Thanksgiving break, Thornwell has been playing at a high elite level and his performance was needed to secure the win over a tough, pesky and aggressive Flora MacDonald team. Thornwell finished with a game high 25 points going 6-13 from the floor and 11-13 from the free throw line. The strong and athletic WG is simply too much to handle in attacking the rim. He either finishes with authority or gets fouled in the process. In addition, Thornwell grabbed 8 rebounds, had 2 steals, blocked 4 shots and dished out 2 assists for another all around outstanding performance. The only negative for Thornwell was the 4 turnovers. Next up was Troy “Bounce” Williams as he scored 14 points and grabbed team high 9 rebounds. Williams went 3-10 from the floor (2-3 from the 3 point line) and 6-9 from the free throw line. Williams also blocked 3 shots and dished out 3 assists, but also got a little careless with the ball as he too committed 4 turnovers. RJ Curington finished with 14 points going 4-12 from the floor (2-6 from the 3 point line) and 4-4 from the free throw line. Curington also dished out 3 assists to round out his stat line. While Nate Britt only finished with 2 points going 1-3 from the floor (0-2 from the 3 point line) he did contribute in other areas of the game. He grabbed 7 rebounds and collected 3 steals and dishing out 3 assists. Britt played all 32 minutes of the game.

Overall, Oak Hill survived the trap game but it wasn’t without a tremendous effort by Coach Derrick Bond and Flora MacDonald. For the game, Oak Hill only shot 15-47 from the floor for 31.9% (6-20 from the 3 point line for 30%) Fortunately, the Warriors were more proficient from the free throw line going 22-28 for 78.6% with the majority of them coming from the BIG THREE driving and aggressively attacking the basket for fouls. On a day when the outside shots were not falling, Oak Hill found the best scoring option was attacking the basket or simply getting fouled and going to the free throw line. On the other hand, Oak Hill had zero dunks for the contest as Flora MacDonald did an outstanding job of getting back in transition which few teams have enjoyed succeeding at! While Oak Hill did control the board with 38 rebounds with 17 being offensive tells the entire story and more importantly Oak Hill had more turnovers than assist with 13 to 12.

That being said, Oak Hill moves to 11-0 for the season and runs it winning streak to 55 games, just 10 games short of the Oak Hill record. Great teams find a way to win and on this night, Coach Steve Smith and his Warriors overcame a dismal shooting performance but found a way to win.

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Oak Hill wins 52nd game in a row

November 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After a long Thanksgiving break, Coach Steve Smith and his nationally ranked Warriors returned to action Wednesday night with an impressive 92-59 win over New Hope Christian (formerly Thomasville Prep) at storied Turner Gymnasium on the Oak Hill campus. Oak Hill completed dominated action early as they jumped out to an early 24-4 lead and maintained a 49-20 half time lead. According to Coach Steve Smith, “Oak Hill played their best half of basketball during the first half. The team was clicking on all cylinders and the play of Sindarius Thornwell was off the charts.”

It was an overall impressive performance for Oak Hill as they shot a blistering 62.1% from the floor going 36-58. They also were dialed in from the 3-point territory as they connected on 8-17 for 47% and went 12-16 from the free throw line for 75%. Oak Hill completed dominated the boards as they collected 44 rebounds with 33 being on the defensive end. More importantly, the team was very unselfish as they dished out team high 24 assists to only 16 turnovers. Every player received adequate minutes and everyone got into the scoring act!

As Coach Smith stated, “Sindarius Thornwell was off the charts.” Thornwell finished with a game high 27 points going 11-14 from the floor for 78.6%, but made 5-6 three pointers for 83.3%. While Thornwell was definitely in “the zone” Wednesday night, he was playing an outstanding all around game. Thornwell also grabbed 6 rebounds; 2 steals; 1 block shot; but more importantly dished out 5 assists. While Thornwell’s play thus far has been solid and productive, this game was the coming out party for Thornwell at Oak Hill.

The only other player to score in double digits for the Warriors was Mr. Reliable Troy Williams. Williams finished with 11 points going 4-7 from the floor with 3 of them being monster dunks in transition. He went 3-3 from the free throw line and has gone 30-36 for the season from the charity stripe for an impressive 83.3%. Those are pretty good numbers for someone coming in not known for having a pure stroke. Williams also corralled 8 rebounds (all coming from the defensive end) and had 3 steals while dishing out 4 assists.

Four other Warriors finished with 8 points including Nate Britt, RJ Curington, Lennard Freeman and Rokas Gustys. Nate Britt went 2-5 from the floor and managed going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. Britt also had 3 steals and 7 assists with the only negative being 4 turnovers. RJ “microwave” Curington went 3-6 from the floor and 2-4 from the free throw line. He grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. Lennard Freeman had another workmanlike performance as he went 4-6 from the floor and grabbed 8 rebounds and had 2 blocked shots. Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon was on hand to watch Freeman and had to be pleased with his performance. Rokas Gustys also went 4-6 from the floor and grabbed 7 rebounds and had 3 block shots.

Others that got into the scoring column was Khadim Dieng with 6 points; Terrence Phillips with 5 points; while Vic Ieronmymides, Ike Iroegbu, Gonzalo Santana, and Chris Tang all chipped in 3 points each. Oak Hill now moves to 8-0 for the season and extended the winning streak to 52 games over the past two seasons. Oak Hill will travel to Benton, Kentucky this Friday to participate in the Marshall Country Hoopfest where they will play Memphis Southwind and Chicago Curie.

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Oak Hill vs. Moravian Prep

November 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Prior to the Thanksgiving break, nationally ranked and defending national champs Oak Hill Academy defeated a strong Moravian Prep of Lenoir, NC by the score of 81-64. Oak Hill now moves to a perfect 7-0 heading into Thanksgiving. In addition, Coach Steve Smith and his Warriors have gone a perfect 51-0 over the past two seasons.

Leading the way for Oak Hill again was the 1-2 scoring punch of 6’6 Troy Williams and 6’5 RJ Curington. Unsigned senior RJ Curington led the way with 19 points going 6-13 from the floor (2-6 from the 3 point line) and 5-7 from the free throw line. Curington continues to have a stellar season for the Warriors. Troy Williams enjoyed another double double by scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds with seven of them being defensive rebounds. Williams went 5-8 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line) and 5-7 from the free throw line. More importantly for Williams, he had 3 steals, 1 block, and 4 assists for a solid all around performance. As we have previously stated, Williams is playing at the pre-AAU season level and should see his stock continue to rise, plus should be in strong consideration for the McDonald All American game. From top to bottom, Williams has expanded his skill set and is clearly the early MVP for the nationally ranked Warriors. Not many players have the ability to dominate the defensive boards and start and finish a fast break with his ball handling and passing skills.

6’2 PG Nate Britt also enjoyed a solid all around game as he logged in a team high 28 minutes. Britt finished with 13 points going 5-12 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line) but went a disappointing 2-6 from the free throw line. Britt did collect 4 rebounds and netted 3 steals, but the best statistic was his 6 assists to only one turnover. Britt’s value sometimes may go unnoticed, but the ultimate lead guard always seems in control and his ability to run team efficiency and effectively is tremendous.

6’5 Sindarius Thornwell game of consistency continued as he had 9 points going 4-9 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line). Thornwell also grabbed 10 rebounds and was awarded team high 6 assists with Britt. The only negative for Thornwell was a team high 5 turnovers. That being said, Thornwell brings a tough defensive approach to the game and rebounds his position as well as anyone in the country. Without question, he sets the tones defensively for the Warriors.

6’8 Lennard Freeman and 6’8 Rokas Gustys continue to be the glue guys on the interior. Both have a workmanlike approach to the game and scored 8 and 9 points respectively. Freeman went 4-6 from the floor and missed his only free throw opportunity. Freeman grabbed 4 rebounds, but also blocked 4 shots. On the other hand, Gustys finished with 9 points going 4-6 from the floor, but shot poorly from the free throw line going a disappointing 1-5. Gustys does have a soft shooting touch and has the ability to be a good shooting big man. Gustys corralled 7 rebounds and recorded one block and steal. Freeman has raw potential and his physically gifted while his counterpart Gustys has the nibble footwork and soft hands on the interior.

Rounding out the scoring for Oak Hill was 6’2 senior Ike Iroegbu and 5’11 sophomore Terrence Phillips with 6 and 5 points respectively. Phillips also dished out 4 assists. Both Iroegbu and Phillips brings instant energy and elite level athleticism off the bench and can get after it defensively.

Oak Hill will entertain Thomasville Prep on Wednesday, November 28th before traveling to the Marshall County Hoopfest this coming weekend. Oak Hill has now won 51 games in a row and could challenge the old time winning streak of 65. This year’s Oak Hill team is balanced and has a nice blend of complementing pieces for another nationally championship run. They are aggressive and create havoc with overall team speed and defensive pressure and no one is better at maximizing talent as Hall of Fame coach Steve Smith. 

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Oak Hill moves to 6-0 with hard fought win over High Point Christian

November 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Oak Hill entertained a tough and talented High Point Christian team coached by Brandon Clifford on Tuesday night. Oak Hill moved to 6-0 for the season before Coach Steve Smith and the Oak Hill Warriors were able to pull away in the final quarter of play for a 79-63 win over the visiting Cougars from High Point Christian. There were several story lines, but the sold out Turner Gymnasium was packed with fans from both schools. The gym was loud and raucous at times and had it’s own share of webs and flows to the game. High Point Christian won the 1st and 3rd quarter while Oak Hill won the 2nd and 4th quarter and more importantly the game.

High Point Christian jumped out to an early 20-15 first quarter lead before a strong 2nd quarter by Oak Hill as they outscored the Cougars 22-10 and went into the locker room at half time with a 37-30 lead. High Point was able to get into the lane off dribble penetration and out hustled the Warriors at times and closed the gap by outscoring the Warriors 18-14 in the 3rd quarter and trailed 51-48. That being said, the nationally ranked Warriors went on a 4th quarter run and outscored High Point Christian by the score of 28-15 for a tough 79-63 victory.

The one Achilles Heal for Oak Hill has been their perimeter shooting especially from the 3-point area and again it was a concern for Coach Smith on Tuesday night. The Warriors went 5-21 from the beyond the arc for a disappointing 24% and it was just an off night shooting overall. Oak Hill went 47% from the floor going 31-66, but the most disappointing statistic was going 12-23 for 52.2% from the free throw line. It was another balanced scoring attack for Oak Hill as 6’7 Troy Williams (Indiana) led the way with 21 points. Williams went 9-15 from the floor and went 1-1  from the free throw line. He was also the team’s leading rebounder with 11; dished out 3 assists and was clearly the most productive and best player on the court. 6’5 senior Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina) finished with 14 points going 5-9 from the floor and 4-6 from the free throw line. He tallied 7 rebounds and played another stellar all around defensive game. 6’1 senior PG Nate Britt (UNC) finished with 11 points going 3-7 from the floor and 5-7 from the free throw line. He also had 3 steals and dished out 2 assists. 6’2 senior guard Ike Iroegbu (Washington State) provided a spark off the bench with 10 points going 4-7 from the floor but went 0-3 from the free throw line. Iroegbu also dished out 2 assists. 6’5 senior RJ Curington (uncommitted) chipped in 9 points and struggled from the floor. He went 4-11 from the floor and 1-5 from the 3-point line. Curington grabbed 3 rebounds and dished out a team high 3 assists. 5’11 sophomore PG Terrence Phillips also provided a spark off the bench with his hustle and quickness. He finished with 7 points going 3-10 from the floor and 1-2 from the free throw line, but more importantly grabbed 5 rebounds.

High Point Christian also enjoyed a balanced scoring tally as well. Four players were in double digit scoring with 6’6 Jackson Kent (James Madison University) led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds. 6’7 Mike Kobani (Appalachian State) also achieved a double- double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 5’11 PG Diante Baldwin (UNC-G) enjoyed a solid all around game as he tallied 11 points, 8 assists and grabbed 9 rebounds. 5’11 junior Joey McLean also chipped in 12 points for the Cougars from High Point.

For Oak Hill, it was another early season test and again showed the resiliency of a championship team. There were times in the game when the Warriors bent but didn’t break, but found a way to close out High Point Christian. Both teams can takes positives for the game. As usual, Oak Hill will take everyone’s best shot and on a night where they had an off game was able to find a path to victory, which is a mark of a well-coached team. Oak Hill now moves to 6-0 and entertains Moravian Prep Thursday night. For High Point Christian, Coach Brandon Clifford can build on the momentum of playing toe to toe against one of the top teams in the country, if not the test. While High Point opened up their season with a loss, it will be a big momentum booster to them as they battle in the tough NCISAA 3 A.

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Oak Hill Early Season Review

November 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Coach Steve Smith and his 2012-13 Oak Hill Academy Warriors are primed for another run at the mythical national championship. Coach Smith has eight national championship banners hanging up in storied Turner Gymnasium (1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012). Only once has Oak Hill repeated as back-to-back national champions and many are asking if the current team can help accomplish this tremendous feat.

After an early pre-season exhibition game against a strong and powerful Massanutten Military Academy team where the Warriors had to rally for a last second three pointer by RJ Curington to tie the game. Since then, the Warriors have rolled to an impressive early season 5-0 record by outscoring their opponents by the score of 79.4 to 53.8 which is a differential of 25.6 points. While this year’s team doesn’t produce the overall firepower from the perimeter, this year’s team looks to have more athleticism. In addition, this year’s team has really good balance led by the 1-2 scoring punch of Troy Williams and RJ Curington.

Below is a write up from the top players through top 5 games

6’6 2013 WF/PF Troy Williams (Indiana): The new setting at Mouth of Wilson is exactly what the doctor ordered for Troy Williams. After having an up and down summer,  Williams has flourished in Coach Steve Smith’s system. He seems more relaxed and comfortable with his high school teammates compared to his AAU teammates. That being said, look for Williams stock continue to rise to pre-AAU season rankings. Simply put, he has been spectacular early on for Oak Hill. Williams is the leading the team in scoring with 18.8PPG while averaging 23 minutes per game. He is shooting 52% (34-66) from the floor and 84% (21-25) from the free throw line, and the only negative can be his 3-point shooting each is 26% (5-19). He is the team’s third leading rebounder averaging 5.4 RPG, but leads the team in the +/- category. Williams has been excellent in transition, especially with grabbing the defensive rebound and leading the fast break. He is under-rated as a ball handler and as a passer. He is widely known for his explosive athleticism and leaping ability, but the acrobatic Williams is developing and fine tuning his all around game.

6’5 2013 WG RJ Curington (Uncommitted): Curington is one top players in his class that is still uncommitted. We appropriately nicknamed Curington last year for his ability to come off the bench and bring instant energy and points for the Warriors. Since season, Curington is the team’s second leading scorer with 16.4PPG while averaging 19.4 minutes per game. He is shooting 52.6% (30-57) from the floor and 91.7% (11-12) from the free throw line while shooting 39.3% (11-28) from the 3-point line. He is second on the team with the +/- category and will battle Williams for the team’s leading scorer throughout the year. Last year, Curington was the team’s leading 3-point shooter (percentage wise) and he went up against some strong competition in Jordan Adams and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera. As we stated in previous articles, Curington’s full throttle approach is exlempfied by his 100% effort/hustle 100% of the time.

6’5 2013 WG Sindarious Thornwell (South Carolina): Thornwell’s game has been a model of consistency throughout his AAU and high school career and nothing has really changed since he stepped upon the court at Oak Hill. He is averaging 12.8 PPG while averaging 21.8 minutes per game. He is shooting 52% (19-37) from the floor and 74.2% (23-31) from the free throw line. 27% (3-11) from the 3-point line. He is third currently in the +/- category for the team and takes a balanced approach to the game. In the two games we watched, we were impressed with his defensive tenacity. He is a strong WG that competes and does all the little things that often goes unnoticed, but few players in his class has the strength, athleticism and quickness for his size/position.

6’8 2014 PF Rokas Gustys (Uncommitted): Just a junior, Gustys has a chance to make a dramatic move into the 2014 rankings. He may not be an “above the rim” player, but his footwork in the post is advanced. He has soft hands and his ability to make plays is impressive. He is averaging 8.4 PPG while averaging 16.6 minutes per game. He is shooting 45.9% (17-37) from the floor and 61.5% (8-13) from the free throw line. More importantly, he leads the team in rebounding with 8.4 RPG. He is leading the team in steals and his fourth in the +/- category for the team. While many pundits have Gustys pegged as a solid mid major prospect, Coach Smith thinks he has the potential to be recruited by high major schools. (And I tend to agree with that assessment) He has a big frame and simply knows how to rebound and those are intangibles you simply can’t teach.

6’1 2013 PG Nate Britt (North Carolina): While Britt may not have the numbers that jump out at you; one can’t begin to stress his important to the team. Britt is averaging 8.6 PPG while averaging 24.8 minutes per game. (He leads the team in minutes played) He is shooting 43.2% (16-37) from the floor and 46.2% (6-13) from the free throw line while shooting 38.5% (5-13) from the 3-point line. He leads the team in assists with 5.4 APG. While Britt is having off numbers in shooting early on, his shooting fundamentals and technique are solid. The only exception is when he has a tendency to “fall away” on his jumper. That being said, Britt is the team general and facilitator. There is no question Britt will bounce back with more efficient shooting numbers as the season progresses.

6’8 2013 Lennard Freeman (Undecided): Freeman physically mature “college ready” frame is impressive. The active and strong rebounder often sets the tone on the interior for Oak Hill. He plays hard and has good anticipation for missed shots. As we stated previously, Freeman strength and athleticism is further ahead of his skill set, but he will continue to garnish interest from mid to high major schools. Currently, Freeman is averaging 4.0 PPG and averaging 18 minutes per game. He is shooting 50% (9-18) from the floor and 40% (2-5) from the free throw line. He is the team’s second leading rebounder with 6.1 RPG. While his numbers may not jump out at you immediately, he is a true warrior on the interior and his work ethic is appealing.

6’2 2013 Ike Iroegbu (Washington State) The physically gifted athletic guard has as much bounce as any player in the country. His end-to-end speed is impressive and his ability to get to the rack seems effortless. The next step for Iroegbu is to finish on a more consistent basis. He has made progress in his decision-making but he is learning to become a much more consistent player. Once his production matches his potential, watch out! More importantly, he has a great attitude and work ethic and strides to improve and get better, and there is no question that he will believe to put it all together.

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Oak Hill Academy vs. Princeton Day Academy

October 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Last season, Coach Steve Smith and his Oak Hill Academy Warriors captured its eighth mythical national championship (1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012) Twice in Coach Steve Smith’s tenure, Oak Hill won back to back national championships and this year’s team is primed and ready for just that. While the rosters change year to year, one thing is for certain and that is the expectations and effort from the school located in Mouth of Wilson doesn’t! Last season, Coach Steve Smith recorded the most wins in school history going a perfect 44-0 and was named the Naismith Coach of the Year for the 2011-12 season making it the second time he has received this prestigious honor and the only coach to win the award twice. And like any great coach, a quality staff of assistant coaches such as Coach Bryan Meagher, Coach Wilbur Allen and Coach Taylor Conn, surround him. Coach Meagher is in his tenth year as an assistant coach while Coach Allen and Coach Conn are in their fifth season with the Warriors. More importantly, Coach Allen is a 2001 Oak Hill graduate and was a member of the Oak Hill national runner-up team in 2000 as well as the National Championship team in 2001.

This year’s team is like every team at Oak Hill. It is a changing roster from year to year and it is filled with many of the top high profile players across the country. That being said, many would think it is easy coaching a bunch of high profile players, but Coach Steve Smith has repeatedly stated, ” talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” and it looks like the 2012-13 version of Oak Hill is prepared to do just that. Last year, the theme was “Win as one” and after watching them in the pre-season scrimmage against national power Hargrave Military Academy and it’s opening win against Princeton Day School, this year’s squad is as balanced as it gets, and don’t be surprised if 5-6 players will be in double figures each and every game.

Coming off a championship season, it is easy for pundits and fans to make comparisons to the previous team, but each team has its own identity and personality. While these are the intangibles the coaching staff facing each season, the staff’s high expectations on effort and pride is always the same.

This past Saturday, Oak Hill opened up its regular season against Princeton Day School of Maryland. While Oak Hill won convincingly by the score of 99-54, there were many story lines that should be noted about this year’s team. While it is missing many of the skill positions from last season and especially a space eater and 7’0 shot blocker AJ Hammons, this year’s team is balanced and has more quickness and athleticism as a whole. The 2012-13 team will create more opportunities from its pressure defense and will have to score more in transition than year’s past. That being said, we fully believe Coach Smith and company will be much better than expected and will make another championship run.

Below is a write up from the top players this past Saturday.

 6’6 2013 WF/PF Troy Williams (Indiana): In our write up from the OHA/Hargrave pre-season scrimmage game, we stated the final four schools for Williams was IU, UL, UNC & Ohio State and it came as no surprise that he committed to IU on Sunday. Head Coach Tom Crean was in attendance for the Oak Hill pre-season game and that alone told you all you needed to know. While Williams had an “up and down” AAU season and I’m still scratching my head how a trio of Troy Williams, Anthony “Cat” Barber, and Allerik Freeman struggled at times, but that is a yet another story. At one point and time, the final two for Williams was Kentucky and UNC and after a lack luster April, his stock dropped noticeably in the national rankings, although we feel such as tremendous drop in a short period of time is unfair for obvious reasons. Since then, Williams made the decision to transfer to Oak Hill and this decision is already paying dividends on the court. He is playing with a newfound confidence and his game is flourishing in Coach Steve Smith’s system. Against Princeton Day Academy, Williams enjoyed another monster day by tallying 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. The athletic and human “pogo stick” was simply amazing in the first quarter of play. Williams is simply the “energizer bunny” on the court and plays with so much energy and effort, it will be contagious to his teammates this season. We were impressed with his ability to elevate for defensive rebounds and lead the fast break in transition. In our opinion, Williams is undervalued as a ball handler and willing passer. While he could be more consistent in his perimeter shooting, he did knock down two 3′s and went 7-13 from the floor and 6-7 from the free throw line. His play at Oak Hill this season will erase any doubts of his potential that may have developed this past April. We look for this stock to move more positively toward the pre-April rankings and will be a potential “burger boy” come March.

6’5 2013 WG Sindarious Thornwell (South Carolina): The best title for Thornwell for this past Saturday’s game is Mr. Efficiency. Thornwell finished with 19 points going a blistering 5-9 from the floor and knocking down three 3 pointers in the second half. Thornwell also went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. The knock on Thornwell has also been his perimeter shooting, but he looks more relaxed and is knocking down open looks. His shot has improved and is not simply a “slasher,” but is developing into an excellent high profile shooting guard. Thornwell’s size, strength, and athleticism is impressive but we were impressed with his defensive intensity and he took as much pride on his defense as his offense. This overall skill package accompanied by his athleticism will also make him a potential “burger boy” come March.

6’5 2013 WG RJ Curington (Uncommitted): Simply put, RJ Curington was RJ Curington this past Saturday. The “microwave” brought his effort and intensity like we are accustomed to see and we are a little complexed that Curington is not receiving more interest with high majors. He will be more suited as a “system player” where teams can utilize his perimeter shooting. Last season, he was the leading 3 point shooter percentage wise and Curington tallied 20 points while knocking down four 3 pointers in the game.

6’8 2014 PF Rokas Gustys (Uncommitted): According to Coach Steve Smith, Gustys favorite player is Lithuanian Darius Songaila and we both believe he will also develop into a HM player. Gustys is highly skilled and does lack athleticism, but makes up for it in the skill department. As we noted in the previous article, Gustys has excellent hands and good footwork in the post area, but can also step out and consistently knock down the 10-foot baseline jumper. While some players are labeled a “high risk- high reward” player, Gustys is a “low risk- high reward” player. His understanding of the game is on a high level and when you have a 6’8 PF that has the “soft” hands and mobile footwork of Gustys, he will become a major target for schools at the MM+/HM level.

6’2 2013 PG Ike Irogbue (Washington State): Irogbue finished with 12 points and finished in transition while punishing the rim on a few occasions. Irogbue has been mentioned as a high flyer and his athleticism and leaping ability is off the charts and once he starts finishing like he did on Saturday, his confidence level will continue to increase. His bounce off the dribble is as good as any players in the country and once his confidence matches his athleticism, watch out!

6’1 2013 PG Nate Britt (North Carolina): Britt finished with 5 points and 8 assists, but was a little over aggressive defensively and picked up early fouls that limited his playing time. That being said, Britt is a smooth operator in the open court. His court vision is excellent and is a willing passer. His steadfast approach at the PG position will be instrumental in his team’s national championship stretch run. He plays with great poise and is a true facilitator on the court.

6’4 2014 Princeton Day Academy Omari George: (Uncommitted) Simply put, Omari George is a warrior on the court. This young man battles every single play and his college ready frame should make him a high priority for MM schools. He was impressive on the perimeter by knocking down three 3 pointers but battled for missed offensive rebounds and put backs. He is physically strong and is a willing rebounder for his size/position. He plays with confidence and didn’t back down from the challenge. He is a hard-nosed player that will compete every trip down the court on both the offensive and defensive end. According to his high school coach, he is getting a lot of interest from George Mason.

6’4 2014 Princeton Day Academy Tommy Herd: (Uncommitted): Heard finished with 13 points and we liked the size/body for his position. He is a willing passer and loves to attack the rim. He didn’t get many open perimeter shots, but did knock down two 3 pointers. He has solid skills and strength and should be a high priority for MM schools. Currently, he is getting interest from George Mason and Butler according to his high school coach.

 

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Oak Hill vs. Hargrave Scimmage

October 26, 2012 by 2 Comments

We traveled to Danville, Virginia last night to watch the annual pre-season scrimmage between the Oak Hill Warriors and Hargrave Military. Last year, the contest was the first step in Oak Hill marching to an undefeated and national championship season. After a surprisingly tough contest with Massanutten Military that ended in a 90-90 tie, this contest would be a telling sign of what Coach Steve Smith could expect from this year’s team. The game would feature two 20-minute halves and the score being reset to zero for the second half.

The game featured many of the top players in the country and a jam-packed crowd witnessed an entertaining “up and down” game that pleased the fans with many highflying dunks in transition. That being said, the first half was dominated by Oak Hill as they stretched a lead to 17 points before winning 51-42. Both teams struggled to find any rhythm in the half court offense, but the domination by Oak Hill on the defensive glass led to countless transition points for the Warriors. The underlying story for the first half was the overall team balance displayed by Oak Hill. 6’5 senior RJ Curington and 6’8 Rokas Gustys chipped in 10 points apiece. Others that got into the scoring act was Nate Britt (UNC) with 8, Sindarius Thornwell (USC) with 7, Troy Williams and Lennard Freeman both chipped in 6. On the other hand, it was a one man scoring show for Hargrave as 6’1 PG Terry Rozier (Louisville) simply put on a clinic. He tallied 17 first half points and got little to no support from his teammates. Midway through the first half, the game turned into a “dunk a thon” for Oak Hill as 6’6 Troy Williams was simply Mr. Windex as he was cleaning the glass and leading the break for crowd pleasing dunks.

The second half started like the first half, but the Warriors from Oak Hill got careless and sloppy with the ball and made too many turnovers that allowed Hargrave to make a run and eventually take the lead.  Hargrave was unable to hold onto the lead in the last few minutes of the contest and Oak Hill pulled out a 45-42 second half win. The total score for the two halves was 96-84 in favor of Oak Hill.  6’1 Terry Rozier (Louisville) was as good in the second half as he was in the first half. He tallied 16-second half points and finished with a game high 33 points. 6’1 Shannon Evans (Buffalo) knocked in four 3 pointers and finished with 13 second half points and was Hargrave’s second best performer for his team. While Rozier had little support, Oak Hill found no shortage of scoring options as six players finished in double digit scoring. Nate Britt led the way with 20 points while Troy Williams had a monster game of 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Sindarius Thornwell finished with 16 points while RJ Curington and Rokas Gustys both finished with 14 points and Lennard Freeman chipped in 10 points.

Top Performers For The Game

6’1 PG Terry Rozier (Louisville): The improvement in Rozier’s game has improved immensely and is highly undervalued nationally in the majority of the national rankings. We believe Rozier is a legit top 40 prospect and should continue to rise with national scouting services. He has good size, strength and athleticism combined with an excellent skill set. One of the top plays of the game was when he stripped Nate Britt at half court and finished it off with a “rim punishing” dunk. Rozier finished with 33 points and scored from all areas on the floor. He was knocking down 3 pointers and was simply impossible to stop going to the rim.

6’6 PF Troy Williams (Undecided): Without question, Williams was the most explosive athlete in the gym last night. He dominated the game on both ends of the court as he tallied 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. He was the game’s leading assist guy and rebounder. His best position on the court may be the PF position and is at his best in transition. The acrobatic Williams has narrowed his list to 4 schools. He mentioned Indiana, Louisville, UNC and Ohio State. IU Head Coach Tom Crean and UL assistant coach Kevin Keatts were in attendance to watch his outstanding performance.

6’1 PG Nate Britt (UNC): By all standards, Britt didn’t enjoy an outstanding AAU summer season and his stock dropped in many of the national rankings. That being said, Britt looked like the player two summers ago at the NBA Players Camp when many pundits were touting Britt as the top lead guard in his class. Britt was solid in his performance as he finished with 20 points and 4 assists.  Britt and Rozier had their own personal battle on the court, but Britt is also excellent in transition and is crafty in using his “off hand” in finishing many layups in transition. The southpaw knocked down back-to-back 3 pointers in the second half and used his open court speed repeatedly to get into the lane. We believe Britt has a newfound confidence and should see his stock to rise once again.

6’5 WF Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina): Thornwell didn’t enjoy the dominating performance as he did against Massanutten Military where he exploded for 30 plus points. He finished the game with 16 points. While he did the majority of his damage attacking the basket, he did knock down two 3 pointers. Thornwell has a physically mature “college ready” frame and is nearly impossible to stop when he is in attack mode. Oak Hill utilized Thornwell at the high post on offense and his strength, speed, quickness and skill gave him an advantage over the taller opponents from Hargrave.

6’5 WG RJ “Microwave” Curington (Uncommitted): Like death and taxes in life, there is also another thing one can expect from Curington! He absolutely brings it every time he steps onto the court. His full throttle approach to the game is exempfied by 100% effort/hustle 100% of the time. He has a knack for having his hands on loose balls and is excellent in scoring “garbage points.” The next step for Curington is to tighten up his handles. That being said, Curington finished with 14 points and 100% effort (something we just expect from him)

6’8 JUNIOR PF Rokas Gustys (Uncommitted): Without question, Gustys is one to put into your SIM card, especially mid majors. While Gustys will not wow you with athleticism, but he does seems to be at the right place at the right time! He has good footwork in the post, but more important he has “Charmin” soft hands. Once he puts his handprint on the ball, no one is going to gain possession. He has strong hands and has advanced post moves in the paint. Gustys finished with 14 points in about 20 minutes of action. He was highly productive and gives Oak Hill a legit scoring option on the interior.

6’8 PF/C Lennard Freeman (Uncommitted): Freeman has a physically mature “college ready” body and is active on the interior. He set the tone early for Oak Hill by his hustle and rebounding by getting his hands on many loose balls. He anticipates well off missed shots and has a knack for being in position for many offensive rebounds for easy put back points. Currently, his strength and athleticism is further ahead of his skill, but will be a late recruiting target for many D1 schools.

6’1 SG Shannon Evans (Buffalo): Evans ended up being the surprise player for Hargrave as he tallied 13 second half points and kept Hargrave in the game. He hit four 3 pointers and benefiting from the driving ability of Rozier as he kicked out to Evan repeatedly for open looks. He gave Hargrave an added lift and provided scoring help, which was desperately needed for Hargrave.

6’3 SG Anton Gill (Louisville): Simply put, it was just a bad day at the office for the talented SG committed to UL! We have seen Gill as a “quiet assassin” and has the knack to make shots, especially clutch and game winning shots. Against Oak Hill, Gill simply couldn’t find his rhythm but did manage to knock down two late 3 pointers and finished with 11 points.

6’7 WF Greg McClinton (Wake Forest): McClinton started out strong the first few minutes by tallying 6 points and getting missed offensive rebounds. He went 4-6 from the free throw line but McClinton didn’t get involved much in the offense and played sparingly in the second half.

6’4 SG Donte Clark (Virginia Tech): We saw Clark many times over the summer and he just seemed more comfortable having the ball in his hands. At Hargrave, he is used primarily as a shooting guard and just didn’t seem to be in the flow of the game. Sometimes, it is difficult making the adjustment from being the main ball handler on your AAU team to being an “off guard” on the high school team. Clark possesses tremendous athleticism and was expecting more. We’re sure the ACC commit will bounce back in his next game.

6’2 PG Ike Iroegbu (Washington State): Without question, Iroegbu is physically gifted and may have as much athleticism at the PG position in the country. He makes it look easy getting to the rim, but had a tough day at the office finishing in traffic. Iroegbu has the physical attributes, but just seems to be stressing at times on the court. Once his mental outlook matches his physical attributes, he is going to be a strong PG at the collegiate level.

Others To Watch

5’10 sophomore PG Terrence Phillips of Oak Hill Academy entered the first half and gave the Warriors a spark off the bench. He is super quick and the ability to make things happen on both ends of the court. 6’3 junior SG Chris Tang was instant offense in the extra 10-minute segment. He knocked down four 3 pointers and may be more important as an effective perimeter shooter for Oak Hill as the season progresses. 6’10 Neville Fincher of Hargrave is a strong and physical center that is a willing rebounder. While somewhat raw offensively, he should be a target for lower tier to mid major D1 schools. 

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