After nearly two months of games being played every other day, The Steward School's (Richmond, VA) hosted summer league of 2019 officially came to a close last night. This being a yearly event, I applaud the school program's efforts in putting together yet another strong collection of competitors around the 804 area of Virginia. Having covered this league for the past few weeks, I definitely saw prideful play amongst the players and appreciated how most held a goal of creating greater on-floor chemistry within their respective teams. That's mainly what summer league is all about: getting better as a unit.
The atmosphere saw a notable boost in its competitive nature yesterday evening, as the playoffs arrived for semifinal/championship rounds; both for consolation and winning brackets. The best example of this hard-fought action happened during a 7:30 p.m. matchup between Glen Allen High School (Glen Allen, VA) and James River High School (Midlothian, VA). The exciting back-and-forth affair ended up going into double overtime, where Glen Allen scored late to walk off with a 66 – 65 victory. It resulted as arguably the most unexpected finish I've witnessed this summer and further proved how nail-biting summer league battles can become. The following league championship didn't have quite the same story but Steward protected their home floor to take down Benedictine College Preparatory School (Richmond, VA), 85 – 59. It's the second consecutive title for the Spartans and should again give them confidence in preparing for their soon-to-be 2019-20 winter season.
Tuesday Night's Standouts
Zach Rosenthal '21 – The Steward School (Richmond, VA): Rosenthal stood out back during Week 5 but the 5'11' lefty guard looked even more aggressive, offensively, during his team's two-game playoff run. He continues to give Steward a reliable offensive presence each time they take the court, as his shooting ability looked at some of its best in games against Trinity Episcopal School (Richmond, VA) and Benedictine. The guard can relocate to different spots of the floor but, if anything, I'd classify him as a ‘corner specialist'; he can REALLY knock it down from those areas in half-court sets. When the Spartans pushed the ball during transition breaks, Rosenthal completed more AND-1s than any of his other backcourt teammates. He has this intelligent way of creating contact at the right time and finding proper angles for three-point plays. There's a calm/smart approach in his game that I always enjoy scouting. Still, I personally feel Rosenthal is only sniffing his potential…members of the 804 should stay aware of him for his upcoming upperclassmen years. Very good performances last night by the winning guard.
Cole Grubbs '21 – James River HS (Midlothian, VA): After spending this recently-concluded travel season with Team Richmond Garner Road 16u, Grubbs made strides in his game competing under the program's coaches and now looks primed for a big junior school season right around the corner. He already has the size (6'9') to become a handful but I see his other intangibles as facets that make him stand out even more. Grubbs provides a lot that a coach would want from a veteran: vocal on the court, hard-nosed, active, and competitive. Combining that with his tall frame makes him one of James River's biggest difference makers. Yesterday, when the Rapids took on Glen Allen in that double overtime thriller mentioned above, their lefty forward helped keep the team in it, as he consistently played hard inside even while being guarded tough by multiple defenders. His aggressive positioning on the block leads to him scoring quick finishes and he makes himself available to the point that his teammates can throw the ball pretty much anywhere to their big fella. Outside of scoring, Grubbs has good shot-blocking tools and rebounds quite forcefully. If he keeps up this focus and remains hungry, I can see him soon emerging as a premier guy in Region 6B.
Wendell Tomlin III '22 – Benedictine College Preparatory School (Richmond, VA): One of the tallest and most athletic prospects on the Cadets' roster, Tomlin III looks even more comfortable out there on the floor after showing promise during his freshmen campaign in 2018-19. He's still a youthful one but nonetheless has a good feel for the game and can step up to contribute in many different ways. The 6'6' wing shot the ball pretty well last night from long range, which appeared satisfying since Benedictine will likely need guys who can make perimeter shots in a reliable fashion. In transition, Tomlin III has such a lengthy frame that allows him to get near the rim with few dribbles and stretch out past defenders for finishes. Those athletic traits also compliment him well on the defensive end, where he can embrace the challenge of guarding different positions. He's another one of those players who does several things well; not just one or two specific areas. As long as Tomlin III stays dedicated to the weight room and sharpens up his skills further down the line, he has a chance to make a name for himself very, very soon.
Curtis Blair '23 – The Steward School (Richmond, VA): Being the youngest player on this list, I have a feeling we're going to be hearing about Blair a LOT more within the next four years. Playing on the wing, he stands at a good 6'5' height and fits nicely into Steward's scoring execution. The rising freshman played pretty well all throughout the summer league but saved his best for last in those playoff games against Trinity Episcopal and Benedictine. Defenses couldn't find an answer for his hot shooting, as it occurred from all sorts of spots on the floor. Blair's size helps give him an advantage in shooting over smaller defenders; not to mention that he also has a quick trigger. If defenders close out poorly on him, he can put it on the floor for a few dribbles to attack the rim well. His handle doesn't look like it's fully there quite yet…of course, more and more reps should see it increase without any major issues. Improving on that skill could lead to him becoming more dangerous as a scorer who doesn't ever solely require others to set him up for looks. He already has very good three-point shooting in his game, nevertheless, and, in my eyes, should remain marked on the list of 2023 Richmond players to be mindful of in the years to come. Liberty University extended an offer last month on June 14th.
Jaden Daughtry '22 – Benedictine College Preparatory School (Richmond, VA): The 6'5' Daughtry stands right alongside his classmate, Tomlin III, as another 2022 Virginia prospect who has the chance to soon blow up. He's a bona-fide gym rat and enjoyed a great summer of hoops action in travel tournaments. The thing I respect the most about Daughtry's game is his fearlessness…he'll take on anybody and gives his hardest effort to make opponents struggle for all 32 minutes. In the championship game against Steward, he got Benedictine off to a good start by scoring paint points and using his activity on defense to create turnovers, as well as pick up 50/50 balls. After his hand started bleeding late in the first half, the forward had it wrapped up and immediately returned to the court to make a couple of perimeter shots. I saw that particular happening as just another example of Daughtry's toughness in not allowing anything to distract his competitive focus. He passionately plays with a chip on his shoulder and physically imposes defenders much older than him. The next step for him mainly involves turning that energetic play into refined skills. He does best around the rim for points and rebounds but it'll suit him better to become more advanced with the ball and keep establishing his jump shot. If he can display those skills at that strong size…he'll become a matchup nightmare.
Thank you to Steward for their hospitality these past few weeks. It's always good to spend evenings in a gym! With the 2019 travel season now in the books, players will have more available time to perfect their craft, moving forward.