Some pairings just feel right. In a time when every coach is clamoring to be a “sponsored” team, it should be unsurprising that Whit Holcomb-Faye is going against the grain. After years of coaching with Team Winston and Big Shots Elite, the Radford legend is ready to do things his own way. Although he previously had the freedom to carry out his vision for teams (roster construction, stylistic approach, etc.), it’s different when it’s your organization. This past weekend, Coach Holcomb-Faye debuted his 16U and 17U squads at our Rise Showcase. Let’s take a closer look at each group…
The younger squad quietly looked like one of the top teams in their age group. Despite narrowly falling short to Rising Pros in their second-round matchup, the team went 2-1 while sporting a +46 point differential. Owen Hancock stood out as a primary scoring option before being sidelined, however, guys like Adam Horobey, Thomas Bowes, and Xavier Mills each made a lasting impression throughout the weekend. Both Horobey and Bowes displayed a well-rounded skillset and the ability to consistently impact all facets of the game while Mills is a smart, tough, pesky guard with an adaptable identity. That being said, the likes of Brady Greene, Alex Lash, AJ Tenebruso, Press Temple, Ace Rogers, and Joe Kubicki each find ways to make plays for this group.
Meanwhile, the older group went 4-1 (+53 point differential) and secured a championship over SW15H Elite. They have three college-worthy unsigned seniors in Andin Ashford, Nayte Spargo, and Pavle Anicic. Ashford is a long, explosive guard with vision, scoring chops, and defensive instincts; Spargo is an excellent floor-spacing forward/big man who can hit jumpers, secure rebounds, and block shots; Anicic is a scrappy, blue-collar big man with a high motor and the ability to battle inside or space the floor. Each of those three should be targets for coaches right now. The year-round teammates of Owen Calvert and Dane Cassada possess chemistry as strong as any duo in the state. Calvert is a polished three-level scorer with craftiness and a chip on his shoulder. Cassada is a highly skilled guard with size, vision, and the ability to fill it up in a variety of different ways. Will Koonin provides a smooth, adaptable game with IQ, shooting, and effort. Guys like Nathan Wilbourne, Les Otis, and Andrew Figueira do an exceptional job of filling in the gaps for this group. Wilbourne is a quality playmaker who can score as needed, Otis does a little bit of everything, and Figueria is a unselfish piece who can create for others and make plays defensively.