The Albemarle Landscapes Good Guys. vs. Cancer was off the charts and we want to thank everyone who came out to make this an incredible atmosphere. There were some big-time performances all throughout the event but these are a few players that really stood out among the rest.
2023 Freddie Dilione (Word of God): Dilione might have been the player of the event, not only helping his team to two strong and big wins over The Burlington School and Moravian Prep but also what he was able to show. With what he showed, recruitment should only pick up for the 6'5 guard. Dilione was terrific in showing his presence as a ball-handler, weaving through the defense, playing with his head up, finding his teammates, and playing under control in breaking the pressure. You add that to his scoring combination of inside and out, creating for himself, and hitting big shots in both games, Dilione showed his complete game.
2023 Elijah Strong (Myers Park): Strong certainly fit his name… he had strong performances and really opened more eyes to how effective he can be on the floor as a forward. The 6'8 prospect displayed an incredible skillset and comfort in being a true downlow presence, showing terrific footwork and feel with his back to the basket and finding ways to get around defenders with touch. But what makes him tough on the floor is his feel along the perimeter and his ability to pick and pop, showing his range. He gave us a little bit of all, going for 20pts/8rebs in Game 1 and 21pts/13rebs in Game 2.
2022 Aaron Murphy (Greenfield): Greenfield had a tough matchup against Moravian Prep to start the event but bounced back with a strong and impressive win vs. Cox Mill on Day 2. One of the clear leaders for Greenfield is the senior leader, Aaron Murphy. As we put out on Day 2, Murphy is an absolute machine on the floor and for someone at his size (6'4), he can fill it up. One of the strongest prospects in the state, he stays aggressive throughout the entire game, finishes through defenders, is terrific in the post, and plays bigger than listed. But he has shown that he is a threat from multiple areas with his outside feel as well, showing that he can find success and find ways to operate no matter where he is on the court; he just produces.
2025 Eli Ellis (Moravian Prep): Moravian Prep came in as the No. 1 team and even in a loss, they certainly have shown that they will be competing with the best this year. And one of the clear leaders for this team is 2025 Eli Ellis, as he has consistently showcased how much of a difference-maker he is on the court. Ellis averaged 26.5ppg in two games over the weekend, continuing to show his creativity with the ball in his hands, his ability to create space for his shot and knock down shots from all three levels, and his ability to get paint touches. He is such a tough guard to keep under control and he captured the eyes once again over the weekend.
