By: Cooper Hart
Winston-Salem Christian’s Paint Play
Winston-Salem Christian scored 42 points in the paint in the opening game of the tournament against TBS and as a team they attempted just 7 threes. It is no secret that the Lions’ play starts and ends with their dominant frontcourt, headlined by 2024 Lewis Walker, 2024 Kany Tchanda, and 2023 Sam Houston State commit Torey Alston. Compliment that trio with physical guards that don’t settle for outside jumpers and this team becomes extremely physically imposing. For them to advance and win in this tournament, the Lions will need to establish their presence inside against teams that will only get bigger, strong, and more physical. Their next game is D
Jah Short’s Dominance
The 6’5” New Orleans commit put up a stat line of 31p, 7r, 5a, 3s in Farmville Central’s win against Holly Springs. He was a nightmare on defense and helped cause more than his fair share of turnovers. That level of defensive havoc and his 11/14 shooting night from inside the arc cemented his status as one of the best two-way players in the class. His ability to turn defense into offense allowed him to score 11 points in 1 minute of game time during today’s game. Jah will face off against Millbrook and a tough defensive backcourt in the semifinals on Thursday. There’s a lot of basketball to be played but Jah is off to an MVP level start.
Don Bosco Prep’s Balance
Dylan Harper is the clear leader of this team (and rightfully so), but the Ironmen’s strength comes from the balanced attack that Harper leads. The core of this team around Harper features guys like Isaiah Brown, Noah Barnett, Evan Cabral, Brady Louglin, and Marc Herasme. These four provide the true strength of the roster, with all of them contributing in efficient and unselfish ways to produce and contribute around their star. This balanced lineup, that has no apparent weaknesses, is a big reason why the Ironmen beat Garner by 22 in their first game. Look for this strong starting five to make a strong push at the Devonte Graham Bracket Championship.
Camden On Top
Camden made a compelling case to be considered the best team at the tournament after a strong win over Panther Creek. DJ Wagner, ranked the top player in the country, is a smooth and calm presence at the guard spot. He has great positional size and never forces anything, allowing him to get great looks at the rim and create for his teammates without wasting dribbles. Inside, they’re anchored by the number 4 player in the country, Aaron Bradshaw. Bradshaw is an uber-athletic and mobile big that has an old school style. He’s able to contest shots at the rim on one end and run the floor for a dunk on the other. Long term, Bradshaw might have more potential than anyone in the country and in regards to this tournament, it’s hard to find another player that has as many traits as him. Camden has surrounded these two with athletic and aggressive wings that can pass, dribble, and score. Names such as Billy Richmond, Cian Medley, Dasear Haskins, and Cornelius Robinson fit that mold and anchor this teams’ core.