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DMVelite Fall League Focus Notebook

By Brian Inge, 10/29/19, 10:00AM EDT

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Top players and storylines from the past week.


Yuri Covington (left) defends in the DMVelite Fall League.

Breakout Players:

Yuri Covington ‘20 DMV Stags/Clarksburg HS (Md.)

  • A true diamond in the rough. Yuri hasn’t played on any high level AAU circuits and his high school is tucked away in Montgomery County but he made the most of his chances this fall. The lightning quick guard scores from all three levels and sports impressive quickness and athleticism. He impressed all fall, capped with two eye-popping performances in the DMVelite Fall Showcase event where he scored at will, highlighted by a 30-point performance (25 in the first half) against a very talented New Hope (Md.) squad. Yuri is a firm Mid Major+ prospect and could potentially be a High Major prospect depending on the fit. He is that good…. PERIOD.

Anthony Simmons '20 SEED School (DC)

  • Anthony is a super athletic point guard who can score, pass and defend. One of the players who college coaches should check out this winter. SEED School is a relatively unknown program but Anthony Simmons should still see his recruitment pick up this winter. The 6’3 senior guard played with poise, assertiveness and moxie all fall and outplayed many better- known prospects.

CJ Scott '22 Archbishop Spalding (Md.)

  • CJ put on the top performance of the fall in the final game of the regular season which propelled his team into the playoffs. The sophomore guard poured in a league-record 40 points, scoring from all levels and playing with a confidence and assertiveness seen in an upperclassmen. CJ can do it all and will only continue to get better. He is firmly on watch to be a High Major prospect and should lead Archbishop Spalding and first-year coach Josh Pratt to some huge wins this upcoming season.

Kobi Baptiste ‘20 Parkdale HS (Md.)

  • Kobi returns to Parkdale after a year away and looks like he has something to prove. Kobi is an assertive driver and has a good feel of how to maneuver and finish in traffic. Still a streaky shooter, if he can clean up his mechanics, look for Kobi to gain some interest from D1 programs. He is a player colleges should track this winter.

Ethan Wilson ‘20 Osbourn Park HS (Va.)

  • Ethan has been on our radar for a few years. He continues to improve and impress with his scoring abilities and more recently, his leadership qualities. Ethan is a strong D2 prospect and if he has a big senior season should gain interest from D1 schools as well.

Saveon Jackson ‘21 KIPP Charter (DC)

  • Not a point guard, not a shooting guard...he is a player. Saveon has been playing high level basketball since the 7th grade and his poise and confidence on the court shows it. The 6 foot guard finishes over players 8 inches taller than him and has an improving jumpshot. He projects as a combo guard at the next level and will need to continue to hone his ball handling and passing to maximize his potential. Saveon is a surefire D1 prospect.

Rasheed Dupree ‘21 KIPP Charter (DC)

  • Heart over Height is the best way to describe the game of Rasheed Dupree. Rasheed is an elite passer, relentless defender in the mold of Patrick Beverly and a top flight floor general. A scorer if needed, but more of a facilitator at this point in his development. Rasheed understands pace and flow and controls every aspect of the game. He will need to continue to round out his outside shot and his ability to finish around the rim to maximize his potential. His recruitment should see an uptick next summer playing with a loaded Team Takeover squad.

Players to track in the next few years

Bryson Tucker ‘2024 Team Loaded

  • A very intriguing prospect to say the least. The 6-foot eighth grader is generally viewed as the most skilled prospect in his class. At this stage of his development he can get any shot he wants but is a willing passer and is not bashful with his play at all. He will need to continue to add strength to his frame and lift on his jumpshot. Bryson will be tracked closely for the next four years.

Emmanuel Okitondo ‘2024 Team Durant

  • “Manny’ is new to the DMV and made a splash with his athleticism and motor. He will need to continue working on his all around the game but the tools are there for him to become an elite player.

Reece and Rashard Samuels 2023 Trailblazers Elite

  • The twin brothers were unknown until this fall but they made up for lost time. The brothers along with there teammate Marcus Banks completely took the fall league by storm knocking off EVERY elite team in the process. Playing a game fit for the times, the pace and space brothers routinely knocked down multiple shots from deep with accuracy and finished at the rim with ease. Unknown no longer, the twins are being monitored closely by many of the top private schools in the DMV and look to continue to make names for themselves going forward.

Marcus Banks 2023 Trailblazers Elite

  • Where Reece and Rashad scored at will, Banks set the table and routinely carved up defenses of all stature this fall. The bigger guard is a two-sport star who should see time on Riverdale Baptist’s varsity team. His development  will continue to be monitored closely.

AJ Swinton 2024 Team Takeover

  • AJ possesses good size at the wing spot and is a capable outside shooter. He will need to continue to work on his game but tracks as a prospect that will garner much attention going forward.

Donnie Freeman 2024 Team Takeover

  • Donnie is a multi skilled forward who will need to continue to build his body up. He shoots it from deep, finishes in the paint and plays with assertiveness. Reminiscent of Kevin Durant at the same age, at times he gets knocked off balance due to his slender makeup. His skillset along with his height makes him a very intriguing prospect. He is more potential than production currently but projects as a D1 player down the line.

Khani Rooth 2024 New World

  • Khani is potentially the most athletic player I have seen in the 2024 class to date. He possesses solid skill and is an intriguing prospect to watch going forward. At this point in his development he is more prospect than player but with work could end up being one of the best in his class at the end.

Quick Hits:

Germantown Basketball Club is for real

  • Germantown Maryland is not known as a hotbed for basketball but the club from out there proved themselves game after game that they are a program to be reckoned with. GBC plays the right way and has some talent to boot. This program is on the rise and Coach Phil is doing a great job of building this program.

Veritas Collegiate/New Hope

  • Two first year programs that far exceeded expectations this fall. Look for both programs to have strong winters. The programs both have size, talent, skill and coaching. They should not be taken lightly as both programs have future D1 prospects on their rosters.

DMV 2024 Class

  • The 2024 class in the DMV is very deep. There have been many players who have had flashes with some intriguing young talent on the radar. This class will continue to be monitored closely to see who emerges.

 


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