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DMVelite Varsity League: Week 1 Standouts

By Marcus Helton, Brian Inge & Dawn Chriss, 01/19/21, 3:00PM EST

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A look at some of the top performers from opening weekend.

COMING SOON: ON-DEMAND VIDEO

The Campus hosted league games Saturday and Sunday.


DC Eagles vs. ECA Warriors. [BY MATT MCINTOSH, DMVELITE]

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD - The opening weekend of the DMVelite Varsity League tipped off last weekend at The Campus.

Here’s a look at some of the players who stood out in Week 1:

MIKE AIKEN, ACE 2021 GUARD

The Thurgood Marshall (DC) star is a super dynamic guard that is disruptive on defense. He’s undersized but makes up with it with exceptional athleticism, instinct and ability to finish over taller players in the lane.

MARION GARY, BROTHERS UNITED 2021 GUARD

A 2021 guard from Ballou (DC), Gary played with great energy in his team’s 37-35 comeback victory against Ace Saturday morning.

Brothers United fell into an early double-digit hole against Ace, who are led by Thurgood Marshall guards Mark and Mike Aiken.

“The key today was playing defense and stopping two known prospect guards: the twins,” Gary said. “So that’s what we did, we played a lot of face-guard basketball - a lot of man-to-man, we didn’t really go to too much zone today. So that was a big improvement for us, ‘cause we’ve had problems and trouble with that in the past, so just stopping those two guards and getting that momentum to see what we can do, that helped us a lot.”

A transfer from Eastern (DC), the 6-foot-2, 165-pound Gary did a good job of getting into the paint, and said he prefers to do his damage from the high post. He’s one to keep an eye on for Division 3 schools looking for a tough scoring guard.

ZAY BROWN, DC EVOLUTION 2021 GUARD

Brown does it all, and led DC Evolution in scoring (20 points), steals (4) and assists (4) in a 49-46 win over Falconers on Saturday. A tough lead guard, continuing to show a consistent all-around floor game will help Zay generate more interest at the next level.

DARREN BUCHANAN, DC EVOLUTION 2022 GUARD

The Wilson (DC) product’s versatility was on full display in a 49-46 win over Falconers on Saturday, as he showed the two-way skills that make him an attractive prospect for the next level. Hitting shots from the perimeter, attacking the rim relentlessly and making plays defensively, it was a good showing for the Top 150 recruit, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

KING TWINS LEAD DC EAGLES

Archbishop Carroll (DC) 2021 twin wings Kenton and Kris King were impressive in their team’s 42-32 win over ECA Warriors on Saturday, combining for 20 points. 

The duo played more under control since our last viewing in the DMVelite Fall League, and have continued to improve. They shot well off the dribble and made plays for teammates; both are impressive athletes who play with a high motor.

TRE THOMAS, FALCONERS 2022 GUARD

Thomas is known as a scorer deluxe, but showed improved vision with a number of high-level finds off the dribble. He’s currently more of a 2 guard than a 1, but is clearly putting in the work and  trending into the right direction. He finished with a team-high 17 points in a 49-46 loss to DC Evolution Saturday and led the way with 16 in a 50-45 win over Yellow Jackets on Sunday.

AMARE WIMBUSH, FALCONERS 2022 FORWARD

Wimbush posted double figures scoring in both first weekend games. A long and versatile forward who is still raw offensively, but has a lot of potential to be an impact player due to his high motor and ability to finish at the rim and hit perimeter shots.

RYAN ARCHEY, YELLOW JACKETS 2022 GUARD

Archey was one of the breakout players of the DMVelite Fall League, and has continued his upward trajectory. The 6-footer is a lighting quick guard who gets to the rim at will and scores it equally well from mid range and 3. He will need to continue to play at a high level consistency but is a player D1 coaches should track. Archey was impressive in both games this weekend for the Yellow Jackets, most notably in an 18-point outing in a 50-45 loss to Falconers.

ABDOU SAMB, ECA WARRIORS 2021 FORWARD

The Rhode Island commit played his game; he defends, rebounds, controls the paint, is a vocal backbone defender and strong finisher.He posted 9.5 points per game as ECA Warriors split a pair of opening weekend contests.

AIDAN HARRIS, DMV STAGS ELITE/RUNNIN MAVERICKS 2023 GUARD

Harris seems to have added muscle to his frame along with a confident approach to the game. He made several high-difficulty jump shots in an early afternoon game against a talented Yellow Jacket squad.

MATT GRAY, WDBA 2022 WING

A 6-foot-5 wing from Flint Hill (Va.), Gray poured in a team-high 18 points in an opening 43-38 win against DC Tigers. 

MORE WEEK 1 BOYS STANDOUTS

Freddie Aikens, Brothers United 2021 Guard
Jacob Aryee, Runnin Mavs 2022 Forward
Zayveon Banks, DC Pirates 2021 Guard
Chance Berry, DMV Stags
Binwi Bihai, Team Will 2021 Guard
Larry Bulluck, DMV Stags 2022 Guard
David Cooper, Chevy Chase Cougars
Braxton Crumpton, We R1 2022
Chris Davis, DC Tigers 2022
Devin Ellerbee, ECA Warriors 2021 Guard
Matt Gray, WDBA 2022 Wing
Maurice Johnson, DMV T-Wolves 2021 Guard
Pharoah Lassiter, Chevy Chase Cougars
Alex Parisotto, Team Vito Black 2021 Guard
Aiden Price, DMV Stags
Marcos Simms Unknown Talent 2022
Antwan Smallwood, Jr., Allentown Pressure 2021 Wing
DeMarco Wade, Yellow Jackets 201 Guard
Rodney Wilkerson, LH Knights 2021 Guard
O’Meech Wilson, LH Knights 2021 Forward
Darren Wright, DMV T-Wolves 2021 Guard

GIRLS DIVISION

ZAKIA BARNETT-GRAY, TEAM AMIRA

A crafty guard that can shoot the three and get to the rim and  gets buckets. Team leader. In just week 1 totaled 49 points. Prediction: League MVP

QUADENCE SAMUELS, TEAM EXCEL

Samuels is a big guard that can play inside and out. Can shoot the 15ft and post up. Attacks the basket and can finish. Plays hard.

MILAN BROWN, TEAM THRILL

Young talent (8th grader) with a tremendous upside. Handles the ball well and plays both ends of the floor. Week 1 totaled 35 points.

CAIA LOVING, FOE UNITED

True post player. Plays well around the basket and grabs rebounds. Can run the floor. In one game put up 14 points and 7 rebounds.

ALIZA MURRAY, PRODUCTION OVER HYPE

A small, quick guard, Murray makes smart plays and sets her teammates up on offense. She shoots the 3 well and is a  good defender.

MORE WEEK 1 GIRLS STANDOUTS

Elena Bertrand, Production Over Hype
Caly Cage, Team Excel
Randi Griffin, Team Amira
Madyson Moore-Nicholson, Team Excel
 

DMVelite Varsity League, Week 1