BOWIE, MD - The inaugural DMVelite Super Circuit came to a close this past weekend with the crowing of champions for the 17U, 16U and 15U Divisions.
Here’s a look at some of the top 16U performers from Session IV:
CHALI TAYLOR, TRAILBLAZERS ELITE
In addition to basketball, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Taylor is a strong safety and linebacker on the Sidwell Friends (DC) football team, and his athleticism and physicality were on full display in Bowie.
Taylor averaged a Division-leading 18.8 points and 2.8 steals per game, along with 7.8 rebounds as the Trailblazers won the Super Circuit 16U championship.
“I think my motor is one of my top attributes,” he said. “I always keep going the whole game, never letting down. My toughness, and I just think my vision on the court is also another one of my strong suits.”
Taylor showed a knack for making a play whenever Trailblazers Elite needed one. He scored 15 of his game-high 19 points in the second half of a 53-34 semifinal victory over Team Silk, helping the Trailblazers blow open a game they led by just one point (17-16) at halftime. He followed that up with a 26-point performance in the title game, going 8-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the foul line.
The 2023 guard said he doesn’t yet have a preference for either of the sports that he plays, but it's easy to see him having a college future in whichever he chooses.
JEREMIAH BARNES, TRAILBLAZERS ELITE
The 6-foot-5 Barnes was a matchup nightmare for opposing teams all weekend with his ability to score inside and out. He posted 12.5 points and a Division-leading 8.8 rebounds and 2.75 blocks per game (minimum 3 games played) to help the Trailblazers claim the 16U crown. The Gwynn Park (Md.) 2023 wing went off in a 66-50 win over Maryland Movement Black on Saturday, posting 20 points and 16 boards.
DEVIN BRACKENRIDGE, MARYLAND MOVEMENT BLACK
The Watkins Mill (Md.) 2023 guard was one of the most prolific scorers in the 16U Division, and had his full arsenal on display in Saturday’s opening game, posting 28 of his team’s 48 points in a 57-48 loss to Germantown Basketball Club. He went 10-of-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range in the game, building off a very strong performance at Session III in Wilmington two weeks ago.
“I had a slow start in the beginning of the spring,” Brackenridge said, “but I feel like I was able to pick it up the last few months for the live period.”
PETER MANGAN, GERMANTOWN BASKETBALL CLUB
GBC earned one of the top two seeds - and a corresponding bye - for the 16U playoff round, and Mangan was a key reason why. The Damascus (Md.) 2023 guard posted 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, two assists and a steal per game, and he gave eventual champion Trailblazers Elite all it could handle with a game-high 27 points in the title game.
JOEY LUTZ, GERMANTOWN BASKETBALL CLUB
Another Damascus (Md.) product, the 6-foot-2 Lutz posted 9.8 points, 3 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 assists per game during GBC’s run to the title game. He had a team-high 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting (3-of-4 from 3-point range) in a 68-57 win over NOVA UNFD on Saturday.
JACK MURPHY, NOVA 94 FEET ORANGE
Murphy was Nova 94 Orange’s most consistent offensive performer throughout the circuit, and kept it up in Session IV with a team-leading 13.8 points per game. The St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (Va.) 2023 guard impressed with his efficiency; he is smart with his shot selection and rarely forces anything.
ANDREW NIELDS, NOVA 94 FEET ORANGE
A 2023 guard from Annandale (Va.), Nields averaged 12.5 points per game and tied for the team rebounding lead at 4 per contest to help his team reach the 16U semifinals. He had a game-high 19 points in that loss, a 54-46 loss to Germantown Basketball Club.
JAMES MCINTYRE, NOVA 94 FEET BLUE
The Washington-Liberty (Va.) 2023 guard continued his strong play on the Super Circuit, posting 18 points per game in Session IV as Nova 94 Blue went 2-1. He lit up the Maryland Movement Red defense to the tune of 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range, as well as 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
MARTIN SOMERVILLE, THE CITY ELITE
Somerville (Bishop McNamara 2024) hit the game-winning jumper in a thrilling 46-44 overtime victory over Team Shooters on Saturday, finishing with a game-high 14 points.
“We were just trying to space the court,” he said of the shot,” and then somebody drove and I knew he was coming my way, because they cut off his right and I knew I had the open shot and to just be ready. Earlier in the game I missed that, but I knew I was going to hit this one.”
Somerville averaged a team-high 15.5 points per game for The City, going 11-of-20 from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
LOGAN LEWIS, THE CITY ELITE
Lewis (DeMatha 2023) exploded for 21 points and 17 rebounds in a 61-58 elimination round loss to New World Blue. He averaged a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds per game as The City split a pair of contests.
TRE GREEN, TEAM MELO BLACK
The 6-foot-3 Green (Glenelg Country 2023) scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead Melo Black to a 42-40 win over New World Blue in a tense showcase game Sunday afternoon. He went 4-of-7 from the field after the break, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
DAMIEN JONES, NEW WORLD BLUE 2024
Jones (St. Charles 2024) had a productive weekend for New World, averaging a team-high 13.8 points and 2.5 steals per game. In his best game he had 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting - including 4-of-7 from 3-point range - in a 61-58 win over The City Elite.
HASSAN DORMAN, NEW WORLD BLUE 2024
The 2024 Oxon Hill (Md.) guard opened with 21 points in a loss to Team Silk, and had 17 in a 61-58 win over The City Elite on Saturday. He averaged 13.5 points and 2 steals per game for the weekend.
MARLON THOMPSON, TEAM SILK
A speedy 5-foot-10 guard from Digital Harbor (Md.), Thompson stuffed the stat sheet for Team Silk, leading the team in scoring (10.2), assists (2.) and steals (1.75) per game.
16U STANDOUTS
Michael Baskerville, Germantown Basketball Club
Jabari Bookman, Team Silk
Blake Burrows, Team Shooters
Ethan Gibson, NOVA UNFD
Tony Hart, Team Silk
Gabriel Jones, NOVA UNFD
Connor McPhail, NOVA 94 Feet Blue
Trenton Miller, Maryland Movement Red
Darnell Morris, Maryland Movement Black
Davon Mosley, Team Silk
Jayce Piper, Maryland Movement Red
Omar Reid, Team Melo Black
Rashad Samuels, Trailblazers Elite
Reese Samuels, Trailblazers Elite
Connor Shiflett, Germantown Basketball Club
Luke Sekasi, The City Elite
Kyrie Smith, Team Melo Black
Trey Smith, Team Shooters
Wyatt Trundle, NOVA 94 Feet Orange
Kieran Upadhyaya, NOVA 94 Feet Orange
Brian Welser, NOVA 94 Feet Blue
Jayson White, Impact Basketball
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