STARTERS
F-C. Brandon Edozie, Forest Park
It was a very young Forest Park team this year, but it was hardly one lacking talent. Even though just a freshman, Edozie could be so dominant in the post opponents would have to call time out early to change their entire defensive game plan against the Bruins. We were at a game versus Freedom-Woodbridge where he scored all of his team’s first quarter points, finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds. He’s already pretty tall and strong and shows more shot-blocking ability than you might expect. A shout out here to his freshman teammate Ethan Salvatierra, a guard who could easily be on this team as well.
G-F. Xavier Main, Lake Braddock
Main gave Brian Metress’ up-tempo system a crucial boost of athleticism in his initial high school campaign. Strong enough to bang down low and be a factor on the boards yet with the ball-handling skills of a guard, Main can fit in almost anywhere in a high school lineup. He produced steals and excelled in the open court–obviously also important in Lake Braddock’s system. This season he produced a fair amount of double-digit scoring games. Main is already a nice player, and the physical tools are there for him to become a dominant one.
F-C. Christian Gurdak, Paul VI
Looking and playing well above his age, Gurdak was an absolute rock in the middle for the nationally-ranked Panthers this season. At least 6’9″ and with a relentless motor, Gurdak provided PVI with double-double-type games consistently, but also did a lot of the little things that don’t always show up in the box score. He caused turnovers by disrupting passes, his positioning expertly set up teammates, etc, etc. Gurdak’s understanding of the game seems to be at a level we don’t see a lot of sophomores and juniors at, never mind a freshman. Look for him to become more and more of an offensive weapon as his career progresses.
G-F. Kade Sebastian, John Champe
Sebastian is a very interesting prospect that did a lot of offensive damage for a strong Knights team this year. He is a good shooter from beyond the arc, and if you manage to close out on that he is very capable of quickly dribbling in to bury the mid-range. Double-digit scoring games were commonplace this freshman year for Sebastian, but he also shows a lot of potential in other areas of the game. With very long arms he is constantly disrupting passing lanes and getting steals. His length can be a factor at the rim on both offense and defense.
F. Jaquan Womack, Paul VI
Most of us old folks would be very happy to take what Womack has already done in high school and call it a basketball career. Womack is hardly done, however. While he’ll forever be known as the guy whose last-second shot gave Paul VI a dramatic WCAC Tournament Championship, Womack also possesses the potential to succeed at the next level. At a solid 6’6″ 200-plus pounds, he has already demonstrated the quickness and strength to be a shut-down defender. He has superior footwork and finishes extremely strong at the rim, probably as well as any freshman we’ve seen in a while around here.
RESERVES
G. RJ Jones, Osbourn Park
Jones turned quite a few heads in his first varsity season, like Sebastian earning All-Cedar Run Honorable Mention honors. He’s a smooth guard that can get nice elevation on his jumper, which extends out to well-beyond three-point range. Also a creative finisher at the rim, Jones has an easy-going feel to his game–until he uses his athleticism to blow by an opponent or pick his pockets, that is. With good length, as Jones gets naturally stronger he has a chance to be a star.
G-F. Jordan Scott, South Lakes
A senior starting five deservedly got a lot of headlines in South Lakes’ impressive 24-3 season, but every team needs a bench, and by the end of the year the Seahawks’ was very solid. Scott was a huge part of that unit. The 6’4″ freshman was very dangerous from long range, hitting four three-pointers in a game versus Chantilly. He can score in other ways, and Scott is also a good passer and crafty defender. With a legendary senior class gone, Scott will have a chance to step up and become the team’s first or second scoring option next year.
G. Kenny Chicas, Woodgrove
Chicas played a ton of minutes as a starting guard in the brutal Potomac District, and he fit right in for the Wolverines. The off-guard almost always played within the Woodgrove offense, letting the game come to him. He did a little bit of everything, flashing all aspects of the game. We especially liked his active feet and on-the-ball defense. Fundamentally very sound, Chicas will start to put up some nice statistics in the very near future.
G. Jakob Salgado, Dominion
A six-foot guard, Salgado had his share of big games for the Titans this year, such as when he went for 20 in a comeback win over Heritage. In that game he attacked the rim relentlessly, drawing contact and getting to the line. As a young player, his propensity to hardly shrink away from contact should serve him well in the future as his offensive game continues to improve. He’s got nice explosiveness, and is already a creative finisher.
G-F. Anthony Saunders, Edison
Saunders started a bunch of games for an Edison team that finished only behind state champion Hayfield in its district. With his nice length he has a lot of potential, and while he was content to defer to more experienced players in some games we saw, he flashed enough to be named Honorable Mention National District. Saunders is a good passer, can shoot, and has considerable athletic ability. He is a player we’ll be watching closely in 2022-2023.
G-F. Trey Fitch, Rock Ridge
Many a talented Fitch has come through the Ridge–the latest one to do so is tall guard Trey. His height gives him the ability to play forward, and he blocked several shots in the lane this season as a freshman. His perimeter defense is there, too, and as you would expect, Fitch can score. A starter, he went for double figures a bunch of times, hitting threes and getting to the rim. Fitch is part of a nice Phoenix freshman class that should propel Rock Ridge in the years to come.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ethan Salvatierra (Forest Park), Nathaniel Ament (Colgan), Eann Pennix (Colgan), Will Beck (Rock Ridge), Mekhi Motilewa (Rock Ridge), Sol Vita (South Lakes), Robin Casapao (West Springfield), Asjal Ali (Justice), Messiah Dixon (Park View), Shane Lincoln (O’Connell), Aiden Argabright (St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes), Luke Scharkowski (Centreville), Aiden Caulker (Fairfax Christian)