STARTERS
G. Devin Ainsworth, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes–Ainsworth slid into the starting lineup for a very good Saints team and did not disappoint. An efficient scorer and very good long-range shooter, the 6’2″ guard made defenses pay if they tried to neutralize the Saints’ post players first. He was fine bringing the ball up the court versus pressure, and consistently found his teammates open both in the paint and on the perimeter. On defense he demonstrated superior anticipation and used his length to get steals. No local freshman had a better season than Ainsworth.
G. Jahad Mansour, Edison–Mansour made a big impact for the Eagles, garnering Second Team All-National District honors. A bigger guard, Mansour impressed us with his ability to play within the Eagles’ offense. He was a significant weapon off-ball, burying threes and mid-range jumpers as needed after defenses collapsed on Isaiah Skinn. Mansour showed the ability to dominate at times, such as when he scored 34 points versus Lewis. For a freshman Mansour has superior instincts in many regards, and you better box him out because he is a weapon on the offensive glass.
G. Finn Gardner, Briar Woods–Gardner got playing time all year, but really came on late to average double figure scoring in February. We really like this kid’s game. All-out hustle, a good-looking three-point shot with some elevation, and length for a guard. He knows how to use that length to finish on both sides of the rim, block shots on smaller guards driving on him, and cause deflections and havoc on the perimeter. He was voted Second Team All-Potomac District.
G-F. Malachi Lee, Westfield–Lee, younger brother of Bulldogs junior Mathias, played a key role off the bench for a very good Westfield team. A fantastic athlete who has already enjoyed considerable success on the football field, Lee was hardly overmatched physically on the hardwood. He brought to the Bulldogs an ability to defend the perimeter, often against the opposing team’s best player, and yet bang against the big boys down low. On a few occasions Lee even led his fairly tall team in rebounding. Lee is (right now) only 6’1″ or so, but has already shown an ability to play above the rim.
G-F. Khyair Phillips, Bishop Ireton–The versatile Phillips quietly had a pretty good freshman campaign for the Cardinals. Coming off the bench he provided timely big plays in key WCAC games, jumping passing lanes for steals and delivering perimeter shooting within the offense. At 6’5″ he was able to use his athleticism to rebound and protect the paint a bit, plus Phillips has always had a lightning-quick explosion to the rim.
RESERVES
G. Aaron Bryant, Paul VI–Very possibly the best long-term prospect on this list, Bryant didn’t always play a ton when PVI tightened its rotation in big games, but he still made an impact when he did play. Bryant’s main impact on the game right now is his shooting, which he demonstrated when he buried three three-pointers in ten minutes against IMG in an early December matchup. He and fellow PVI freshman Aiden Acquah have a bright future as they get stronger and play more minutes.
G. Carter Brooks, Westfield–Westfield Coach Kevin Harris says pound-for-pound, Brooks may be the most skilled player on his very talented roster. The guard is a star in the making, also one of the top long-term prospects on this list. Harris says he does everything well–shoot, pass, handle, and get in the passing lanes on defense. Though his minutes were somewhat limited as a slight freshman, Brooks still made an impact, and Harris credits him for sparking his team in a win against Yorktown in the playoffs.
G-F. Corey Sutton, Mount Vernon–Sutton played a lot of minutes as a starter for Mount Vernon this season. 6’5″ and lanky, he was able to play a number of positions for the Majors. We were most impressed with his footwork, both defensively and offensively. We saw him utilize up-and-unders and the like on offense, and saw him move his feet well while defending both the perimeter and inside. Sutton did a great job playing within the Majors’ offensive framework this year and delivered some key three-pointers.
G-F. Kaleb Swanigan, Hylton–Hylton had a rough year, only winning three games and throwing their young players right into the fire. Those players did respond positively and improve, especially Kaleb Swanigan and talented young guard Marshall Scarborough. Both deserve to be on this team, but we went with Swanigan, who had some very good games as a freshman starter. A football player and excellent athlete, Swanigan impressed us most on the boards, delivering a 23-rebound performance against Osbourn Park, and pushing double-digits in that category on many occasions. The rest of his game is developing, but he has real potential and can definitely score.
G. Jason Bell, Gar-Field–One of the coach’s sons at Gar-Field, Jason (also goes by Braylan) often came off the bench to give him team a spark–many times a double-digit scoring one. He’s quick, and you can’t dribble carelessly anywhere near him when he’s playing defense. On offense, he’s a very dangerous three-point shooter who can bury a shot off the dribble. Bell teams with his older brother JJ, only a sophomore, to give the Red Wolves a lot of reason to be optimistic about the future.
G. Jordan Smith, Robinson–Despite the Rams’ considerable stable of talented guards, Smith earned quality minutes this season and some starts. With a solid handle he filled in at point guard admirably, though it seems his biggest impact in the future may be at shooting guard. A very good shooter, Smith hit five three-pointers in a loss to Woodson, and wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger from well beyond the arc. Smith will be a big part of the Rams’ attack for the next three years.
F. Connor Miles, Episcopal–Many younger players played significant roles for Episcopal this season, and one such player was Connor Miles. Miles, a 6’5″ wing, is a dangerous shooter from long range, and was usually good for a couple treys or more for the Maroon on a nightly basis. While that part of his game jumped out most in his initial campaign, he also made an impact on the boards and showed good footwork on defense, staying with smaller perimeter players and rejecting their shots when they got past.
Honorable Mention: Jaden Jones (Woodbridge); Marshall Scarborough (Hylton); Jack Cameron (Washington-Liberty); Luke Jones (Washington-Liberty); Campbell Tyler (Langley); Kaden Golston (Stone Bridge); Ryan Stemberger (Westfield); Emerson Finney (South Lakes); Joshua Dagbe (South Lakes); Mark Edwards (South County); Commen Richardson (Fairfax); Tyson Lacey (Edison); Khairi Nesbitt (Edison); Bennett Blair (Falls Church); Devan Howe (Gainesville); Benjamin Wilson (Woodgrove); Kian Andreassen (Loudoun County); Malakeye Walton (John Champe); Jake Bryan (Meridian); Keanan Dennis (Millbrook); Braylon Fauver (Millbrook); Jaycob Robinson (Warren County); Aiden Acquah (Paul VI); Landon Scott (St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes)