Fourth Time is the Charm for Ohio School
PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University was the setting for the fourth annual AND1 High School Basketball Championship (HBC) final rounds this past weekend. Amidst the many travel team tournaments and camps in the spring months, HBC is a nice change of pace as players take time to play with their school team again. The tournament continues to grow, this year having held ten regionals and bringing all ten winners here to determine its champion.
The championship game came down to two teams with a tradition of stars and winning in Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS and Canton (OH) McKinley HS, the latter of whom has been to all four AND1 final rounds. McKinley used its athletic edge in the frontcourt to open the game up later in the first quarter, then broke it open in the second quarter and had answers the rest of the way as they took home their first AND1 championship with a 78-68 win.
The Bulldogs shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and held the Pioneers to just 36 percent, and that set the tone. The Pioneers had a size advantage, but the Bulldogs were too athletic and especially in the frontcourt, where MVP Raymar Morgan (26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) was terrific when he wasn’t battling foul trouble, while Ricky Jackson (16 points) was a constant thorn in the Pioneers’ side as well.
Artesia made some charges in the second half, getting within nine on three occasions in the fourth and later within eight with 14 seconds left after consecutive three-pointers, but McKinley had answers throughout.
Marcus Parker added 17 points for McKinley in his best effort of the weekend. Artesia was led by 17 points each from James Harden and Derek Glasser, the latter of whom added five assists.
Earlier on Sunday, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach took control in the first quarter and steadily pulled away behind Ryan Anderson’s stellar play to take third place with a 72-46 win over Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS. Anderson filled the stat sheet with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals. Emeka Iweka (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Tremaine Menese (13 points, 14 rebounds) also posted double-doubles for the Vikings, who held a 56-35 edge on the glass. Michael Crabtree led Carter with 14 points.
In Friday night’s opening round, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS knocked off Charlestown (MA), then Laurinburg (NC) Institute held off Fairfax (VA) Paul VI.
Quarterfinals
Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS 98, Chicago (IL) John Marshall HS 62
Freshman Malik Story scored 36 points in just 20 minutes and sparked a big run to start the second quarter to break open a close game as Artesia blew out John Marshall by a score of 98-62.
Story, who did not play in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand, sparked a run of 11 straight points as part of a 15-1 run to start the second quarter. He went 14-20 from the field and was 7-11 on three-pointers, putting on a shooting clinic from mid-range and long range. The Pioneers were never challenged after the early second quarter run, shooting nearly 62 percent from the field.
Derek Glasser had 13 points and seven assists for the Pioneers, while James Harden added 12 points and Shanntell Norman made all five of his field goal attempts en route to 11 points.
John Marshall was led by Patrick Beverly’s sterling effort, as the rising senior had 38 points on 11-12 shooting and was 11-13 at the free throw line.
Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS 68, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s 61
Michael Crabtree’s three-point play with 1:04 left would prove to be the winning basket, as David W. Carter held on for a 68-61 win over St. Benedict’s.
The Cowboys led for most of the game, with the Graybees making several mini-runs at the lead without success. They got within 57-56 on a three-pointer by David Cubillan (22 points), then with 1:50 left took a 60-59 lead on a reverse layup by Chris Smith (10 points). The Cowboys regained the lead before Crabtree’s big play, then they made free throws in the final minute to hang on.
Crabtree led the Cowboys with a game-high 33 points and nine rebounds. Brokeith Pane added 18 points and five assists, and Allen Gardiner had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS 69, Dunwoody (GA) High 58
Ryan Anderson scored 27 points, with none bigger than a clutch three-pointer that started a game-ending 9-0 run as Rainier Beach held on for a 69-58 win over defending champion Dunwoody.
Anderson was 10-18 from the field and made 5-of-9 three-pointers for the Vikings, adding three steals at the defensive end. The Vikings, who never trailed but were challenged all game long, shot nearly 44 percent from three-point range, while the Wildcats missed all three of their shots.
Dunwoody, which made a third quarter run, was led by Kierre Jordan’s 22 points.
Canton (OH) McKinley HS 71, Laurinburg (NC) Institute 50
Raymar Morgan and Todd Brown each posted double-doubles, and McKinley’s defense held Laurinburg below 35 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers as they pulled away in the second half in a 71-50 win.
Morgan (19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals) had early foul trouble, but came alive in the second half, while Brown (14 points, 10 rebounds) was solid throughout in playing a team-high 28 minutes. Ricky Jackson completed the powerful frontcourt trio by adding 14 points.
Despite shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first half, Laurinburg stayed within striking distance as they were down 26-17. In the second half, McKinley shot nearly 47 percent from the field and outscored the Tigers 45-33.
Consolation Games – Brief Recaps
Fairfax (VA) Paul VI 84, Charlestown (MA) High 71
Paul VI turned the game around in the second quarter, then broke a close game open in the third quarter en route to an 84-71 win over Charlestown.
Jean Cajou led Paul VI with 21 points, Danny Sumner added 17 and Marc Bolden had 16 points and nine rebounds. Charlestown was led by Paul Becklens’ 18 points. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field.
Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s 77, Chicago (IL) John Marshall HS 68
St. Benedict’s pulled away in the third quarter, then had to hold on late in the fourth to knock off John Marshall, 77-68.
Chris Smith scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures for the Graybees, who also got 18 points and nine rebounds from David Cubillan and 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks from Samardo Samuels.
Patrick Beverly had 39 points and Davaris Smith added 15 points and eight rebounds for John Marshall.
Dunwoody (GA) High 61, Laurinburg (NC) Institute 42
Dunwoody forced 24 turnovers and held Laurinburg Institute to 34 percent shooting in a 61-42 win. The Wildcats, who shot over 47 percent from the field, got 17 points from Kierre Jordan and 14 each from Delwan Graham and Darius Johnson. Celeste Mayllee was the lone player in double figures for Laurinburg with 15 points.
Semifinals
Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS 65, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS 60
After looking like they would run away with the game in the first half, Artesia had to hold off a furious comeback by Ryan Anderson and Rainier Beach in the final minutes of their 65-60 semifinal win.
The Pioneers outscored the Vikings 17-4 in the second quarter and shot 50 percent from the field to take a 33-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Vikings struggled, shooting below 28 percent from the field and not getting much from Anderson. But they came back slowly in the third quarter, and Anderson got hot in the fourth, eventually making consecutive three-pointers to bring them within 60-58 in the final minute. He finished with a game-high 29 points and added five assists.
Artesia was led by James Harden, who very ably defended Anderson and also scored a team-high 19 points. Derek Glasser added 17 points and six assists, and Ray Hall controlled the paint off the bench to the tune of 13 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes.
Canton (OH) McKinley HS 74, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS 56
McKinley ran off 14 unanswered points late in the first quarter, then put the game away in the third with the last seven points of the quarter en route to a 74-56 semifinal victory of David W. Carter.
The Bulldogs shot over 49 percent from the field and also held a 44-36 edge on the glass as their terrific frontcourt of Todd Brown (16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists), Ricky Jackson (16 points, nine rebounds) and Raymar Morgan (12 points, eight rebounds) led the charge. Morgan had to battle foul trouble, especially in the first half, but when he was on the floor he made things happen.
Carter back in the second quarter, making it a game at halftime as they outscored the Bulldogs 20-13 in the second frame. The teams were relatively even in the third until McKinley put it away with their late run, and they coasted in the fourth quarter with the lead reaching 22 at one point.
Brokeith Pane led Carter with 27 points and Michael Crabtree added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Tournament Notes
- St. Benedict’s was without three of its top players, as Lance Thomas and Corey Stokes were at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, while Eugene Harvey was invited but did not attend due to injury. Also at the NBPA Top 100 Camp was AnJuan Wilderness, a key figure in Dunwoody’s title run last year.
This is the tough part about running a tournament like this – there is never a good time in the spring, as there will always be other events for the top players. The past two years, the regionals coincided with the NBPA Camp, but this year it came at a more costly time – the final rounds. It put the respective teams at a big disadvantage and didn’t give us a real sense of how the teams are with their players. - Before the championship game, a moment of silence was observed for the late John McAdams, who passed away on June. Among other things, McAdams did the public address announcing at the first three AND1 HBC final rounds, and it certainly did not feel the same without his voice behind the microphone.
Player Notes
Ryan Anderson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Really had a nice weekend, shooting the ball well and being a team leader. He showed good shot selection, at times stepping inside the line for a good mid-range shot and a few good drives to the basket. He’s not overly quick or athletic, but he’s not deficient in either area and is an intelligent player. High-major prospect.
Todd Brown (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS) You can really see the development in his game, especially from last year when he looked like an undersized power forward. Although he didn’t have a stellar championship game, all weekend long he played well at both ends with his rebounding and scoring, and he continued to show improved ball skills for the small forward position. He is active and plays stronger than he looks, and his two double-doubles speak to both. Mid-major plus prospect.
Jean Cajou (6’3″ Jr. SG, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI) Scoring guard has a decent frame and went for 21 points in the consolation game. He shot it well and made all his free throws along the way. Mid-major prospect has committed to Mt. St. Mary’s.
Michael Crabtree (6’3″ Jr. SG, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS) Possessing a good frame, he’s a nice guard with scoring ability and who plays with a lot of confidence. He’s not overly quick, but can use his strength to get to the basket and can make shots from mid-range, although he didn’t shoot well at all after an 11-21 showing in the first game. From the guard spot, he rebounded very well. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Michael Cruddup (6’3″ Fr. SG, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Thin guard showed some promise shooting the ball, making a few mid-range jumpers and going 2-4 from behind the arc in one game. He played relatively limited minutes on an otherwise veteran team.
David Cubillan (6’0″ Jr. SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) If nothing else, this weekend he proved that he isn’t well-suited to the point guard spot despite his size. He’s quick and can score, both driving and shooting, but he also had to run the show and didn’t seem to be at his best. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Allen Gardiner (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS) Athletic forward has a thin upper body but can play bigger and stronger than he looks. He has good body control and can finish the break, but his overall skills in the halfcourt need some work. He rebounded well inside and reached double figures twice, and he’s a mid-major prospect.
Derek Glasser (6’1″ Jr. PG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) Quietly, he was very effective running the show. He’s a solid ball-handler and passer who made a lot of good decisions, including shot selection, and when he did look to score more in the championship game, he played well. Among other things, he made a tough jumper on the move and got fouled, and made a couple of long range shots, proving he’s not a scoring liability. He could be a steal for the right mid-major.
Delwan Graham (6’5″ Fr. SF, Dunwoody (GA) High) Lefty athlete has some potential on the wing, as he’s active and made a good percentage of his shots. He also rebounded well, and if he grows, so will his potential, which already looks good.
Ray Hall (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) He got better as the weekend went along and really looks like a nice post prospect. Although he doesn’t have much foot speed and won’t finish many fast breaks, he is fundamentally sound at both ends and talks to his teammates on defense. He plays well within himself, and looks like a nice mid-major prospect.
James Harden (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) Athletic lefty really got better in each round of play. He has a slight frame, but that didn’t stop him from very ably defending Ryan Anderson in the semifinals and still leading the team in scoring. He looked more like a scorer than a shooter, though he did make 3-of-5 from three-point range in the final. Keep an eye on him later on.
Emeka Iweka (6’6″ So. PF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Big body in the post is actually more athletic than he first looks. He’s strong and moves well inside, but undersized for the power forward spot and it showed against the big bodies Artesia had inside. He went 3-12 from the field in that game, playing better against smaller front lines. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect has committed to Oregon State.
Ricky Jackson (6’6″ Jr. SF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS) Very active forward was around the ball on the glass often, getting some offensive rebounds and scoring some garbage baskets inside. He showed a few glimpses of a game away from the basket and some ball skills, and was part of his team’s frontcourt attack that gave them a big edge. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Celeste Mayllee (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) Athletic forward has decent size and seemed to do his best against the smaller Dunwoody team, where he also had eight rebounds. Mid-major prospect.
Tremaine Menese (6’6″ Jr. SF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS) Looks like an undersized power forward, though he’s more athletic than most at that position. He mainly played inside, where he’s active and will score and rebound, and doesn’t seem athletic enough for small forward at a very high level. Mid-major prospect.
Brandon Monroe (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) Active athlete doesn’t appear to have much game offensively, but he will get some rebounds and especially at the offensive end. Mid-major prospect.
Raymar Morgan (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS) The tournament MVP finishes off a nice spring where he showed he is the real deal after at times looking like a bit of a tease. He has legitimate combo forward skills and athleticism, as he’s a good rebounder and can score in and out along with the ball skills, although at this point he’s probably more effective at power forward. Good high-major prospect.
Shanntell Norman (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) He has lots of size, but his overall mobility is a major concern. He doesn’t run the floor all that well and his post moves seem a bit slow at times, as they need some work. With his size, he can be a presence, but looks the part of a role player. Mid-major prospect.
Brokeith Pane (6’2″ So. SG, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS) Scoring guard showed a nice stroke while also making his share of successful drives to the basket. He’s reasonably quick, has a good frame and handles the ball, but he’s not pass-first and that makes him a shooting guard. Nonetheless, he has the size for that position and can develop into a good prospect.
Samardo Samuels (6’9″ Fr. PF, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) How high is the ceiling for him? Very high, if this weekend is any indication. At times, he dominated inside with his mature frame and good mobility, though he also looks raw at both ends and has a tendency to lower his shoulder and get called for offensive fouls. He looked good rebounding, and with improvement on his footwork and overall game, he has a bright future.
Chris Smith (6’2″ So. SG, Lakewood (NJ) St. Benedict’s) Let’s get one thing out of the way: he isn’t his brother. But with that said, he is playing better of late. He’s an athletic scorer who won’t light it up from long range, as he struggled from there, but he can get to the basket and finish the break. He went for 30 points in two games.
Malik Story (6’4″ Fr. SG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS) He wasn’t the same after his stellar effort Saturday morning. He scored just three points in the semifinals, and though he looked good in the early going of the championship game, he had just 11 points on 3-8 shooting. He’s athletic and has a nice stroke, and generally showed good shot selection. More strength will help him get better, and he’s not the quickest guard, but he certainly has good potential and is right now among the better prospects in his class.
Danny Sumner (6’6″ Jr. SF, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI) Very athletic forward has some length and skills. He ran the floor well and showed skills for both forward spots, though he’ll probably play the small forward spot more. More strength will only make him better, and this mid-major plus prospect has committed to William & Mary.
William Toro (6’6″ Jr. SF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) Athletic wing has a good frame and appears to have the tools to be a nice scorer. He handled the ball often, though he’s not a big point guard, shot it well from long range in one game and got some rebounds. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
