3rd ANNUAL DMV TIP-OFF CLASSIC - ALL-MET ELITE

3rd ANNUAL

 DMV TIP-OFF CLASSIC 

 ALL-MET ELITE

 

DECEMBER 20, 2014

NORTH POINT HIGH SCHOOL

2500 DAVIS RD. WALDORF MD. 20603

ADMISSION $10.00

kids under 6 & under free

2014-15 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase - ALL-MET ELITE

2014-15

 GEICO ESPN

 High School Basketball Showcase 

TV SCHEDULE 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

TERRELL ALLEN
DEMATHA HS.
HYATTSVILLE MD.

2014-15 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase Television Schedule:

(All Times ET)

Lancaster, Texas vs. No. 5 Plano West, Texas

Monday, Dec., 8: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 from Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas

No. 16 Bishop O’ Dowd, Calif. at No. 1 Montverde, Fla.

Friday, Dec.,12: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2 from Montverde Academy, Montverde, Fla.

No. 12 Simeon, Ill. vs. St Rita, Ill.

Friday, Dec., 19: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2 from Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Ill.

No. 19 DeMatha, Md. vs. No. 17 Sierra Canyon, Calif.

Friday, Jan., 2: 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.

No. 13 Our Savior New American, N.Y. vs. No. 6 Findlay Prep, Nev.

Friday, Jan., 2: 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.

No. 3 Oak Hill, Va. vs. Hamilton, Tenn.

Saturday, Jan., 10: 4 p.m. on ESPN from Arlington High School in Arlington, Tenn.

No. 16 Bishop O’Dowd, Calif vs. No. 11 Wheeler, Ga.

Monday, Jan., 19: 11 a.m. on ESPNU from Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

No. 3 Oak Hill, Va. vs. Villa Angela St. Joseph, Ohio.

Monday, Jan., 19: 1 p.m. on ESPNU from Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

No. 4 Bishop Gorman, Nev. vs. No. 1 Montverde, Fla.

Monday, Jan., 19: 3 p.m. on ESPNU from Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

Chaminade, Mo. vs. Paul VI, Va.

Monday, Jan., 19: 5 p.m. on ESPNU from Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

Callaway, Miss. vs. Dominican, Wis.

Saturday, Feb., 14: 10 p.m. on ESPNU from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis.

The 2014-15 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase is produced in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group.

MELO TRIMBLE WINS CBE HALL OF FAME CLASSIC MVP AWARD - ALL-MET ELITE

MELO TRIMBLE

 WINS

 CBE HALL OF FAME 

CLASSIC 

MVP AWARD 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

BISHOP O'CONNELL HS.

ARLINGTON VA.

PHOTO COURTESY 

OF 

TERRAPINSHOOPS INSTAGRAM

Maryland freshman guard Melo Trimble has won the CBE Hall of Fame Classic MVP award, announced following his team’s 72-63 win over No. 13 Iowa State to win the tournament title on Tuesday night.

DENVER NUGGETS TY LAWSON DESTROYS KIRK HINRICHS ANKLES - ALL-MET ELITE

DENVER NUGGETS 

TY LAWSON

 DESTROYS

 KIRK HINRICHS ANKLES 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

OAK HILL ACADEMY
MOUTH OF WILSON VA.

Melo Trimble leads Maryland Terps to 78-73 win over Arizona State - ALL-MET ELITE

Melo Trimble 

leads

 Maryland Terps 

to 

78-73

 win over Arizona State 

 ALL-MET ELITE

BISHOP O'CONNELL HS.

ARLINGTON VA.

PHOTO COURTESY

 OF

 DIAMONBACKONLINE.COM

In only his fourth game as a collegian, and against his toughest opponent to date, Maryland point guard Melo Trimble set a school single-game scoring record with 31 points. Coach Mark Turgeon told him about it in the locker room following the Terps’ 78-73 victory over Arizona State in the semifinals of the CBE Classic.

Turgeon's information, however, was incorrect. Smith's record actually was 33 points and still stands. This wasn't one of those games in which playing for records matttered; Trimble said he was out there concerned only about the win.

Trimble went 7-of-11 from the field and 13-of-14 from the foul line against ASU’s defense. It was his 3-pointer that stopped a 6-0 Arizona State run and got Maryland the lead for good at 69-68.

"I keep telling you that Melo’s a winner,” Turgeon said. “He’s going to do whatever he has to do to win the game. He’s done it his whole life.

“I’ve been watching Melo for four years now. He is who he is.”

THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE - 1985 ARTICLE ON GONZAGA HS. - MARK TILLMON - ALL-MET ELITE

THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE 

 1985 

ARTICLE 

ON

 GONZAGA HS. 

MARK TILLMON 

 ALL-MET ELITE

GONZAGA HS. 

WASHINGTON D.C. 

He is a sought-after speaker, engaging audiences of all ages and sizes on the importance of education, health, leadership and perseverance. Tillmon is often recognized for his charitable efforts receiving numerous awards especially as a distinguished Paul Alumnus from his Junior High School, which recognized his accomplishments in Academics and Athletics, as well as serving the community!

Tillmon is a Washington, DC native. He attended DC Public Schools before attending Gonzaga College High School, a Jesuit High School in the Washington, DC area, known for its academic excellence and rising athletics.

A Parade and McDonald's All-American guard from Gonzaga College High School, he was the key force in the Purple Eagles' 29-3 championship season in 1986, and finished as Gonzaga’s second All-Time leading scorer behind Notre Dame standout and former NBA player Tom Sluby.

Mark excelled in both academics and athletics where his basketball talents earned him a basketball scholarship to attend the prestigious Georgetown University, where he played under the renowned Hall of Fame Coach John Thompson, Jr.

A former Georgetown University standout, The 6-foot-3 Tillmon was a four-year starter for John Thompson, Jr. from 1986-90. As a guard, he finished his career with 1,598 points, and was sixth among Georgetown’s all-time career scorers (currently tenth), eighth all-time points scored in a season (615), first in three-point field goal percentage leaders (46 percent) and holds the record for the most consecutive three’s in a single game (7). As a senior, Tillmon led the Big East in scoring (22) and his teams from 1986 through 1990 were a combined 102-27, 53-5 at home. Tillmon finished his collegiate career as a selection to the All-American Team, as well as a first team All-Big East selection. Following Georgetown, he signed to a free agent contract with the Utah Jazz. He played two years in the Continental Basketball Association; and Tillmon ended his career playing in Europe.

Long dedicated to philanthropy, Mark Tillmon believes that "dreaming is more important than anything." Tillmon continues his unending pursuit to further uplifting, educational opportunities with youth through his foundation called the Shooting Straight Program.

Mark Tillmon currently is a college basketball game analyst for Comcast Sportsnet and MASN and he resides in Washington, DC.

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY SIGNS TWO PLAYERS FROM DC PREMIER - ALL-MET ELITE

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

 SIGNS

TWO PLAYERS

 FROM

DC PREMIER

ALL-MET ELITE

 

DEVELLE PHILLIPS
CLINTON CHRISTIAN HS.

UPPER MARLBORO MD.

 

Oumar Barry is a 6-9 power forward/center out of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. He originally hails from the West African country of Guinea. Barry has a reputation as a big time shot blocker and rebounder who is quickly developing his game. He will provide defense on the interior and give the Blue Demons some depth in the frontcourt next season.

“Oumar really gives us an opportunity to address our size needs,” Purnell said. “He’s a young active and athletic big with a very good motor.”

Develle Phillips is a 6-9, 215 lb. combo forward and is a Scout.com 3-star prospect from Clinton Christian School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Phillips is a long, athletic forward, who runs the floor well and can face up and score. Phillips played for the D.C. Premier AAU program along with Oumar Barry this summer.

“In Develle Phillips I saw more activity than any big that I saw all summer,” said Purnell. “The fact that he’s so active allows him to be involved in so many plays. He’s very disruptive defensively.”

 

We’ve got some athletic size coming,” Purnell said on WSCR Radio. “We’ve got two kids from the Washington D.C. area, which we are very high on. Oumar Barry, who hails from Guinea, he’s been in the D.C. area for 2 ½ years now. We saw him when he first came over. He’s grown and improved an awful lot since then. He’s very active, agile, big guy with tremendous upside and a very good runner and shot blocker. We like him a lot. Also from the D.C. area, Develle Phillips is very active, athletic, he’s kind of a busy player. He reminds me a lot of some of the bigs we had back at Clemson, particularly when we are looking to press and run more. He’s very aggressive and getting a lot bigger and stronger.”

DREW EDWARDS SIGNS WITH PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY - ALL-MET ELITE

DREW EDWARDS

SIGNS WITH

 PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY 

 ALL-MET ELITE

 

Calvert Hall College High School

BALTIMORE MD.

 

Drew Edwards, a 6-foot-3-inch, 175-pound combo guard attends Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Md., and plays for Head Coach John Bauersfeld. As a junior, he averaged 15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Edwards helped lead Calvert Hall to a 28-6 record in 2013-14 and a berth in the Baltimore Catholic League championship game. The team also participated in the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament at Frostburg State. Edwards earned First Team All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and All-Baltimore Catholic League honors. He played for MD 3D AAU Team under Head Coach Dave Thurston. 

 

“Drew is an emerging player who needs to put on some size and strength, but he’s a shot-maker, shot-taker,” Providence Head Coach EdCooley said. “He’ll help improve our 3-point shooting, and Drew and Ryan add to that for sure.”

2014 National High School Hoops Festival Schedule - ALL-MET ELITE

 2014

 National High School

 Hoops Festival 

Schedule

 ALL-MET ELITE 
 

ANTHONY COWAN

ST. JOHNS HS.

WASHINGTON D.C.

 

The 8th Annual National High School Hoops Festival, presented by Separation Sports Management. This year's National High School Hoops Festival basketball showcase will feature 11 games over 2 days with teams from 6 states, Canada, and Washington D.C. All games will be played at DeMatha Catholic High School. Advanced tickets will go on sale on November 1, 2014 until December 8, 2014, after this date tickets will only be sold at the door for $15. 
 

2014 National High School Hoops Festival Schedule

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Largo (MD) St. John's (DC) 10:30am

West Charlotte (NC) Potomac(MD) 12:15pm

OSNA (NY) Prime Prep (TX) 2:00pm

Montrose Christian (MD) Orangeville Prep (CAN) 3:45pm

St. James (MD) Oak Ridge (FL) 5:30pm

Paul VI (VA) Oak Hill (VA) 7:15pm

 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Clinton Christian (MD) Prime Prep (TX) 11:00am

MLK (PA) Oak Ridge (FL) 12:45pm

Orangeville Prep (CAN) OSNA (NY) 2:30pm

National Christian (MD) Trinity Christian School (NC) 4:15pm

Paul VI (VA) Cesar Chavez (DC) 6:00pm

Featured Players

Name High School Ranking Class College Commitment

 

Chieck Diallo Our Savior 7 2015

 

Dwayne Bacon Oak Hill 39 2015 Florida State

Antonio Blakeney Oak Ridge 14 2015

 

Daniel Giddens Oak Hill 61 2015 Ohio State

Franklin Howard Paul VI 74 2015 Syracuse

Justin Robinson St. James N/A 2015 Virginia Tech

Jayson Tatum Charminade 1 2016

 

Thon Maker Orangeville Prep N/A 2016

 

Dennis Smith Jr Trinity Christian 5 2016  

Terrance Ferguson Prime Prep 8 2016  

V.J. King Paul VI 16 2016

 

Jamal Murray Orangeville Prep N/A 2016  

Randall Broddie Potomac N/A 2015 Memphis

Rodney Miller Oak Hill N/A 2016

 
Anthony Cowan St. John's N/A 2016

 

Tyler Cook Charminade 93 2016

 

Mark Vital Prime Prep 51 2016 Baylor

D.J. Harvey DeMatha 17 2017

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HEAD BASKETBALL COACH - MICK CRONIN TALKS JUSTIN JENIFER - ALL-MET ELITE

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI 

HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

MICK CRONIN

 TALKS 

JUSTIN JENIFER 

ALL-MET ELITE 

MILLFORD MILL ACADEMY
BALTIMORE MD.

The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday announced the signings of Jacob Evans, Justin Jenifer and Tre Scott, who have signed national letters of intent to play basketball for the Bearcats beginning with the 2015-16 season.

Jenifer, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound point guard from Baltimore, Md., averaged 17.3 points, 12 assists and five rebounds as a junior at Millford Mills Academy. 

He was a Top-100 selection by 247Sports and a three-star talent and Top-150 player by Rivals.com. He produced 12 double-doubles as a junior and was named to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro team. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Millers to the Maryland Class 3A State Championship, contributing 17 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the title game.

"Justin is a super quick point guard, an exciting player that can make the game easier for his teammates," Cronin said. "Justin's passing and ball-handling skills are exceptional. He is a proven winner in high school."

YOUTH BASKETBALL - "DADDY BALL" - ALL-MET ELITE

YOUTH BASKETBALL 

 "DADDY BALL" 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

"You have a lot of cases where a dad thinks he has a good ballplayer, so he goes and finds about six or seven other kids and makes an AAU team," Watson said. "These factions are more about seeing their son do well, but they're not realistically interested in seeing a program do well.

"Their kid might average 25 points per game, but who are they playing? What tournaments are they playing in? It hurts because kids in our area aren't getting objective feedback concerning their skills. We as coaches have to start thinking programmatically, instead of just about a team."

What do we mean by "daddy ball"? It refers to a situation in a youth sport such as baseball, football, soccer, hockey, basketball or any other competitive youth sport where a parent coaches  or is an assistant coach to the team and plays his son above where he falls athletically. In short, daddy ball refers to the coach's child playing either preferred positions or increased playing time, in exclusion to other more athletically gifted competitors.


Regardless of the sport, the concept is the same - when a child gets playtime or position that he does not earn through his own hard work and athletic ability or if others who can get the job done are not given the opportunity-so the coaches son can play more- it is daddy ball.

I regard coaches who play their son above where he falls athletically as cheating his son, the other boys, the team and himself. What do I mean by that bold statement?

A coach who does not make his son earn his position has in effect trained the boy to expect something for nothing. Continued over time the boy expects things to be handed to him and has little incentive to put in the hard work necessary to beat out other young athletes and truly earn what he gets.

Young boys hold few; in as high regard as their coach, if they put in the work, have a good attitude and can beat out another kid- they deserve to play the spot.

A coach, who will not play the best boy for the job to work another agenda, improving his own child's ability, should not be coaching the team.

Daddy ball also serves to cheat the team, as a team, because when boys are not played where the fall athletically, the team will be less competitive and the boys will be less motivated. Resulting in a team that is not all it could have been.

A coach who plays his son above his athletic ability to the detriment of more qualified boys has failed in its primary mission as a father, that is to adequately prepare his son to leave the nest and stand on his own 2 feet. When children do not experience earning by their own efforts and truly competing, they suffer.

Some coaches feel that by coaching the team they have earned the right to play their son where ever and however they want and for the reasons set forth above, I say, find another team.

Speaking with the daddy ball coach has little chance of success because it involves his own son. If you do speak to the coach, be very careful to keep the conversation about facts and not opinions.

INDIANA FRESHMAN - ROBERT JOHNSON - TORCHES TEXAS SOUTHERN - ALL-MET ELITE

INDIANA FRESHMAN 

 ROBERT JOHNSON 

 TORCHES 

TEXAS SOUTHERN 

 ALL-MET ELITE

BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREP

RICHMOND VA.

 

Robert Johnson set Assembly Hall aflame in the first half of Indiana's (2-0) 83-64 win over Texas Southern (0-2) and former coach Mike Davis on Monday. 

He scored 17 points in the opening 20 minutes, and a game-high 21 overall.

"Robert Johnson played outstanding tonight," IU coach Tom Crean said. "There really wasn't even a time I wanted to take him off the floor."

This was hardly Johnson's opening night. He scored 15 points in the Hoosiers' heavy win over Mississippi Valley State to start the season last weekend.

But Monday night was a complete performance – he tacked on five rebounds and six assists to go with those points. His drives looked effortless and his execution smooth. For the first 20 minutes, in particular, he was the best player on the floor.

"His maturity," said Ryan Marable, Johnson's high school coach, when asked what's allowed him to settle into college basketball so quickly. "How to accept coaching, how to really get in the gym and be self-motivated, those things have helped his transition, but he's always kind of been like that."

LOUISVILLE FRESHMAN CHINANU ONUAKU IMPRESSES RICK PITINO - ALL-MET ELITE

LOUISVILLE FRESHMAN

 CHINANU ONUAKU 

IMPRESSES

 RICK PITINO 

 ALL-MET ELITE

RIVERDALE BAPTIST HS.

UPPER MARLBORO MD.

 

UofL freshman Onuaku impresses Pitino

Chinanu Onuaku showed Rick Pitino something in Louisville’s blowout victory over Jacksonville State Monday night.

The Cardinals freshman center made his second consecutive start and delivered his first double-double after fouling out against Minnesota Friday in Puerto Rico.

The 6’10 Onuaku finished with 12 points on 5 of 5 FG’s, grabbed 10 rebounds, including eight offensive. He also made two steals, dished a nifty assist to Montrezl Harrell and blocked one shot.

Here’s the impressive part about his performance: Onuaku did all of that in just 16 minutes of action.

“We had a very brief conversation today and I said `Son, look, I'm going to tell you the way it is. We're going to play a bear of a schedule and we wanted to play you 12 to 16 minutes this year, bring you along slowly, and get you ready by sophomore year but we don't have that luxury. I need you to be a killer out there, and I need you to do it now. I've got to have you become a big time player in your freshman year,’ said Pitino. “And I thought tonight, from an effort standpoint, he was a big time player, even though we overmatched them physically. I thought the way he played the game was great."

Pitino calls Onuaku a great interior passer who has a good understanding of how to play.

“He came in here in absurd shape,” said Pitino. “You all watched him when he came in here in the Derby Classic. And he wasn't in good shape, so he got in good shape. He's very strong, he knows the game mentally. He understands the game. Like Montrezl (Harrell). People ask me what the best thing about Montrezl is besides his motor and I say that Montrezl is very, very intelligent. He (Onuaku) really understands the game"

ISAIAH LAMB SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER ATHLETE - DULANEY HIGH SCHOOL - ALL-MET ELITE

ISAIAH LAMB 
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
COVER ATHLETE 

 DULANEY HIGH SCHOOL 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

DULANEY HS.

BALTIMORE MD.

COURTESY
OF
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 

Sudsville 24-Hour Coin Laundry sits on the main drag of Reisterstown, Md., right off I-795 in the northern suburbs of Baltimore. The low-slung building, framed by fast-food joints, gas stations and strip malls, is filled wall-to-wall with washers, driers, change dispensers, vending machines and overhead TV monitors tuned to the local news.

For Isaiah Lamb, Sudsville wasn’t just a place to bring his dirty clothes. Thanks to the benevolence of its workers, who turned a blind eye, the laundry provided Isaiah’s bathroom, rec room and study hall for much of last spring and summer. Night after night, the high school junior and his parents, Donald and Valerie, drove their black 2002 Hyundai Elantra into the back parking lot at Sudsville, hoping none of their friends or Isaiah’s classmates saw them. They washed their bodies and brushed their teeth at the bathroom sinks. Dinner might be a snack from a vending machine. As Valerie and Donald watched TV or read, Isaiah did his homework, using a folding table as a desk and sometimes a laundry cart as a chair. When he finished, the family piled back into the Elantra. Valerie took the passenger seat, Donald settled behind the wheel, and Isaiah pretzeled his 6’ 5” frame into the backseat. Then they tried to sleep.

“Many nights I would cry looking at him, because he was so crunched up in the back,” Valerie says of Isaiah. “I would say, ‘You all right?’ He would say, ‘I’m all right, Ma.’ ”

“My mother told me not to wear my feelings on my sleeve,” Isaiah says. “I always smiled and joked, but [my teammates] never knew what I was going through.”

Money had always been scarce for the Lambs, but early in 2014 they plunged into financial free fall. Donald suffered a heart attack while working as a maintenance man at a Baltimore nursing home. He recovered after months of convalescence but didn’t get his job back. Beset by the stress of Donald’s illness and unemployment, Valerie caught walking pneumonia, which forced her to take time off from work as an EMT. The Lambs incurred more medical bills without the income to cover them. Then came a sequence all too familiar to many Americans, particularly during the recent recession: overdue notices, denied or unattainable credit, eviction, homelessness.

The same long and lithe physique that made sleeping in the backseat so uncomfortable helped Isaiah succeed in football, baseball and basketball. He dunked for the first time in seventh grade, and by his freshman year at Dulaney High in Timonium, Md., he was starting for the varsity. Sports were a source of escape and joy. “I just went out and had fun,” says Isaiah. “It took my mind off of what was going on.”

Isaiah’s living situation exacted a price on his game, however. He missed tournaments and AAU events because the Lambs couldn’t afford the entrance fees or were on the move. How do you sign up for leagues when you don’t have a permanent address? How do you arrive at practice on time when you have to take three public buses and a subway to get to school, as Isaiah did? How do you add muscle or stay in shape when dinner often consists of a 99-cent cheeseburger or a snack from a vending machine? How do you fit into a team when you’re hiding a secret?

“[Teammates] would say, ‘Hey, let’s go to your house,’ ” Isaiah recalls. “I’d make up excuses: ‘Aw, my mom’s sleeping.’ What I couldn’t tell them was that I didn’t have a home.”

In suburban Baltimore, the Lambs’ fortunes have improved in recent months, if incrementally. Valerie is back working at the hospital. Donald found part-time employment as a maintenance man at a gym in Towson, Md., before being laid off last month. He is trying to launch a housekeeping business. After saving enough money for rent and a security deposit, the family recently took a month-to-month lease on a small ground-floor apartment in Cockeysville, a middle-class suburb.

Finances remain tight. The apartment has no furniture except for a small television and two chairs. Isaiah’s clothes are neatly arrayed on the floor of his bedroom. He sleeps on an air mattress. “I can’t even really remember the last time I slept on a mattress outside of being in a hotel,” he says matter-of-factly. “I never had my own bed.”

Things are looking up for the Lambs. After saving enough money for rent and a security deposit, Valerie, Donald and—finally able to stretch out—Isaiah found an apartment in a suburb of Baltimore. The move means that Isaiah has his own bed for the first time and an easy walk to school. His focus now, he says, is on college.

The move has been “wonderful,” he says. The apartment is within walking distance of Dulaney High, sparing Isaiah his old hour-and-a-half commute on public transportation. The apartment’s bathroom saves him from having to shower in the locker room before school. Free of the worries that came from living at a coin laundry, Isaiah, a senior, has flourished on the basketball team. A silky and nimble guard, he can bring the ball upcourt but also nail jumpers and break down his man off the dribble.

Isaiah doesn’t talk much with his teammates about his living arrangements. “My mother told me not to wear my feelings on my sleeve,” he says. “I always smiled and joked, but [my teammates] never knew what I went home to, what I was going through.” Still, his home situation is something of an open secret. “There’s a fine line,” says Lochte, the coach, speaking about helping underprivileged players. “You try to find a support system, help the kid find a ride, make sure there’s breakfast available. But you don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable or self-conscious. Honestly, it’s a touchy subject.”

Free of the worries that came with living at a coin laundry, Isaiah, a senior, has flourished on the basketball team. He also carries a B-plus average and made the school’s honor society.

Isaiah carries a B-plus average and made the school’s honor society. Affable, handsome, modest, he is popular in the extreme. With prodding, he admits that he attended three proms last spring. (If the girls had the guts to ask him, he reasoned, the least he could do was accept their offers.) It’s easy to forget that he is 17; he shows uncommon wisdom and maturity, hard-earned to be sure. While far less talented peers dream of the NBA, Isaiah is more concerned about graduating from college which, he says, “is much more of a sure thing.” When Lochte gushes that Isaiah is “a special human being” and “full of courage,” it doesn’t come off as a coach’s hyperbole.

Still, Valerie worries about what she calls “my son’s mental state. He’s so quiet but strong He says, ‘I’m O.K., Ma.’ But you often wonder, Is he really O.K.?” Isaiah, for his part, is almost philosophical about his childhood. When discussing the hardships, he quickly perhaps wishfully? switches to the past tense.

Part of what makes his parents proud also imbues them with fear: Their circumstances are at variance with the conventional perception of homelessness. There was no family dysfunction, no divorce. No substance abuse, no cataclysmic event. There were simply a series of unanticipated expenses, and absent a safety net (“no sponge,” says Donald) the Lambs were suddenly homeless. “Don’t think because you’re at a certain status in life, because you have certain material things, it can’t happen,” says Valerie. “It can happen in the blink of an eye.”

Now Valerie and Donald are trying to save as much of their paychecks as possible. Isaiah is pondering scholarship offers from Siena, Radford and UNC-Greensboro, among other D-I schools. Life is a lot better for the family than it was earlier this year. Isaiah thinks about what advice he might give to others facing homelessness.

“I guess you just need to remember, it’s temporary,” he says. “I’m not saying it’s easy, but you can overcome it. You can get past being homeless.”

He stretches out the last word, as if to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: It’s spelled with an m, not a p.

 Dulaney High School (Baltimore)

 2015 Rising Senior Guard Isaiah Lamb

Key Games:

December 19, 2014 Dulaney   vs Towson              at Goucher College        7:00pm

December 26, 2014 Dulaney   vs Oakland Mills             at Oakland Mills            7:00pm

January 2, 2015      Dulaney  vs Mount Saint Joseph    at Mount Saint Joseph    6:00pm

January 23, 2015    Dulaney   vs Patterson Mill             at Morgan State             4:00pm

January 24, 2015    Dulaney   vs Thomas Stone            at Morgan State             3:00pm

January 28, 2015    Dulaney   vs New Town                  at Dulaney                     5:30pm

February 18, 2015  Dulanery   vs Milford Mill                 at Milford Mill                 5:30pm    

MARCUS THORNTON LEADS WILLIAM & MARY INTO 2014-2015 SEASON - ALL-MET ELITE

MARCUS THORNTON

 LEADS

  WILLIAM & MARY

 INTO 

2014-2015 SEASON 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

McNAMARA HS.

FORESTVILLE MD.

The Tribe is deepest at guard, where the Green and Gold has a number of options both experienced and youthful. Topping that group is Thornton, who will go down as one of the best players ever to don a W&M jersey. Dixon and Prewitt both saw extensive minutes as freshmen and can contribute at the guard position, while true point guard Michael Schlotman redshirted last season.

Thornton is the league’s only returning first-team All-CAA player from a season ago. A two-time NABC All-District first-team pick, he is the CAA’s top returning scorer at 18.7 points per game and his 1,519 career points are not only tops in the CAA, but rank with the best in the NCAA among active players. A multi-dimensional guard, he led W&M and ranked among the top 10 in the CAA in assists per game (2.8) last season. Thornton is among the top shooters in the country, having connected on better than 40 percent from 3-point range and 223 treys over his career. His 3-point total ranks in the top five among active Division I players.

While his stats and honors speak volumes, Thornton has also developed into the leader of the program. He was voted a team captain for the second straight season and has taken on more of a leadership and mentor role for the younger players. In the early part of the preseason, he has also shown himself as a more vocal leader than in previous campaigns. 

The preseason honors abound for Thornton, who was named the preseason player of the year by the league's media, coaches and SIDs, Blue Ribbon, Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s. Lindy’s also selected him as the CAA’s top shooter, its most versatile player and the league’s top NBA prospect.

PAUL VI HS. - FRANK HOWARD 'I JUST WANT TO PROVE MYSELF' - ALL-MET ELITE

PAUL VI HS.

Frank Howard

 'I just want to prove myself' 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

PAUL VI. HS.

FAIRFAX VA.

"I just want to prove myself," he said. "I don't want to say this in a cocky way, but a lot of people have not really seen my game. I got hurt. A lot of people don't see me, don't know I can play point guard. I really want to showcase myself and just win for my team."

Howard, whose big personality endears him to coaches and teammates at Paul VI, will play point guard at SU when he arrives on campus in 2015. After rehabilitating a shredded meniscus and anterior cruciate ligaments, he wants to demonstrate how much the emerging lead guard skills he exhibited two summers ago have matured.

MARK TURGEON SPEAKS ON DION WILEY UNIVERSITY OF MD. FRESHMEN GUARD - ALL-MET ELITE

MARK TURGEON

 SPEAKS ON

 DION WILEY

 UNIVERSITY OF MD.

 FRESHMEN GUARD 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

DION WILEY 

POTOMAC HS.

OXON HILL MD.

Dion Wiley finished in double figures with 13 points in 21 minutes. Here's Turgeon, on him:

"When the ball is in Dion's hands, I'm really comfortable that he is going to make a good decision. Some of his passes are phenomenal. His timing on those passes are really hard to teach, and his pace about his game is really hard to teach. His shooting wasn't here today, but he found a way to make a difference."

Wiley was 3-of-6 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range.

BALTIMORE ELITE 2014-2015 RECRUIT COMMITMENTS - ALL-MET ELITE

BALTIMORE ELITE 

2014-2015 

RECRUIT COMMITMENTS 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

EVAN FISHER

Mcdonogh School

OWINGS MILLS MD.

Baltimore Elite (MD) - 2014

Num Player Pos Height Weight Grad Year Hometown School College Committed

22 Evan Fisher F 6'8" 230 2015 Pasadena, MD McDonogh School  Siena

23 Taron Oliver Jr. F 6'9" 245 2015 Baltimore, MD Riverside Baptist Tulane

BOO WILLIAMS 2014-2015 RECRUIT COMMITMENTS - ALL-MET ELITE

BOO WILLIAMS 

2014-2015

 RECRUIT COMMITMENTS 

 ALL-MET ELITE 

JUSTIN ROBINSON 

ST. JAMES SCHOOL.

ST. JAMES MD.

COURTESY OF

D1CIRCUIT.COM

Boo Williams (VA) - 2014

Num Player Pos Height Weight Grad Year Hometown School College Committed

5 Justin Robinson G 6'1" 175 2015 Manassas, VA Saint James Virginia Tech

11 Marcus Evans G 6'2" 190 2015 Chesapeake, VA Cape Henry Rice

15 Chris Clarke F 6'6" 200 2015 Virginia Beach, VA Cape Henry Virginia Tech

21 Kenny Williams G 6'3" 165 2015 Chesterfield, VA L.C. Bird VCU

TEAM TAKEOVER 2014 -2015 RECRUIT COMMITMENTS - ALL-MET ELITE

TEAM TAKEOVER

 2014 -2015

 RECRUIT COMMITMENTS 

ALL-MET ELITE

BRYANT CRAWFORD 

GONZAGA HS.

WASHINGTON D.C.

COURTESY OF

D1CIRCUIT.COM

 Team Takeover (DC) - 2014

Num      Player   Pos         Height   Weight Grad Year            Hometown         School   College Committed

1                              Bryant Crawford               G             6'3"        182         2015       Washington, D.C.             Gonzaga              Wake Forest

3                              Justin Jenifer     G             5'9"        160         2015       Bel Air, MD         Milford Mill Academy     Cincinnati

4                              Frank Howard    G             6'6"        190         2015       Washington, D.C.             Paul VI  Syracuse

5                              Kevin Dorsey     G             6'0"        170         2015       Fairfax, VA          Clinton Christian               Minnesota

15                           Sam Miller           F              6'7"        215         2015       Washington, D.C.             Gonzaga              Dayton

22                           Collin Goss          C             6'10        203         2015       Alexandria, VA  (St. Stephens & St. Agnes                George Washington

23                           Josh Reaves       G             6'4"        185         2015       Fairfax, VA       

 Paul VI                                        Penn State

24                           Marcus Derrickson          F              6'8"        250         2015       Bowie, MD          Paul VI  Georgetown

32                           Abdulai Bundu  F              6'8"        200         2015       Upper Marlboro, MD     Largo     Quinnipiac

33                           Georgios Papagiannis     C             7'1"        235         2015       Amarousio, Greece         Westtown                Panathinaikos (Pro)

CHRIS CLARKE CHANGES COMMITMENT TO VIRGINIA TECH - ALL-MET ELITE

CHRIS CLARKE

CHANGES

 COMMITMENT

 TO 

VIRGINIA TECH 

 ALL-MET ELITE

CAPE HENRY COLLEGIATE HS.

VIRGINIA BEACH VA.

Cape Henry standout guard Chris Clarke held a press conference last week to announce he would play basketball at Tennessee.

But he's changed his mind and has now committed to Virginia Tech.

There was no press conference this time.

Phone calls to Clarke's father, Curt, and his coach, Mark Hall, were not immediately returned.

Hall did send a text message saying he didn't want to comment because he wanted to respect the wishes of the family, but did confirm that Clarke is headed to Virginia Tech.

"It was a family decision to stay local," Hall said in the text, "and we will continue to support Chris."

The family also released a statement late Thursday that read: "We've contemplated this decision. After his decision on Tennessee, further communication with the family and discussion came to the opinion it would be better for him and his goals and the family's situation to remain local. That's why he's going to Virginia Tech."

DEMATHA HEAD COACH MIKE JONES EXPLAINS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE GREAT - ALL-MET ELITE

DEMATHA

 HEAD COACH 

MIKE JONES 

EXPLAINS

 WHAT IT TAKES 

TO BE

 GREAT 

ALL-MET ELITE 

DEMATHA HS.
HYATTSVILLE MD.

“I strongly encourage younger coaches, especially ones that are coaching young kids, to please keep the game fun but also make sure that they understand that it is a competition, and as they grow up having that competitive spirit in them is going to separate them from a lot of other potential student-athletes,” Jones said.

“If you talk to NBA guys, they look for guys with the motor that are going to bring it every night and compete. You talk to college coaches, they’re looking for the guys with the motor that are going to compete night in and night out. Even with us, the guys we’re looking to bring into our program, that’s one of the most valuable things we can ask a guy. He can be super-talented, but if you don’t play hard all the time, that becomes a problem. We always want someone who will compete at the highest level every chance they get.”