DC Classic: Is five-star center Moses Brown underrated?

WASHINGTON D.C. -- During Friday's annual stop at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic, five-star center Moses Brown put on a show while flirting with a triple double. Read more about Brown and the other budding stars in attendance.

The question has been who in the class of 2018 will step up this winter? On Friday, seven-footer Moses Brown answered the call in a big way as he flirted with a triple double and went for 20 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks in Queens (NY) Archbishop Molloy's win over Alexandria (Va.) St. Stephen's and St. Agnes.

Brown used his size, skill and instincts to control the game on both ends of the floor and was borderline dominant in all aspects.

“I think I played well,” said Brown after the game. “I could have played better and more physical. I shouldn’t have let their big man seal me off so much, but I helped my team win.”

There is a transition that a player makes when they go from prospect to legitimate player and that's exactly what Brown is going through. He's added some edge to his game, he's being physical, he can step out and make a 15 footer, he blocks shots without fouling and he's improved as an athlete.

"I feel like I'm embracing my blessing of being seven foot and that I'm way more than just a prospect," said Brown. "I should be a basketball player and now I'm ready to take my game to the next level."

Currently ranked No. 17 overall in the class of 2018, Brown looks like he has the tools to make a move up. His most recent visits have been to St. John's, Maryland and Connecticut and he may try to check out Maryland again on Saturday. California, Kansas, Rutgers, Florida, Louisville and Arizona are among others involved.

Although his Laurel (Md.) St. Vincent Pallotti team suffered a tough loss to Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young, four-star power forward Karim Coulibaly backed up his No. 47 overall ranking in the class of 2019.

Originally from Mali, the 6-foot-7 sophomore is able to play much bigger than his height thanks to a sturdy frame, wide shoulders and long arms. Also important is the overall skill level that he showed.

Time and time again, Coulibaly showed great patience while diagnosing what the defense gave him. He had counter moves, jump hooks, short jumper and the southpaw also showed deft passing touch while racking up 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Coulibaly looks like a high major prospect all the way and said that he didn't think he has landed any offers yet while listing Tulane, West Virginia, Boston College, Maryland, Virginia and St. John's as programs that have shown interest. He's seen Maryland and GW and the interest should get heavy this winter.

A week ago, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga tested themselves by traveling to Chicago to play nationally ranked Simeon. Though they lost and didn't play well, it was a great early season test and their backcourt of Miami bound four-star point guard Chris Lykes and four-star junior combo guard Prentiss Hubb bounced back well. The duo combined for 32 points and controlled tempo in an impressive win over a Warminster (Pa.) Archbishop Wood that had at least five or six division one prospects. A jitterbug, Lykes got into the lane and caused some havoc defensively with this ball pressure.

We want to focus on Hubb, though. He's getting more opportunity to play the point as a junior which will be beneficial to his future. He is a natural scorer but showed very good instincts as a playmaker on Friday. Hubb listed Maryland, Virginia, Villanova, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Xavier, Georgetown, Penn State.

Speaking of Penn State, their junior wing commitment Myles Dread was also very good for Gonzaga. He's not flashy, but he's effective and does many things well. On Friday he defended, hit mid range jumpers and was effective the times he chose to drive the ball.

In their win over Vincent-Pallotti, Whitney Young's high flying junior wing Javon Freeman acquitted himself nicely. Pushing 6-foot-4 he's all arms and legs and needs to add strength, but he's very bouncy in traffic, can attack some off the dribble and looks like he can develop into a respectable jump shooter. Loyola has offered and he looks like he could develop into a Midwestern mid major priority if he can continue to play like he did on Friday.

A couple of notes on two more of Archbishop Molloy's star players. Five-star sophomore combo guard Cole Anthony -- like Moses Brown -- flirted with a triple double getting 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. He's a guy who likes to get his own offense first and has some Austin Rivers to his game but there's no doubt he can get buckets. Four-star junior wing Khalid Moore backed up his No. 97 national ranking. An athletic 6-foot-6 wing and slasher, he's got the physical traits you want in a high major wing and his stock and game are both on the rise. He listed offers from Syracuse, Miami, Louisville, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Virginia among others. He's been to Syracuse, Rutgers and St. John's been to Syracuse, Rutgers and St. Johns and will check out Maryland on Saturday with Anthony and Brown.

Several college programs stopped by Gonzaga for Friday's action. Among those we spotted were Pittsburgh, Maryland, Villanova, Quinnipiac, Cornell, Miami, Virginia, UMBC, George Washington and Iowa State.