Gonzaga D.C. Classic Senior Evaluations
DeMatha Catholic claimed the Gonzaga D.C. Classic title this past weekend by edging host school Gonzaga College High School 57-54 on Saturday. Rivals.com was in the building taking notes for the semi-final round on Friday afternoon. Read about signed prospects like Ryan Ayers and Mamadi Diane as well as unsigned gems like Paul Johnson and Jeremy Barr among others.
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6-foot-9 plus 270 pound space eater has gotten much more active of late. On Saturday, his 13 points and 11 rebounds were a critical factor in DeMatha's win over Mt. St. Joseph's. Dayton and coach Brian Gregory have gotten themselves a player who may arrive more than able to step in and compete next year in the Atlantic 10.
Ayers started slow on Friday, but picked up his game in the second half and was a key player down the stretch for Germantown Academy. We've seen him shoot it better from the perimeter, and Notre Dame will need more consistency from him in this area next year.
Has to be one of the best unsigned interior players in the nation. Has really stepped up in the absence of Obi Ikeakor and become the go to guy for Westbury Christian. His coach told us that Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Arizona State have all offered. The 6-foot-9 260 pounder's improvement has been a big factor in Westbury Christian's 10-3 start this season.
Kenyon Churchwell
Churchwell, a 6-foot-7 wiry unsigned senior forward from Gonzaga HS, has intriguing athleticism and range that extends beyond the arc. With a 3.9 GPA and over 1200 on the SAT, the National Honor Society student is a major target for Patriot and Ivy League schools this winter.
The 6-foot-5 Virginia signee is the team leader this season for powerful DeMatha Catholic. His quickness and dribble penetration collapses defenses and leaves his teammates open on the perimeter. He rebounds well from the wing forward spot and he's always an aggressive competitor for the Stags. If his mid-range game off the dribble improves, he'll be a major factor next year for Pete Gillen's Cavaliers.
Grimes is a 6-foot-7 combo-forward who plays mainly inside for Germantown Acadmy. The unsigned senior has developed a reliable baseline jumper that extends to 15 feet, and is a very tough competitor in the paint. He's an excellent student who's a major Ivy League target. However, it appears that he would like to play at a higher level in college, and prep school has been mentioned as a possibility if he does not get the offers he is looking for in the spring.
Johnson was our MVP of the weekend at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic, and the main reason that Gonzaga advanced to the championship game. The 6-foot-6 jumping jack wing forward averaged over 25 points per game and at times seemed unstoppable on offense. He's always been a high-flying finisher in transition, but he showcased a much improved mid-range jumper this weekend that should solidify his status as a high major recruit in the spring. He's a very good student with a 3.8 GPA and nearly 1100 on the SAT. Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Maryland, Penn State, and George Mason are taking a close look, but he told us that he is still open to other schools getting involved.
The 6-foot-9 215 pound perimter big man did not have his jump shot working on Friday evening, but he still found ways to get to the foul line and impact the game with his rebounding. Stein is another terrific student, and he told Rivals.com that Princeton, William and Mary, and Lehigh are the schools that he is seriously considering. He'll know in January whether he's been accepted to Princeton, and if he does we'd be very surprised if he didn't commit to the Tigers. Both of his parents are Princeton graduates.