DMV Tip-Off Classic: Potomac vs. Bowie
This Saturday at 1215p EST in DMV Tip-Off Classic action, Potomac takes on Bowie, a prime PG County, inter-classification public school contest. Below is a look at both teams.
For general event information, scroll down.
Potomac (MD)
When asked about this year’s group of Wolverines, head coach Renard Johnson issued a tall claim, saying “I think this will be my best crew ever”. Hold the presses, Johnson has won a Maryland state crown and put multiple guys in college ball. When reminded of this, his belief held firm, as “Top to bottom I think this team is a lot deeper” than his 2013-14 title squad. “With that team, I did it with seven (players). This group I can do it with 10”.
A trio of seniors, two being transfers, propel this year’s Wolverines.
Senior stretch power forward Christian Dyches has been unavailable to Johnson – the 6’7”, 260 pound former DeMatha player is injured – yet upon his return in January is expected to propel the Wolverines to another level. His injury was sustained playing football (Johnson encourages his guys to play dual sports).
Wagner was visited this past weekend by Dyches, while Wyoming is “very high on him”, shared Johnson. Morgan State is also showing love. Last season he attended DeMatha Catholic.
Another senior new guy, guard Travis Henson, will also move the meter for Potomac this season. A 6’5” shooting guard, Henson played at nearby Friendly High School previously. Johnson, who called his new two man “a total standout”, noted Henson is receiving interest from “Nevada, Wyoming, Morgan State and other mid-majors”.
Want a possible x-factor? Look no further than Ryle Burleigh. According to Johnson “He’s our most complete player”, a 6’4”, 190 pound all around senior performer that “Can defend one (point guard) through five (center) and score. He’s under the radar. VA State knows about him. By end of the year he will rise up”.
Schematically this year’s unit follows Johnson’s previous predilections.
“Well, our game wants to be the transition game” he shared of Potomac’s offensive preference. “We are looking to rebound and go. If we are playing a lot of half court stuff, we aren’t doing something right”.
To get those stops, the Wolverines love to press. In the half court “We run mostly zone” shared Johnson, “but I will slap on man at any point”.
Johnson et al look at the DMV Tip-Off Classic as an opportunity to “get a good gauge of where we are against Bowie”. If they prove their worth, particularly without Dyches, the Wolverines (1-1), could in fact be headed for big things.
Bowie (MD)
Being 4-0 at the time of this writing, Bowie’s Bulldogs are certainly trending in a positive direction. Just ask head coach Cedric Holbrook.
“We’re young, but a good group when it comes to character, a lot of coachable kids” said the Bulldog’s head guy. “There’s ton of potential for us”. He believes despite starting out well, “these kids don’t understand their ceiling”, and actually “I don’t know their ceiling. But we’re getting better…it leaves you with a bit of hope”.
Quinton Drayton is certainly a hope giver. Standing 6’3”, and weighing around 192 pounds, Drayton, a senior shooting guard heading to Towson next year gets buckets. Plain and simple.
Holbrook noted Drayton as a player for observers to mark, as he did Jalen Robinson, both of which “must have pretty good years to have the season we want overall”. Robinson (6’2”, 170 pounds), is “A combo guard. If he goes D1 most likely be a point. He can defend that position” said Holbrook. Morgan state, Bowie State and Concordia have shown interest, while VMI put out feelers on Robinson.
An X-factor for Bowie? Holbrook identified Isaiah Burke, “a kid that was originally at Bowie, then transferred and came back”. A 5’11”, 160 pound junior point guard, “When he’s on top of his game, he makes us better because he’s athletic and can score the ball at all different levels” opined Holbrook.
How are these players deployed?
“Right now, our guards do a lot of the dirty work” said Holbrook. “If you have a D1 kid recognized as a scorer, that’s what you have to do”. Add overall guard depth to an approach that focuses upon “some ball screen stuff, four-out-one in stuff. A lot of motion stuff”.
Defensively “We are still a man to man team at heart” noted the coach. “Because we’re so guard oriented and have so many of them, we have returned to a pressure style of play”.
Per Holbrook, the team’s frontline is improving, “are young and long with a lot of room for growth”. If they continue developing along with the team at large, could the Bulldogs meet Prince George’s County expectations that regularly call for a state championship?
“Only the good Lord knows” responded Holbrook, while laughing, then sharing “We have enough pieces to make a run. Especially if the players continue to grow”.
It’s possible. Time will tell.
