NHSHF: Westtown vs. Rock Creek Christian
It's Pennsylvania against the DMV, Sunday at 530p EST, when Westtown takes on Rock Creek Christian Academy in the National High School Hoops Festival. Game information is below, while the flyer at page-bottom has all necessary event information.
Westtown (PA)
Skinny: Head coach Seth Berger’s take on his team: “Super talented, super tall and super together”. It’s not an exaggeration.
Schemes: Offensively “We try and run first of all” said Berger, “get as many possessions in the game as we can”. In half court situations the Moose keep it simple, since “due to our talent, we just get kids in the right spaces”.
Defensively, Berger shared “we play a combination of man and zone”, designed to “use our length”.
A few players of note: Speaking of long players, go no further than senior Mohamed Bamba; he’s 6’11”, weighs 220 pounds and has a 7’9 wingspan. Bamba, one of the most highly recruited players in America is much more than his physical presence, being a guy Berger called “position-less” due to his “Size, coordination, intelligence and athleticism”.
Cam Reddish is another Moose to look for. A 6’8”, 215 pound point guard, Reddish, in the Class of 2019, “could be one of the best point guards in history” opined Berger. The coach was referencing basketball history.
Duke has already offered him, as have UVA, Villanova, Kentucky and others.
Another top player nationally dressing in Westtown silks is Brandon Randolph. Standing 6’6” and scaling at 180 pounds, Class of 2018 member and swingman Randolph, headed to Arizona “might find his way to pro ball and is probably the best scorer in high school” Berger’s seen.
X-factor: Berger believes Jake Forrester, a 6’9”, 210 pound ’18 forward fits that bill, per Berger. Temple and Penn State have already offered him. “He’s a really good offensive rebounder, runs the floor, effort level is always 10 out of 10” said the coach.
VS.
Rock Creek Christian Academy (MD)
Skinny: When asked about his Eagles, head coach Chris Cole was plain and to the point, saying “Hungry. Aggressive. Versatile”. It makes sense, since teams frequently take the personality of their coach.
Schemes: In terms of scoring, Cole and his crew “Spread the floor” with the hope of “giving people room to operate”. If a player has a mismatch, it’s exploited.
Defensively “We just like to pressure the ball in different ways” said Cole. Given his personnel, that can happen.
A few players of note: Transfer Sharif Kenney is a perimeter force for Rock Creek Christian, manning the point guard position at 6’3”, 210 pounds. A tough, aggressive competitor, Kenny, in his sophomore year has worked hard on his jumper. Penn State, Rhode Island and others have offered.
Jermaine Harris (6’8”, 230 pound junior) presently moves the national recruiting needle more than any other Eagle; being able to rebound, score in the paint and defend the rim, the likes of Cincy, Providence, South Carolina, Rhode Island, PSU and Virginia Tech have tendered him a scholarship opportunity.
X-factor: Cole identified two players that people may not know, but will impact his team’s success greatly; Will Vetter and Earl Timberlake.
Vetter (6’7”, 220 pounds) “leads us in rebounds, plus/minus right now, knocks down open shots, is a zone buster” said Cole. A forward, the senior has been offered by Virginia Union.
Only a freshman but standing 6’5” and 200 pounds, Timberlake “is the most versatile kid I have on our team” shared Cole, “Plays the one (point guard) through four (power forward), defensively he’s probably our best shot blocker, handles the ball”.
His recruitment hasn’t started. Yet.
