MaxWire National Blog

Covering High School Sports in America

Tag: Norfolk Christian High School

  • Jun. 27th

    USA Basketball's U16/U17 dynasty

    USA Basketball/Steven Maikoski

    Jabari Parker

    For the second time in three years at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the United States left little doubt about where the power lies when it comes to basketball in the Western Hemisphere.

    Led by head coach Don Showalter, the USA romped through five games in Cancun, Mexico en route to the gold medal, winning by an average margin of over 42 points per game. The 2009 team that played in the same event featuring the likes of Brad Beal, Andre Drummond and James McAdoo wasn't quite as dominant, winning by an average of 34 points per outing.

    Combined with a gold medal showing (8-0) at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Germany last summer, USA Basketball's developmental national team is now 18-0 all-time and has won 16 of those games by 20 points or more.

    Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) earned tournament MVP honors, although Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) led the United State in scoring (17.0 points per game), rebounding (11.2) and was second in assists (4.6).

    Showalter was assisted by Rich Gray of the St. Louis Eagles club team and Mike Jones of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

    While the roster likely won't be exactly the same, a version of this team will compete in the FIBA U17 World Championship in Lithuania next summer.

    FIBA Americas U16 Championship statistical leaders (United States only)

    Points
    17.0 – Aaron Gordon
    15.4 – Jabari Parker
    14.6 – Jahlil Okafor
    11.5 – Theo Pinson
    10.4 – Justin Jackson

    Rebounds
    11.2 – Aaron Gordon
    9.2 – Jahlil Okafor
    6.4 – Jabari Parker
    6.3 – Theo Pinson
    4.6 – Johnathan Williams

    Assists
    5.6 – Tyus Jones
    4.6 – Aaron Gordon
    4.4 – Larry Austin Jr.
    3.6 – Conner Frankamp
    2.0 – Kendrick Nunn

    Minutes per game: Aaron Gordon, 22.4
    Field goal percentage: Jahlil Okafor, .710
    3-point field goal percentage: Jabari Parker, .416
    Free throw percentage (10 attempts minimum): Jahlil Okafor, .826
    Blocked shots: Aaron Gordon, 16
    Steals: Larry Austin Jr., 12

    More on Parker

    While on the topic of Jabari Parker, I was shocked to see the Simeon standout participating in the Kevin Durant Skills Academy less than 24 hours after taking MVP honors in Mexico.

    While the opportunity to train under Durant is a huge draw and maybe even irresistible to a young prospect, perhaps a rest was in order after five games in five days and two weeks away from his hometown and family.

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    By Jun. 27th, 2011, 02:43 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    Brad Beal, Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justin Jackson, Kendrick Nunn, James McAdoo, Johnathan Williams III, Andre Drummond, Conner Frankamp
  • Jun. 13th

    Showalter comments on USA U16 selections

    Some prominent names were left off the roster for USA Basketball's under-16 National Team, set to compete in Mexico later this month.

    But given head coach Don Showalter's track record with the program, there probably won't be much second-guessing.

    Showalter helped assemble and coach a group led by Brad Beal, Michael Gilchrist and James McAdoo to a 13-0 record over the last two summers. The squad won every game by double digits and captured titles at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in 2009 and the FIBA U17 World Championship in 2010.
    Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball

    Jimmie Taylor made an impression on<br> Don Showalter despite being left off<br> the roster.


    Following a camp in Colorado Springs, six sophomores and six freshmen were named to the 2011 team Sunday. See the complete roster here.

    Some of the names that didn't make the final cut were as notable as those that did. Promising young talents like Shaqquan Aaron, James Blackmon, Dominique Collier, Dakari Johnson, Trey Lyles and Isaiah Whitehead were left off the Mexico-bound roster.

    Showalter acknowledged selecting the final 12 was a difficult decision.

    "It was much more difficult this time (than in 2009)," Showalter said. "Fortunately we have a committee in place that helps us make some very tough decisions. I think all 27 players could have earned a spot on the team. It just came down to what we were looking for in terms of building a team and international competition."

    Versatile forwards Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) and Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) were particularly impressive in Colorado Springs, according to Showalter.

    "Parker and Gordon really stood out," Showalter said. "They are really, really good players. They are going to be the best players in the tournament, no question. We started there and built around them."

    While he didn't offer specifics in terms of which players were among the final cuts, Showalter did provide some insight on the decision-making process.

    "We probably leaned a little toward taking some shooters," Showalter said. "Stephen Domingo was one of those guys that was really impressive but ultimately didn't make it.

    "We didn't take many bigs. In international competition it's hard to play two bigs together. We took Jahlil Okafor (a 6-foot-8, 270-pound center), but didn't take Dakari Johnson (with a similar build), who is very good as well. We had to take more Gordon- and Parker-type of bigs."

    Six-foot-nine sophomore Jimmie Taylor was another victim of that philosophy. Showalter envisions a big future for the athletic Alabama product despite missing out this time around.

    "We can't take kids on potential, but Jimmie Taylor maybe be on the team as a 17-year old," Showalter said. "He's not quite ready but really athletic and may be a kid that comes on strong as a 17-year old."
    Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball

    Aaron Gordon was among the<br> standouts of the selection process,<br> according to Showalter.


    Aaron, a contributor for a state championship team at Mater Dei as a freshman, is among those headed home instead of Mexico. Slightly less-heralded Monarch teammate Stanley Johnson did make the roster.

    Blackmon and Lyles created a major buzz as freshmen in the Hoosier State. Both averaged around 20 points per game in their debut high school seasons and grabbed headlines with early commitments to Indiana University. Lyles, a 6-9, 200-pound forward was named National Freshman of the Year by MaxPreps.

    Johnson and Whitehead were solid contributors for storied programs in New Jersey and New York, respectively. Collier was a first team All-State selection as a freshman in Colorado.

    Battle in the Big Apple?

    A rift between New York City's Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) could be developing after the PSAL elected to allow two of its champions participate in April's National High School Invitational.

    According to the New York Post, the CHSAA has asked its members not to schedule PSAL schools.

    "We're all a member of the Federation and if you join an association you should follow the rules," CHSAA president Ray Nash told the Post. "It's time that we make our feelings felt that you can't just violate the rules and expect everyone else to accept it."

    The lack of cooperation could put a kink in several major events, including the Big Apple Basketball Challenge and the SNY Invitational.

    Boys & Girls (Brooklyn) represented the PSAL in the event, beating Winter Park (Fla.) in the opening round before bowing out to Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) in the semifinals.

    Price commits to Auburn

    The Auburn Tigers picked up a solid verbal commitment over the weekend from Jordan Price of Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.).

    Though he is overshadowed by five-star teammate Will "Shaq" Goodwin at the Peach State school, Price actually led the team in scoring last season at 19.1 points per game. As a sophomore, he earned Division II-AA Mr. Basketball honors in Tennessee while at McCallie (Chattanooga), posting 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

    Price is rated a four-star prospect by MaxPreps and in the hunt for a Class of 2012 Top 100 spot when the rankings are updated again in July.

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    By Jun. 13th, 2011, 01:26 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    Shaqquan Aaron, Brad Beal, Aaron Gordon, Shaq Goodwin, Jahlil Okafor, Jimmie Taylor, Kendrick Nunn, Michael Gilchrist, James McAdoo, Dominique Collier
  • Jan. 7th

    Sadly, violence a prominent early-season story

    Note to knuckleheads – stay away from high school basketball games.

    News of fights, melees and even shootings has become routine through the early part of the 2010-11 season.

    Incidents in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Middletown, Conn., and Saginaw, Mich., are the latest in an ugly string of violence.

    I don't often editorialize in this space, but high school sports are supposed to be an escape from these types of problems, the basketball gym a refuge from the harsh and often violent reality of what may await on the streets outside.

    High school basketball games are often a major community event, where parents take young kids for cheap entertainment and families show up en masse to support their young athlete.

    These types of incidents put innocent bystanders at risk in one of the last places they should feel threatened and shatter the image of what a night at the local gym should be about.
    <center>Photo by Lonnie Webb</center>

    <center>Players from Mount Vernon and White Plains ended Thursday night's game with a handshake. Unfortunately, fans didn't follow their lead.</center>


    Stepping off the soapbox now to share some other stories of note from around the country...

    * The transfer issue is a hot one in the Atlanta area right now. Several of the area's top programs – boys and girls – beefed up their rosters with talented newcomers who played elsewhere a year ago.

    * Here's a new name on my radar – Reggie Sutton of San Angelo Central (Texas). Sutton went for 46 points and drilled 10 3-pointers in a recent quadruple-overtime win over Cibolo Steele.

    * While much of the country is beginning league or district play, No. 1-ranked Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) is on a bit of a sabbatical. The Warriors last played in the final of the Iolani Classic in Hawaii on Dec. 21 and don't hit the court again until Jan. 12. The break part of the annual routine for head coach Steve Smith's program, which begins its regular-season schedule in late October. Sophomore R.J. Curington took advantage by – what else – heading out to a game in his hometown of Dyer, Ind.

    * No. 15 Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.) has a huge game ahead tomorrow against No. 6 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.). The Greyhounds prepped for that showdown Thursday night by edging out future North Carolina Tar Heel James McAdoo and Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.) in a highly-anticipated game that played out in front of over 2,000 fans. Larry Rubama of the The Virginian-Pilot has the complete story.

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    By Jan. 7th, 2011, 01:15 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    R.J. Curington, James McAdoo, Norcom, Norfolk Christian, Findlay Prep, San Angelo Central, Oak Hill Academy, Region I Basketball
  • Aug. 2nd

    Nike Global Challenge participants

    Photo by Nicholas Koza

    Bradley Beal

    Below is a partial list of players (subject to change) expected to participate at the Nike Global Challenge beginning Friday in Hillsboro, Ore.

    Chicago's Wayne Blackshear has been identified by both the Nike Global Challenge and the adidas Nations event as a potential participant, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up Friday.

    The Nike Global Challenge pits three squads of American stars in an eight-team bracket also featuring challengers from Brazil, Canada, Nigeria and France, as well as a roster made up of players from Asian countries.

    Action begins at 2 p.m. from Hillsboro's Liberty High School. The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday night.

    Nike Global Challenge participants (subject to change)

    Bradley Beal, Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.)
    Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.)
    Jabari Brown, Oakland (Calif.)
    Kentavious Caldwell, Greenville (Ga.)
    Michael Carter-Williams, St. Andrew's (Hamilton, R.I.)
    Rakeem Christmas, Academy of the New Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    Anthony Davis, Perspectives Charter (Chicago, Ill.)
    Michael Gbinije, Benedictine (Richmond, Va.)
    P.J. Hairston, Hargrave Military Academy (Greensboro, N.C.)
    James McAdoo, Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.)
    Ben McLemore, Oak Hill Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
    Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
    Adonis Thomas, Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.)
    Josiah Turner, Sacramento (Calif.)
    Kyle Wiltjer, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)

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    By Aug. 2nd, 2010, 04:04 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    Kentavious Caldwell, Jabari Brown, Bradley Beal, James McAdoo, Ben McLemore, Kyle Wiltjer, Austin Rivers, Adonis Thomas, Michael Gbinije, Wayne Blackshear
  • Jul. 19th

    Big week for AAU basketball

    With AAU basketball's biggest week upon us, plenty of ink has been devoted to the summer circuit in recent days.

    MaxPreps is primarily a high school sports site, and while there are plenty of reasons to critique summer ball, I like it for one reason – kids play hard. It may not always be the most fluid team game, but with college coaches often looking on, players are fighting for their futures and it results in some pretty entertaining basketball.

    The Wall Street Journal took a New York-centric look at AAU hoops. Not a lot new here as your typical WSJ reader probably isn't immersed in youth basketball, but an interesting perspective nonetheless.

    Veering way away from the Big Apple, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune touches on the exposure advantages the travel circuit owns over high school basketball.

    Included is this quote which may make some blood boil on the high school side:

    "In the state of Utah, you can count on one hand the number of (college) coaches that will walk into a high school gym and watch kids play," A-Train coach Alex Austin told Jones. "High school basketball is fast becoming irrelevant in the state of Utah. If a kid isn’t playing AAU ball and traveling to major tournaments, coaches don’t recognize Utah athletes."

    Sadly, Austin is dead on and comments like this should serve as a wake-up call to governing bodies around the country who continue to maintain limited schedules and heavily restrict the amount of time coaches can work with players in the off-season. They are ceding more and more power to club teams. Whether that is a good thing for player development is up for debate.

    We have our own guide to this week's festivities in Las Vegas, where the Fab 48 and adidas Super 64 will be the headliners. I'll be in Sin City for the start of action Thursday and file reports each night through Sunday.

    <center>Photo by Nicholas Koza</center>

    <center>Looking forward to seeing the "big five" of (from left to right) Brandon Ashley, Nick Johnson, Kyle Wiltjer, Jabari Brown and Josiah Turner play for the Drew Gooden Soldiers at the Fab 48 in Las Vegas.</center>

    Las Vegas is only half the fun this week as the AAU Super Showcase at Disney's Wide World of Sports gets underway Tuesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

    Then there is this report on the Pump Brothers from Marlen Garcia of the USA Today. The Pump Brothers have received a lot of negative press lately (they were also linked to a ticket scandal at Kansas University), but they do have a pretty impressive track record of showcasing young players and helping them get to the college level.

    Taking a break from shoe company hoops, Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports wrote about the patriotism of young players these days.

    I wrote several weeks back that people should take note of the lineup for the Under-17 team that just won the World Championship in Germany – it might be special to look back on.

    Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt seems to agree.

    "It was one of the most talented young teams that USA Basketball has ever put together,” Hewitt told Goodman.

    Led by St. Louis guard Bradley Beal and Virginia forward James McAdoo (and coached by Don Showalter of Mid-Prairie High School in Iowa), the squad dominated in shocking fashion over the course of two summers with a record of 13-0. Eight of those victories came by 30 points or more and only twice were opponents able to keep the final margin under 20.

    Finally, the No. 66 prospect in our 2011 Top 100 – Greenville (Greenville, Ga.) guard/wing Kentavious Caldwell – made a pledge to Georgia over the weekend. Very positive sign for Bulldog head coach Mark Fox

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    By Jul. 19th, 2010, 04:19 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    Kentavious Caldwell, Bradley Beal, James McAdoo, Chaminade, Norfolk Christian, Greenville
  • Jul. 6th

    St. Patrick, Norfolk Christian added to City of Palms lineup

    Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball

    Michael Gilchrist and St. Patrick are headed<br> to Fort Myers, Fla., in December.

    The nation's best high school basketball tournament just got better.

    With the addition of Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.) and St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), the lineup for the prestigious State Farm City of Palms Classic is even juicier now than it was when the field was announced back on June 16.

    Norfolk Christian and St. Patrick were late additions to the field, according to organizer Donnie Wilkie, and feature highly-regarded rising senior talents in James McAdoo and Michael Gilchrist, respectively.

    Both players are currently representing the United States in Germany at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

    The schools will join a powerhouse cast in Fort Myers, Fla., including preseason top 25 contenders Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), Christ (Arden, N.C.), Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.), Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.).

    Monsignor Pace will not be participating in the event, as announced in June.

    In addition, Wilkie will be bringing four non-traditional schools to Bishop Verot High School (home base for the COP) to participate in the debut of the "Signature Series" – Academy of the New Church (Bryn Athyn, Pa.), St. Mark's (Southborough, Mass.), Westchester Academy (High Point, N.C.) and Ulm Urspringschule of Germany (incredibly the second reference to Bundesrepublik Deutschland in this high school basketball story).

    Nine of the top 30 seniors in MaxPreps.com's 2011 Top 100 will participate in the State Farm City of Palms Class or Signature Series, scheduled for Dec. 17-22.

    MaxPreps.com would love to highlight your 2010-11 high school basketball event. Please e-mail us at jason@maxpreps.com.

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    By Jul. 6th, 2010, 04:06 PAdd a Comment

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    Basketball

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    James McAdoo, Michael Gilchrist, Christ School, Patrick School, Westchester Country Day, Christ the King, Bishop Gorman, Milton, Norfolk Christian, Whitney Young
  • Apr. 20th

    Junior All-American Team quick list

    Here is a quick-list look at our Junior All-American team released earlier today. Click here for the complete story.

    Keep in mind, this is not a recruiting list. MaxPreps All-American teams are based on achievement (stats, honors, team success) during the 2009-10 season – not recruiting attention or college and pro potential.

    National Junior of the Year

    Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)

    First Team

    Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.), 6-5 / 210 / Wing – Louisville commitment
    Quinn Cook, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 6-0 / 175 / Guard
    Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 6-7 / 190 / Forward - Kentucky commitment
    Myck Kabongo, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 6-2 / 170 / Guard – Texas commitment
    Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.), 6-3 / 180 / Guard

    Second Team

    Bradley Beal, Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.), 6-3 / 185 / Guard – Florida commitment
    Dorian Finney - Smith, Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.), 6-7 / 200 / Forward
    P. J. Hairston, Dudley (Greensboro, N.C.), 6-6 / 220 / Wing – North Carolina commitment
    James McAdoo, Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.), 6-8 / 220 / Forward – North Carolina commitment
    Adonis Thomas, Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.), 6-7 / 200 / Wing

    Third Team

    Branden Dawson, Lew Wallace (Gary, Ind.), 6-6 / 205 / Forward
    Chris Jones, Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.), 5-9 / 165 / Guard – Tennessee verbal commitment
    Quincy Miller, Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 6-9 / 195 / Forward
    Julian Royal, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), 6-8 / 210 / Forward
    Amir Williams, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 6-10 / 220 / Forward

    Fourth Team

    Ryan Boatright, East (Aurora, Ill.), 5-10 / 160 / Guard
    Joe Coleman, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 6-3 / 180 / Guard
    Trevor Lacey, Butler (Huntsville, Ala.), 6-4 / 190 / Guard
    Le Bryan Nash, Lincoln (Dallas, Texas), 6-7 / 220 / Forward
    Deville Smith, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.), 5-11 / 165 / Guard

    Fifth Team

    Aaron Brown, Penn Wood (Lansdowne, Pa.), 6-5 / 205 / Wing
    Sheldon McClellan, Bellaire (Houston, Texas), 6-5 / 195 / Guard – Texas commitment
    Hunter Mickelson, Westside (Jonesboro, Ark.), 6-10 / 195 / Forward
    Shannon Scott, Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), 6-2 / 170 / Guard – Ohio State commitment
    Cody Zeller, Washington (Washington, Ind.), 6-9 / 195 / Forward

    Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)

    Devonta Abron, Seagoville (Dallas, Texas), 6-7 / 215 / Forward
    Tyler Adams, Brandon (Brandon, Miss.), 6-9 / 250 / Forward
    Kyan Anderson, North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas), 5-11 / 175 / Guard
    Gary Bell, Kentridge (Kent, Wash.), 6-2 / 180 / Guard
    Henry Brooks, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.), 6-8 / 195 / Forward
    Carlton Brundidge, Southfield (Southfield, Mich.), 6-1 / 190 / Guard – Michigan verbal commitment
    Angelo Chol, Hoover (San Diego, Calif.), 6-9 / 205 / Forward
    De Andre Daniels, Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 6-8 / 185 / Forward – Texas verbal commitment
    Myles Davis, St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.), 6-2 / 180 / Guard
    Chase Fischer, Ripley (Ripley, W.Va.), 6-3 / 170 / Guard – Marshall verbal commitment
    Michael Gbinije, Benedictine (Richmond, Va.), 6-6 / 190 / Wing – Duke verbal commitment
    Juan'ya Green, Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 6-3 / 185 / Guard
    Ladontae Henton, Eastern (Lansing, Mich.), 6-6 / 200 / Forward
    Rodney Hood, Meridian (Meridian, Miss.), 6-8 / 200 / Forward
    Tyrone Johnson, Plainfield (Plainfield, N.J.), 6-2 / 180 / Guard
    Cody Kessler, Centennial (Bakersfield, Calif.), 6-2 / 190 / Guard
    Cole Krizancic, Mentor (Mentor, Ohio), 5-10 / 145 / Guard
    Tommie McCune, Saginaw (Saginaw, Mich.), 6-7 / 185 / Forward
    Ben McLemore, Eskridge (Wellston, Mo.), 6-4 / 185 / Guard
    Norman Powell, Lincoln (San Diego, Calif.), 6-3 / 175 / Guard
    Chasson Randle, Rock Island (Rock Island, Ill.), 6-2 / 180 / Guard
    Levi Randolph, Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), 6-5 / 185 / Wing
    Marquis Teague, Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.), 6-1/ 170 / Guard
    Josiah Turner, Sacramento (Sacramento, Calif.), 6-3 / 185 / Guard
    Kyle Wiltjer, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 6-9 / 210 / Forward

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    By Apr. 20th, 2010, 12:00 A2 Comments

    Categories

    Basketball

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    Bradley Beal, James McAdoo, Angelo Chol, Hunter Mickelson, Tommie McCune, Branden Dawson, Julian Royal, Ben McLemore, De Andre Daniels, Kyle Wiltjer