Another Slam Dunk is in the books
Another Slam Dunk to the Beach is in the books, and the 2019 edition was one to remember. Fans who packed Cape Henlopen High School’s Big House for the three-day hoops bonanza were treated to the best high school basketball they’re ever likely to see, with 100 or so future Division I prospects from all over the East Coast raising eyebrows and rattling rims. This year’s Slam featured players who have committed to Duke, North Carolina, Florida, Xavier, St. John’s, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and other storied programs. If the tourney’s history is any indication, we’ll see a few of them on NBA courts someday soon. Here’s a quick look back at all the action.
Scores
Friday, Dec. 27
St. Raymond (N.Y.) 93, Cape Henlopen (Del.) 36
First Love Christian (Pa.) 44, Hudson Catholic (N.J.) 33
Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.) 75, Rock Creek Christian (Md.) 67
Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) 59, National Christian (Md.) 52
Sanford (Del.) 53, Lake Clifton (Md.) 44
Albany Academy (N.Y.) 47, Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) 46
Saturday, Dec. 28
Immaculate Conception (N.J.) 58, Rock Creek Christian (Md.) 54
Albany Academy (N.Y.) 62, Lake Clifton (Md.) 43
Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) 56, Dover (Del.) 51
Westtown (Pa.) 48, Hudson Catholic (N.J.) 27
Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.) 88, Legacy Early College (S.C.) 76, OT
No. 14 Roselle Catholic (N.J.) 52, Sanford (Del.) 36
Sunday, Dec. 29
Legacy Early College (S.C.) 52, Immaculate Conception (N.J.) 49
St. Raymond (N.Y.) 75, Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) 45
Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) 70, No. 3 Paul VI (Va.) 64
Dover (Del.) 75, Cape Henlopen (Del.) 52
No. 14 Roselle Catholic (N.J.) 65, First Love Christian (Pa.) 58
Westtown (Pa.) 66, National Christian (Md.) 56
All-Tournament Team
First Team (two-game minimum)
Name Year Pos. School Numbers College
Cliff Omoruyi, Sr., C, Roselle Catholic (N.J.), 16.5p, 13.0r, 6.5b Undecided
Andre Jackson, Sr., G, Albany Academy (N.Y.), 15.0p, 10.5r, 5.0a, 4.0s Connecticut
C.J. Wilcher, Sr., G, Roselle Catholic (N.J.), 20.0p, 5.5r, 6 3fg Xavier
Dylan Addae-Wusu, Sr., G, Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.), 18.5p, 6.0r, 3.5a St. John’s
Jalen Warley, Jr., G, Westtown (Pa.), 16.0p, 4.0a, 3.0s Undecided
Second Team
A.J. Griffin, Jr., F, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.), 18.0p, 12.0r Duke
Luis Kortright, Sr., G, St. Raymond (N.Y.), 22.0p, 3.0a, 4.5s Undecided
R.J. Davis, Sr., G, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.), 21.0p, 9.0r North Carolina
Zach Martini, Sr., F, Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.), 18.5p, 10.5r Princeton
Trevor Keels, Jr., G, Paul VI (Va.), 19.0p, 6.0r Undecided
Third Team
Isaiah Wilson, Sr., G, First Love Christian (Pa.), 17.5p, 5.0r, 3.5a Richmond
Jacobi Wright, Jr., G, Legacy Early College (S.C.), 17.0p, 6.0a, 1.5s Undecided
Jaquan Sanders, So., G, Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.), 18.5p, 6.5r, 2.5a, 9 3fg Undecided
Yuri Covington, Sr., G, National Christian (Md.), 19.5p, 4.0r, 6 3fg Undecided
T.J. Berger, Sr., G, Westtown (Pa.), 16.5p, 7.0r 8 3fg Pennsylvania
Most Outstanding Player
Cliff Omoruyi, C, Roselle Catholic (N.J.) - This 6-foot-11 beast posted the sturdiest stat line this side of Dwight Howard in the Lions’ comeback win over First Love Christian (Pa.) Dec. 29, going for 17 points, 19 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. He was a man among boys all tournament long, owning the paint with his rare combination of length and strength. Omoruyi, a senior whose short list of college choices includes Kentucky, Memphis and other bluebloods, put up 16.5 points, 13 rebounds and 6.5 blocks in Roselle’s two Slam victories. He shot 57 percent from the floor in the process. Omoruyi manages to stand out even on a roster brimming with at least eight surefire Division I talents.
Most Outstanding Team
Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.) - The boys from the Bronx brought home a pair of impressive victories during their Slam stay, taking down Rock Creek Christian (Md.) 75-67 Dec. 27, before erasing an eight-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Legacy Early College (S.C.) 88-76 in overtime the following night. The Falcons were a model of efficiency throughout the showcase, shooting 53 percent from the floor and committing just nine turnovers per game, including a jaw-dropping three in the win over Legacy. Our Saviour also turned heads with its balance, as all five starters averaged double figures in scoring. Senior swingman Dylan Addae-Wusu and sophomore sharpshooter Jaquan Sanders led the charge, putting up 18.5 points per game each, while senior big man Max Amadasun contributed 14.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Senior point guard Posh Alexander, meanwhile, expertly commanded the tourney’s most efficient offense, chipping in 12 points and four assists per outing. Addae-Wusu and Alexander will both play at St. John’s next year, while Amadasun will suit up for Pittsburgh.
Best Game
Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) 70, No. 3 Paul VI (Va.) 64 - The tourney’s most anticipated matchup delivered the goods, as Stepinac shocked previously unbeaten Paul VI behind 21 points from senior point guard R.J. Davis and an 18-point, 12-rebound line from junior wing A.J. Griffin. Trailing by four at halftime, the Crusaders opened the third quarter with a 17-5 run that turned the tide, with Davis and Griffin combining for 11 points during the spurt. The Panthers did their best to claw back in the fourth, closing the gap to 68-64 on a three-pointer from senior guard Jeremy Roach in the final seconds, but Davis calmly sank a pair of free throws to put the game away. Stepinac came into this one on a low, having dropped two of its final three games at the City of Palms Classic in Florida, but the Crusaders left Lewes with a win that catapulted them back into the top 25 nationally. The game featured at least three future Tobacco Road stars in Davis (North Carolina), Griffin (Duke) and Roach (Duke).
