Slam Dunk team capsules Part 2

Slam Dunk to the Beach brings high-caliber hoops back to Lewes once again this winter, as a high tide of top talent will roll into Cape Henlopen High School for the Dec. 27-29 tournament. This year’s loaded slate features 17 teams from eight states and the District of Columbia. The Slam Dunk schedule boasts two squads ranked in MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25: No. 11 Paul VI (Va.) and No. 25 Roselle Catholic (N.J.). Twenty-four players listed in 247Sports’ rankings database are slated to compete, including 10 top 100 prospects in their respective classes. Six-foot-nine forward Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 3 sophomore in America, will suit up for Our Savior New American (N.Y.). Six-foot-seven swingman Kahlil Whitney, the No. 7 prospect in the senior class and a Kentucky commit, will take the floor for Roselle. And those are just the headliners. Ring up your fellow basketball junkies, grab a slice or three of Grotto, and dig in. Basketball beckons.

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two-part feature on each team participating in the Slam Dunk tournament. To view the first part, check out the Friday, Dec. 21 edition or go to www.capegazette.com. 

Hudson Catholic Hawks (Jersey City, N.J.)

Coach: Nick Mariniello

Last Year: 21-5, reached state tourney round of 16

Top Talent: 6-6 Sr C Danny Rodriguez (committed to Fairleigh Dickinson), 6-3 Fr G Zion Cruz (offers from Rutgers, Bryant), 6-4 So F Shane Dezonie (offers from Rutgers, Hartford)

Coach’s Take: “We’re a young team with…three sophomores and two freshmen in the rotation. We pride ourselves on being a solid defensive team. We’re still figuring stuff out, but we’re getting there … [Rodriguez] is a great kid and a tremendous worker … [Cruz] has already been involved with USA Basketball and is a big-time talent … [6-foot-2 sophomore guard] Justin Glover is a mid-major/Ivy League-type guy … We have a [6-foot-7] freshman named Antonio Sellers who has a really high basketball IQ and is developing into a high-major talent.”

NBA Alumni: Jim Spanarkel, Mike O’Koren

Liberty Patriots (Henderson, Nev.)

Coach: Stefan Berg

Last Year: 18-10, regional semifinalists

Top Talent: 6-7 Jr F Julian Strawther (No. 34 in 2020 class; offers from Kansas, Gonzaga, Arizona), 6-1 So G Kobe Stroughter, 6-6 Sr F Terrance Marigney

Coach’s Take: “We like to play up-tempo, transition ball. We’re led by [Strawther], who has an all-around game and is very unselfish. He can shoot the three, score from mid-range, and get to the bucket. He plays the one through the five for us. [Stroughter] is a combo guard who is quick off the dribble. [Marigney] is a post player but can also play on the perimeter. Jordan Wafer is our anchor on defense and plays bigger than he is. We also have four football kids, and they bring a lot of toughness to the team. We’re looking forward to the tournament with its great history … The trip will be an educational experience for the kids. We’re flying into Philly, [where] we’ll visit the Liberty Bell and the ‘Rocky’ stairs.”

Our Savior New American Pioneers (Centereach, N.Y.)

Coach: Rev. Ronald Stelzer

Last Year: 14-9, USA National Prep Championship finalist

Top Talent: 6-9 So F Jonathan Kuminga (No. 3 in class of 2021; offers from St. John’s, Connecticut, Auburn), 6-5 Sr F Fousseyni Drame (top 500 in class of 2019; offers from St. John’s, Rutgers), 6-5 Sr F Hassan Drame (offers from St. John’s, Rutgers)

Coach’s Take: “We’ll definitely be entertaining. We’re long and athletic. Obviously, [Kuminga] is the main attraction, but we have plenty of talented athletes who like to get out and run.”

NBA Alumni: Cheick Diallo

No. 11 (MaxPreps) Paul VI Panthers (Fairfax, Va.)

Coach: Glenn Farello

Last Year: 33-4, state champions

Top Talent: 6-4 So G Trevor Keels (top-50 in class of 2021; offers from South Carolina, Wake Forest, George Washington), 6-4 Jr G Josiah Freeman (No. 125 in class of 2020; offers from Old Dominion, Robert Morris, Siena), 6-8 Sr F Joshua Oduro (committed to George Mason)

Coach’s Take: “Our strengths are speed and guard play.”

NBA Alumni: Erick Green

No. 25 (MaxPreps) Roselle Catholic Lions (Roselle, N.J.)

Coach: Dave Boff

Last Year: 29-4, state champions

Top Talent: 6-7 Sr G Kahlil Whitney (No. 7 in class of 2019; committed to Kentucky), 6-3 Sr G Josh Pierre-Louis (No. 354 in class of 2019; committed to UNLV), 6-2 Fr G Corey Floyd

Coach’s Take: “[We have] an exciting style of play with pressure defense and transition offense.”

NBA Alumni: Isaiah Briscoe, Jameel Warney

Salesianum Sallies (Wilmington, Del.)

Coach: Taylor Trevisan

Last Year: 14-7, state quarterfinalists

Top Talent: 6-7 Sr F Jack Brown, 6-4 Sr F Darnell Vaughan (committed to DeSales), 6-4 So G Rasheen Caulk

Coach’s Take: “Fans can expect a tough, gritty team that likes to get up and down the floor as well as pressure. This is a bit different from Sallies’ reputation, but we have the length and athleticism to do so. We will never shy away from trying to be the toughest and most well-prepared group we can be.”

NBA Alumni: Donte DiVincenzo

Sanford Warriors (Hockessin, Del.)

Coach: Stan Waterman

Last Year: 17-6, state semifinalists

Top Talent: 6-7 Jr G Jyare Davis (No. 109 in class of 2020; offers from Florida, Miami (Fla.), Seton Hall), 6-9 So F Nnanna Njoku (offer from La Salle), 5-10 Jr G Hassan Perkins

Coach’s Take: “Slam fans can expect to see one of the top programs in the state of Delaware. We have a talented and experienced team … All 12 members of the roster were on the varsity team last year. We have some pieces. [We have] size, athleticism, and depth. We hope to be able to compete on both the local and national level.”

Vermont Academy Wildcats (Saxtons River, Vt.)

Coach: Alex Popp

Last Year: 15-16

Top Talent: 6-5 Jr G Symir Torrence (No. 56 in class of 2020; offers from Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnati), 6-8 Sr F Tommy O’Neil (No. 351 in class of 2019; committed to Harvard), 6-0 So G Joshua Bascoe (interest from Ohio State, Oregon, Butler)

Coach’s Take: “[We’re all about] passion, toughness, and togetherness.”

NBA Alumni: Bruce Brown

Westtown Moose (West Chester, Pa.)

Coach: Seth Berger

Last Year: 24-13, state semifinalists

Top Talent: 6-3 Sr G Jalen Gaffney (No. 138 in class of 2019; committed to Connecticut), 6-8 Jr F Noah Collier (No. 133 in class of 2020; offers from Syracuse, Seton Hall, Temple), 6-10 Sr C John Bol Ajak (No. 261 in class of 2019; committed to Syracuse)

Riedel’s Take: Westtown may have lost once-in-a-generation wing Cam Reddish to Duke (and, in a year’s time, the NBA), but that doesn’t mean the Moose are short on talent. Gaffney, a combo guard, electrifies with his athleticism and shoots it with confidence from long range. Collier, who participated in the US Junior National Team minicamp last year, brings versatility and athleticism as a combo forward.

NBA Alumni: Mohamed Bamba, Georgios Papagiannis.