2019 Geico National Tournament Report
All of these great playoff games can be seen on ESPN online streaming.
This report will cover the following games (7) or events: Geico National Championship Tournament (Sunrise Christian Academy (KS), IMG Academy (FL), NSU University School (FL), Montverde Academy (FL), Bishop Gorman (NV), La Lumiere (IN), Wasatch Academy (UT), Oak Hill Academy (VA)).
Geico National Championship Tournament
From Christ the King HS
Middle Village, NY
Quarterfinals
Thursday April 4, 2019
(B) IMG Academy Ascenders 28-1 (Bradenton, FL) 65
FL #3 Xcellent 25 #4
Sunrise Christian Academy Buffaloes (Bel Aire, KS) 50
Xcellent 25 #11
Notes: Noah Farrakhan (6-1 ’20 PG IMG) and Jaden Springer (6-5 ’20 G/F IMG) combined to go 17 of 25 from the floor as they refused to lose while IMG controlled the game from tip to buzzer. This was also a bittersweet game watching Austin Crowley (6-4 ’19 G Sunrise Christian/West Point) walk of the court for the last time. It’s been a pleasure seeing the Real AC develop into what he has become today. I first saw him during summer league games at ICC as a skinny young prospect. I saw the potential in what he could develop into and with proper moves he has developed into the high major player I thought he could. Thanks for the memories Austin. Sunrise and Coach Luke Barnwell will be in great shape next year with big N’Faly Dante (7-0 ’20 F/C Sunrise Christian) coming back. Dante is one of the premiere bigs in the country. It was also very nice to see one of my favorite sophomores in the country getting some court time. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6-9 ’21 G/F IMG) will be a problem for opponents next season.
IMG (traveled 1,203 miles) 65
’19’s
Josh Green 6-6 G/F 2 pts 2 reb 8 ast 2 st
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 6-9 PF 8 pts 4-6 fg 5 reb 1 ast 1 st
Armando Bacot Jr 6-10 C 8 pts 4-7 fg 10 reb 1 blk
’20’s
Noah Farrakhan 6-1 PG 19 pts 6-11 fg 3 3’s 4-4 ft 2 reb 2 ast 3 st
Sunrise (traveled 1,389 miles) 50
’19’s
Austin Crowley 6-4 G 5 pts 6 reb 1 ast
Noel Coleman 6-1 G 4 pts 3 reb 4 ast 2 st
Grant Sherfield 6-3 G 13 pts 2 reb 2 ast
Jordan Turner 6-8 G/F 8 pts 3 reb 1 ast
’20’s
N’Faly Dante 7-0 F/C 8 pts 4-7 fg 8 reb 2 blk 3 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Jaden Springer
IMG Academy
6-5 ’20 G/F
26 pts 11-14 fg 2 reb 4 ast 3 blk
(B) Montverde Academy Eagles 20-2 (Montverde, FL) 65
FL #2 Xcellent 25 #3
NSU University School Sharks 27-5 (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 57
FL #1 Xcellent 25 #13
Notes: Harlond Beverly (6-4 ’19 G Montverde) used his speed to put together a solid shooting night going 9 of 11 from the floor.
Montverde (traveled 1,105 miles) 65
’19’s
Balsa Koprivica 7-0 C 10 pts 4-7 fg 2 reb
Precious Achiuwa 6-9 F 10 pts 5-9 fg 7 reb 3 ast 1 blk
’20’s
Cade Cunningham 6-5 SF 4 pts 8 reb 1 ast 1 st
Moses Moody 6-5 SG 8 pts 7 reb 2 ast 2 st
’22’s
Caleb Houstan 6-8 SF 5 pts 5 reb 1 st
University (traveled 1,266 miles) 57
’19’s
Vernon Carey Jr. 6-11 F 15 pts 11 reb 2 ast
’20’s
Roger McFarlane 6-4 SG 15 pts 7-10 fg 2 reb
Scottie Barnes 6-8 G/F 12 pts 11 reb 3 ast 1 blk
’22’s
Jett Howard 6-5 G 10 pts 2 reb
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Harlond Beverly
Montverde Academy
6-4 ’19 G
25 pts 9-11 fg 3 reb 2 ast 1 blk 1 st
(B) La Lumiere Lakers 29-0 (LaPorte, IN) 74 Double OT
IN #2 Xcellent 25 #2
Bishop Gorman Gaels 28-5 (Las Vegas, NV) 69
NV #1 Xcellent 25 #21
Notes: Bishop Gorman used a very hot three-point shooting performance to force a double-overtime game. Keion Brooks (6-7 ’19 SF La Lumiere) and Isaiah Stewart (6-9 ’19 F/C La Lumiere) both stepped up big toward the end of the game to help lead LaLu to the semifinals.
La Lumiere (traveled 748 miles) 74
’19’s
Keion Brooks 6-7 SF 18 pts 7-12 fg 10 reb 1 ast 3 blk 1 st
Paxson Wojcik 6-4 SG 7 pts 7 reb 2 ast 2 st
Gerald Drumgoole 6-5 SF 5 pts 10 reb 4 ast
’20’s
Wendell Green Jr. 5-11 PG 19 pts 7 reb 3 ast 1 st
Bishop Gorman (traveled 2,557 miles) 69
’19’s
Chance Michels 6-2 G 9 pts 3-5 fg 3 3’s 7 reb 1 st
’20’s
Isaiah Cottrell 6-10 F 10 pts 6 reb 2 ast 3 blk
Noah Taitz 6-3 G 16 pts 4 3’s 5 reb 4 ast 1 blk 3 st
’21’s
Will McClendon 6-4 G 22 pts 4 3’s 3 reb 2 ast
Zaon Collins 6-0 G 12 pts 5 reb 7 ast 2 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Isaiah Stewart
La Lumiere
6-9 ’19 F/C
25 pts 11-11 ft 7 reb 1 ast 4 blk 1 st
(B) Oak Hill Academy Warriors 24-4 (Mouth of Wilson, VA) 79
VA #1 Xcellent 25 #20
Wasatch Academy Tigers 26-4 (Mount Pleasant, UT) 72
UT #1 Xcellent 25 #10
Notes: Mady Sissoko (6-10 ’20 C Wasatch) might’ve had the best dunk of the tournament with a poster and-1 over big Kofi Cockburn (6-10 ’19 C Oak Hill). Sissoko really caught my eye with his play. Cole Anthony (6-2 ’19 PG Oak Hill) showed why he is one of the best players in the nation, if not the best overall, in the win for Oak Hill.
Oak Hill (traveled 587 miles) 79
’19’s
Christian Brown 6-6 F 12 pts 4-7 fg 1 reb 1 ast
Kofi Cockburn 6-10 C 13 pts 8 reb 2 blk 1 st
’20’s
Cam Thomas 6-1 SG 16 pts 6-6 ft 5 reb 3 ast 2 st
Dylan Cardwell 6-10 F/C 5 pts 3-4 ft 3 reb 1 ast 3 blk
Wasatch Academy (traveled 2,270 miles) 72
’19’s
Marvin “Tre” Williams III 6-5 G 10 pts 2 reb 4 ast
Tristan Enaruna 6-10 G/F 6 pts 6 reb 2 ast 1 st
’20’s
Richie Saunders 6-5 G 10 pts 4-4 fg 1 reb 1 ast 1 st
Mike Saunders 6-1 G 22 pts 7-10 fg 8-10 ft 2 reb 2 ast
Caleb Lohner 6-8 G/F 15 pts 6-10 fg 3 3’s 4 reb
Mady Sissoko 6-10 C 5 pts 8 reb 1 ast 1 blk
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Cole Anthony
Oak Hill Academy
6-2 ’19 PG
30 pts 11-20 fg 4 3’s 11 reb 1 ast 1 st
Geico National Championship Tournament
From Christ the King HS
Middle Village, NY
Semifinals
Friday April 5, 2019
(B) IMG Academy Ascenders 29-1 (Bradenton, FL) 74
FL #3 Xcellent 25 #4
Montverde Academy Eagles 20-3 (Montverde, FL) 73
FL #2 Xcellent 25 #3
Notes: Montverde whipped IMG for the first three quarters before IMG decided to turn on the heat. IMG outscored Montverde 27-10 in the fourth quarter for the big comeback win. Freshman , Jarace Walker (6-6 ’22 G/F IMG) stepped up big in the fourth quarter push. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (6-9 ’19 PF IMG) nailed the dunk of the tournament with his game winning poster with 5.8 seconds to go. Harlond Beverly (6-4 ’19 G Montverde) contributed another dunk of the tournament nominee with a baseline drive and one-hand slam in the first half. Beverly really showed me something with his play in both games of the tournament. Precious Achiuwa (6-9 ’19 F Montverde) didn’t have the best tournament but he has a very bright future with whichever college he decides to attend.
IMG (traveled 1,203 miles) 74
’19’s
Josh Green 6-6 G/F 12 pts 1 reb 1 ast 3 st
Armando Bacot Jr 6-10 C 8 pts 3-5 fg 7 reb 1 ast 2 blk
’20’s
Jaden Springer 6-5 G/F 26 pts 7-12 fg 12-12 ft 2 reb 3 ast 2 st
’22’s
Jarace Walker 6-6 G/F 8 pts 2-3 fg 2 reb
Montverde (traveled 1,105 miles) 73
’19’s
Balsa Koprivica 7-0 C 10 pts 4-6 fg 5 reb 2 blk
Precious Achiuwa 6-9 F 8 pts 7 reb 3 ast 1 st
Harlond Beverly 6-4 G 23 pts 6-7 ft 3 reb 3 ast 3 st
’20’s
Cade Cunningham 6-5 SF 21 pts 3 3’s 9 reb 3 ast
Moses Moody 6-5 SG 9 pts 4-5 ft 3 reb 4 ast 2 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
IMG Academy
6-9 ’19 PF
16 pts 9 reb 3 ast 1 blk 1 st
(B) La Lumiere Lakers 30-0 (LaPorte, IN) 58
IN #2 Xcellent 25 #2
Oak Hill Academy Warriors 24-5 (Mouth of Wilson, VA) 57
VA #1 Xcellent 25 #20
Notes: Another semifinal game decided by one point. Oak Hill missed the last five shots of the game going for the win. Keion Brooks (6-7 ’19 SF La Lumiere) and Isaiah Stewart (6-9 ’19 F/C La Lumiere) both had big games to get La Lu to the championship game. Kofi Cockburn (6-10 ’19 C Oak Hill) didn’t have a dominating tournament but I still think he is one of the best bigs in the country. Cole Anthony (6-2 ’19 PG Oak Hill) also showed that he is one of the better passing guards in the country in this game when his shot wasn’t falling.
La Lumiere (traveled 748 miles) 58
’19’s
Keion Brooks 6-7 SF 20 pts 9-16 fg 6 reb 2 ast
Paxson Wojcik 6-4 SG 8 pts 3-5 fg 3 reb 3 ast
Isaiah Stewart 6-9 F/C 14 pts 7-12 fg 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk
Gerald Drumgoole 6-5 SF 12 pts 3 3’s 3 reb 1 ast
’20’s
Wendell Green Jr. 5-11 PG 4 pts 3 reb 4 ast
Oak Hill Academy (traveled 587 miles) 57
’19’s
Christian Brown 6-6 F 8 pts 2 reb 1 ast 2 blk 1 st
Kofi Cockburn 6-10 C 6 pts 11 reb 2 st
Cole Anthony 6-2 PG 11 pts 4 reb 8 ast 1 blk 1 st
’20’s
Cam Thomas 6-1 SG 22 pts 7 reb 1 ast 1 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Isaiah Stewart
La Lumiere
6-9 ’19 F/C
14 pts 7-12 fg 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk
Geico National Championship Game
From Christ the King HS
Middle Village, NY
Saturday April 6, 2019
(B) IMG Academy Ascenders 30-1 (Bradenton, FL) 66
FL #3 Xcellent 25 #4
La Lumiere Lakers 30-1 (LaPorte, IN) 55
IN #2 Xcellent 25 #2
Notes: What is a traditional football school doing playing for the national championship? Winning it is what they are doing. IMG has a really good team and they are now in the conversation with the better programs in the country. I’m not sure where he is ranked nationally but Josh Green (6-6 ’19 G/F IMG) is underrated in whatever spot he’s in. He plays so smooth and never let’s the moment get to him. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (6-9 ’19 PF IMG) had a huge tournament run to help win the title of National Champions. Two other players that are much better than what I thought were Keion Brooks (6-7 ’19 SF La Lumiere) and Isaiah Stewart (6-9 ’19 F/C La Lumiere). I know both are highly rated and Brooks is going to Kentucky but they really got my attention. Stewart will make an immediate impact next year in college.
IMG (traveled 1,203 miles) 66
’19’s
Josh Green 6-6 G/F 19 pts 7-12 fg 3-3 ft 2 reb
Armando Bacot Jr 6-10 C 6 pts 8 reb
’20’s
Noah Farrakhan 6-1 PG 5 pts 3 reb 2 ast
Jaden Springer 6-5 G/F 13 pts 5 reb 7 ast
La Lumiere (traveled 748 miles) 55
’19’s
Keion Brooks 6-7 SF 15 pts 5 reb 1 ast
Isaiah Stewart 6-9 F/C 14 pts 6-11 fg 7 reb
Gerald Drumgoole 6-5 SF 12 pts 3 3’s 3-4 ft 4 reb 2 ast
’20’s
Wendell Green Jr. 5-11 PG 9 pts 4 reb 6 ast
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
IMG Academy
6-9 ’19 PF
18 pts 7-10 fg 7 reb 6 ast
Congrats to the Geico National Champs
IMG Academy Ascenders
Geico National Tournament Averages
Minimum 2 games
IMG Academy
Josh Green 6-6 ’19 G/F 11 ppg 3 3’s 2 rpg 3 apg 2 spg
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 6-9 ’19 PF 14 ppg 3 3’s 7-10 ft 7 rpg 3 apg 1 spg
Armando Bacot Jr 6-10 ’19 C 7 ppg 8 rpg 1 bpg
Jaden Springer 6-5 ’20 G/F 21 ppg 22-35 fg 3 3’s 17-21 ft 3 rpg 5 apg 1 bpg 1 spg
Montverde Academy
Balsa Koprivica 7-0 ’19 C 10 ppg 8-13 fg 4 rpg 1 bpg
Precious Achiuwa 6-9 ’19 F 9 ppg 8-15 fg 2-2 ft 7 rpg 3 apg 1 bpg 1 spg
Harlond Beverly 6-4 ’19 G 24 ppg 17-27 fg 3 3’s 11-15 ft 3 rpg 3 apg 1 bpg 2 spg
Cade Cunningham 6-5 ’20 SF 13 ppg 3 3’s 9 rpg 2 apg 1 spg
Moses Moody 6-5 ’20 SG 9 ppg 2 3’s 7-10 ft 5 rpg 3 apg 2 spg
La Lumiere
Keion Brooks 6-7 ’19 SF 18 ppg 4 3’s 5-7 ft 7 rpg 1 apg 1 bpg
Paxson Wojcik 6-4 ’19 SG 6 ppg 8-15 fg 4 rpg 2 apg 1 spg
Isaiah Stewart 6-9 ’19 F/C 18 ppg 19-39 fg 2 3’s 13-15 ft 10 rpg 1 apg 2 bpg
Gerald Drumgoole 6-5 ’19 SF 10 ppg 6 3’s 6 rpg 2 apg
Wendell Green Jr. 5-11 ’20 PG 11 ppg 2 3’s 5 rpg 4 apg
Oak Hill Academy
Christian Brown 6-6 ’19 F 10 ppg 7-13 fg 3 3’s 3-4 ft 2 rpg 1 apg 1 bpg 1 spg
Kofi Cockburn 6-10 ’19 C 10 ppg 10 rpg 1 bpg 2 spg
Cole Anthony 6-2 ’19 PG 21 ppg 5 3’s 6-8 ft 4 rpg 5 apg 1 bpg 1 spg
Dylan Cardwell 6-10 ’20 F/C 5 ppg 3-5 fg 3-4 ft 3 rpg 1 apg 2 bpg
Cam Thomas 6-1 ’20 SG 19 ppg 8-9 ft 6 rpg 2 apg 2 spg
Magnolia Hoops Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes during this time period based on stats.
2019: Cole Anthony
6-2 PG Oak Hill Academy
2020: Jaden Springer
6-5 G/F IMG Academy
2021: Will McClendon
6-4 G Bishop Gorman
2022: Jett Howard
6-5 G NSU University School
Magnolia Hoops Starting 5
The top five players during this time period based on stats.
Magnolia Hoops 