Summer League at the St. James

2023 Recap

June 2023 | Written by Brian Inge and Julian Warren

“Summer, Summer, Summertimeeeeeee” The SJ summer league was filled with a ton of teams and players who made lasting impressions. The June period is a time where student athletes resume play with their HS teams to prepare for the HS live periods. In Northern VA we were blessed to have witnessed several players blossom and unknown prospects make lasting names for themselves. Check out some outgoing highlights before playoff action starts Thursday

Grant Polk

Polk is a 6’6 elite shooter and a top shooting prospect in the DMV. You don’t need to see anyone else to know that he is going to be one of the best shooters in his class. Polk already has an easy NBA range from 3 and he can shoot off off-ball movement, off the dribble, contested shots and fadeaways – he has it all in his bag. He also shined in other parts of the court as a rebounder and a play-maker for his team. His peak summer league performance showed him scoring 30 points on 10 3-pointers in a stretch where he barely missed a shot. As college and professional level teams increasingly value the 3-pointer, Polk’s shooting talents will be evermore sought after.

Sabree Scott

Scott is a 6'6 wing with a long wingspan and good athleticism, good shooting touch and a nice handle. He is great at pressuring the rim but can also light it up from outside. Scott is an effective 3-level scorer and a 2-way player. He is an offensive threat and also shows promise as an elite college level defender. Sabree led the Highland School to a Summer Jamboree Tournament victory, averaging over 15 points per game.

Highland School

Highland School runs a strong basketball program and has quickly become one of the top competitors in Virginia and in the DMV. It’s no wonder that Highland was so successful in the Summer League, with its roster of strong players, including point guard Julian Rivera, guard Chance Perkins, forward Evan Brown and wing/guard Sabree Scott. As previously mentioned, Highland School won the Summer Jamboree Tournament.

Rock Creek Christian Academy

Coach runs an impressive basketball program at Rock Creek Christian Academy, where his team is loaded with college-level players. The Rock Creek Christian Academy Summer League team rolled out a lineup led by Sam Norfleet and Jeremiah Barnes. Sam Norfleet is a 5’10 old-school pass-first point guard who will get you into and run your offense, but will also get his own bucket if the offense breaks down. He can space the floor, has nice dribbling skills and plays hard on defense. Jeremiah Barnes is a 6’6 wing with good athleticism who knows how to get to his spot and knock down shots. He is a good mid-range shooter, whose range extends to the 3-point line. He keeps the game simple and avoids trying to do too much with the ball.

Alexandria City

Coach brought his A-game putting together his roster for the 2023 Summer League. Alexandria City is led by two guards: Rising senior Kye Robinson (6’1) and rising sophomore Darius Bivens (5’11). Kye Robinson has been a bucket-getter throughout the Summer League, scoring from all 3 levels, showing his quick first step when getting to the rim and his shooting ability from mid-range and the 3-point line. Kye’s big frame allows him to create contact when going to the rim, sending him to the foul line often. He also has good shot-creating ability off the dribble. Darius Bivens has been showing out this Summer League with his tight handle and poise on the ball. Even with his relatively smaller frame, Darius holds his own against bigger, physical players both when handling the ball and driving to and finishing at the rim. Like Kye, Darius also can score from all 3 levels of the court, excelling from beyond the 3-point line.

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison, led by Ashton Graves and D.J. Thomas, made a strong showing throughout the 2023 Summer League. Ashton Graves, a rising freshman point guard, brings a good handle and shot-creating ability. He is another 3-level scorer with great shooting ability particularly considering he is a freshman. Keep your eyes out for Ashton over the next couple of years! D.J. Thomas is a 6’6 wing and a rising senior. He has a large frame and can attack and finish at the rim. He has a good 3-point shot off the catch and is not looking to do too much with the ball. He keeps the game simple and makes scoring look easy.

Summer League MVP

Grant Polk - Gainesville

All Summer League First Team

Ivan So - Chantilly

Demontae Neclos - McKinley Tech

Kye Robinson - Alexandria City

Sabree Scott - Highland

Jeremiah Barnes - Rock Creek Christian

All Summer League Second Team

Kenny DeGuzman - Potomac

Sam Norfleet - Rock Creek Christian

Ashton Graves - Thomas Edison

DJ Thomas - Thomas Edison

Evan Brown - Highland

All Summer League Honorable Mentions

Darius Bivins - Alexandria City

Brennan Pilot - Yorktown

Andy Ramirez - Hayfield

Owen Pottenburgh - Hayfield

Peter Mitchell - Potomac

Terrance Bethea - Potomac

Julian Rivera - Highland

Chance Perkins - Highland

Quintin Cooper - Coolidge

Shamir Taylor - St. Charles

Summertime Shootout

Locked In All American Game Recap

DMV Fall Jamboree Recap