Georgetown Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting, West Virginia Recruiting

DC ASSAULT READY FOR 2008 AAU CIRCUIT

When top AAU programs across the nation come to mind, DC Assault out of the nation’s capitol will also be included in the conversation. Recently, Assistant to Director of Basketball Operations for DC Assault, Damon Handon, spent time giving us a perspective inside the program as they prepare for another spring season of highly competitive AAU basketball and discusses Roscoe Davis and Kris Joseph, the latest DC Assault alumni to head to the Big East for the 2008-2009 season.

Damon Handon has been with the DC Assault program since the beginning in 1993 when it was founded in 1993 by Curtis Malone, the current club President and member of the Adidas Board of Directors for Grass Roots Programs, and Troy Weaver, who would move on to become an assistant coach at Big East programs such as Pittsburgh and Syracuse and is currently an NBA scout. Handon has served as the coach of the 17-U boy’s teams for most of his time with the program until moving into the new position where his responsibilities include, recruiting high school players, prepare scouting reports, film exchange, coordinating and managing team schedules, overseeing practice and game day preparation, assisting with planning and coordinating travel.

Damon Handon is no stranger to the DC basketball scene, being a prep standout at Potomac High School and receiving a scholarship to Bowie State where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.

The DC Asault program has a long history of helping student-athletes move on to greater opportunities in their lives. Former DC Assault players that have played for Big East programs, or are currently in the Big East include Jeff Green (Georgetown), DerMarr Johnson (UC), James White (UC), Kelli Taylor (Pitt), Austin Freeman (Georgetown), Dwayne Anderson (Villanova), Kenny Belton (UC), Dante Cunningham (‘Nova), Arinze Onuaku (SU) and Anthony McClain (UC), among others, as well as national stars such as Michael Beasley.

Next season, that alumni list will grow by two more as Roscoe Davis of Hargrave Military Academy and Kris Joseph of Archbishop Carroll, both recent DC Assault players, will take their games to the Big East.

Davis, headed to West Virginia to play for Bob Huggins, is a long and athletic 6’10 player who Handon believes still has tremendous upside. “He’s played organized ball for just four years, grew from 6’2 to 6’10 and has made tremendous strides.” Davis can guard on the perimeter and adding weight will help take his game to another level. “He flourishes in an up-tempo style,” Handon explained.

Joseph, a native of Canada, will be joining another former DC Assault player Arinze Onuaku on Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse roster next season. Joseph is another long, athletic 6’7 player that will bring a high ceiling to the Orange next season because of his versatility. “He brings versatility to Syracuse as he can play the 1,2 or 3.” Handon believes Joseph is “perfect for the SU 2/3 zone” because of his length and athleticism. Handon would like to see Joseph be more assertive and “take command of games” and once he realizes how good he is, look out.

The 2008 Spring AAU season kicks off over the next two weekend for the DC Assault teams as they will head to New Jersey for the Playaz Spring Fling. The 16-U squad tips off this weekend, while the 17-U team is in action next weekend. Other top events on their schedule in April include the Pittsburgh Jam Fest and the King James event in Akron. The DC Assault’s own ‘Take Your Best Shot’ event is slated for May 9-11 and they also have the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions over Memorial Day Weekend and the Rumble in the Bronx prior to the July evaluation period.

Handon expects very good things from the 17-U squad this spring and summer as the players have been together for three or four years and have developed great chemistry. Two of the top players on the squad, Wally Judge and Rodney McGruder, have committed to play college ball at Kansas State already. However, college coaches will still hit the trail to watch this 17-U squad because the high-major prospects do not stop there.

Rashad Whack, a 6’2 guard from Bishop McNamra, can “really shoot it” according to Handon. 6’4 slasher, Javorn Farrell of Riverdale Baptist, has several lower level Big East and ACC schools tracking his progress and Handon believes he will explode this spring and summer on the recruiting trail. Christian Webster is a 6’4/6’5 wing that “can really score the ball” and averaged 27 PPG this past season for the Landon School in Bethesda (MD). Webster is a tremendous student that will have several of the highest academic institutions after him for his basketball and academic prowess.

The Assault 17-U squad also features a few of the top guards in the class of 2010. “Daryl Traynham compares favorably to Drew Lavender of Xavier,” according to Handon. “Some might question his size, but not his heart.” The 5’9 point guard might be small, but he is tough and played this past season at Vance High School in Charlotte (NC), advancing deep into the state playoffs.

Another sophomore guard for DC Assault is DeMatha Catholic’s Josh Selby, another tough, athletic slasher in the backcourt and they are also joined by Oak Hill Academy’s Bryon Allen, a 6’3 guard with what Handon describes as a “nose for the basket.”

While the talent is definitely impressive on the 17-U squad this season, Handon feels the 16-U team could be the best in the country at the level with talents such as Josh Hariston, Tyler Thorton and Eric Atkins leading the way. They have embarked on their journey up to New Jersey this weekend where they will participate in the Playaz Spring Fling and could run up against the Playaz 16-U squad which could be a preview of things to come this year on the trail as both teams should be playing for plenty of championships.

Atkins is a combo guard who earned 2nd-team all-Met honors as a sophomore out of Baltimore’s Mount St. Joseph’s program. “He is very cerebral,” according to Handon.

6’8 Josh Hairston out of Courtland HS is one of the nation’s elite players in the class of 2010 with the likes of Georgetown, Villanova and the entire ACC on the trail of the great rebounder and all-around talent.

Helping Gonzaga to a DC City title this past season was 6’2 guard Tyler Thorton, a starting sophomore for the squad. Georgetown, Virginia and Maryland have all offered the player that Handon refers to as “one of the better defenders I have seen at 6’2.”

We’d like to thank Damon Handon for his time in giving us an insider’s view of the always competitive DC Assault program. We will be looking forward to seeing their teams on the AAU trail this spring. For more information on their program, staff, schedule and players, be sure to visit the DC Assault Website.

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