Fall League Week 1: What Have We Learned?

<p style="text-align: center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080;font-size: 18pt"><strong>Fall League Week 1: What Have We Learned?</strong></span></span></p> Week one at Gwynn Park Fall League had some very interesting matchups.  New faces in new places are changing the balance of power in the DMV.  Here are some of the teams and players that have made an early impression. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><em><strong>What did we learn about New Hope Academy?</strong></em></span></span> Three years ago New Hope Academy didn't even have a basketball program, today <em>Coach Sam Caldwell</em> has turned New Hope into a national powerhouse after winning championships at both the NACA Nationals and the Dick's National Championship Tournament.  NHA made quick work of the defending Maryland 4A State Champions Flowers with a 40 point victory to open the fall league. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Standouts from the game:</strong></span></span> <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Jada Walker - 5'7" - Point Guard - 2021 - New Hope Academy</strong></span></span> Jada put up the first six point for New Hope and they never looked back.  She seems to get better each time we see her.  She is a shifty point guard with a quick first step.  Her shot is good enough that it must be respected and she has very good vision to find open teammates. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Elze Motekailtyte - 6'3" - Wing - 2020 - New Hope Academy</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_93362" align="alignnone" width="300"] Elze Motekailtyte[/caption] Elze has the length that college coaches crave and her ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc makes her a tough cover for defenses.  She is versatile enough to play inside or outside on both ends of the floor and is set to have a breakout season if this game was any indication. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Kennedy Fauntleroy - 5'6" - Combo Guard - 2022 - New Hope Academy</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_93361" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kennedy Fauntleroy[/caption] Kennedy is a new addition for the Tigers, giving them even more depth at in the perimeter.  She has shown last year that she can produce as she was one of the top scorers in the area.  With the weapons at NHA she may not need to put up as many points as she did as a freshman but, for Coach Caldwell it's certainly nice to know that he has an additional scoring threat in his arsenal. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong><em>What did we learned about Bishop Ireton?</em></strong></span></span> Another team that was impressive was Bishop Ireton who played a matched up against Osborne Park.  The game was pretty close in the first half but, the Cardinal were able to break it open in the second half for a convincing win.  <em>Coach Kecia Walton</em> lost All-Met <strong>Akunna Konkwo</strong> (Boston College) to graduation but, she returns a lot of fire power and should make some noise in the tough WCAC Conference. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Standouts from the game:</strong></span></span> <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Kennedy Clifton - 5'9" - Combo Guard - 2022 - Bishop Ireton</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_93360" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kennedy Clifton[/caption] Kennedy is starting to be considered one of the best players in the region, regardless of class.  She is a great finisher and showed it scoring early and often.  Ireton using the summer league to get everyone involved so playing time was spread out but, Kennedy was the most dominant player on the floor each time she came in the game. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Abigail Cooch - 5'3" - Point Guard - 2023 - Bishop Ireton</strong></span></span> Abby coming in as a freshman played the point guard position like a seasoned professional.  She sees the floor very well and gets the ball to teammates in position to score.  She is one of the best shooters in the area coming out of middle school, although we didn't see that part of her arsenal during the game, we know it's there. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080"><strong>Laila Jewett - 5'9" - Combo Guard - 2021 - Bishop Ireton</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_17998" align="alignnone" width="300"] Laila Jewett[/caption] Laila is one of the best and also one of the most underrated players in the DMV.  She has a complete package in her game and is especially effective in the mid range with her pull up.  She is smooth with the ball, during the game she scored repeatedly and efficiently.  She wasn't flashy but she gets the job done and had the stats to prove it as she led the way stretching the lead to double digits. We will continue to follow these and more teams throughout the fall league in route to our season preview series.