The IH’s Blacktop Scrimmage

<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The IH’s Blacktop Scrimmage</strong></span> James Nichols who goes by the stage name The Intelligent Hoodlum or The I.H., has been a mainstay of the DMV and one of the original grassroots basketball founders on the east coast.  He brought together a few players to showcase their skill for college coaches via live stream on Prep Girls Hoops Twitter feed.  The players battled 90 degree heat to show off their talent in some drill work and one on one play.  Each player showed exceptional skill on various levels of the game and each showed more of their ability that would be seen in a typical high school game. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Players</strong></span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Nia Ford - 6’1" - Wing - Frederick Douglas - 2021</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_191768" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-191768" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0003-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Nia Ford[/caption] Ford averaged nearly a triple double this past season averaging over 20 points per game 10 boards and 7 assists.  She show a level of skill that would put her on track to be a professional after her college career.  She was especially good at attacking the basket with one or two dribbles from the wing and her speed in changing directions after sizing up her opponent was on par with the top players in the nation.  Nia has been gaining quite a bit of college interest, however, she is one of the top players in the class and probably the most under the radar player.  It will be interesting to see her blow up on the next level against teams that never made the effort to recruit her. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137219" first="Isabella" last="Tanedo"] - 5’7" - Point Guard - St. John’s College High School - 2022</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_191769" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-191769" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0069-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="137219" first="Isabella" last="Tanedo"][/caption]Isabella has been known as a sharp shooter since early in middle school.  Her range is considered among the best in the DMV.  She has honed her skill as a point guard in on one of the nations top high school teams and already has a WCAC championship under her belt.  She has excellent vision and is a superb passer.  What we learned today was that Isabella is extremely quick.  Her first step is a blur and when coupled with a good head fake she was nearly impossible to stay in front of.  She is expected to take over the reins at SJC this season (provided we have a season).  She is a more than capable point guard that can get to the basket, find open teammates and shoot the lights out from beyond the arc. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132271" first="Daria" last="Douglas"] - 6’3" - Wing/Forward - National Christian Academy/Putman Science Academy - 2021</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_191775" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-191775" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0074-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="132271" first="Daria" last="Douglas"][/caption]Daria has the length to play inside and had been the primary post option for NCA over the past couple of seasons.  She has a reputation as a shot blocker with a soft high post shot.  At this event Daria showed that she has more to her game.  She has a decent handle for a player her size and can attack off the dribble.  Her mid range game is very effective as she can score in a multiple of ways.  She is a "grad-senior", meaning she is reclassifying to the 2021 class and set to attend the Putman Science Academy, provided schools and athletics resume this season.  In this session she did only perimeter work showing that she can be a versitile piece at the next level. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Natilie Johnson - 5’9" - Point Guard - North Point - 2022</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_191771" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-191771" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/DSC_0012-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="137218" first="Natalie" last="Johnson"][/caption]Natilie has been the topic of conversation by several college coaches.  She has the complete skillset for a point guard.  She has good vision, can shoot and has the body to absorb contact and finish.  She could possibly be the most recruited point guard in the area in her senior season, "IF", college coaches decide to make the trip to Charles County to see her play, "AND", COVID allows for safe play.