The I.H.’s Blacktop Scrimmage 4 (Free)
The I.H.’s Blacktop Scrimmage 4
In his final days the I.H. takes time to work with the kids. Players responded even as James had to sit on the side as he was feeling weak. With college coaches being live streamed, who showed, who shined?
Top Players:
Nia Ford
Nia
Ford
6'1" | SF
Frederick Douglass | 2021
State
MD
- 6’1" - Wing - Douglass - 2021
James fell madly in love with Nia’s game from the first day seeing her at the Turf Wars Showcase over a year ago. Nia was at each Blacktop Scrimmage and we had a chance to se James put her in various scenario’s to show off her talent and decicion making. Through the series of events she was able to elevate her status to the #2 player in the class of 2021 and picking up a lot of college offers along the way. James occasionally made references to a former Team Unique player Chasity Clayton when describing Ford.
Alana Tate - 5’8" - Guard - Urbana - 2022
James at some point connected with Alana’s game as he would talk about her as part of Team Unique (eventhough TU has played any organized basketball in years). Every other conversation James would mention Tate, he would say in his words "once she really learns HOW to play she’s going to be unstoppable". Well things seemed to really come around for her in the Blacktop Scrimmage 3 and in the fourth installment she just kept improving. Her decision making has speeded up which is turning her in to a much quicker player.
Delaney Thomas
Delaney
Thomas
6'2" | C
St. John's College | 2023
State
MD
- 6’3" - 2023 - St. John’s College HS
James’s dream of another Team Unique run started to seem more like a reality as he loved 6’3" athletic bigs that can run the floor and block and alter shots. Having
Daria Douglas
Daria
Douglas
6'3" | C
Putman Science Academy | 2021
State
MD
in the camp and bringing in
Delaney Thomas
Delaney
Thomas
6'2" | C
St. John's College | 2023
State
MD
the scene started looking more like a college team practice than some high school kids working out. Delaney checked all of the boxes James and the college coaches viewing live stream look for. Length, athleticsim, strength and a high I.Q.
Jersey Mayfield
Jersey
Mayfield
5'9" | CG
National Christian A | 2021
State
MD
5’8" - Guard - National Christian Academy - 2021
This was Jersey’s first time on the Blacktop and she came in with a reputation as a shooter. Her reputation for lack of a better term was accurate. This was also her first time also hearing James fuss. James has a way of fussing just enough to pull more out of a kid and that’s what he did allowing Mayfield to expand her game.
Amari McKnight - 5’9" - Forward - National Christian Academy - 2021
Amari is physical inside and showed how physical she could be in the third Blacktop session, this time she got to show her finess and perimeter skill. She showed she can handle the ball and she has a nice mid-range touch.
Mitchell Edmond - 5’11" - Wing - St. John’s College - 2022
James was known for developing wings. He would always say, "I don’t have post player only point guards and wings". Mitchell fit the mode as an athlete that can attack the basket in one or two dribbles. With only two sessions she has a lot to soak in and digest as James is no longer here to fuss at her. She has all the tools in place to be a great player and the WCAC will give her the challenge that she needs.
Sarah Austin
Sarah
Austin
5'9" | PG
National Christian A | 2021
State
MD
- 5’7" - Point Guard - National Christian Academy - 2021
Sarah came in labling herself as a point guard, James asked her "how many points do yo score?". She told him that she looks to get her teammates buckets and James fired back "you need to do both". James, routinely challenged players to do more and he was especially critical and hard on point guards. He told me that Austin could be just as good as one of his former players Camille Collier if she can get herself off as well. Sarah made a committment to do both this season. In the scrimmage she showed a nice shot and the ability to attack and finish. Everytime she turned down a shot you can hear James in the background yelling "shoot the ball!!!".
James Nichols - 6’1" - Coach/Trainer/Evaluator - Team Unique - 1962-2020
James Nichols one of the pioneers of grassroots basketball and a mainstay of the DMV girls basketball. James founded Team Unique, The Real Basketball Report, The Blacktop Scrimmage and he is the reason that Next Sports Phenom and Prep Girls Hoops Maryland exists. I’d like to thank James who went by the stage name the Intelligent Hoodlum or the I.H. mainly on message boards, where he frequently posted with his Ivy League penmanship with a street flair. He mentored me in the art of knowing what to look at and look for in players. He coached my daughters and hundreds of players in the DMV and surrounding areas with a 100% track record of his players going to college. Many of his former players have earned All-American, USA Basketball and became professional players. Quite a few of his players are currently college coaches. James along with the late Jerry Kelly were a formidable team in the girls basketball landscape in the way players, teams and colleges approached the recruitning process. The I.H. was responsible for the Prep Girls Hoops DMV Power Rankings which covered over 100 DMV teams in his weekly ranking and rant. James Nichols will be missed may your soul rest peacefully in heaven.
James fell madly in love with Nia’s game from the first day seeing her at the Turf Wars Showcase over a year ago. Nia was at each Blacktop Scrimmage and we had a chance to se James put her in various scenario’s to show off her talent and decicion making. Through the series of events she was able to elevate her status to the #2 player in the class of 2021 and picking up a lot of college offers along the way. James occasionally made references to a former Team Unique player Chasity Clayton when describing Ford.
Alana Tate - 5’8" - Guard - Urbana - 2022
James at some point connected with Alana’s game as he would talk about her as part of Team Unique (eventhough TU has played any organized basketball in years). Every other conversation James would mention Tate, he would say in his words "once she really learns HOW to play she’s going to be unstoppable". Well things seemed to really come around for her in the Blacktop Scrimmage 3 and in the fourth installment she just kept improving. Her decision making has speeded up which is turning her in to a much quicker player.
Delaney Thomas
Delaney
Thomas
6'2" | C
St. John's College | 2023
State
MD
- 6’3" - 2023 - St. John’s College HS
James’s dream of another Team Unique run started to seem more like a reality as he loved 6’3" athletic bigs that can run the floor and block and alter shots. Having
Daria Douglas
Daria
Douglas
6'3" | C
Putman Science Academy | 2021
State
MD
in the camp and bringing in
Delaney Thomas
Delaney
Thomas
6'2" | C
St. John's College | 2023
State
MD
the scene started looking more like a college team practice than some high school kids working out. Delaney checked all of the boxes James and the college coaches viewing live stream look for. Length, athleticsim, strength and a high I.Q.
Jersey Mayfield
Jersey
Mayfield
5'9" | CG
National Christian A | 2021
State
MD
5’8" - Guard - National Christian Academy - 2021
This was Jersey’s first time on the Blacktop and she came in with a reputation as a shooter. Her reputation for lack of a better term was accurate. This was also her first time also hearing James fuss. James has a way of fussing just enough to pull more out of a kid and that’s what he did allowing Mayfield to expand her game.
Amari McKnight - 5’9" - Forward - National Christian Academy - 2021
Amari is physical inside and showed how physical she could be in the third Blacktop session, this time she got to show her finess and perimeter skill. She showed she can handle the ball and she has a nice mid-range touch.
Mitchell Edmond - 5’11" - Wing - St. John’s College - 2022
James was known for developing wings. He would always say, "I don’t have post player only point guards and wings". Mitchell fit the mode as an athlete that can attack the basket in one or two dribbles. With only two sessions she has a lot to soak in and digest as James is no longer here to fuss at her. She has all the tools in place to be a great player and the WCAC will give her the challenge that she needs.
Sarah Austin
Sarah
Austin
5'9" | PG
National Christian A | 2021
State
MD
- 5’7" - Point Guard - National Christian Academy - 2021
Sarah came in labling herself as a point guard, James asked her "how many points do yo score?". She told him that she looks to get her teammates buckets and James fired back "you need to do both". James, routinely challenged players to do more and he was especially critical and hard on point guards. He told me that Austin could be just as good as one of his former players Camille Collier if she can get herself off as well. Sarah made a committment to do both this season. In the scrimmage she showed a nice shot and the ability to attack and finish. Everytime she turned down a shot you can hear James in the background yelling "shoot the ball!!!".
James Nichols - 6’1" - Coach/Trainer/Evaluator - Team Unique - 1962-2020
James Nichols one of the pioneers of grassroots basketball and a mainstay of the DMV girls basketball. James founded Team Unique, The Real Basketball Report, The Blacktop Scrimmage and he is the reason that Next Sports Phenom and Prep Girls Hoops Maryland exists. I’d like to thank James who went by the stage name the Intelligent Hoodlum or the I.H. mainly on message boards, where he frequently posted with his Ivy League penmanship with a street flair. He mentored me in the art of knowing what to look at and look for in players. He coached my daughters and hundreds of players in the DMV and surrounding areas with a 100% track record of his players going to college. Many of his former players have earned All-American, USA Basketball and became professional players. Quite a few of his players are currently college coaches. James along with the late Jerry Kelly were a formidable team in the girls basketball landscape in the way players, teams and colleges approached the recruitning process. The I.H. was responsible for the Prep Girls Hoops DMV Power Rankings which covered over 100 DMV teams in his weekly ranking and rant. James Nichols will be missed may your soul rest peacefully in heaven.
