By Joseph von Stitt II
Game 1: Takoma Academy vs. South County
The opening game of the Capitol Hoops Summer League immediately lived up to the hype as Takoma Academy faced off against a highly respected South County squad. Coming off a championship season, Takoma entered the game looking to make an early statement, while South County arrived with momentum of their own after finishing as the No. 1 team in District 4 with a 14-3 record. From the opening tip, Takoma’s defensive mindset was clear: pressure the ball, force turnovers, and let their defense generate offense in transition. Their pace and energy created problems early, with Matthew Mckenzie helping orchestrate the offense alongside Takoma’s No. 11, class of 2027 guard Jalen Goffe, consistently controlled the tempo and made smart decisions on the offensive end. South County’s guard Mark Edwards, and class of 2028 forward Isiah Martin kept the game competitive through aggressive play and physicality on both ends of the floor, refusing to let Takoma pull away easily. As the game progressed, Takoma’s head coach implemented a relentless full-court press that began to wear South County down and create easy scoring opportunities. Despite South County battling to keep the game close, Takoma carried a narrow 39-36 lead into halftime before eventually extending the margin midway through the second half. Multiple and-one finishes highlighted the intensity and physical nature of the matchup, but Takoma’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure proved to be the difference. Around the five-minute mark, Takoma finally created separation, stretching the lead to 65-58 before ultimately securing an impressive 72-78 victory to open summer league play.
Game 2: Potomac School vs. Coolidge
Game two featured an exciting matchup between Potomac School and Coolidge, two teams with contrasting styles but plenty of talent on the floor. Potomac entered after a strong 18-8 season, while Coolidge came in with a 19-8 record and recognition as one of the better teams in Washington, D.C., finishing ranked No. 14 in the city. Early on, Potomac established control behind the explosive play of their class of 2027 guard Daluchi Nweke, whose athleticism and ability to dictate the pace made him nearly impossible to contain in transition. Another one of Potomac’s newest editions, class of 2028 Tristan Frankling also made an immediate impact as a scorer and shooter, helping the team build momentum offensively. On the other side, several Coolidge players embraced their physical “bully ball” identity, with class of 2028 Malachi Hooks and class of 2027 Nick Perry making strong contributions throughout the game. However, Coolidge struggled offensively in the first half due to Potomac’s active defense, especially from players like Henry Carter, Oliver Gulsky, and Solomon Mitchell classes of 2028, 2029, and 2030. Whose constant deflections and defensive pressure disrupted passing lanes and prevented easy scoring opportunities. Potomac’s balanced scoring attack allowed them to take a commanding 50-25 halftime lead. Even while trailing, Coolidge continued to fight, with Malachi Hooks doing everything possible to spark a comeback by contributing on both ends of the floor. Potomac’s class of 2027 forward Anthony Garris added energy in the second half with highlight dunks and strong defensive plays, while the team continued knocking down perimeter shots to keep momentum firmly in their favor. Coolidge eventually turned up the pressure defensively and attempted to speed the game up, allowing Nick Perry to attack downhill more effectively, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. In the end, Potomac’s offensive firepower and defensive intensity carried them to a dominant 91-89 win.
Game 3: South River vs. Potomac Public
The final matchup between South River and Potomac Public showcased a competitive battle filled with physical play, offensive adjustments, and strong individual performances. Potomac Public entered the game following a solid season despite losing key contributors, while South River came in after being ranked among Maryland’s top teams the previous year. From the start, Potomac Public focused on attacking the interior, with class of 2027 Aiden Logan repeatedly forcing his way into the paint and challenging South River’s defense to find answers. South River’s class of 2027 Nick Yotter answered with a dominant effort on the boards, using his physicality and rebounding ability to create second-chance opportunities and keep his team competitive early. Potomac Public did an excellent job identifying mismatches throughout the game, particularly through the play of class of 2028 guard Carson Womack and class of 2028 Jadien Clopton, who consistently exploited favorable matchups offensively. South River struggled to find rhythm in the opening half, but eventually began heating up offensively as the game progressed through sharp cuts, ball movement, and unselfish passing. Potomac Public’s class of 2029 Trent Graves played a major role as a facilitator, controlling the pace and keeping teammates involved offensively. Defensively, South River managed to force several turnovers and create transition opportunities, but Potomac Public responded with relentless effort on the offensive glass, especially from Jaiden Clopton, whose rebounding created multiple second-chance possessions. Late in the game, South River leaned heavily on class of 2027 Cam Huthula in the post, where his physical presence and polished footwork made him a reliable scoring option down the stretch. Still, Potomac Public maintained control with balanced scoring and consistent execution on both ends, eventually pulling away for a convincing 50-39 victory.
Game 4 — DeMatha vs. John Handley
DeMatha entered with the aura of a storied program and quickly imposed itself through energy and relentless defensive rebounding, jumping on John Handley early. Handley, ranked No. 10 in Virginia, stayed within sight for a bit behind poised shot-making—particularly a midrange-heavy class of 2029 wing Asher Mattison—but DeMatha’s interior size dictated the terms. The Stags mixed lineups in stretches—echoing a “this is how we always play” approach—and kept pressure on the glass while their bigs, especially 6”10 class of 2027 Jared Jeffers, controlled both ends with emphatic finishes and rim protection. Handley’s offensive spacing produced a few easy rim looks, yet DeMatha’s pace and depth steadily widened the gap, reflected in a 58–27 halftime lead. DeMatha’s guards, notably class of 2028 and 2029 Major Jones and Donavon Wright, were pests at the point of attack and chipped in from three, while Jared Jeffers punctuated runs with dunks and blocks. The final margin—111–43—underscored a wire-to-wire domination built on size, effort, and waves of defenders.
Game 5 — St. Mary’s (SMCA) vs. Crofton
With Crofton slotted around No. 111 in Maryland and SMCA near No. 32, the matchup felt even from the tip as both teams defended hard and traded disciplined possessions. Crofton opened man-to-man with a sturdy two-way effort from class of 2028 Ryan Thomas, while SMCA repeatedly cracked the lane; classes of 2027 and 2028 Timothy Patton jr. and Ja’zeyere Thompson diversified the scoring once paint touches came. Crofton’s defense forced turnovers and drew several charges, and crafty guard play from class of 2028 guard Jason Detton created rhythm jumpers. On the glass, SMCA’s class of 2027 big Aaron Key worked tirelessly, but Crofton’s class of 2028 Patrick Sullivan countered with midrange makes and activity. SMCA’s Timothy Patton jr. became a swing piece—strong takes, crisp passing, and timely shot blocks—helping them to a 29–19 halftime edge. Down the stretch, SMCA’s run-and-gun sets clicked, with class of 2028 guard Marcelo Bryant consistently making the right read, while Crofton’s patience kept the game within reach but couldn’t flip it. Prospect-wise, SMCA’s class of 2027 Tristan Johnson flashed upside with size and tools, though polish is still coming. SMCA closed it out, 56–31, by winning turnover margin, rim pressure, and late-game execution.
Game 6 — St. Mary’s A. vs. Flint Hill
Flint Hill, the larger side and ranked inside Virginia’s top 20, leveraged noticeable size and speed—class of 2027 guard Justin Castleberry burst and jumper truly stood out—yet St. Mary’s countered with a disruptive full-court press that manufactured offense via deflections and charges. The whistle stayed relatively quiet despite a physical tone, and individual matchups popped: St. Mary’s class of 2027 wing Chisom Eze showcased elite post footwork while class od 2029 guard Ari Hopson hounded ballhandlers; Flint Hill’s class of 2028 Blake Fitzgerald punished switches with soft touch and physical seals. Both teams created quality looks, but St. Mary’s suffered through several in-and-outs and left points at the line, allowing Flint Hill to edge ahead 28–26 at half. As possessions piled up, free throws became a theme, and Flint Hill’s class of 2027 Dylan Fletcher repeatedly broke out in transition, beating coverage for momentum buckets. St. Mary’s kept grinding with interior touches and pressure, yet Flint Hill’s blend of transition punch, interior efficiency, and late composure proved decisive in a 60–50 win.
Game 7 — Sandy Springs vs. John Handley
Sandy Springs, a younger Maryland group, showed no intimidation versus a more mature Handley side and smartly opened with a trapping zone that paid immediate dividends. Handley’s class of 2029 Asher Mattison, still carrying minutes from the DeMatha game, nevertheless produced with mid-post scoring, and class of 2027 Timmy Campbell added variety as a secondary creator, but Sandy Springs’ class of 2027 guard Omri Shortt stole the show by orchestrating offense, defending at the point, and chipping in scoring. Physical battles between Handley’s Asher Mattison and Sandy Springs’ class of 2027 Anyo Yetti fueled a lively first half, which Sandy Springs closed ahead 42–36. After intermission, Handley toggled from man to zone seeking to slow tempo, yet Sandy Springs’ young guards—class of 2028 Jalen Cummings and Omri Shortt—handled it with poise, finding seams and keeping turnovers low. Handley’s class of 2027 Will Braun-Duin was a dominant interior presence, but Sandy Springs’ collective pace, opportunistic trapping, and timely shot-making widened the cushion. The youthful squad finished strongly for a convincing 75–24 final, their defensive scheme and guard play defining the outcome.
Game 8 — Potomac (Public) vs. Jackson Reed
Potomac, whose last title run dates to 2014, ran into a top-tier Jackson Reed unit ranked No. 6 in D.C. and immediately felt the squeeze of a full-court press that dictated tempo from the opening tip. Jackson Reed’s class of 2027 Lane Mahan functioned as a true Swiss-army-knife—handling, defending, and igniting breaks—while class of 2028 Eldrick Ngalieu, class of 2027 DaSean Belton, and class of 2028 Levi Sedialia stacked impact plays on both ends, turning stops into layups and rhythm threes. Potomac Aiden Logan fought to stem the tide by attacking the stripe, but the team struggled with clean entries and backcourt organization, leading to live-ball turnovers and difficulty even advancing to half court. Jackson Reed’s supporting cast executed with precision—carving up rotations, filling lanes, and maintaining spacing—which built a 41–19 halftime lead. Potomac eventually found some scoring identity, yet the cumulative pressure never relented, and Jackson Reed managed the clock and matchups professionally. The 64–37 finish reflected superior depth, defensive intensity, and transition efficiency from Jackson Reed.