Writers: Nicki Kupchan and Diego Aguillen
Your Capitol Hoops Summer League Player of the Week is Will Braun-Duin, and your honorable mentions are Zeke Dabbondanza, James Walker, Jeremiah Williams, Anthony Garris, and Drew Hill.
Player of the Week: Will Braun-Duin
Will Braun-Duin, a 6-3 guard in the 2027 class, holds offers from American University and Old Dominion, and it’s obvious why. He just put up one of the most dominant performances in Capital Hoops Summer League history, scoring 96 points in just two games. Will is an all-around scorer, but his specialty is his ability to score from the perimeter and beyond the arc. On Thursday, Will shot 13/25 from the field, scoring 40 points in John Handley’s game against Heritage. Later that day, John Handley faced an extremely talented Cardozo team where Will had 56 points and 14 rebounds to beat Cardozo in a thriller, 94-92. Will’s ability to create space for himself is unmatched, and teams often have to double him to ensure he doesn’t start to catch a rhythm. He is the heart of this John Handley team, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for the rest of the Capitol Hoops Summer League season.
Players of the Week
Zeke Dabbondanza – Magruder
Zeke is a 6-2 guard in the 2027 class who plays AAU for DC Premier. The Magruder standout put on a show, having a double-double scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds in a big win over Loyola Blakefield, 62-56. In the Loyola game, Zeke showed his high-level shot creation and ability to shoot from anywhere. Defensively, he constantly put pressure on the offense and dominated the rebounding game. Dabbondanza is looking to build off his junior season, where he was 2nd team all-county and 1st team defense. Zeke’s next game is May 26th against the South River Seahawks.
James Walker – Jackson Reed
James Walker, a 6-3 guard who plays AAU for the Washington Warriors, has put up an impressive showing against DeMatha. In the Tigers’ first game of Summer League, James carried them to a 93-73 upset victory over the Stags. Walker scored 23 points and had three steals. Offensively, his dribbling skills were on display during the game, going around defenders with ease, and he has a strong ability to get to the basket. Walker is also a disruptive defender who is able to deflect passes and block shots. James is definitely Jackson Reed’s X factor and when he gets hot; the whole team feeds on it. So it’s going to be exciting to see what’s to come for Walker. James’ next game is on May 27th against Clinton Grace.
Jeremiah Williams- Walter Johnson
Jeremiah Williams, a 6’5” guard, put the Wildcats on his back as Walter Johnson beat Sandy Springs 82-56. Jeremiah Williams displayed his offensive abilities, having 39 points and 4 assists in the game. Also, Jeremiah Williams’ ability to cover the court with his lengthy wingspan makes him an ideal defender for many teams, including at the collegiate level. Jeremiah Williams looks to take the Vikings far into the summer league playoffs. The Vikings’ next game is against Virginia Academy on May 27th.
Anthony Garris is a 6’7” forward for Potomac and has been their star. Anthony, through three games, has averaged 19.3
points and 8.7 rebounds. Offensively, his strength is dominating in the paint. Defensively, his strengths are using his long wingspan and agility to disrupt opposing players’ shots inside the paint. Garris has led Potomac to a 3-0 record this summer and shows no sign of slowing down. Anthony’s next game is against Spalding on May 31st.
Drew Hill is a 6-2 guard who played on St. John’s junior varsity team last year. Today, he got the opportunity to show his talents in front of the whole SJC coaching staff, and he did not disappoint, scoring 63 points in one day across two games. He is shooting 55.3% from the field and 35.3% from 3-point range. Although St. John’s lost both games that day, losing to Cardozo and Annapolis Area Christian. Drew was one of the main reasons St. John’s remained competitive throughout the game. The Cadets’ next game is against Boys’ Latin on May 31st.
This article is brought to you by SPARC DMV, which is a sports performance and athletic training facility in Beltsville, Maryland, designed to help athletes improve speed, strength, conditioning, and overall performance. The facility offers specialized coaching, recovery services, and training programs for athletes ranging from youth players to professionals.