There will be absolutely no deficiency of talent during the second annual Scotland Campus Invitational on February 7th.
The No.1 nationally ranked Scotland Campus Prep Red, No.5 Massanutten Military Academy, and No.7 Mt. Zion headline some of the event’s veritable heavy hitters. Each roster is rife with a chock full of hotly pursued Division-I prospects, signees, and intriguing fifth-year players who have utilized the additional development year to their favor, undergoing a rapid stock transformation.
The host Scotland Campus Knights feature a prep red team which is riding a 24-0 record en route to the second No.1 national ranking in as many years. Longtime prep head coach Chris Chaney, who has now amassed 750+ wins during a career that includes three prep national championships, has used an abundance of depth to his advantage.
The Knights employ 11 guys capable of handling meaningful minutes, as a unique mix of interchangeability and position to position power has throttled foes throughout.
Arguably the most highly acclaimed player on Chaney’s roster is 6-foot-9 Class of 2019 prospect Karim Coulibaly, who has recently narrowed his college choices down to Pittsburgh and St. Joseph’s. A crafty left handed finisher who boasts a one-on-one game inside and a fluid 18-20 foot jumper (which he’s extended beyond the arc), Coulibaly is on constant double-double watch.
As the newly established focal point on a team that’s included a handful of different leading scorers this season, Coulibaly is averaging 17 points and 12 boards these last three games.
Augmented bench strength has run parallel with Scotland’s knack for overcoming a shoddy or irregular start. This stems all the way back to the Prep National Showcase in November, as Scotland’s strength in numbers overcame a double digit halftime deficit against Northfield Mount Hermon (MA), the formidable New England foe on whom they stamped a 79-59 statement win.
The primary source off the bench has been Austin Galuppo, originally an unsung and unknown 3-point sniper out of California. Galuppo, who committed to Weber State last month, has been able to provide quick-hit and immediate production with his ability to rattle off points in a hurry.
Delivering deep 3-pointers in succession, Galuppo had 17 first half points and wound up with 31 points, catalyzing the Knights during a 90-72 win over Our Savior Lutheran back during the PSA Showcase back during December.
There have been several performances in which Galuppo has solidified an innate instant offense prowess, underscored by a wild seven points in nine seconds during a win over Beckley Prep in the Fork Union Military Challenge in Virginia last month.
He’s had several four-point plays this season and creates an issue with his ability to spread out the floor and hit shots from NBA territory and beyond. While he’s earned the reputation of having a happy trigger, the results of his shooting severely outweigh any risks regarding his shot selection.
Supplying a sustainable spark lately has been underrated 6-foot-5 wing Akrum Ahemed, an unsung Class of 2019 prospect with a consistent jumper and a knack for threading through traffic and finishing with his left. A transfer via Oak Hill, Ahemed has been a pivotal piece on the offensive glass and in his timely scoring. This trait was evident against Fork Union Military Academy, when he scored 12 first half points to steer the Knights out of a dreadful drought and simultaneously erase a double digit deficit.
The other underrated guard out of Chaney’s core is Dequarius Nicholas, a high-scoring combo who has registered his presence as a compelling two-way threat and rebounder. Nicholas has flown a bit under the recruiting radar, albeit West Virginia has been in multiple times to see the 6-foot-1 Class of 2019 product.
Weber State-signee Judah Jordan has been a constant with his suffocating defensive pressure and ability to orchestrate a balanced offense. Clarence Nadolny, who holds offers from Georgetown and Rutgers and Dayton and has generated interest from Iowa State and West Virginia, has shown an elite vertical explosiveness and an enticing brand of surefire high major athleticism. He’s steadily improved his scoring by emerging into a more consistent mid range and outside shooter.
Blake Owens (6-9), Chris Maidoh (6-10), and Jordon Jones (6-8) have all been productive as supplemental post scorers who have all left their fingerprints on the glass this season.
Massanutten Military Academy (VA) enters with a sizzling 21-3 record and critical wins over the likes of Fork Union, Hargrave, St. Thomas More, Beckley Prep, and Huntington Prep. The team is led by a versatile and manipulative 6-foot-6 guard who can operate at and defend multiple positions on the floor in Dereon Seabron.
The recent N.C. State commit is averaging 18 points and six rebounds for head coach Chad Myers, who has churned out scores of high major talent throughout the course of his decorated prep career.
With his length and deftly manipulative off the dribble arsenal, Seabron possess an advanced all around skill set that aligns with today’s position-less game. Throughout the season, Seabron has shown a knack for permeating the frontline and scoring at will. He’s able to play big and also control and take over the game as a point guard, a trait that elicits a tremendously imposing matchup headache.
Massanutten features a pure embodiment of toughness in man-child 6-foot-4 guard with a souped-up motor and high end athleticism in Jarren McCallister.
McCallister, who is headed to VCU, is averaging 18 points while simultaneously cementing himself as a high energy guy capable of turning in plays on both ends of the floor.
Setting a loud tone and enforcing it offensively, McCallister is averaging 18 PPG. He bolsters Myers offense with his propensity for knifing to the rim with ease and often finishing above it in authoritative fashion.
A smooth and cerebral offensive player, McCallister has proven adept at picking apart a defense and attacking the gaps.
Brandon Suggs enters the marquee matchup averaging 13 points and seven rebounds. The East Carolina commit has proven he can break open games and spark runs with his shooting, albeit he brings an all around offensive game that gives Myers a radiant triumvirate with the aforementioned McCallister and Seabron tandem. Evolving into a sturdy scoring and rebounding presence is 6-foot-9, 220-pound Mamadou Diawara.
Having shown rapid improvement in his post game and around the rim scoring, Diawara gives MMA a crafty interior scorer who can run the floor and capitalize on easy buckets. He’s improved his overall offensive package by incorporating a feathery hook from both hands. He’s also shown a soft outside touch and can knock down 3-pointers, steering rim protectors away from the basket.
Myers also has under the radar pieces who have showed tremendous strides this season. Nate Spurlock has proven himself to be an adequate rebounder who possesses ambidextrous scoring capabilities inside.
Led by a pair of hot-shooting scoring options in Ahmad Price and Coryon Rice, Beckley Prep enters Scotland Invitational with an intriguing core capable of ramping up their stock at the opportune time.
Price is a thorough scorer capable of playing both guard positions and shouldering defensive weight as a key stopper.
The Kentucky native has an all around feel for the game as an instinctive scorer with a fluid jumper and outside shot. He’s able to manufacture points at all three levels and snake his way to the rim, finishing in crafty style through traffic. He’s racked up significant mid-major interest in this post-graduate season, drawing attention from the likes of Towson and UNH.
Rice, who averaged 24.5 points and 4.5 assists during the Fork Union Military Academy Military Challenge last month, scored 25 points and engineered a personal 8-2 run during Beckley’s 87-78 loss against Scotland. He’s proven himself as a knockdown shooter who can get to the rim and play at different speeds.
Beckley has length and efficiency with 6-foot-7 Nikola Pavic, a set shooter who thrives at getting into the rim and embracing the contact. They’ve got a 3-point threat capable of spreading out the floor in Drew Williamson, whose long range game shined during the aforementioned Fork Union tournament.
The team also has a multi-positional threat in JJ Reed, a guy who has bought into the multiplicity component. The 6-foot-7 Reed is a powerful finisher, fluid athlete, and boasts a supreme above the rim game as a burgeoning mid-major prospect.
