By Sunday, the DMV Hoopstarz 17U National Team was shorthanded and reeling off two games they let get away at the PUMA’s NXTPRO Hoops Valley Forge Session. With their backs against the wall, head coach Andre Davis learned a lot about his squad.

Justin Davis (Chapelgate Christian Academy—MD) scored a team-high 18 points, draining five three-pointers, as the Storm Chasers closed the session with an impressive 70-46 win over AIT 17U. However, it was the show of fortitude that was the story.

After opening the session with a comeback victory on Friday night, the Storm Chasers dropped two games on Saturday by seven points. The team left the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center that night, pointing to what could have been. Coach Davis stressed missed free throws. Star player – 6’5 big Kendrick “KD” Tche-Tafon (Annapolis Area Christian – MD) echoed the missed free throws and how the team got beat on the 50/50 balls.

On Easter Sunday, the Hoopstarz were down to six active players. Tche-Tafon sat out with an apparent knee injury. Yet, the team responded with an inspiring performance despite being without its leading scorer and rebounder through three games.

King Motley IV (Bladensburg HS – MD) had already established himself as a stud defender for the Hoopstarz throughout the session, guarding 1 through 5 as the Hoopstarz needed. However, it was his offense that helped spark the team on Sunday.

In his first start of the session, Motley scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half. Throughout the half, Motley attacked the basket off the dribble. When he scored an And-1, the Storm Chasers held a double-digit advantage en route to a 43-24 halftime lead.

Motley understood that with three players, including Tche-Tafon, down, he had to step up, as he explained, talking about his hot start in the first half.

“It’s an opportunity,” Motley said. “We were shorthanded, so everyone had to step up. A lot of us stepped up. I knew we needed me to get going early to build a comfortable lead. That’s why I just started attacking early.”

While Davis and Motley were the usual names that stood out for the DMV Hoopstarz, Omari Atkins (Northwood HS – MD) and Emre Tari (Gerstell HS – MD) broke the ice in Sunday’s session finale.

Tari finished with 16 points. He scored more in Game 3, but his efficiency shooting was much higher on Sunday. The floor seemed to open up more for Tari, with Davis hitting threes and Motley attacking the bucket. Tari was able to get loose with his mid-range and floater.

Tari admitted he felt more comfortable as the session went along, which led to his performance against AIT.

“The pace of the game was different from when I was in high school; AAU is a lot faster; just calming myself down, playing with pace allowed me to be more confident,” Tari acknowledged.

Atkins added 13 points. He also attacked the basket off the dribble, adding to the Storm Chasers’ scoring barrage inside the paint. Atkins also flashed more aspects of his potential with passing and weakside defense.

One of the game’s highlights was the great team defense displayed by Tari, Motley, and Atkins.

Tari guarded the ball on the wing, and Motley helped; first, he negated a drive lane, then called out the pick to Tari’s right. Next, Motley tried jumping a pass for a steal, running the shooter off the corner, forcing baseline cut right into Atkins, rotating for an emphatic block.

Atkins pointed out that there is an adjustment to getting used to the circuit’s environment and playing with new teammates:

“You know, I’m getting more comfortable with the team and the space and environment we’re in. Being here in the NXT circuit is like every game is a fight. And us being a new team, we’re learning how to come together and move as brothers and a unit.”

For Coach Davis, those words will cement his hard work of integrating seven new players with his returning stars.

The inconsistency in Game 2 and Game 3 losses was not in Game 4.

In Game 2, the Hoopstarz know they should’ve closed the deal against Select Elite. The Storm Chasers’ 11 missed free throws overshadowed Tche-Tafon’s 22 points and 20 rebounds and Davis’s 19 points.

Down 70-67, Motley stole a pass across mid-court before kicking it out to Davis on the wing for a three that rimmed out. Tari’s desperation corner three after an offensive rebound fell short at the buzzer.

Later on Saturday. a back-and-forth contest against the Brooklyn Wildcats ended in a 75-71 loss. Again, missed free throws and momentary lapses in defense were the culprits.

Yet, down three players Sunday, Tari explained the team had the mindset of taking care of business:

“We all needed to go out and get rebounds because KD grabs like twenty rebounds a game for us, so everyone knew that we all had to crash the boards. That was our mentality, crashed the boards.

Davis, Motley, Tari, and Atkins each had at least five rebounds for the game, which is equivalent to the “twenty” KD typically rounds up.

The 24-point win on Sunday flushed away some concerns from the two losses. Considering being shorthanded, ending on a high note is a huge plus for the DMV Hoopstarz going forward.

No secret to biggest need of improvement

From coaches to players, missed free throws were the theme for the two losses. The DMV Hoopstarz shot 5-of-16 from the charity stripe in the loss to Select Elite.

“We actually lost the game at the free throw line,” Coach Davis stated. “Our goal is to shoot 40 percent from two, 30 percent from three, and 70 percent from the free throw line. [Against Select Elite] We were 31 percent. We were 5-of-16 from the line, that’s the game. We lost by three.”

Adjusting to the circuit environment, the players echoed tight rims, the shooting background, and constant noise and whistles contributed the up-and-down session. Yet, shooting free throws is a controllable variant of the game.

“I feel that the only two games we lost were close games; if you look at our free throw attempts, we missed too many,” Motley added. “If we hit at least more than half of our free throws, we’d probably won those games. I feel like we’re a good team. We’re going to head into practice, looking to pick up the intensity.”

DMV Hoopstarz are building depth and banding together

There is no denying Kendrick Tche-Tafon and Justin Davis were standouts. Tche-Tafon led the team with 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Tche-Tafon dominated the paint throughout the session with his physicalitiy and relentess effort on the glass.

Meanwhile, Davis controlled the pace of the game, averaging 18.8 points. Davis displayed his ability to score on all three levels. He also played with excellent pace. His ability to stop on the dime on pull-ups kept opposing teams on their heels throughout the session.

Needing depth beyond KD and Justin was a concern, playing with seven new players.

King Motley IV established himself as a key defensive player. The Hoopstarz coaching staff praised his defensive prowess. When the team needs defensive stops, the coaches turned to Motley. His defense made it hard for Coach Davis to take him off the floor.

He also flashed his offensive abilities in Sunday’s finale. Motley loves to attack the basket by getting downhill. His first step, speed, and power off the dribble makes him an intriguing addition to the rotation moving forward.

Emre Tari got more comfortable as the session progressed. He scored 33 points over the final two games. Tari can handle the ball and create his own shot. He’s discovered the lost art of the mid-range jumper. He also has a floater and ability to get a shot up over defenders in the paint. Getting used to the pace of the game on the circuit allowed him to score in bunches.

Omari Atkins has the size and movement. His early session struggles were more about fitting in. Once he got comfortable around his new teammates, he shined in Sunday’s finale, showing what he could bring to the table in all aspects of the game, rebounding, passing, and protecting the rim.

As the DMV Hoopstarz were without two returning players and losing three additional players as the session continued, Atkins, Tari, and Motley proved reliable assets to go along with their leaders, Tche-Tafon and Davis.

The PUMA NXTPRO is full of good teams. This DMV Hoopstarz team is deep across the board. They have size, physicality, speed. As the team bands together and more roles are established, the Storm Chasers can be a formidable group.

The post Everything you need to know about DMV Hoopstarz 17U first NXT Pro Hoops session appeared first on DC Sports King.

The DMV Hoopstarz 17U National Team made its 2025 Puma NXT Pro Hoops season debut in Valley Forge Friday. After a cold start to the game, the Hoopstarz rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to stun Team First Elite or a 58-54 victory.

Kendrick “KD” Tche-Tafon (Annapolis Area Christian – MD) led the charge with 22 points. Meanwhile, Justin Davis (Chapelgate Christian Academy – MD) added 21. Davis hit the go-ahead three-pointer, and Tche-Tafon sealed the win at the free-throw line.

Both Davis and KD are returning players for head coach Andre Davis. The Hoopstarz, with seven new players, showed a strong sense of unity. One new player who particularly stood out on the defensive end was King Motley IV (Bladensburg-MD).

After falling behind 12-4 in the first half, Motley came off the bench and helped the Hoopstarz lock in on defense. The team fed off his energy and stayed in the game, closing the gap to 28-25 with just over three minutes remaining.

However, Team First Elite closed the half on a 5-0 run. Then, taking the momentum into the start of the second half, it made a pair of three-pointers that opened the lead to 39-27.

Coach Davis turned to Motley just two minutes into the second half. He was tasked to keep Team First Elite’s hot three-point shooter at bay, and he did so with great man-to-man defense.

Motley finished with two points, but his impact on the game went beyond the stat sheet. He did a great job locking in where his team needed him.

“Whatever you can do to stay on the court,” Motley said. “I figured my defense could change the flow of the game. If not my scoring, then help out on defense.”

Davis and Tche-Tafon got going on the scoreboard after the defense revved up.

Davis shot 8-of-16 from the field. He mixed up his scoring by attacking the rim and pulling up from mid-range.

“I was thinking we got to score, get back in the game somehow,” Davis said. “I was feeling it, so I kept shooting.”

The Hoopstarz demonstrated a team’s true strength in their response to adversity. Despite a slow start and falling behind by double digits in the second half, they did not lose heart. Their resilience was genuinely inspiring.

“We just needed to make stops and get the ball in the rim,” Davis said.

“Once I got the 30-second shot clock violation, when I forced it, we changed the complexion of the game,” Motley added. “Coach said, ‘See what happens when you play defense.’ Once that happened, we started clicking on defense and noticed what they were doing. [We] started forcing missed shots and got transition buckets. Justin had a lot of transition [scores], and the three that he had to give us the lead started with defense.”

Tche-Tafon’s impact on the game was beyond his 22 points. He protected the rim with three blocks. He also helped control the glass with a team-high eight rebounds.

“When our defense picked up, the scoreboard started changing in our favor,” Tche-Tafon reflected. “I really believe once we cleaned up on defense, finished on the boards, and pushed out in transition… we secured the win.”

With two games set for Saturday, the DMV Hoopstarz hope to build their momentum. The defensive energy helped them get into the win column on Friday. Hopefully, they can keep that momentum to impress.

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Former Maryland high school and George Washington star Jonquel Jones has won the WNBA Finals MVP while leading the New York Liberty to their first-ever WNBA championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in a thrilling five-game series.

The 6’6 center is a former top recruit in high school while attending Riverdale Baptist High School, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She was viewed as the best player in the state while drawing several college offers from all over the nation.

Jones had a star-studded collegiate career playing at George Washington University under coach Jonathan Tsipis. After spending time with the Connecticut Sun, she requested a trade before being moved to the Liberty roster.

She arrived in New York in 2023, playing alongside fellow WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and budding star Sabrina Ionescu. The trio reached the WNBA Finals in their first year together but fell short of the Las Vegas Aces. This season, the Liberty were not to be denied, avenging last year’s loss, beating the Aces in the Semifinals before topping the Lynx in the Finals.

Jones averaged 17.8 points on 56% shooting from the field and 7.6 rebounds. Her presence during the Finals carried the Lynx amid Stewart and Ionescu’s struggles.

After the win and receiving the trophy, Jones had this to say about the moment.

“I’m just really happy. I’m really just trying to take in the moment and just enjoy every aspect of it,” Jones said. “I’m just up here smiling, thanking Jesus and thanking my teammates.” 

Jones is one of the best players in the “W”. But her journey to this moment is an inspiring tale.

Becoming a national sensation in high school

Jones was born in the Bahamas’ second-largest city Freeport in 1994. Her first love was soccer, but her attention gradually shifted to basketball at the age of 12.

She expressed her desire to her mother to play basketball in high school and college in the United States. Thus, Jones turned one of her mentors, current Ole Miss head coach Yollet McPhee, a fellow Freeport native, who played basketball in college at Rhode Island.

McPhee’s guidance led Jones to Riverdale Baptist. After arriving at Riverdale Baptist, she clung to coach Diane Richardson. Richardson went over the game film with Jones and pointed out which players to study to improve her game.

Jones became a national sensation at Riverdale Baptist. She led the Crusaders to a 35-2 record during her senior year, winning a National Christian High School championship.

She averaged 15.7 points and 15.6 rebounds as a senior. Jones was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year. She was also the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. ESPN ranked her the nation’s No. 17 player and rated her as a five-star recruit with a 96 overall scout grade.

Jonquel Jones thrives at George Washington

Jonquel Jones committed to Clemson. She spent one year with the Tigers, averaging 8.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. However, after one season at Clemson, she transferred to George Washington.

Jones rejoined Richardson after her former high school coach received an assistant coach job with the Colonials.

With Richardson by her side, Jones soared at GW. She blossomed by showcasing her ability to score and rebound at a high clip. During her 2015 junior year, Jones earned Atlantic-10 Player of the Year and the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year. She paved the way for George Washington’s first A-10 tournament championship since 2003.

George Washington would win a second A-10 tournament title on the back of Jones the following year. Jones averaged a career-best 16.2 points and 14.6 rebounds en route to back-to-back conference tournament championships.

Following her stellar collegiate career, Jones entered the 2016 WNBA Draft. The Los Angeles Sparks selected her sixth overall before trading her draft rights to the Connecticut Sun.

Quickly became one of the best in the “W”

Jones developed into one of the best players in the W playing with the Suns. A year after her rookie season, she earned WNBA Most Improved Player while getting named to her first All-Star appearance.

In 2019, she led the Sun to the WNBA Finals. However, she and the Sun fell short to her hometown team, the Washington Mystics, in five games.

Following COVID, Jones won the 2021 WNBA MVP, leading the Sun to a league-best 26-6 record. She also received a nod to the All-Defensive First Team. She led the league with 11.2 rebounds per game and was fourth with 19.4 points per game.

Jones requested a trade from Connecticut after the 2022 season.

Road to Finals MVP

After joining the Liberty, Jones formed a dominant big three with Ionescu and Stewart. The trio led New York to back-to-back 32-8 records in 2023 and 2024 and two trips to the WNBA Finals. She averaged 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in the series loss to the Aces.

This season, Jones returned hungrier than ever, looking for her first title. She earned her fifth All-Star Game appearance and was named to the All-WNBA second team.

As the top seed, the Liberty rolled back to the Finals to meet the Lynx.

In Game 2, with the Liberty needing a win to even the series, Jones got to the line and banked a pair of free throws midway in the fourth quarter that extended New York’s lead, staving off a rally by the Lynx. Jones would score another bucket that helped spark a 14-0 run to close out the game for the Lynx.

In Game 3, the Liberty were down by four with two minutes remaining. Jones drained a wide-open three from the wing off a drive-and-kick by Leonie Feibich. Then she scored on a layup with 1:31 remaining, giving the Liberty the lead. Joens and Ionescu ran a screen action. Ionescu dumped the ball down into the paint to Jones.

The Lynx ultimately took Game 3 on the road to go up 2-1 in the series.

Jones clinched the Finals MVP, leading her team with 17 points in the deciding Game 5. She was New York’s only starter to shoot 50% from the floor.

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello had this to say about Jones:

“I’m just really proud of JJ. I love coaching her. I just love her personality and how she brings it every single day. She was big for us, and it wasn’t a pretty game today… Usually, I don’t like to play her for 42 minutes, but she just stayed competing because that’s how important it was. She knew how she needed to help.”

The future Hall of Famer adds to her list of acclimates with a Finals win and the MVP.

The post From Riverdale Baptist to George Washington Jonquel Jones is now WNBA Finals MVP appeared first on DC Sports King.

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter may be the focal point of the Colorado Buffaloes program, but their true freshman left tackle has been as advertised. One year removed from his high school senior season at IMG Academy, Jordan Seaton has become a star and anchor of the Buffaloes’ offensive line. In Colorado’s win over UCF Saturday, Seaton was again outstanding.

According to Pro Football Focus, Seaton had 42 pass-blocking snaps and did not allow a single pressure. One of his more impressive plays came in the third quarter on a run play.

While Colorado running back Micah Welch slithered into the end zone for a touchdown, Seaton threw a pancake block of a UCF defensive lineman.

Jordan Seaton has displayed through five games why he was the No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in the nation. He’s the anchor of the Buffs’ offensive line and arguably the best freshman tackle in the country.

Seaton got selected to the preseason True Freshman All-American Team. He opened the season as the first true freshman to start at tackle in Colorado football history.

In his debut game against North Dakota State, Seaton led the front line in Colorado’s 31-26 victory. He allowed two pressures and zero sacks in 41 pass-block snaps.

Seaton has overcome early struggles against Nebraska

However, the freshman had growing pains in his second game on the road at Nebraska. He allowed seven quarterback pressures and a strip sack. He wasn’t alone; the entire Colorado offensive line struggled against the Cornhuskers. Sanders got sacked six times in the game.

The dreadful performance opened the floodgates for criticism. However, Seaton has bounced back mightily since then. The following game, he played an integral part in Colorado’s 28-9 win over in-state rival Colorado State. He allowed one pressure in 56 pass-block snaps.

Seaton was just as good the following week against Baylor in the Buffs’ thrilling overtime win. He allowed two pressures and zero sacks in 63 pass-blocking snaps. He was ranked as the No. 1 True Freshman standout for Week 4 by On3.

Seaton has momentum heading into the Buffaloes’ bye week. He has allowed zero sacks and two quarterback pressures through 161 pass-block snaps over his last three games.

The road from DC to Colorado history

Jordan Seaton began his high school career at St. Johns College High School in Washington, DC, before attending IMG Academy for his senior season.

Going into his sophomore year, Seaton picked up seven division one offers. His first were from two major Big Ten programs — Maryland and Penn State — on the same day.

Seaton was a bookend for the Cadets, helping the program win back-to-back WCAC Capital championships during his sophomore and junior seasons.

His size and athleticism skyrocketed him to being classified as a five-star recruit. He emerged as the nation’s top offensive lineman and 19th overall player.

Seaton chose to attend his final high school season in Florida, enrolling at IMG Academy. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders offered Seaton a scholarship during his senior season.

After a disappointing 4-8 season, the Buffs needed to rebuild its offensive line. Seaton was the centerpiece of the revamp. Following the Ascenders’ perfect 10-0 season, Seaton committed to Colorado over home area school Maryland and powerhouses Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Florida.

Seaton spoke about how Sanders sold him into coming into the school:

“He told me I need to bend my hips a little bit more, so I’m like, ‘I can work with that,’” Seaton said. “Right now, you’re trying to elevate me, and I’m not even here. You’re invested in me and just want me to win, and I haven’t even come to your school yet. So that kind of stood out to me the most. I don’t really like the yes men in your ear.”

"Every other visit I went on they told me how good I was… Coach Prime told me three things he wants me to work on." pic.twitter.com/Q48XR497gj

— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) March 20, 2024

Becoming a star at Colorado

Seaton underwent a massive body transformation in the offseason. The intense workouts went viral on social media. Some referred to Seaton as The Hulk.

Seaton impressed the Buffs coaching staff enough to play a lot in the spring game. He earned True Freshman All-America Team honors. He quickly became the starting left tackle — the program’s first freshman to start at left tackle.

Here’s a look at his game log through five games:

• North Dakota State: Two QB pressures, Zero Sacks
• at Nebraska: Seven QB Pressures, Sack, Force Fumble
• at Colorado State: One QB Pressure, Zero Sacks
• Baylor: One QB Pressure, Zero Sacks
• at UCF: Zero QB pressures, Zero Sacks, False start

Seaton’s freshman season has spanned just five games, but it’s evident he is a bonified star-in-the-making and has the potential to be a future pro.

The post Colorado 5-star LT Jordan Seaton living up to the hype appeared first on DC Sports King.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, this year’s No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, got his first career win on Sunday as the Bears defeated the Tennessee Titans by the score of 24-17 after rallying from a 17-0 deficit.

While all the attention was on Williams, the Bears’ defense and special teams pulled Chicago to victory by forcing three turnovers and scoring a touchdown. Special teams also added a touchdown off a blocked punt.

Caleb Williams was the centerpiece of the Bears’ struggles on offense. The Bears turned over Titans quarterback Will Levis three times, its offense generated three field goals.

Williams staggered through for the game to finish with 93 passing yards while completing 14-of-29 passes. If there are any positives, he protected the ball for the most part and didn’t force anything. He showed maturity for a young quarterback.

First quarter struggles

At times, the Titans’ defense forced him to overthink with interior pressure barreling at him. It could have been nerves, but Williams’ shakiness allowed the Titans to strike first.

Williams couldn’t connect with Bears top wide receiver DJ Moore. The two only had a one-yard pass to show. That lack of connection added nerves to the situation. On Chicago’s second offensive drive, Williams took a dreadful 19-yard sack at the hands of Titans defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.

Meanwhile, the Titans jumped out to an early 17-0 lead. Tony Pollard scored a touchdown followed by a field goal, Then Titans quarterback Will Levis connected with former Maryland Terrapins tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo for a touchdown with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter.

Drive ahead of halftime gave Bears life

Williams settled down in tempo. He connected on his first three passes for 28 yards, finding Moore, rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, and tight end Cole Kmet. The drive stalled at Tennessee’s six-yard line but Chicago got a much-needed field goal to go into the locker room at halftime.

As the Chicago offense searched for their footing, the defense seized control of the game in the second half. After a stop, the special teams showed up, as defensive end Daniel Hardy blocked a Titans’ punt. Jonathan Owens, husband of Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, scooped the football up before running it in for a touchdown.

Momentum shifted to the Bears, but the offense still sputtered. Yet, Williams gave a spark, converting a 3rd-and-10 with his legs. He rolled left and found a lane to run through to keep the drive alive. Chicago settled for a field goal and cut the deficit to 17-13.

Chicago’s defense then got back-to-back turnovers. The first was a strip-sack of Levis by defensive end Darrell Taylor, which led to another Bears field goal to cut the gap to one.

On the Titans’ next possession, Levis got picked off by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who took the interception to pay dirt for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Bears’ defense intercepted Levis a second time to seal the game with just over one minute remaining.

There were flashes of Caleb Williams

Williams became the first No. 1 overall quarterback to win in his debut since 2002. The game didn’t go as planned, but a win is a win.

Williams threw incompletions on deep passes. His accuracy down the field was shaky. However, he was able to complete short-yard passes. He was mobile and fluid, avoiding immediate pressure.

Williams didn’t risk turnovers, throwing the ball out of bounds instead of forcing it into coverage. He got the ball out of his hands and also grasped the importance of sliding.

There’s an adjustment stage for Williams. He faced a Titans defense that expects to be good this year. Williams has weapons at his disposal — Moore, Odunze, and Kennan Allen, as well as Kmet and D’Andre Swift out of the backfield.

He showed his potential in flashes during the preseason. Still, he has to be more consistent with throwing windows shrunk. Williams may be tested again next week with the trip to play the Houston Texans, who have the reigning NFL Rookie of the Year, CJ Stroud, at quarterback.

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Frances Tiafoe reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open is becoming an annual occurrence. The American and Hyattsville, Maryland native is heading to the final eight of the US Open for the third consecutive year.

Tiafoe secured a spot in the quarters by defeating Alexei Popyrin in a thrilling four-set match, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 Sunday night. The win sets the stage for Tiafoe to face ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday.

After taking the first set, Tiafoe went down 2-5 in the second set. Momentum was flushed to Popyrin’s side. However, Tiafoe stormed back, winning the next three games to tie the set at 5-5, including a break of Popyrin’s serve.

The two would go into a tiebreaker, where Popyrin unraveled with two of his nine double faults before Tiafoe closed the set with an ace.

Popyrin regained himself and breezed through the third set. Once again, momentum shifted. Yet, Tiafoe broke through in the fourth to go up 5-2 before closing the match with a forehand.

Frances Tiafoe becomes the first American since Andy Roddick (2006-2008) to make three straight quarterfinal appearances. His journey has included beating Aleksandar Kovacevic in four sets, Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets, and fellow American Ben Shelton in a five-set classic in the Round of 32.

Tiafoe’s stay in the tournament has ended in the quarterfinals for the past two years. A win on Tuesday would give him his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance and bring him one step closer to achieving his dream of winning a major title.

The post Frances Tiafoe advances to quarters of US Open in thrilling fashion appeared first on DC Sports King.

After a strong showing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Noah Lyles won gold in the 100-meter and got bronze in the 200-meter while battling COVID, Lyles recently appeared on The Dan Patrick Show.

Patrick asked Lyles who was the fastest person in the world.

“It’s me,” Lyles confidently replied. “That’s what the title says.”

Patrick followed Lyles’ answer, “If I look at Usain’s time, is he technically?

Lyles responded to Patrick, saying that’s a record but not a title.

Lyles added that the fastest person title has always followed the person who won the Olympic and World Championship 100-meter gold medals. But for the last 16 years, it just happened to be Bolt.

Patrick asked, “How long do you think it would take for somebody to surpass Bolt’s time in the 100 meters?”

“I’m tryna get done as soon as possible,” Lyles replied.

“As athletes, we’re always looking to improve ourselves, and we’re always looking for greater challenges, Lyles continued. “I think everyone sees the world record as one, as incredible, and two I want that to be me.”

For the record, Usain Bolt does believe Lyles could potentially break his record in the 200-meter and has said that publicly. In an interview in March with CITUS MAG’s Anderson Monroe, Bolt got asked about the 200-meter record and who could beat it.

“People are talking about the world record. You’ve got Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, and Erriyon Knighton. How do you assess the landscape of sprinting right now?”

Bolt gave his opinion “It was never easy.”

“I’ve said it and always said that it’s not easy running back-to-back events and then going out to break the world record because your body runs out of energy,” Bolt continued. “I think the possibility is there because [Noah Lyles] came close at the World Championships. I think, if he corrects a few things, I won’t say, he could get better. The possibility is there.”

Monroe: “You won’t say?”

Bolt: “I won’t tell you how to break the world record.”

The 100-meter record is 9.58. Bolt set the mark at the 2009 World Championship. Lyles ran a personal best 9.78.

Lyles believes he is the top candidate to break the record of the fastest man ever. He won the 100m and 200m titles at the 2023 World Championships. And after his performance in the Olympics, he deserves to be favored to break the world record. Evident by his vow, Lyles is strongly confident in himself doing so.

The post Noah Lyles hopes to break Usain Bolt’s 100m world record appeared first on DC Sports King.

In her Olympic debut, Bullis School and Kentucky University alum Masai Russell won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdle in Paris. In a close and compelling final, the Potomac, Maryland native edged France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela by one-hundredths of a second at an official time of 12.33 seconds.

Russell is no stranger to winning, as the gold medalist has been successful in her high school and collegiate days. With the Olympic title, Russell added her name to a list of DMV and Bullis Olympians to win gold.

Being a star at Bullis

At a young age, Russell started playing sports with gymnastics and ballet. After seeing her brother in a meet, Russell was inspired and took on track and field at eight. She was always a fast kid, conquering her classmates in races.

Due to Russell’s love of the track and growing up in Potomac, it was natural for her to attend the powerhouse of Bullis School. In her freshman year, she journeyed into the 300-meter hurdles. She emerged as a national sensation in high school.

Russell was ranked No. 1 in Maryland for the 300 and 500-meter hurdles as a sophomore and junior. She won the Ocean Breeze 400 meet championship in both years. However, her track career took off during her senior year in 2018.

Russell was an eight-time national champion (sprint relays and shuttle hurdles), a three-time All-Metro, and won the 2018 Maryland Gatorade Athlete of the Year. She was invited to the 2018 Pan-Am Junior Games, winning bronze in the 400-meter hurdles.

Masai Russell enters Kentucky

Initially, Russell committed and signed to the University of Tennessee despite never visiting the school. She was drawn to the Volunteers by legendary assistant coach Tim Hall.

However, Hall joined the coaching staff at the University of Kentucky, extending a scholarship offer to Russell, leading her to flip to the Wildcats.

Russell instantly became a star as a freshman. She was named to first-team indoor All-American in the 4×400 meter relay. Russell broke Kentucky’s freshman record for the 60-meter hurdle at the 2019 Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational with a time of 8.18 seconds.

Russell earned seven first-team All-American honors throughout her collegiate career. She also had 11 All-American selections between the 100-meter hurdles, 400 hurdles, 4×100 relay, and 4×400 relay.

Russell won first place at the SEC Indoor Championships for the 60-meter hurdle.

Her journey to Paris started in 2021, as she got invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials for a shot to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. She placed 19th in the 100-meter hurdles and finished 12th in the 400-meter hurdles.

Getting ready for Paris

She continued to strive despite not qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. She capped off her senior season with a silver medal in the 100-meter hurdles,

After capping off her senior season in 2023, finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles and 4×100-meter relay NCAA Outdoor Championship. Russell also competed in the 100-meter hurdle World Championship, reaching the semifinals.

Her journey continued after college as she reached the final and finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdle at the World Indoor Championship. She missed the podium by 0.02 seconds behind Poland’s Pia Skryszowska.

Her improvement carried her into this year’s 100-meter hurdle at the U.S. Olympic trials. Russell surged ahead after the final hurdle to grab first place in the 100-meter hurdle, becoming a national champion and qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

Russell had an official time of 12.25, breaking Gail Dever’s 24-year trail record of 12.33.

Becoming an Olympic champion

Russell seemingly paced herself through the preliminary heats at the Olympics. She tied for first place with Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, running 12.53 to advance. In the second round, Russell qualified for the final, finishing in second place in 12.42 seconds, setting the stage for a chance to become an Olympic champion.

In a thrilling final, Maria Russell came out as the victor, beating Samba-Mayela with a time of 12.33 to claim her Olympic gold medal one year after finishing college.

After the race, Russell got interviewed by NBC’s Lewis Johnson, who asked how long the wait was for an Olympic gold medal.

“The wait wasn’t too long,” A static Maria Russell replied. “I was just hoping my name popped up first. I could barely sleep last night cause I was thinking of like literally my name coming up number one. Then when it came up, I was like, this is literally what I dreamed of, I prayed for, I worked so hard for, every moment, and it was literally a dream come true.”

At 24 years old, a gold medal adds to an already impressive resume. Russell may be just beginning and could add more medals, including the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Rising track and field star Quincy Wilson, a Gaithersburg, Maryland native, got his first Olympic action on Friday. At 16 years old, Wilson became the youngest American track and field Olympic when he took the field for the 4×400 preliminaries.

Wilson ran the first leg for Team USA. Despite a bad leg, his teammates caught back up in the race and finished only behind Great Britain and Botswana to advance to the finals for the 4×400 final.

Wilson got replaced for Saturday’s final. However, the team of Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, Christopher Bailey, and Wilson’s replacement, Rai Benjamin, took home the gold. Wilson earned a gold medal by running during Friday’s preliminary heat, becoming the youngest track and field Olympic gold medalist.

Wilson had a remarkable journey with a ton of success that got him to Paris.

Quincy Wilson before the Olympics

Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, Wilson moved with his family to Gaithersburg so the teenager could attend Bullis School. Bullis has a reputation for producing pro track and field athletes.

Wilson had won five 400-meter AAU Junior Olympic Games titles by age 14.

At Bullis as a freshman, Wilson won the New Balance indoor 400-meter national championship. He kept pace at third place before passing two seniors, Tennessee commit Zyaire Nurriddin, and USC commit Jacob Andrews, to win the title at 46.67 seconds.

As a sophomore, Quincy won his second straight New Balance indoor 400-meter national title, rolling past the entire competition. His 45.76 time clocked him in as the fastest high school time ever.

He dominated through his sophomore campaign, earning him a spot at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Wilson qualified for the 400-meter final against the older field, coming in third place.

In the final, Wilson finished sixth but was still called up to be part of the U.S. relay pool, making him the youngest athlete in the U.S. Olympic track team.

The historic debut

Wilson learned the Wednesday before Friday’s race that he would be running the first leg in the prelim of the men’s 4×400 relay. Wilson posted the news on Instagram, and said in the caption “Tune in Friday Morning @ 5:05 am EST”

The Bullis High School community gathered together to watch his leg. They showed their support after the race on Instagram via Max Preps.

Wilson didn’t have any great expectations in his debut. He ran in seventh place in the first leg, before handing the baton to Vernon Norwood. The team lifted the pressure off Wilson for having a bad leg. They fought back to finish third to qualify for Saturday’s 4×400 final.

Wilson received praise from other sprinters after the race, he was even congratulated by Trinidad Olympian Jaden Marchan, and the rest of the Trinidad team.

“After he made American track & field history, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson’s competitors showed him love after the race. #ParisOlympics” per NBC Olympics & Paralympics on X/Twitter.

Wilson also showed his gratitude via “X” thanking Team USA for giving him the opportunity to run in the Olympics.

Thankful for the moment! #TeamUSA

Receiving gold

Wilson witnessed the exciting race in the 4×400 relay final. Benjamin, who won gold in 400-meter hurdles, went head-to-head in the final leg against 200-meter Gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Benjamin edged Tebogo at the finish line to secure the US the gold medal.

Wilson was seen screaming in celebration as Benjamin crossed the finish line.

After receiving his medal, Wilson joked about what is next for him after winning an Olympic gold medal.

Dang, I really got school in 2 and a half weeks#Gold#OlympicGamesParis

Quincy Wilson will enter his junior year at Bullis this year. He is set to graduate in 2026 with two more years of eligibility for high school. There is nothing but time ahead of him. With an Olympic gold medal in tow, his junior campaign will come with the expectation for him to dominate the high school track and field level. He will seek his third straight New Balance national championship.

The Olympic experience at such a young age puts Wilson in the position to become the face of the United States men’s track and field in the near future.

The post Maryland high schooler Quincy Wilson earns historic Olympic gold medal appeared first on DC Sports King.

Alexandria, Virginia native Noah Lyles capped off an eventful Olympics run with a gold medal, bronze medal, and COVID-19.

In a race for the ages, Lyles clinched the gold medal in the 100 meters at the Olympics with a personal record of 9.784 seconds. The win ended a 20-year drought for the United States, marking the first American gold medal in the event since 2004.

Like Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, and Usain Bolt, Noah Lyles sought to join a short list of men who won gold in the 100 and 200 meters of the same Olympics. However, before he took the field for the 200-meter final, Lyles contracted COVID-19.

Despite having the virus, Lyles chose to run the race, taking home the bronze medal in 19.70 seconds. The disappointing finish capped off his Olympics stay as he pulled out the 4×100 relay final for Team USA.

Noah Lyles wins Gold in 100m.

Lyles got off to a slow start in the 100-meters but fought back into the race in a close photo finish.

The finish did come with controversy over the winner, as photo and video evidence appeared to show Kishane Thompson’s white track shoes crossing the finish line first. Olympic rules state that the torso, defined from the clavicle down, must cross the finish line first to determine the victor.

This crucial detail secured Lyles’s victory.

In a post-race press conference interview, an elated Lyles expressed his ambition and future aspirations.

“I want my own shoe,” He declared, per Citius Mag. “I want my own trainer. Dead serious. There’s no money in spikes. I feel like, for how many medals we get, the notoriety we bring back, the fact that that hasn’t happened, that’s crazy to me.”

COVID shaped 200 meters

Lyles admitted to testing positive on Tuesday morning and had symptoms he’d received before testing positive in previous years.

“I woke up in the middle of the night just feeling really chills, aching, sore throat,” Lyles explained, per Coley Harvey of ESPN. “And those were kind of a lot of the symptoms I’ve always had right before getting COVID, and I was just like, ‘I need to test this one.'”

He later quarantined in a nearby hotel, away from the Olympic Village. Lyles still decided to compete in the 200-meter race.

“I was going to compete regardless,” Lyles said, per Chris Bumbaca of USA. “If I didn’t make it to the (200) finals, that would’ve been the sign not to compete,” per Chris Bumbaca of USA Today. Lyles took any legal drugs that could keep him qualified for the post-race drug testing.

He wanted to keep his test results secret and decided to distance himself from other participants of the 200-meter race so he couldn’t infect anyone with COVID.

Lyles started the race with a strong start and when he got to the curve. He boosted with speed and managed to stay in third behind his teammate Kenny Bednarek, who won the silver, and in front of his other teammate Erriyon Knighton, who finished 4th.

After the race, Lyles lay on the ground, breathing heavily. He was later given medical attention before being carted off the track in a wheelchair. His mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, rushed to him in concern but was notified that he was fine.

Noah Lyles unable to compete in 4×100 relay

Lyles later received his bronze medal on Friday. The athlete also posted on Instagram wishing good luck for the 4×100 relay race.

“Although I won’t be able to go to war with y’all [I know] you will come out with the victory! Good luck guys. Go show them the dominance of Team USA! @teamusa.”

Unfortunately, his absence proved detrimental for Team USA in the relay. The team was disqualified for an illegal baton pass. Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek collided during a rough exchange between the first and second leg. The team fell behind by a large gap from the lead pack. It didn’t matter. Team USA was disqualified because of the exchange outside the takeover zone.

The disappointing finish marked the fifth consecutive Olympics with Team USA failing to medal for the 4×100 relay.

Still, Noah Lyles came away with two medals. He brought gold back to the United States for the first time in two decades in the 100 meters. He also highlighted his growing status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Lyles is a polarizing figure in large due to his comments about the NBA. Still, he deserved to be celebrated as America’s best male track and field sprinter.

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