Jordan Hawkins has gone from Gaithersburg, Maryland, to DeMatha Catholic High School, to the University of Connecticut, to hopefully the NBA. Hawkins declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, appearing on Friday on ESPN’s NBA Today with Malika Andrews.

Hawkins announced his decision with UConn head coach Dan Hurley sitting beside him. Hurley and Hawkins dapped each other up and later embraced each other.

His decision comes a mere four days after Hawkins cut down the nets after the Huskies secured its fifth national championship since 1999.

After coming off the bench as a freshman, the 6-foot-5 guard started 37 games this past season as a sophomore. He averaged 16.2 points while shooting 40.2% from the field, including 38.8% from three.

Hawkins has a great frame with an ideal NBA length. He can space the floor, find his spots without the ball, with the ability to create his shot. He also has solid agility and athleticism. All of those attributes are second to his beautiful shooting stroke. Yet, they all align together, as they did on the biggest shot in the National Championship Game against San Diego State.

The first player that may come to mind as an NBA comparison is Reggie Miller, especially with Hawkins’ ability to get his shot, coming off on-ball screens.

Jordan Hawkins is listed as ESPN’s No. 15 prospect, putting him on the cusp of being a lottery pick. He’s skyrocketing up draft projections after an impressive sophomore season.

Hawkins shot 43.5% from the field in six NCAA Tournament games, including 21-of-42 for 50% from three-point range. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament first team.

Jordan Hawkins is only 20 years old with room to sharpen his skillset. His shooting travels, and his potential glares in his body’s frame. He may be a borderline lottery pick, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many players with better footwork, shooting stroke, and smoothness with and without the basketball. Keep an eye out for Hawkins. He could be a gem in this year’s NBA Draft.

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DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor collected his 300th win as the Stags routed Bishop McNamara 56-6 Friday for their homecoming game. The Stags capitalized to score 14 points off special teams mishaps by McNamara.

The win is DeMatha’s six straight, improving to a 6-1 overall record and 2-0 in the WCAC.

After a quick three-and-out by its defense, DeMatha’s offense wasted no time to get on the scoreboard. Sophomore quarterback Denzel Gardner connected with senior wide receiver Gerald Campbell for a 31-yard touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, senior running back Brendon Wyatt extended the Stags’ lead with a great cut to bounce outside for a touchdown run. DeMatha led 14-0 early.

Ohio State commit and DeMatha defensive end Jason Moore made an impressive tackle on third down. McNamara shanked its third punt to set up good field position for DeMatha at the Mustangs’ 44-yard line.

On the first play of the possession, junior fullback Kareem Robinson made a huge block that made junior running back Tovani Mizell a lane for a 15-yard gain. Later in the drive, Gardner handled a high snap to score a six-yard touchdown on a draw. DeMatha took a commanding 21-0 lead to end the first quarter.

The Stags had their first mishap in the second quarter. Wyatt broke loose a 40-yard gain. It appeared the Stags appeared headed to another touchdown. However, a handoff by Gardner to Wyatt went awry, resulting in a fumble. McNamara junior linebacker Jayden Hayman scooped the loose football and took it to the house for a Mustangs’ touchdown.

The score cut DeMatha’s lead to 21-6. McNamara had some life. But that quickly vanished, as DeMatha senior wide receiver Dante Lovett answered with a 90-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff.

With the game slipping away, disaster struck McNamara’s special teams. The Mustangs punter punted the ball into his own teammate’s backside. DeMatha senior safety Robert Stevens III recovered the loose ball and returned it into the end zone to extend the Stags’ lead to 35-6.

The Stags commenter Eric Myer jokingly said, “Did we just see what we think we saw? Was this a replay of the Miami Dolphins game?”

Myers referenced the infamous “Butt punt” by Dolphins punter Thomas Morestead earlier this season.

DeMatha continued their dominance in the third quarter’s opening drive. The Stags rode the back of sophomore running back Bud Coombs down to the one-yard line. Yet, the drive stalled with a turnover on downs, highlighted by a bad snap that pushed the Stags back 25 yards.

But the Stags’ defense made sure to end any Mustangs’ thoughts of a comeback with a pair of pick-sixes. First, DeMatha sophomore cornerback Jacob Wallace jumped a pass and returned the interception for a score. Then senior wide receiver/cornerback Kristian Tate intercepted the quarterback’s throw rolling out the pocket, returning it to the house to give the Stags a 49-6 lead.

Coombs got his elusive touchdown in the fourth quarter on an impressive 48-yard touchdown with a pair of cuts on his path to the end zone.

DeMatha school president Father James presented Coach McGregor with a game ball for win No. 300.

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DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor notched career win No. 299 as the Stags routed WCAC rival Gonzaga 27-3 Friday.

The Stags extend their winning streak to five, improving to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Both teams entered the Washington Post’s top-10 with DeMatha ranked No. 2 and Gonzaga No. 7.

DeMatha appeared to set the tone early on the second play of the game. Georgia commit, running back Tovani Mizell broke a 30-yard gain through the Gonzaga defense. But, the Stags’ drive stalled with a punt. 

Later in the first quarter, DeMatha struck first blood as sophomore quarterback Denzel Gardner scored a six-yard touchdown on an option that put the Stags up 7-0 with 2:58 remaining in the quarter after the extra point.

With 8:05 left in the second quarter, Mizell picked up 20 yards on 3rd-and-5 for a first down. On the very next play, Gardner connected with senior wide receiver Kristian Tate for a 44-yard touchdown, extending the Stags lead to 14-0. 

Gonzaga senior wide receiver Brendon Lee hauled in a great catch before he made several defenders miss. Lee picked up 26 yards down to DeMatha’s 13-yard line. But the Stags’ defense stayed strong forcing a field goal by the Eagles to maintain a 14-3 lead at halftime.

The Eagles’ lone field goal snapped DeMatha’s streak of four consecutive shutouts. The Stags have only allowed 14 points in six games, including 11 in their season-opening loss to Cardinal Gibbons.

DeMatha senior cornerback DeAndre Ricks interception a pass into triple coverage, returning it to Gonzaga’s 21-yard line. It took DeMatha one play to capitalize, as Mizel scored on a 21-yard touchdown to extend the Stags’ lead to 20-0.

DeMatha’s defense had two more interceptions in the second. Virginia Tech commit Dante Lovett grabbed his pick at the seven-yard line. Later in the quarter,  five-star defensive end and Ohio State commit Jason Moore intercepted a screen pass with one hand. 

The Stag put an exclamation point on the game with a four-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Bud Coombs with 2:04 remaining in the game. 

The loss drops Gonzaga to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in WCAC play. The Eagles will travel to Good Counsel next week for another WCAC clash. 

Meanwhile, DeMatha added another impressive win to the mantle that included Rock Creek Christian, Benedictine, Friendship Collegiate Academy, and Life Christian Academy. 

DeMatha will host McNamara next for their homecoming. 

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DeMatha bounced back from its season-opening loss a week ago by shutting out fellow Prince George’s County, Maryland private school Rock Creek Christian 26-0 Friday night.

Both teams entered the game 0-1 on the season, losing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida the week prior. DeMatha was coming off an 11-6 loss to Cardinal Gibbons, while the Eagles of Rock Creek Christian lost 35-0 to Dillard.

Friday’s game started slow. Neither team got much going on offense in the first quarter. With about two minutes remaining in the frame, DeMatha struggled to convert a 4th-and-short.  Senior running back Brendon Wyatt fell short of the first down at the Eagles’ 34-yard line.

As the game remained scoreless, the Eagles had a bad snap that bounced into the end zone. Just as Rock Creek Christian’s quarterback Tahj Smith recovered the ball, he got sacked by DeMatha sophomore linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng for safety. The Stags took the early 2-0 lead with 8:18 left in the second.

Later in the quarter, after forcing a three-and-out, the Stags blocked a punt by the Eagles. DeMatha took over possession at the Eagles’ 25-yard line. On 3rd-and-2, DeMatha sophomore quarterback Denzel Gardner found senior wide receiver Alvin Thornton for a 17-yard touchdown, extending the Stags’ lead to 9-0 following the extra point by sophomore kicker Jackson Peterson.

DeMatha sophomore defensive end Cortez Harris made two solid plays, including a sack on third down to force another punt by Rock Creek Christian, with 48 seconds left in the first half.

On the next possession, Wyatt made a great inside cut en route to a 46-yard run before being pushed out of bounds at the Eagles’ five-yard line with one second left on the clock. That set up a 23-yard field goal by Peterson to give the Stags a 12-0 halftime lead.

The Stags put their strangling grip on the game in the third quarter. Wyatt broke a 20-yard screen pass on 3rd-and-8. On the next snap, Gardner threw a great ball in the end zone to senior wide receiver Gerald Campbell for a 30-yard touchdown that extended the Stags’ lead to 19-0.

With control of the game, the DeMatha defense put an exclamation point on the game’s complexion. Senior defensive end and Ohio State commit Jason Moore took down the Eagles quarterback on third down to force a punt later in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter with 8:59 remaining, senior safety Tawfiq Byard intercepted an overthrown pass by Rock Creek Christian backup quarterback Dominique Jackson before returning it 28 yards to the Eagles’ 42-yard line.

On the ensuing DeMatha possession, junior running back Tovani Mizzell put a bow on the game. Mizzell, who committed to Georgia, went up the middle before making a great spin move into the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.

The Stags improve to 1-1 on the season. Dematha will face Benedictine in Cleveland, Ohio Saturday.

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DeMatha Catholic High School conducted a nationwide search for its new varsity basketball head coach. On Thursday, the Stags announced the hiring of Mike G. Jones III as their next head coach. 

Jones previously coached at St. Stephen/St. Agnes in Alexandria, Virginia. He’ll begin his new position later this spring and will lead DeMatha’s summer basketball camp, according to the school announcement. 

DeMatha had been searching for a head coach to replace former alum Mike Jones (no relation), who departed the school to be an associate coach at Virginia last summer. Pete Strickland served as interim coach for the Stags this season.

“We are grateful to Pete Strickland for stepping up and leading te team this past year and we are thrilled to welcome Coach Jones to DeMatha,” DeMatha president Father James R. Day said in a statement. “His experience, reputation and ability to find the best in players both as individuals and athletes are very consistent with our DeMatha philosophy of academics and athletics.”

Jones’ experience includes two years as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets. While at St. Stephen/St. Agnes, he guided the Saints to three straight IAC championships, a 2019 Virginia State title and two runner-ups.

“I am honored and excited to lead this program. The rich tradition, culture and history of DeMatha makes this an unbelievable opportunity for me and my family,” Jones said in a release.

Remarkably, Jones becomes just the third Stags head coach in 66 years. He follows Morgan Wooten (1956-2002) and Mike Jones (2002-2021).

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Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz suffered a torn ACL Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fultz will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

Fultz was driving to the lane before he was cut-off in the early moments of the first quarter. His leg buckled without contact as he crashed to the floor.

Fultz starred at DeMatha Catholic High School just outside of Washington, DC in Hyattsville, MD. He developed into the nation’s top recruit in the 2016 class, committing to the University of Washington.

He became the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. A hard-to-diagnose shoulder injury limited him to 33 games in two seasons. Ultimately, the 76ers traded Fultz to the Magic in 2019.

Last season, he appeared in a career-high 72 games, starting 60. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He signed a three-year, $50 million extension with the Magic.

This season he was off to a great start, averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 assists through seven games entering Wednesday’s game.

Now, the 22-year old will go through a road of recovery to get back next season.

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The NBA continues its hiatus from the COVID-19 pandemic. DMV native Victor Oladipo has taken the time to heel and train further. He suffered a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee in January 2019. He sat out the remainder of the season, and much of the 2019-20 season.

Oladipo returned in time to play 13 games before the league suspended play due to the coronavirus. He admitted he wasn’t 100% when he returned. He now has more time to heel while the league ponders to restart the season or not.

Meanwhile, Oladipo told Michael Lee of the Athletic, he is striving to be a legend on the court, leaning on his days of playing basketball in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“The money is great, obviously, and the lifestyle is cool, but coming from where I come from, if they ain’t talking about you as one of the best, it’s no point in you even playing. That’s what I got from PG County,” Oladipo said. “I want to be a legend, period, when it comes to this game. That’s why I work as hard as I do. I remember when no one knew who I was, and that’s what keeps me going every day. That makes me work harder every day. That’s why it’s so hard to take a break because it’s so many things I need to do.”

Recently, Oladipo executive produced along with Kevin Durant, Quinn Cook and Rich Kleiman a documentary on basketball pipeline of Prince George’s County Maryland, “Basketball County: In The Water” that premiered on Showtime last week.

Before he was second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, a budding NBA star and the 2018 Most Improved Player of the Year, Oladipo played high school ball at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. As junior, he was coming off the bench.

However, he credits David Adkins, who is now a development coach for the Washington Wizards, for working to develop him into a sought after recruit. He leaned on that dedication to make him a top draft pick after three seasons at Indiana.

Oladipo is now working hard to get back to level of play he displayed before his injury. In 2017-18, he averaged a career-high 23.1 points and led the league with 2.4 steals per game. He shot career highs of 47.7% from the field and 37.7% from three.

Oladipo earned the first of two All-Star Game nods. But that momentum came to a crashing halt when he suffered the devastating injury. He will look to rebuild himself to being a dominate force on the court, a legend, in his own words.

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The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, which means we don’t have to wait much longer to see where the top players at the collegiate level will begin their professional journeys. The foregone conclusion heading into draft night is that the Cincinnati Bengals will select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick. So, the issue’s settled about who the best prospect is, right?

Not if you ask Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. This week, he wanted to remind football fans that he’s the best player in the draft class. And all things considered, the kid is right.

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