Scotland Campus will embark on one of the most heavily anticipated challenges of the prep circuit this weekend when they compete in the annual Massanutten Military Challenge in Virginia.
Last year, the Knights made a loud statement with a convincing 78-54 pummeling of national power IMG Academy.
During that marquee and memorable performance, then senior Austin Galuppo (now at Weber State) torched IMG to the tune of 21 points (including a pair of wowing four-point plays).
The Knights clamped down defensively in this performance, neutralizing former IMG star Lester Quinones (now at Memphis). The Knights coerced Quinones into some off-balanced shots and ultimately held the then high scoring senior to a meager four points on 1-for-10 shooting.
Scotland Campus, which is again a top-5 national force, will again garner the attention of various Division-1 coaches with their heavily billed matchup between Hargrave Military Academy.
The matchup has all the essential ingredients with unsigned, high caliber prospects on two of the nation’s heavy hitter post graduate basketball programs.
After blitzing Beckley Prep (WV) and Central Point Christian Academy (FL) by 38+ points each during the third annual Scotland Invitational at home, the Knights will showcase a number of promising young players in the Class of 2020.
One guy who is beginning to generate a great deal of buzz and expectations is Class of 2020 guard Jaeden Zackery, who has been arguably the most consistent player on both ends of the floor for Scotland Campus head coach Chris Chaney.
A Wisconsin native, Zackery has had multiple 20+ point games and a number of performances in which he has doled out seven assists or more. Beyond his facilitating and three-level scoring acumen, Zackery has been the driving force behind Scotland’s oft-pressing, swarming defensive attack.
He has routinely led the team in steals, deflections, and even defensive rebounds as an athletic and well built 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard. Kent State, Marist, and several other mid major programs are now involved in the recruitment of Zackery.
Registering his presence as one of the country’s elite 3-point shooters and arguably the best remaining unsigned shooter, 6-foot-6 Class of 2020 sniper Jayson Woodrich has been a dependable source from beyond the arc.
He averaged 27 PPG and buried 13 3-pointers during the Prep National Showcase in November and the Ohio native hasn’t tailed off since.
Woodrich recently scored 14 points during the Knights’ thorough 108-61 throttling of Prestige Prep on Feb. 10. In a game of Sunday’s magnitude, against a springboard for high major Division 1 players in Hargrave, Woodrich’s deadly shooting touch has the potential to be a major difference maker. Woodrich holds offers from Cleveland State, Fairfield, Stony Brook, Bryant, and several others.
Combination guard Terell Strickland, who scored 22 points during Scotland’s aformentioned slaying of Florida’s Central Pointe Christian Academy, has been an enticing late blossoming prospect. With a knack for attacking and finishing on the drive, Strickland has shown a natural adeptness for the changing of speeds at the prep level. He’s shown a dependable outside shot and an ability to instigate turnovers and trigger offense with his consistent defensive pressure.
In the trenches, Scotland features one of the country’s quick rising prospects in Class of 2020 behemoth Abou Ousmane. The jumbo 6-foot-9, 225-pound Brooklyn native has become lighter on his feet and added to his offensive arsenal with a mid range game and feathery baby hook from either hand. Texas A & M, Ohio, St. Louis, Fordham and countless others are in the sweepstakes for the bullish Ousmane.
