DAMONE BROOKS

Springbrook High School will be hosting a fundraiser to help out a DMV basketball alum who sustained a life altering injury just over a year ago.  Damon Brooks, class of 2011 was a part of Springbrook's back-to-back-to-back state championships.  Now he needs your help.  The event will be at Springbrook High School (201 Valley Brook Dr. Silver Spring, MD) on June 8th.  There will be two games, at 4PM and 6PM.  Admission is 5$.  Proceeds from this event will go towards a much needed standing frame that Damon needs and is estimated at approximately $8,000.  Below is a quick summary of Damon's story.  For more or to donate please go to http://www.helphopelive.org/find-a-patient/profile/index.cfm/patient/FE0B84F4-C845-2122-B07EA3093EFAF336.

As you probably know, Damone Brooks (better known as Damon Brooks), lived a very active life prior to his recent spinal cord injury. At the young age of 19, Damone’s life has changed forever. Following his accident, he was diagnosed as a level C4- C5 quadriplegic, and has been hospitalized at University of Maryland Medical Center since April 20, 2012. He was told he would never walk again

Damon graduated from Springbrook High School and currently attends Goucher College. Damon has always enjoyed playing basketball, and has dreams of making it big. Prior to the accident, Damon was finishing up his freshman year at school and preparing himself for the upcoming basketball season.

In spite of the many struggles that he faces, Damon remains hopeful that he will be able to return to a productive life in the community through the support of family and friends. Damon is planning to enter an intensive therapy program that will strengthen his body and help him regain some additional function in his arms and hands. This therapy is extremely expensive.

To help with the cost of these uninsured medical expenses, specialized equipment and recovery–based therapies, a fundraising campaign in Damone’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. In 2000, they expanded their mission to include those who have sustained a catastrophic injury. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Mid-Atlantic Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. Please consider making a donation:

Funny thing is, a local player from Baltimore,  Kam Williams won MVP awards to go along with Aquille Carr, another Baltimore native who played on the Capital team.  It was very exciting seeing all the WCAC heavyweights on the same court, seeing Aquille Carr playing with them, and seeing other local standouts who have made their mark in DMV basketball such as Ishmail Wainright, Josh Hart, David Kadiri, Nick Griffin, Will Ferguson, and Marquis Wright.  It was also special to see Nate Britt come back and play with the DMV team while his HS teammate, Lennard Freeman played on the US team.  There were other players with local routes who played on the national team.  Stan Robinson, who played in the WCAC before transferring to Findlay Prep was one.  And Kam Williams who didn't even start the game put together a highlight reel for the ages on his quest to win MVP for the winning US All Star team.

In the preliminary game which featured the District all stars and the Suburban all stars it was all District.  Montrose Christian's Mark Williams who is Temple bound took home MVP honors.  It was evident from the onset that the District all-stars had a major advantage in the interior.  Mark Williams, Emanuel Omogbo, Brandon Boykin, Khary Doby, and Jamall Robinson all went 6'5" or bigger.  The Suburban all-stars had one legitimate big in Geogetown Prep forward Michael Wolfe who goes 6'9" but is more of a wing player.   

Zach Fong put on a show for the losing Suburban all-stars as he drilled six triples en route to a team high 19 points.  Michael Wolfe scored 16 and Khory Moore, a super-athletic 2 guard from VA scored 12.  JJ Epps played his standard game, pushing the tempo and finding the open man (often Fong) time and time again.  All 10 players scored for the Suburban All-Stars.  The District all stars put 8 of its 10 players in double figures.  Along with Williams' 21, Jamall Robinson scored 19, Marlon Beck scored 15, Stephan Jiggetts and Emanuel Omogbo scored 13, Charles Glover scored 11, and Khary Doby and Brandon Boykin scored 10 a piece.

During the school day Raiders fans packed the gym where players and coaches were honored with trophies, banners, and the like.  Members of the Maryland National Guard gave speeches about an array of things.

Roosevelt coach Brendan O'Connell called it another amazing thing that his team has had the chance to be a part of after winning the state championship almost a month ago.

Congrats to the Eleanor Roosevelt Raiders!

Whitman's Andrew Castagnetti led all scorers with 18 points on 6 three-pointers including 3 in a one minute span in the second quarter.

The following all-star videos are on youtube:

An HD DVD can be purchased of the 2013 All-Star game for 20$ from Capitol Hoops.  Please email Marc@capitolhoops.com to inquire.

Rosters are as follows for the boy game:

Coach Brendan O'Connell and the Eleanor Roosevelt Coaching Staff

To get to this point all Montgomery County coaches nominated their own players (only seniors are eligible) at the beginning of the season and opposing coaches would vote on who they thought should make the 24 man event.  After tallying up votes and after much discussion amongst all of the coaches we present to you the 2013 Montgomery County All Stars.

GREEN TEAM

Coach Kenneth Kramek (Poolesville)

Collin Turner (Poolesville)

Dominique Williams (Churchill)

Justin Senou (Richard Montgomery)

Charles Porter (Quince Orchard)

Tre Galloway (Paint Branch)

Mateen Etheridge (Gaithersburg)

Tomazye Anderson (Springbrook)

Elliott Gambrell (Northwest)

Rashard Budd (Damascus)

Kirby Carmack (Poolesville)

Michael Lumbuku (Walter Johnson)

WHITE TEAM

Coach Rich Porac (Einstein)

JJ Epps (Magruder)

Nick Griffin (Magruder)

Justin Witmer (Magruder)

Andrew Castagnetti (Whitman)

Tyvon Grant (Watkins Mill)

Alex Sotomayor (Watkins Mill)

Josh Ogburn (Einstein)

Joey Destefano (Sherwood)

Brandon Loiacono (Sherwood)

Sean Vanduring (Northwood)

Tyron White (Wheaton)

Three players were selected to the game but will not participate because of other obligations:

Marcus Murray (Kennedy)

Jordan Radway (Paint Branch)

Tristan Toliver (Paint Branch)

Stats play a huge role in deciding the teams, but watching the flow of the game and seeing how each player left their mark on the games this weekend were also huge.  All tournament team is solely decided on how players played in their game(s) at Comcast Center.  Regular season play and regional playoff play had no bearing.  Winning was the most important factor.  You wont find many players who didn't win a state championship on the first team.  And you won't find any players who didn't win in the semi-finals on any of the three teams.

 Tiwian Kendley (Eleanor Roosevelt) -- Kendley was the leading scorer on his team by a wide margin in his two games at Comcast for 4A champions, Roosevelt.  He also scored more points then any other player on the 4A level.  Kendley averaged 8.5 rebounds, 2 steals, a block, and 1.5 assists.  He played great in both games and had several dunks that got the crowd going. He also committed only two personal fouls in the tournament despite playing tenacious defense. 

 Justin Jenifer (Milford Mill) Jenifer had a phenomenal showing at Comcast in just his sophomore season.  Jenifer averaged 18.5 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game and a steal per game.  Jenifer shot 5-10 from three point land and 12-14 from the stripe. 

 Darius Walker (Edmondson)  The senior hit a buzzer beater to win the 2A state championship and hit the game winner in the semi-finals with 30 seconds left in double overtime. Walker averaged 17 points per game and in the championship game came away with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

 Kamau Stokes (Dunbar)  Stokes, a junior led Dunbar in scoring this weekend at 15 PPG.  In the Dunbar semi-final win he went for 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while making 3-5 downtown, and shooting better then 50% from the field.

 Malachi Alexander (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Alexander didn't score in double figures in either game but still deserved first team honors.  In the championship game Alexander grabbed 16 boards, scored 7 points, and had 2 assists despite playing only 22 minutes because of foul trouble.  In the semi-finals Alexander had 6 points, 8 boards, and 6 blocks.  All tournament long he anchored a defense that held two explosive offenses from going off.

 Justin Witmer (Magruder) Witmer, a 16 year old senior who will be graduating with many classmates who are 2 years older then him had a tremendous tournament for the Colonels.  More of a perimeter player in years past he has been forced down to the block where he bangs with the bigs on a nightly basis now.  Witmer led Magruder in scoring and rebounding this weekend at 14.5 PPG.  and 8.5 RPG.  

 Bruce Watkins (Milford Mill)  Watkins averaged 16.5 points per game, 4 rebounds a game, and 3.5 steals per game.  He also knocked down 4-7 triples in his 2 games.

 Daxter Miles (Dunbar)  Miles, the team captain and leader had a strong showing at Comcast.  Miles averaged 10.5 PPG, 7 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game.  He may have also had the dunk of the weekend.

 JJ Epps (Magruder)  JJ Epps had a very solid showing in this years tournament after his incredible performances in last year's tournament that made believers out of many DMV hoops fans.  Epps scored 14 points in each game this year.  In the championship he finished with 14 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals all while shooting 50% from the field and leading his team in minutes.

 Randall Broddie (Potomac) Only a freshman Broddie was the second highest scorer in the entire tournament at 19 PPG.  He averaged 5 boards a game, 2 assists and 2 steals a game.  He knocked down 12-16 free throws.

 Justin Brown (New Town)  Justin Brown scored more points then any player in the tournament, 41 while shooting 62.5% from the field.  Brown also averaged 11.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals while playing in 62 of the 64 minutes his team played in this weekend.

 Emmanual Matey (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Matey drew the assignment of guarding Marquis Wright of North Point and JJ Epps of Magruder.  The south paw played 63 of the 64 minutes his team played over the weekend and led his team to a 4A championship.  He averaged 6 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 rebounds. He shot better then 50% from the field as well.

 Nick Grifin (Magruder)  Griffin, who led Magruder to a state championship in 2012 averaged 11.5 points per game this go-around.  Defenses were keyed in om him all weekend and Griffin always made the extra pass, never forcing anything.  The 2-guard averaged 7 boards a game and despite not scoring in the first half of the championship he still went on to shoot 45.5% from the field while almost all of his looks came from the perimeter.

 Allen Costley (Milford Mill)  Costley averaged 14 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and shot an astounding 78.6% from the field. 

 Myrek-Lee Fowlkes (Edmondson)  Fowlkes may be the first player ever to compete for state titles on the 2A, 3A, and 4A level, all in successive years.  The former Patterson Clipper won his second championship in as many years.  Fowlkes averaged 13 points a game and was one of the better defenders on display this weekend.

 Dion Wiley (Potomac) Wiley, a junior may be the most decorated player in this tournament, as he holds double-digit scholarship offers from some of the best schools in the country.  Wiley averaged 17.5 points, and collected 6 steals in his semi-final win.

 Malachi Alexander (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Alexander anchored a Roosevelt defense that gave up only 58 points to a North Point team who was averaging 94 points per game on the season.  He blocked 6 shots in that game and came away with a championship high 16 rebounds in the 4A chip.

Stats play a huge role in deciding the teams, but watching the flow of the game and seeing how each player left their mark on the games this weekend were also huge.  Winning was the most important factor.  You wont find many players who didn't win a state championship on the first team.  And you won't find any players who didn't win in the semi-finals on any of the three teams.

Tiwian Kendley (Eleanor Roosevelt) -- Kendley was the leading scorer on his team by a wide margin in his two games at Comcast for 4A champions, Roosevelt.  He also scored more points then any other player on the 4A level.  Kendley averaged 8.5 rebounds, 2 steals, a block, and 1.5 assists.  He played great in both games and had several dunks that got the crowd going. He also committed only two personal fouls in the tournament despite playing tenacious defense.

Justin Jenifer (Milford Mill) Jenifer had a phenomenal showing at Comcast in just his sophomore season.  Jenifer averaged 18.5 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game and a steal per game.  Jenifer shot 5-10 from three point land and 12-14 from the stripe.

Darius Walker (Edmondson)  The senior hit a buzzer beater to win the 2A state championship and hit the game winner in the semi-finals with 30 seconds left in double overtime. Walker averaged 17 points per game and in the championship game came away with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

Kamau Stokes (Dunbar)  Stokes, a junior led Dunbar in scoring this weekend at 15 PPG.  In the Dunbar semi-final win he went for 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while making 3-5 downtown, and shooting better then 50% from the field.

Malachi Alexander (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Alexander didn't score in double figures in either game but still deserved first team honors.  In the championship game Alexander grabbed 16 boards, scored 7 points, and had 2 assists despite playing only 22 minutes because of foul trouble.  In the semi-finals Alexander had 6 points, 8 boards, and 6 blocks.  All tournament long he anchored a defense that held two explosive offenses from going off.

Justin Witmer (Magruder) Witmer, a 16 year old senior who will be graduating with many classmates who are 2 years older then him had a tremendous tournament for the Colonels.  More of a perimeter player in years past he has been forced down to the block where he bangs with the bigs on a nightly basis now.  Witmer led Magruder in scoring and rebounding this weekend at 14.5 PPG.  and 8.5 RPG.  

Bruce Watkins (Milford Mill)  Watkins averaged 16.5 points per game, 4 rebounds a game, and 3.5 steals per game.  He also knocked down 4-7 triples in his 2 games.

Daxter Miles (Dunbar)  Miles, the team captain and leader had a strong showing at Comcast.  Miles averaged 10.5 PPG, 7 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game.  He may have also had the dunk of the weekend.

JJ Epps (Magruder)  JJ Epps had a very solid showing in this years tournament after his incredible performances in last year's tournament that made believers out of many DMV hoops fans.  Epps scored 14 points in each game this year.  In the championship he finished with 14 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals all while shooting 50% from the field and leading his team in minutes.

Randall Broddie (Potomac) Only a freshman Broddie was the second highest scorer in the entire tournament at 19 PPG.  He averaged 5 boards a game, 2 assists and 2 steals a game.  He knocked down 12-16 free throws.

Justin Brown (New Town)  Justin Brown scored more points then any player in the tournament, 41 while shooting 62.5% from the field.  Brown also averaged 11.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals while playing in 62 of the 64 minutes his team played in this weekend.

Emmanual Matey (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Matey drew the assignment of guarding Marquis Wright of North Point and JJ Epps of Magruder.  The south paw played 63 of the 64 minutes his team played over the weekend and led his team to a 4A championship.  He averaged 6 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 rebounds. He shot better then 50% from the field as well.

Nick Grifin (Magruder)  Griffin, who led Magruder to a state championship in 2012 averaged 11.5 points per game this go-around.  Defenses were keyed in om him all weekend and Griffin always made the extra pass, never forcing anything.  The 2-guard averaged 7 boards a game and despite not scoring in the first half of the championship he still went on to shoot 45.5% from the field while almost all of his looks came from the perimeter.

Allen Costley (Milford Mill)  Costley averaged 14 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and shot an astounding 78.6% from the field. 

Myrek-Lee Fowlkes (Edmondson)  Fowlkes may be the first player ever to compete for state titles on the 2A, 3A, and 4A level, all in successive years.  The former Patterson Clipper won his second championship in as many years.  Fowlkes averaged 13 points a game and was one of the better defenders on display this weekend.

Dion Wiley (Potomac) Wiley, a junior may be the most decorated player in this tournament, as he holds double-digit scholarship offers from some of the best schools in the country.  Wiley averaged 17.5 points, and collected 6 steals in his semi-final win.

Malachi Alexander (Eleanor Roosevelt)  Alexander anchored a Roosevelt defense that gave up only 58 points to a North Point team who was averaging 94 points per game on the season.  He blocked 6 shots in that game and came away with a championship high 16 rebounds in the 4A chip.