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2015 Kenner League Preview

By Chris Almeida

Now that our departing Hoyas have all found spots on Summer League rosters and the Spurs have effectively dark-magicked their way through free agency, we can start thinking about the most exciting summer hoops out there. That's right, it's time for the Kenner League!


ROSTERS

Obviously, the play in Kenner League will be markedly different from what we're going to see during the season, but with most of this year's entire roster being underclassmen, this skewed sample will be our best, and only, peek at what we should expect in the coming year.

From GU Hoyas:

Georgetown players will be spread out among seven teams in the 11-team league.

Senior guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Indianapolis, Ind./Oak Hill) and sophomore forward Paul White (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) will play for A Wash. Associates, while junior forward Reggie Cameron (Hackensack, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and senior center Bradley Hayes (Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood) will play for DCX.

Sophomores Isaac Copeland (Raleigh, N.C./Brewster Academy) and LJ Peak (Gaffney, S.C./Gaffney), who just won a gold medal at the U-19 World Championships with Team USA, will play for Clyde's, while sophomore guard Tre Campbell (Washington, D.C./St. John's College HS) and sophomore Trey Mourning (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) are on the roster for Higher Level.

Sophomore transfer Akoy Agau (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central/Louisville) will play for Ohhs and Ahhs.

Freshmen Jessie Govan (Manhasset, N.Y./Wings Academy) and Kaleb Johnson (Martinsville, Va./Carlisle School) will play for The Tombs, while freshman Marcus Derrickson (Bowie, Md./Brewster Academy [N.H.[) and junior Riyan Williams (Dunkirk, Md./Archbishop Carroll [D.C.]) will play for the Hoop Magic All-Stars.

Quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday, Aug. 1 beginning at 2 p.m. Semifinal games will be played on Sunday, Aug. 2 (2 p.m., 3:20 p.m.) and the championship game will be played on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 3:30 p.m.


SCHEDULE:

HERE.

GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 10, 2015 - FRIDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
1 8:00pm METROPOLITIAN ALL STARS VS CLYDE'S
2 9:20pm DCX VS PREMIER ATHLETICS


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 11, 2015 - SATURDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
3 1:00pm CLYDE'S VS ON POINT
4 2:20pm HIGHER LEVEL VS TOMBS
5 3:40pm A. WASH ASSOCIATES VS HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS
6 5:00pm METROPOLITIAN ALL STARS VS PREMIER ATHLETICS
7 6:20pm DCX VS BEYOND BELIEF


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 12, 2015 - SUNDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
8 1:00pm ON POINT VS DCX
9 2:20pm TOMBS VS TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS
10 3:40pm CLYDE'S VS HIGHER LEVEL
11 5:00pm PREMIER ATHLETICS VS A. WASH ASSOCIATES
12 6:20pm HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS VS METROPOLIATIAN ALL STARS



GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 16, 2015 - THURSDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
13 7:30pm DCX VS A. WASH. ASSOCIATES
14 8:50pm PREMIER ATHLETICS VS CLYDE'S


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 17, 2015 - FRIDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
15 8:00pm ON POINT VS METROPOLIATIAN ALL STARS
16 9:20pm TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS VS DCX


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 18, 2015 - SATURDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
17 1:00pm A. WASH ASSOCIATES VS METROPOLITIAN ALL STARS
18 2:20pm CLYDE'S VS HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS
19 3:40pm BEYOND BELIEF VS TOMBS
20 5:00pm ON POINT VS TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS
21 6:20pm PREMIER ATHLETICS VS HIGHER LEVEL


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 19, 2015 - SUNDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
22 1:00pm METROPOLIATIAN ALL STARS VS HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS
23 2:20pm BEYOND BELIEF VS A. WASH ASSCIATES
24 3:40pm TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS VS CLYDE'S
25 5:00pm TOMBS VS PREMIER ATHLETICS
26 6:20pm DCX VS HIGHER LEVEL


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 23, 2015 - THURSDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
27 7:30pm TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS VS PREMIER ATHLETICS
28 8:50pm ON POINT VS TOMBS


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 24, 2015 - FRIDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
29 8:00pm BEYOND BELIEF VS HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS
30 9:20pm ON POINT VS TOMBS



GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 25, 2015 - SATURDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
31 1:00pm METROPOLIATIAN ALL STARS VS HIGHER LEVEL
32 2:20pm A. WASH ASSOCIATES VS ON POINT
33 3:40pm TOMBS VS CLYDE'S
34 5:00pm PREMIER ATHLETICS VS BEYOND BELIEF
35 6:20pm HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS VS TEAM OOHH & AAHHS


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 26, 2015 - SUNDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
36 1:00pm HIGHER LEVEL VS ON POINT
37 2:20pm METROPOLTIAN ALL STARS VS DCX
38 3:40pm A. WASH ASSOCIATES VS TEAM OOHHS & AAHHS
39 5:00pm CLYDE'S VS BEYOND BELIEF
40 6:20pm HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS VS TOMBS


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 30, 2015 - THURSDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
41 7:30pm BEYOND BELIEF VS ON POINT
42 8:50pm HIGHER LEVEL VS HOOP MAGIC ALL STARS


GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
July 31, 2015 - FRIDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
43 8:00pm HIGHER LEVEL VS A. WASH ASSOCIATES
44 9:20pm TEAM OOHHS & AAHS VS BEYOND BELIEF

PLAYOFF STARTS
Times and Dates are subject to change

(QUARTERFINALS)
GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
August 1, 2015 - SATURDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
45 2:00pm Quarterfinals VS Quarterfinals
46 3:20pm Quarterfinals VS Quarterfinals
47 4:40pm Quarterfinals VS Quarterfinals
48 6:00pm Quarterfinals VS Quarterfinals


(SEMI-FINALS)
GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
August 2, 2015 - SUNDAY
NO. TIME TEAM/LOCKER ROOM TEAM/LOCKER ROOM SCORE
49 2:00pm VS
50 3:20pm VS


(CHAMPIONSHIP GAME)
GAME SITE - Georgetown University - (McDonough Arena)
August 8, 2015 - SATURDAY

PLAYERS PREVIEW

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera

D'Vauntes is probably going to be the go-to scoring option this year, though he will probably be getting help from the developing sophomore class, Josh Smith's absence is going to leave defenders with less thinking to do. With the development of Tre Campbell, DSR will likely have less of a responsibility as a distributor, but he'll need to be, at the very least, the offensive player that he has been the past two seasons if the Hoyas are going to be successful this year.


Bradley Hayes

Without any proven post players on the roster, there's a good chance that Bradley will be getting substantial minutes this year, for better or for worse. In the Hoyas' first NCAA Tournament game last season, Hayes scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Given, this was against Eastern Washington's small and notoriously weak defense, but Hayes showed that, given the right opportunity, he could be a consequential part of the Hoya game plan.

Hayes, even in Kenner League play, has previously looked awkward and unsure on both ends of the floor, and aside from his outlying performance against EWU, he has rarely had an impact on games. Hayes needs to show some offensive capabilities as well as some ability to protect the rim. Hayes doesn't need to be great, just good enough to be a reliable part of the rotation.

Kenner, unlike for many other players, will be a very good indicator if Bradley will have a Henry Sims-like senior season surge or if the Hoyas will have to depend on freshman Jessie Govan for heavy minutes at center.


Reggie Cameron

Reggie came into his freshman season touted as a three-point specialist, but after two seasons, has yet to find his groove. This past season, Cameron didn't play more than five minutes in a game after New Year. Like Hayes, Cameron hasn't looked great in Kenner League play previously, so if we see him making shots, or really, making any other kind of an impact, it may be a sign that Reggie is ready to become a consistent role player during the season.


Isaac Copeland

Copeland won't be as easy to judge in Kenner League play as Hayes and Cameron, mostly because we already know that he is capable of making a significant in-season impact.

Many think that the swingman is ready to make an Otto-like jump during his sophomore season. Kenner should give us a glimpse of how Copeland's abilities have improved, but more importantly, how confident he will be as a scorer. We know that Copeland has the tools to be a dominant player; the question is if he is ready to be the focal point of the Hoya game plan.


Paul White

Kenner League will be a good indicator of whether or not White has gotten his groove back. After being a reliable rotation player early last season, White struggled during Big East play. We know that White can handle the ball exceptionally well for a player of his size, so hopefully he can parlay his versatility into more scoring against weaker competition in the pick-up-game-like Kenner League. Also, with Smith gone, the Hoyas will need a lot of help on the boards. Hopefully White, who averaged only 2.8 rebounds per game last season, will show some improvement on that front.


L.J. Peak

Fresh off a World Championship win as part of the USA U-19 team, Peak will head into Kenner League play with some new hardware, but a lot to prove. Scoring 7.8 points per game last season, Peak was the top scorer of last year's freshman class. However, Peak's jumper left a lot to be desired. The guard shot just a hair above 39 percent from the field last season and under 25 percent from three. Peak also only averaged one assist per game in his last campaign. You can be sure that L.J. will get his fair share of points by slashing to the rim during Kenner League play, but hopefully he will show an improved jump shot and playmaking ability. If Peak has added those capabilities, he'll be a legitimate force come November.


Tre Campbell

Campbell could very well be the primary ballhandler in JTIII's offense this coming season. That means that he's going to need to dish out more than the 0.9 assists per game that he averaged last season. Tre surprised us with his offensive outbursts last season, scoring in double digits on five occasions, but he won't need to be a volume scorer for the Hoyas if everything goes to plan. Campbell's role as a facilitator will be a much more important factor in the Kenner League and the coming season.


Jessie Govan, Marcus Derrickson, and Kaleb Johnson

It's hard to know what to expect from freshmen. Nationally ranked recruits can produce immediately like most of the members of last year's freshman class, but it's not unheard of for successful high school players, like Stephen Domingo, to come to college and fail to find their way. Derrickson and Johnson, at 6-7 and 6-6, respectively, could be effective wing players if they fulfill their potential. The Hoyas could use their immediate help, but expect them to take some time to develop. Derrickson is known for having a dangerous mid-range game and a soft touch while Johnson has the reputation of a skilled ball handler with solid athleticism. If they show promise at the hoop, on the boards, or as distributors during Kenner League, it'll be a good sign.

Jessie Govan, on the other hand, will be expected to produce right away. Hayes may show improvements, but unless he pulled a page out of the Monstars' book and stole the talent of an NBA center, Govan, a dominant force inside who stands at 6-10, will be expected to play many, if not a majority of the minutes down low for the Hoyas. If Govan looks better than Hayes on one or both sides of the ball during Kenner League, we may not need to worry, but if he struggles to score and protect the rim, the Hoyas will have a lot of issues to address during the season.


Agoy Akau

If I'm being completely honest, I can't tell you much about what to expect from Akau, who played just 11 minutes of NCAA basketball during his first season at Louisville. Akau, who is eligible to play after first semester, sports a 6-8, 230-pound frame and could be of help in the post.  Look for Akau to do work in the paint in the Kenner League.


Trey Mourning, Riyan Williams. and David Allen

These guys probably won't play too much during the season, but we love them anyway. Mourning, who is still a sophomore has time to develop, but Allen and Williams will likely have minimal on-court impact during the season. They might have their moments during Kenner League play. Who knows?

Just as in years past we'll have all the recaps from Kenner League action right here, on America's Most-Read Georgetown Hoyas Blog!

Here's a handy dandy thing:

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