The WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) is loaded with good teams and young high school players that have potential to make an impact at the collegiate level. Towards the end of the season, one player in the conference is name the WCAC Player of the Year. Last year, the award was given to DeMatha guard Markelle Fultz. It’s still too early in the season to make a clear cut decision but here are some players who are making a case for the player of the year honor.
VJ King, Small Forward Paul VI (VA)- In his second year with Paul VI, Louisville signee VJ King is off to one of the hottest starts by any player in the conference. He is showing his tremendous scoring ability as he is averaging 29.4 points per game. During the Nike High School Hoop Festival, King scored 26 points against Advanced Preparatory International (TX) and 24 points against Monsignor Scanlan (NY). His best performance was the game against Word of God Christian Academy (NC) where he scored 35 points and collected 10 rebounds. King also had 35 points and 9 rebounds in the 103-51 victory over North Bullitt (KY) on Saturday. Paul VI is expected to contend for a championship this year and the way King is playing, they have a chance to do so.
Anthony Cowan, Guard-St. John’s (DC) – 4-star point guard and Maryland signee Anthony Cowan is the arguably the best point guard in the WCAC. He has help St. John’s to a 8-0 record and they are rank No. 2 in the area according to the Washington Post. Cowan is averaging 23.5 points per game through eight games. Anthony scored 25 points against Archbishop Carroll where St. John’s won 69-28. He scored 32 points against Bishop O’Connell and Paul VI. At National High School Hoops Festival, Cowan went for 29 points, 6 assist, and 9 rebounds in the victory against Goretti. In St. John’s win over North Point at the DMV Tip-off Classic, Cowan scored 22 points.
Markelle Fultz, Guard-DeMatha (MD) – DeMatha guard Markelle Fultz is a player that continues to work on his game and gets better day by day. Evan Daniels of Scout.com said, “Markelle Fultz is versatile. If you want him to score, he’ll do that. If you want him to create, he can do that too. Keeps getting better.” So far this season, the Washington signee is averaging 19.6 points per game. He scored 21 points against Virginia Academy. Fultz is showing his ability to pass and get others evolve which is good since he will transition to point guard when he goes to college.
Chris Lykes, Guard- Gonzaga (DC) – Standing at 5 foot 6, Gonzaga guard Chris Lykes is one of the smallest players on the court but he is doing big things. This season, he’s averaging 22.3 points per game. He led the Purple Eagles to the Gonzaga DC Classic championship where they lost 77-72 in overtime to Roman Catholic. Lykes scored 34 points in the losing effort. Chris Lykes hasn’t committed yet but he holds offers from schools like Miami, George Washington, George Mason, Dayton, and others.
Jamir Moultrie, Guard- Bishop McNamara (MD) – After missing the first game of the season due to injury, McNamara guard Jamir Moultrie came back strong. He is averaging about 20.4 points per game. Moultrie scored 29 points against St. Mary’s Ryken on December 8th and 19 points in the Mustangs last game against Bishop Ireton.
Ryan McFadden is a freshman at Iona College and alumni from DeMatha Catholic High School. He is the founder of Inside The Locker Room and sports writer for the Ionian. Follow him on Twitter @RMcFadden15
Follow Inside The Locker Room on Twitter @lockerroom2015
Inside The Locker Room 