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Thomas Plus Thomas Adds Up to a Big Gwynn Park Win
Saturday, January 19, 2008; Page E07
Sean Thomas and Eric Thomas are such good friends, they joke that they are "distant cousins." They may like many of the same things off the court, but on the floor the two unrelated senior guards could not be more different. Sean Thomas is the leading scorer for 13th-ranked Gwynn Park; Eric moved into the starting lineup last week for the first time when another teammate became academically ineligible.
And while there was quite a contrast in their performances last night, both played big roles in the host Yellow Jackets' 80-50 dismantling of ninth-ranked Largo before a near-capacity crowd of 600 in a game between Prince George's 3A/2A/1A leaders in Brandywine.
Sean Thomas made 12 of 13 shots and finished with 30 points, one off his career high. Eric Thomas did not attempt a shot from the field and finished with one point, roughly half his season average.
But while Sean Thomas and another senior guard, Harold Washington, kept Gwynn Park's offense going, it was Eric Thomas who played the key role in Gwynn Park's box-and-one defense, guarding Largo's leading scorer, Klevin Pollard.
Pollard finished with 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting, well below his season average of nearly 22 points per game, and at times grew frustrated with the constant face-guarding by Eric Thomas and sophomore Tim Floyd. Eric Thomas had a trophy of sorts to show for his effort: a bloody lower lip that he said was the result of an elbow from Pollard in the fourth quarter (Pollard was called for an intentional foul on the play).
"If he can't get the ball, he can't score," Eric Thomas said. "He started getting rattled."
Largo Coach Lewis Howard said Pollard's struggles also impacted his second-leading scorer, 6-foot-11 center Maurice Sutton, because Pollard often is the one feeding Sutton the ball. Sutton made 4 of 8 shots and had 12 points. Largo (10-2, 7-1), the area's highest-scoring team, finished 36 points below its season average.
In addition to playing solid defense, Gwynn Park (12-0, 8-0) was patient offensively, repeatedly pulling the ball away from the basket and making extra passes, often leading to baskets.
"Normally, we're not that patient," Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick said. "That's the most patient we've been. But it was also the most patient we had to be to win this season."
No. 13 Gwynn Park 80, No. 9 Largo 50 A Solid Assist: Gwynn Park guard Harold Washington finished with 14 points, 8 assists and 6 steals. All six steals led to baskets, five by Sean Thomas. Quite a Difference: Gwynn Park lost to Largo three times last season, including a 39-point loss at home and an eight-point loss in the Maryland 3A South Region playoffs. No. 13 Gwynn Park 80, No. 9 Largo 50 A Solid Assist: Gwynn Park guard Harold Washington finished with 14 points, 8 assists and 6 steals. All six steals led to baskets, five by Sean Thomas. Quite a Difference: Gwynn Park lost to Largo three times last season, including a 39-point loss at home and an eight-point loss in the Maryland 3A South Region playoffs.
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| Sean Thomas is averaging 20 points per game this season. |
"We are really playing well. We have a good team. We could be really good before the year is over. We have good size for a 2A team, we have balance, depth - we can shoot the ball, we play good defense. I really like the group of kids we have, it's a great group of kids. We have good veteran leaders, good seniors," Glick said. "We have played really, really well at times – I think we have a good chance (to go far in the county and state tournaments). Looking down the road, there are some really good teams in 2A, it could be really exciting."
Earlier this year, Glick earned his 300 career victory.
Glick is in his second year as the Gwynn Park head coach after previously building private school powerhouses at two Catholic high schools: Pallotti (1993-2000) and Archbishop Spalding (2000-2006).
"To win games in my fifteenth season, I'm pretty proud of that. I've been fortunate to have a lot of really good players and a lot of great assistant coaches. You can't succeed (as a high school head coach) without excellent assistant coaches," Glick said. "We won at Pallotti in the 1990's when the (Washington) Catholic league was really as tough and deep as it ever was. When we were at Spalding that was when the BCL (Baltimore Catholic League) was, maybe, at its best. So we won against some tough competition year in and year out."
This season Gwynn Park gained some valuable out of conference experience when they played in the championship at the Bay Beach Classic in Cape Henelopen, Delaware over the Holidays.
"We beat the host school, Cape Henelopen, then we beat Randallstown by 13 points and the Sanford School of Delaware which is traditionally one of the best teams in Delaware," Glick said. "I was really excited about the way we played down there, we really played some very good basketball."
The Yellow Jackets are led by 6-2 senior point guard Sean Thomas.
Thomas, who earned All County Honors as a junior, is vying for All County and All Met honors this year and is averaging 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists through the team's first nine games.
Thomas is a full academic qualifier who will sign with a Division-I college this spring.
"Sean decided to sign late, he is starting to get some good (recruiting) interest from a number of colleges," Glick said. "Sean is really having a good year. He is a very good all-around guard. He can play either guard position; he'll be a combo guard in college. He can really get to the rim; he's pretty strong at 6-2, 185. As Seam improves his jump shot, he'll be even tougher to handle."
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| Harold Washington is having a breakout season. |
"Harold is a two, a wing," Glick said. "He is really athletic and can shoot the three. He's athletic as they come."
Glick said that Washington is also drawing D-I interest, but he might take a prep year in 2008-2009 before heading to college.
Glick thinks he has a third D-I college prospect in his senior class in 6-5 power forward Ronnell Leggett.
"Ronnell is averaging about 10 points and seven rebounds. He is really coming on," Glick said. "He is a freak athlete, but he also doesn't mind doing the dirty work inside. Ronnell will be a D-I college player for sure. He is going to Cecil Community College next year, but I'm telling you, in two years he is a D-I player."
6-4, 245 pound senior center/forward Chibby Achucko will also be college scholarship athlete, though his future is in football.
"Chibby is a football player first, but he does a real nice job for us – he is a key guy," Glick said. "He is getting football interest from a lot of schools in the East and he's taking his (football recruiting) visits. He has done a great job for us in basketball, too. He is averaging a little over seven points a game and he is a real tough, hardworking player inside. He plays real hard and gives us a physical presence."
Glick's deep team has a nice junior class too with players like 6-4 forward Corey Anderson, 5-8 guard Keith Thomas and 6-5 210 pound Terrance Trim.
"Thomas is a pure point guard, he really knows the game. We can start him at point and play Sean (Thomas) and Harold (Washington) off the ball. He is a tough, smart player. Corey (Anderson) is an athletic kid who can play the three (small forward) and can shoot out to the (three point) arc," Glick added. "He is going to be good. Terrance Trim is a forward/center, he'll be our starting center next year - he is a good athlete and pretty strong at 210 pounds."
Sophomore Kim Floyd is a 6-1, 165 pound combo guard who is getting quality minutes and figures to step up next year when Thomas and Washington graduate.
The Yellow Jackets are clearly one of the top teams in the D.C. area this year and the future looks bright as they have been for years, one of the top public school programs in Maryland.
While 2006-2007, Glick's first year at the school after replacing Steve Matthews, was supposed to be a tough rebuilding year, the Yellow Jackets managed a winning record (13-10).
"I'm really excited about our program and where we are. I'm excited for the players, the students, the school … we are really putting the program back on top really fast," Glick said. "We have a really good team this year, a nice blend of seniors and younger players. We also have a couple of freshmen in school that could be special. I'm pretty excited about where we are."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier this season MdVarsity.com ran player profiles on Gwynn Park's two outstanding senior guards, Sean Thomas and Harold Washington. Both Thomas and Washington are having excellent seasons for the undefeated Yellow Jackets, each averaging about 20 points a game.
Thursday, January 17, 2008; Page PG12
Gwynn Park Loses Guard
Gwynn Park has been among the county's most impressive teams and entered this week undefeated at 10-0, 6-0 in the Prince George's 3A/2A/1A league.
The Yellow Jackets will be challenged in coming weeks, however, as they try to replace starting point guard Keith Thomas, who became academically ineligible after the second academic quarter. "The kid had over a 2.0 [grade-point average] and failed an [Advanced Placement] class," Coach Mike Glick said. "He would be eligible in just about any other jurisdiction in the state."
Academic eligibility regulations vary by school system; Prince George's is in the first year of a rule that requires students to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA without failing any classes.
Gwynn Park's first game without Thomas was a 71-65 victory over Fairmont Heights this past Friday. Senior Eric Thomas moved into the starting lineup and sophomore Tim Floyd boosted his playing time.
"It's a challenge, but just like any year I've coached, there are always going to be things that pop up in the middle of the season that you're not expecting that you're going to have to overcome," Glick said. "Other guys are going to have to step up and assume other roles. It's definitely a loss for us. It's going to take us four or five games to get adjusted. The thing that hurts most is that Keith was our biggest talker, our leader -- he was my extension on the floor."
Up and Down Week for Stags
Achuko Displays His Versatility, Gwynn Park Remains Undefeated
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 12, 2008; Page E05
Chiby Achuko's role on the basketball court is pretty simple: "Rebound, play defense, finish," Gwynn Park's senior center said.
In that order.
So what a surprise it was to just about everybody in the gym last night when Achuko, better known for his play as a tight end, started scoring in droves, especially down the stretch.
He scored 15 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 13 rebounds as the 13th-ranked Yellow Jackets rallied for a 71-65 victory over visiting Fairmont Heights in a Prince George's 3A/2A/1A game in Brandywine.
"Did he really?" asked Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick when informed of Achuko's scoring total. "Unbelievable. That's why I love football players. They're not scared, and they play with reckless abandon."
They apparently also don't mind near-crazy schedules. After last night's game, Achuko said he planned to be on the road with his father by 4 a.m. this morning so they could drive to Pittsburgh for a football recruiting visit to Duquesne. He also has a trip scheduled to upstate New York to visit Colgate next weekend.
While Achuko plans to play football in college, he showed last night why he is essential to his school's basketball team, scoring nearly all of his points on close shots as guards Sean Thomas (14 points) and Harold Washington (17 points) repeatedly drove the lane and passed.
Still, those seemingly easy shots were not automatic, Glick said, noting Achuko had struggled to score this season. He entered averaging 7.2 points and nearly doubled his previous season high of 14.
"He would rush shots, [miss] uncontested layups," said Glick, whose team improved to 10-0, 6-0 in the Prince George's 3A/2A/1A. "Washington and Thomas are great break-down players. His ability to finish is huge for us. We've been working all season on Chiby finishing around the basket."
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven points. Fairmont Heights (6-3, 3-2) took a 59-56 lead before Achuko sparked a 7-0 run. He scored on a putback, made a steal that led to a basket by Washington and then converted a three-point play for a 63-59 lead.
It was 65-65 when Achuko made a reverse layup to give the Yellow Jackets the lead with less than two minutes left.
"We call man-to-man defense, and a guy gambles, guy steps up and he gets a layup," Fairmont Heights Coach George Wake said of Achuko. "I'm 1,100 years old, and I could score those baskets the way we left him open."
No. 13 Gwynn Park 71 Fairmont Heights 65 Tough Test Looms: After playing Central (Md.) Tuesday, Gwynn Park will host No. 4 Largo on Friday. Wanna Play Horse?: James Watkins made a half-court shot to end the first half, and Joseph Fearn banked in a 25-footer to end the third quarter for Fairmont Heights. No. 13 Gwynn Park 71 Fairmont Heights 65 Tough Test Looms: After playing Central (Md.) Tuesday, Gwynn Park will host No. 4 Largo on Friday. Wanna Play Horse?: James Watkins made a half-court shot to end the first half, and Joseph Fearn banked in a 25-footer to end the third quarter for Fairmont Heights.
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| Washington averaged 12.5 points per game last season. |
Coach Glick, who is beginning his second year as coach at Gwynn Park High School in Prince George's County, returns a number of talented players from last season's very young squad that improved greatly as the season progressed and finished 13-10.
Most local hoops fans are familiar with the Yellow Jacket's returning point guard, 6-2 senior Sean Thomas, a D-I college prospect, but Coach Glick is quick to point out that he has another potential college recruit in 6-2 wing Harold Washington.
Washington averaged 12.5 points as a junior for Gwynn Park, but, according to Coach Glick, "… Harold just blew up this summer, he really improved. He is a terrific athlete, but he can really shoot it, too… he just REALLY improved this off-season. Harold is a true wing player. Sean (Thomas) is a natural 'combo guard' who plays the point for us, Harold is more a natural wing, two guard. People notice his athleticism, but he can shoot the ball and his skills are really coming on."
Coach Glick said that Washington's "phenomenal athleticism" was on full display this summer at the Eastern Invitational Camp in New Jersey. "When Harold was up at the team Camp at Eastern (Invitational Camp), he participated in this thing they have called the API Test where they measure a player's overall athletic ability- speed, leaping ability, shuttle runs, quickness,, strength, all that stuff. Harold rated out as the number one kid out of like 650 kids there on the test. That is how athletic he is. He can just explode, athletically. As a player, he is really starting to come on, come into his own."
"Harold can score off the dribble, he can get to the rim and finish, and he can really shoot," said Coach Glick.
Though Washington is a "sleeper" on the local prep scene, colleges have already taken notice of Washington's potential. "Harold has five colleges, already, who want him now. About 20-30 schools have contacted us about him. He could go D-I next year if he wants. We are considering letting him prep next year. He is such a 'late bloomer' he might use the extra prep year to get ready for college. If he preps, he might play AAU ball with Keith Stevens (and the Triple Threat AAU Program) this spring and summer and then get a prep year. He is about 6'2" and 170 pounds, he could even use the year to mature more physically. Harold is kind of slender right now, but he is really athletic. Harold didn't play AAU ball this last summer. We had our kids mostly play with the Gwynn Park team and work out on skills and conditioning, instead of playing AAU ball."
With talent like Sean Thomas and Harold Washington, the Yellow Jackets will be fun to watch and a formidable opponent in PG County this year. Coach Glick has quickly rebuilt Gwynn Park back to its historical status as a PG County and Maryland State prep hoops contender.
"I'm really excited about this year, I think we can be very good," Coach Glick told MdVarsity.com. "I can't wait until people get a chance to see what Harold can do on the floor for us this year.'
(EDITOR'S NOTE" Earlier this Fall, MdVarsity.com ran a James Quinn "In the Gym" Player Profile on Washington's teammate Sean Thomas).
