Arnaud Adala-Moto '12

[hoyajmw]

No relation, but the complete lack of resemblance IS uncanny . . .

[hoyajmw]

Arnaud may be jumping to first team All-Met watch in the Post tomorrow following big EHS wins Friday over Georgetown Prep (62-42; Arnaud with 16 pts and 4 monster blocks while thoroughly out-playing current first team all Met 6'9" Taylor Abt/Holy Cross signee), and then 17 (either all or 15 in second half after three fouls limited him to about 3 minutes in first half) in Episcopal's epic 65-61 OT win Saturday over area #3 Landon (down by 17 in second half, Arnaud tied it with strong move to hoop at end of regulation; iced it with two free throws at end of OT). Harvard's head coach Tommy Amaker was behind EHS bench for Prep game (I hear looking at Arnaud and/or maybe junior guard Kethan Savage). Arnaud still needs lots 'o work on handle, stroke from outside (every jumper a virtual knuckelball) and some BBall judgment (picked up third foul against Landon with a great athletic -- but ill-considered -- off-hand-tip in/called for over the back), but there's not much question who the best athlete out there is whenever he's on the floor . . . Next Landon/EHS game (at Landon/Friday, Jan. 28) should be sensational again (Landon VERY VERY impressive; junior guard Joe McDonald teriffic/27 points, and if their 6'9" center/VA recruit Darion Atkins doesn't foul out with about 2 minutes left, they win).

[hoyajmw]

Landon's junior guard Joe McDonald jumps to first team All-Tet today in Post (not Arnaud), off his great game against EHS, and Arnaud stays second team. Prep's Taylor Abt is the one booted out of first team, all the way to only honorable mention (no surprise there -- all he looked was tall in games I saw in Prep's games against Saint Stephen's/St. Agnes and Episcopal last week).

[RDF]

Not to be a downer hoyajmw, but seeing the DC area's SR/JR class--I'm not very impressed. Hopkins, Robinson, Grant, etc....looked outclassed against St. Anthony's and layed an egg against Michael Carter Williams team, Quinn Cook/Assault was garbage when I saw them this past Summer, and really haven't seen a great DMV area player in '11/'12 or even '13. Some nice role player types--but this could be worst All Met team in decade or so.

[hoyajmw]

No argument on the class of '11 from what I've seen for sure (including Hopkins, unfortunately, given what do seem to be some recurring "motor" issues). May be a tad premature to reach same conclusion on 2012, but for sure no one transcendant (at least yet) seems out there (the one 2012 commitment we have sure doesn't look like that, either).

[hoyajmw]

Video and game story below from Arnaud's return to line-up (had been out three games with bruised/dislocated knee) in Episcopal's 55-50 win at Landon Friday. Story confirms the Joe Tuomo connection to Arnaud, and some scholarship offers he has already (Wake, Seton Hall). The video gives a pretty good idea what a tantalizing (but raw) prospect he is.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2011/01/29/VI2011012900196.html

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012807345.html

[GUMBA]

Moto is back from a knee injury and despite poor shooting, helped Episcopal beat #3 Landon with 14 points on 5-17 shots and nine boards. Dômo arigatô Mr. Moto.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012807345.html

[GUMBA]

hoyajmw beat me to it, sorry for the double post...

[hoyajmw]

Hoya asst. coach Rob Kirby at both Episcopal week-end games, lackluster wins by nine over a game but overmatched St. Alban's (which lead at half and most of third quarter -- maybe inspired by fact that alum/former IAC POY Ryan Daugherty was in attendance!) and by 20 over a VERY overmatched Potomac School (Wake's head coach -- which has offer to Arnaud out already -- at that one). I have to think we are just keeping our hand in with respect to Arnaud, but will DEFINITELY wait and see on his development -- as I've noted a couple times, lots of holes/inconsistencies in his game that don't seem to be closing any at this point (shot, handle, judgment), but boy is he an athlete, and if he were to grow another couple inches . . . EHS can wrap up IAC regular season title with win in one of next two games (at Bullis, at Saint Stephens), and all signs are pointing to a title game/rematch with Landon at Episcopal (hosting final this year regardless of participants) Saturday night, Feb. 19. EHS and Landon likely to move to 2 & 3 in metro area rankings Tuesday (behind Montrose, which rather oddly needed a last second basket to beat a good but not THAT good TC Williams on Saturday. Go figure . . .)

[hoyajmw]

Short clip from local channel 7 below, which aired last week in conjunction with Arnaud being named local "Athlete of the Week" following win over Landon and blow-out of Prep (before the workmanlike at best St. Alban's and Potomac victories). Gives some sense of Arnaud's size/talent (but not much -- though does show "old school" nature of the Episcopal gym in background nicely.)

www.tbd.com/articles/2011/02/athlete-of-the-week-arnaud-adala-moto-50172.html

[idhoya]

People I talk to say he's "BE good". I haven't seen him though.

[hoyajmw]

He's definitely at least lower level BE (and ACC) good, as Seton Hall, Wake and UVA offers help attest. You still just can't tell, though, whether the final upside is Dikembe-esque or Boubacar (or something in the middle, like Arinze Onahaku, Episcopal Class of 2006, for that matter). I've seen all but a handful of Episcopal games since January 2010 -- which mostly has just made me appreciate how hard it is to make judgments in recruiting. I do know he is in a great environment to be coached up to the max the next 12 months/keep his focus -- all students live on campus, so mischief/distractions are kept to minimum, and the Episcopal coach is a former Flint Hill and Wake Forest player/really knows the game (one of those "heady point guard" types) and is very demanding in a constructive way.

[hoyajmw]

Arnaud with season high 27 points and 14 boards last night in 58-53 payback win over Bullis (who beat EHS in 2OT for only IAC loss) to clinch top seed in IAC tournament. As is his (and team's) tendency, started out jacking ill-advised quick 3s that clanged as Bullis built early lead, got yanked and "coached up" (at VERY high volume) and returned to have best game of year with series of mid-range jumpers, follow baskets, an eye-popping alley-oop dunk, some clutch late free throws and a break-away slam off nicely designed in-bounds play to seal the win as time expired. Also was called for intentional foul late on a scrum on EHS defensive glass that ended up with Bullis star/Canadian Jonathon Tsibuy on the deck/out of the game rest of the way with what appeared to be a conk on the head (from where I was, didn't look to be anything more than at worst a hard "stuff happens" foul on a scramble as Bullis crashed in desperation to get back in game -- zebras were pathetic all night, and this call seemed to fit in with the entire pastiche of foul-calls). Episcopal and Landon (winner last night too) now locked in as top two seeds in IAC tourney, so circle calendars for Feb. 19 rematch at EHS in IAC final . . . Last tidbit: I understand that Maryland now going hard after Arnaud . . .

[hoyajmw]

Episcopal crushed St. Stephen's/St. Agnes 59-32 Friday night to win the IAC regular season title (finishing 9-1). Most pertinent for this thread is that Saints 6'7" center, Justin Goldsborough, had a strong first half, scoring 13 over EHS's undersized 6'4" center, but in second half Episcopal put Arnaud on Justin man to man, and Mr. Moto completely shut him down (2 points). Saints in fact got shut out completely in fourth quarter. In IAC tourney semi's. Episcopal Friday/6pm will get home game against the winner of Tuesday's all-Saints match up at St. Alban's (vs. St. Stephens'); Landon gets home game that night against winner of Bullis/Georgetown Prep (who finished DFL in IAC -- life AM (After Markel) has not been kind to Little Hoyas). If things go as they should, EHS and Landon will meet Saturday 7PM for the tourney championship at Episcopal, preceded by two consolation games at 3PM and 5PM. Hoyas v. USF tipping at 7PM Saturday night puts me in a bit of a quandry, but I will trust the Hoyas TCB for 90 minutes against Bulls, and then catch the victory lap portion of that game on TV ....

[hoyajmw]

Arnaud moves up to first team All-Met in Washington Post's updated list today (link below); will be last list until final selections announced in April. Player of the Year probably beyond reach, but with three tourneys left (IAC, Sleepy Thompson, VA private school state) against some very formidable competition, not out of the question . . .

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/highschools/all-met-watch/boys-basketball/week7/index.html

[hoyajmw]

Episcopal beats Landon 47-43 to win IAC tourney and title. Arnaud with 13 points and 18 boards and great defensive job on Landon's Darion Atkins. Gary Williams in the house, as MD continues big push for Arnaud. Next up for 21-2 EHS is arch rival Woodberry Forest in opening round of Sleepy Thompson Tournament on Thursday.

[hoyajmw]

Arnaud with 23 points and 18 loud rebounds in Episcopal's championship game win in the Sleepy Thompson over a very good Middleburg Academy team on Saturday (good way to get the taste of sour Orange out of my mouth . . .), running record to 24-2. Arnaud was named tourney MVP as well -- link to Post article first one below (following MAC tourney story in link). As story notes, Arnaud also had three great two-handed dunks (one oop, and two drives though traffic) -- which were more impressive still 'cause Middleburg has a VERY good center who just dominated the paint in crush of St. Stephen's/St. Agnes 70-35 the night before. Next up will be a home game Wednesday in quarter-final of VA independent school state tourney against winner of Tuesday's Bishop Sullivan Catholic (23-5) vs. Flint Hill (17-11) game (EHS #2 seed overall/gets opening round bye). Anyone looking to fill the void of a Hoya-less Wednesday could do worse than coming to see this one. (Full bracket for 12 team tourney in second link below.)

The more I see Arnaud (and I've seen A LOT) the more I'm impressed in the aspects of his game that the recent Hoyas have been notoriously lacking: GREAT motor (relentless effort), loves to rebound/bang down low (and even the big numbers don't tell the whole tale: he gets the tough, gotta have it board -- EHS has won several games very ugly 'cause they outworked the other, "prettier" team -- hi, Landon!), and has been great defensively/playing smart in shutting down bigger guys (has minimized his poor judgment/foul prone problems). He's rather a throwback to JT Jr.'s teams in just being a complete handful physically at both ends-- and even looks and sorta plays like Patrick "mini-me." The fact that if we got Arnaud it would mean out-recruiting the Twerps yet again for another local kid would just be a bonus . . .

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022604566.html

visaa.org/dynamicPage.jsp?pageName=120420793881113&category=bBasketball

[hoyajmw]

Arnaud with 25 points, 12 boards and 4 blocks in Episcopal's 61-47 win last night in VISSA state quarter-finals over an overmatched and undersized Flint Hill. Arnaud knocked down a pair of 3s, a couple nice drive/two handed jams, a few mid-range jumpers, and his usual assortmet of putbacks. And he generally did a nice job playing within himself and staying out of foul trouble -- especially important as EHS was playing without one of their "Big Three", senior small forward Sadiq Abubakar, who sprained ankle in finals of Sleepy Thompson Saturday and was being rested (I think he'll be back Friday). In semis on Friday at Virginia State University, EHS meets #3 seed Benedictine, which crushed defending champion Bishop O'Connell (of course without Kendall Marshall to cure all ills this year), 70-45.

[idhoya]

Remember when Flint Hill was really good back in the day?

[hoyajmw]

A bit of trivia for you: Flint Hill won the VISSA state championship one time, in 1995 -- lead by the current Episcopal coach, Jim Fitzpatrick (who went on to play at Wake).