by Alex Schwartz

I spoke to some players over the weekend at the Prime Time Shootout and got information besides school lists. Many of these players were Oak Hill Academy (VA) Warriors. Thus, the national powerhouse from Mouth of Wilson, Virginia is getting its own article in for news, notes, and quotes. The rest of these will come later tonight or tomorrow.

- After Oak Hill Academy defeated St. Patrick’s 73-64 to stay undefeated through over 30 games and make it a three-horse race for the mythical national title between OHA, Mater Dei (CA), and Findlay Prep (NV), the Warriors were ecstatic. I congratulated Oklahoma-signee Keith “Tiny” Gallon ’09 as he walked off the court, and he said, “I told you man, I told you,” with a big smile, and that he did. I was conversing with Gallon via text message Friday morning, and the big man, who said he was “happy [he] made the Jordan Game,” told me, “We [are] going to get the national championships.” I said to “Tiny” that it would start with them defeating St. Pat’s, and he responded, “We [are] going to beat St. Pat’s. Nobody can hold me, and they [have] lost two [games] and we [have] lost none.” Gallon had around a double-double, and it was OHA’s interior play that was a key part of the win. He added, “Just get ready for the results.” After I congratulated Gallon, Glenn Bryant ’09—I interviewed him before the game—looked at me and said, “We want Mater Dei. Put that in the paper.” The Monarchs are the consensus number one team in the nation right now, and that is why Bryant is saying Oak Hill wants a shot at knocking them off.

- Lamont “MoMo” Jones ’09 of Oak Hill Academy (VA) was probably the most surprising selection to the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic All-American Game, but what did it mean to him to be selected regardless of that? “It’s a pleasure. Not a lot of kids get selected to it. . . . It’s an honor. . . . I come from New York, so for me to go to New York and play my last high school game, it’s great.” Jones, who committed to Louisville during his freshman year, but later de-committed and ended up signing with Virginia Tech, said he “just wasn’t feeling it” when  I asked him what went wrong with that. What does “MoMo” think is too young of an age to commit? “I don’t think it’s ever too young for a kid to commit if [he is] comfortable, . . . especially it’s a big school.” As for why he picked the Hokies, Jones said, “I just liked the environment, [Head] Coach [Seth] Greenberg, [and] all the players. It’s like a family atmosphere, and that’s what I was looking for. The senior point guard said the other schools he considered were USC and Memphis. Jones, who has spent time at both Rice (NY) and American Christian Academy (PA) ended up at OHA at the last second this year. How did that come about? “Just a couple of things fell through and it just happened, and just one morning I woke up and I was here.” Those things that fell through were probably ACA closing its prep school wing and the team disbanding, St. Anthony’s (NJ) deciding not to take him as a senior transfer, and Oklahoma-bound Tommy Mason-Griffin ’09 deciding at the very last second to remain at Madison (TX), rather than go to Oak Hill as expected.

- Bryon Allen ’10 of Oak Hill Academy (VA) is committed to Bob Huggins and Co. at West Virginia. “I like the atmosphere, the fans [are] really into it, the whole town is there supporting you, . . . and I like the style of play,” said the MVP honoree from OHA for the Warriors’ win over St. Patrick’s (NJ) in the late game Saturday night. Allen said he also considered Georgetown, Maryland, Xavier, and Clemson. Why did Bryon decide to commit during his junior season? “If I get it over with now, I won’t have to worry about it my senior year [with] people bothering [me]. . . . [I decided to] take the opportunity.” I inquired of Allen, who comes off the bench for OHA, if there are ever any conflicts over playing time amongst the Warriors, to which he responded, “There ‘s no conflict about playing time. If you want playing time you got to go in the gym and earn it, you got to show [Head Coach] Steve Smith that you want the opportunity.”

- Baye Moussa Kieta ’10 of Oak Hill Academy (VA) is part of an already fantastic group of 2010 players committed to Syracuse. One of the 6’10 Sengal native’s reasons was that the school produces “NBA players like Carmelo” Anthony, who happens to be an OHA product as well. The big man, who has been playing ball for “six years”, said that his commitment to Jim Boeheim and Co. is still firm. Baye has been in the US since September, and “likes it” thus far.

Note- photos are of Keith "Tiny" Gallon and then Bryon Allen; both are from http://scouthoops.scout.com/