By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com
With a ton of local media, an exciting MC who pumped up the fans and a plethora of natural talent, the 36th annual Capital Classic started off with a bang on Wednesday with its skills competitions.
A local player, Isaiah Armwood from Montrose Christian Academy, stole the dunk competition show with three electrifying jams, all of which received perfect scores. In the preliminary selections, Armwood was immediately chosen as one of the eight semifinalists. In the semifinal round Armwood lined up two fellow players near the basketball and then leaped over both with a “Jordan-esque” slam that brought the crowd to their feet. Although players were supposed to try two dunks, Armwood was instructed to save his second.
Then in the finals Armwood, who will attend Villanova next season, one-upped himself by lining a teammate and six fans nears the basket in a tight circle. After nearly crushing the entire circle on attempt, he flew through the air with legs spread and slammed the ball home for a perfect score and the champ added a little flair by hanging on the rim.
“I knew I had a lot of things up my sleeve and that’s no where near my best dunk,” Armwood said. “A lot of people missed their dunks so if I could just do something to get the crowd’s attention I would win.”
In the three-point competition, John Jenkins from Station Camp High School in Tennessee outlasted Jamal Coombs-McDaniel from Tiltion School in New Hampshire to take home the crown. Jenkins, who averaged 42.3 points this season and was the nation’s leading scorer, started things off by leading the semifinal round with 16 points. Then in the finals Jenkins and Coombs-McDaniel each tied with 13 which sent the competition into a 30-second shootoff. Coombs-McDaniel, who will attend Connecticut, hit eight but Jenkins, who will attend Vanderbilt, came right back with 12 to win.
“I was starting to get tired,” Jenkins said. ” i haven’t shot threes like that in a while especially in a competition so I knew I had to come out and win it for my team.”
Three-point Contest Results
Semifinals
John Jenkins (Station Camp HS – Tennessee) 16
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (Tilton School – New Hampshire) 15
Percy Wood Jr. (Crossland HS – Maryland) – 13
Erick Green (Paul VI HS – Virginia) – 12
Derrick Washington (Coolidge HS – DC) – 11
Rafriel Guthrie (Cardozo Sr HS – DC) – 6
Lasan Kromah (Eleanor Roosevelt HS – Maryland) – 4
John Jenkins – 13
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel – 13
Percy Wood Jr. – 11
30 Second Shootoff
John Jenkins – 12
Jamal Coombs-McDaniel – 8
Dunk Contest Results
Semifinals (players earned spot through layup line tryouts)
Isaiah Armwood (Montrose Christian Academy – Maryland) – 100
Ian Hummer (Gonzaga College HS – DC) – 77
Tristan Spurlock (Word of Life Christian Academy – Virginia)
– 72
Percy Wood Jr. (Crossland HS – Maryland) – 71
Jamal Olasewere (Springbrook HS – Maryland) – 71
Cadarian Raines (Petersbury HS – Virginia) – 70
Derrick Thomas (St. John’s College HS – DC) – 61
Chase Hicks (Winston Churchill HS – Maryland) – 60
Isaiah Armwood – 50
Ian Hummer – 45
Tristan Spurlock – 39
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