Coverage of the 37th Annual Capital Classic continues at HoyaHoops.com.

You’ve already seen the Game Recap and the list of former/future Hoyas to play in the game. We shared our exclusive interviews with Markel Starks and Nate Lubick, and now we wrap up our extensive coverage of the event with a brief breakdown of some of the key players in the game.

As always, the analysis comes from a Georgetown perspective.

The Hoyas

Markel Starks looked pretty good. He won the MVP award, but that was probably because his team came out on top. Win or lose, he was the best guard on the floor. Starks was very strong in the open court, and he also knocked down a pair of three-pointers. I also enjoyed the way he played – even though it was an All-Star game, he tried to spread the ball around. And he was one of the few guards that seemed interested in playing defense.

Nate Lubick and Moses Abraham were unfortunately covering each other for a large portion of the time they were on the court together. Plus, in an All-Star game, you rarely get a chance to operate in the post consistently. Lubick did what he could crashing the boards and filling the lanes on the break. He collected three offensive rebounds and scored on a putback.

As for Abraham, he looked a little nervous. His game still has a lot of room for growth, and if you aren’t already brimming with confidence, it’s easy to be uncomfortable in an All-Star game like this one. Abraham still did collect six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Other Big East Players

Jayvaughn Pinkston (Villanova) scored a game-high 26 points. Pinkston is a 6′8″ Power Forward, but he showed good range by hitting two three-pointers. He also grabbed 9 rebounds. For whatever reason, Pinkston was really able to take advantage of his matchups, and he pretty much scored whenever he wanted. Pinkston apepared to be in his element in an All-Star game as he attempted the most shots (20) and free throws (8) in the game.

Eugene McCrory (Seton Hall) led the Capital All-stars with 20 points on a perfect 8-8 shooting from the field. Even though he led the wining team in scoring, he was an unlikely candidate to be the game’s MVP. His points were almost exclusively easy finishes in transition, and the 20 points didn’t really show-off a great skill set. McCrory was announced during the game as being Seton Hall bound, but with the coaching change for the Pirates, the buzz in the media room was that he may not end up at the Hall.

Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant are both on their way to South Bend, IN to play for Notre Dame. Neither one had a major impact on the game, but both had good showings. Since they will be playing for Coach Brey, they naturally each hit a three-pointer as well.

Other Notables

The National Champions will have another good group of freshmen next season as two Duke players were on display for the Capital All-Stars. Tyler Thornton played 17 minutes and finished with 4 points and 4 turnovers.

Josh Hairston is a smooth 6′8″ forward from Montrose Christian, and he had a much bigger impact on the game. Hairston was the only player in the game to put up a double double with 14 points (7-14 FG) and 10 rebounds (game-high) in only 19 minutes of action.

The Maryland Terps had three future players filling the roster for the U.S. All-Stars: Terrell Stoglin, Haukur Palsson, and Pe’shon Howard. Palsson was the least impressive, as he only managed 3 points in 16 minutes. He didn’t look very comfortable on the court at all.

Howard scored 14 points on 6-10 shooting. He used a good combination of inside and outside, hitting two three pointers, and finishing around the rim in transition.

But to me, the most promising new player for the Terps is Stoglin, a very quick guard who can shoot. He finished with 11 points (3-6 3PT) and showed lots of confidence. He isn’t very tall (listed at 6′1″), but he can shoot. I think the Terps fans are going to like him, which means Hoya fans will not.

Name to Remember

Daryl Traynham: He’s a small guard, and he is going to UMASS, but if Thursday night is an indicator, he is a player. Traynham showed great handle and passing, dishing out a game-high 6 assists. Even in a game like this, he was trying to incorporate his teammates, and he had the crowd ooing and aahing on a couple of his great looks. He also can shoot when left open; he was 3-8 from downtown.

Biggest Crowd Pleaser

Victor Oladipo: The young fan from DeMatha was billed as a high-flyer and he didn’t disappoint the crowd. There were a number of impressive dunks, but Oladipo brought the house down.

Just before halftime, there was a Capital missed shot. Oladipo raced in from beyond the three point line, soared thorugh the air, grabbed the rebound with his right hand and slammed the follow dunk. The crowd went berserk and rightly so. The entire play happened so quickly. One second Oladipo was watching the shot from his teammate, an instant later he was above the rim, for the amazing flush.

Maybe the fans at Indiana University will have more to cheer about next season; Oladipo is going to be a Hoosier next season.

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Post-Season Thoughts

The off-season is the time to take stock and gear up for next year. It won’t be long before online betting odds are posted and new opportunities present themselves.

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