The first-ever Capital City National Showcase delivered a standout weekend of basketball at the historic Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., setting a high bar for future events and highlighting young athletes throughout the nation.
With elite DMV high school athletes, surging fan support, and appearances made by hometown stars such as NBA champion Quinn Cook and artists Cordae, Baby Jamo, and Giz Wop, the two-day event not only showcased high school basketball, but the wealth of local talent beyond sports.
Day one opened with a dominant performance from Springdale Prep’s power forward Bol Thet, a Siena University commit who set the tone early. Thet was Springdale Prep’s most valuable player (MVP), recording 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks while electrifying the crowd.
Nearby, the DeMatha Stags unveiled this season’s dominant frontcourt duo, junior power forward Daniel Abass and center Jared Jeffer, a pairing that looks poised to make noise this season.
But it was day two that headlined the showcase.
The afternoon featured a “Battle of the Beltway” rivalry showdown, as St. Frances edged Coolidge, 66–60. Junior guard Terrance Jones earned game MVP honors with an efficient 25 points, four rebounds, and a 10-of-16 shooting performance.
“The game plan was to stay focused, stay hungry, and lock down on defense,” said Jones.
Next came the highly anticipated “Battle of Virginia,” as Bishop O’Connell took on newly formed powerhouse The St. James Sports Academy. O’Connell came out on top, defeating St. James 75–63. O’Connell’s win was fueled by junior wing Jaron Rucker, who delivered 23 points and six rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting to secure MVP honors.
The showcase’s signature moment belonged to Vanderbilt commit Anthony Brown, who put on a masterclass performance while leading Archbishop Carroll to a commanding 43–16 victory over Broughton. Brown erupted for 31 points, six assists, and six rebounds, reaffirming his status as one of the nation’s premier guards in the Class of 2026.
“It was more of a statement for me,” said Brown. “Watching the poll dropping their top eight players to look at, they had some freshman, some sophomores, and some juniors on there and I wasn’t on there so I took that personal. So everytime I come out on the floor it’s not personal between the matchup but it’s personal to show the people that I’m one of them.”
The weekend concluded with a blockbuster matchup, Bishop McNamara versus national powerhouse Sierra Canyon. Sierra Canyon led 27–15 at halftime, but McNamara stormed back with a stunning 17-point run, ultimately sealing a 57–52 comeback victory.
Seniors Prince-Alexander Moody, an Indiana commit, and wing Qayden Samuel led the charge, commanding the floor and closing out the first-ever Capital City National Showcase in emphatic fashion.
Moody earned MVP honors ending the night with 19 points and eight rebounds.
“I feel great. My team, we went through a lot of adversity, said Moody. “We weren’t hitting shots but once our shots had fallen we showed them that they’re not better than us. At the end of the day, we work harder, we play harder, it’s a different breed out here.”
