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BeeJay Anya: DeMatha Big Man Is A Rising Star In 2013

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There is no other way to put it. BeeJay Anya is a big, big man.

Standing 6’7” tall and weighing 275 pounds, the power forward from DeMatha Catholic (MD) is a rising star in the Class of 2013.

Anya is a big man with a lot of upside for DeMatha. (Photo: Facebook)

Anya, who has dropped a significant amount of weight to settle in at 275 pounds, looked much more agile and mobile at the 2011 Hoop Group Pittsburgh Jam Fest than he has in the past. Though he was playing in an older age group, he was dominating at times in the 17U division for his AAU team, Team Takeover DC.

Watching him play, there are parts of his game that look a lot like those of former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins. Anya is a big-bodied forward who knows how to use his size, boxing out and being a force down on the block at both ends of the floor. Though the rising junior is just 6’7” now, he will grow, helping to carry that 275 pound frame.

During one game at Pitt Jam Fest, late in the second half, one of Anya’s teammates drove to the basket and missed a layup. Anya, going up for the tip slam, was fouled and lost the ball, but came down, hanging on the rim. This lifted the thousand-pound, bolted-down base of the rim, he let the rim go, and the base fell back down with a slam that echoed through the gym.

All onlookers could do was look around at each other in awe and amazement.

Anya is still developing a go-to move in the paint, but the sky is the limit for his development. He does a good job taking up space in the lane and creating open spots on the floor for shooters on the perimeter when the offense runs through him on the block. His biggest strength, at this point, is offensive rebounding for put backs and getting free on dribble-drives by his teammates.

On the defensive end, he is many times the largest player on the floor, but he showed he can play against bigger opponents at Pitt Jam. Against 7’3” Sim Bhullar of CIA Bounce, he used his size to hold his ground and limited Bhullar in both scoring and rebounding.

St. John’s has offered Anya a scholarship, but the list of possible suitors for the Hyattsville, Maryland native is long. Along with the Johnnies, there is interest from West Virginia, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Georgetown, and Connecticut.

“I like the style of play St. John’s has,” said Anya. “Coach [Mike] Dunlap recruited me and I think he’s a good guy.”

Anya would fit well into the system Steve Lavin runs now because, though he is a big-bodied player, he is mobile for his size and has solid stamina. Many of Lavin’s players thus far have been long, athletic wings who are good for an up-tempo pace. Anya fits well because he brings a rebounding and inside presence, but will not slow the team down.

He still has two years left in high school, and the future is bright.

ESPN Insider recruiting ranks him as the 8th-best player at his position and the 63rd-best overall. He is surrounded by quality players and a great coaching staff at both DeMatha and with Team Takeover DC that will help him along in his development. If he can work on a more polished back-to-the-basket game, it will make him more well-rounded on the offensive end and give him the ability to dominate.

But, most importantly, he will continue to reshape his body and add extra muscle, which is a scary prospect for anyone who wants to get between him and the rim.

Have You Sina?

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The new mantra with St. John’s seems to be “Don’t Settle.”

While the season is shaping into form and the Red Storm have already notched 11 wins, with coach Steve Lavin, it’s about not settling and moving forward.

The focus when Lavin came to St. John’s was getting the right coaches and then hitting the recruiting trail as there would be 10 vacant roster spots next season. Lavin has already successfully delivered eight recruits for the 2011 class, six being in the ESPNU Top 100 rankings.

It’s about not settling and looking forward, the braggadocios Lavin has also notched a 2012 stud, Jevon Thomas, a New York point guard that has many salivating.

While the main focus currently is on the season at hand along with the highly touted recruiting class coming in next year, it’s never too early for the future.

Get familiar with this name, Jaren Sina. The class of 2013, 6’1 point guard from Gil St. Bernard’s High School in Gladstone, New Jersey is quickly rising through the recruiting ranks.

Currently, Sina is the 6th rated point guard in the 2013 class by ESPNU and has the numbers to back it up.

On January 9th Sina dropped 21 in a two-point win game against Blair along with a clutch three pointer late. Sina added seven assists and three steals.

Two days prior to that game in a 71-40 blowout win against Bridgewater-Raritan, Sina chipped in with 13 points, six assists and three steals.

In arguably the biggest game of the year for Gil St. Bernard, Jaren Sina scorched St. Anthony’s at the Hoop Group Tip Off for 22 points including six three pointers, in a 12 point loss.

Sina is the only player this season to score 20 or more points against St. Anthony’s who are currently unbeaten.

Even in his first game of the season, Sina effortlessly put up a double-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and five buckets from beyond the arch.

Regarded as a lethal shooter and wise beyond his years Sina is a talent many schools are after.

Nope, that’s not hyperbole he already has offers from Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Rhode Island, Alabama, La Salle, Rutgers, James Madison, Florida State, Georgetown and St. John’s.

Not to be forgotten, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Siena, Clemson, Butler and Duke are all the process of checking out the highly touted New Jersey prospect.

“Right now, I’m still going through the process,” said the high school sophomore.

With so many schools chomping at the bits to land Sina’s talents where does the Red Storm fit in within all the madness?

“St. Johns is definitely a school I have interest in,” Sina said. “They are building a solid foundation for the future of the program, Coach Chiles has seen me play numerous times and he likes the fact that I understand the game.”

Sina’s upside is tremendous and while the criticism is directed at his size, there is a bright spot. The head coach of Gil St. Bernard is Sina’s father, Mergin Sina who played for the University of Rhode Island as well as Seton Hall. And while the younger Sina is “still” 6’1 there is time to grow as his father stands at 6’7.

While the offers come flying in for Sina, he isn’t ready for a new address just yet.

“My decision will most likely be made by my junior year of high school.”

While it may not be of the magnitude of LeBron James’ “decision” it’s certainly one many coaches across the country are waiting for.

The point guard position in Big East play is arguably the most important.

With Jevon Thomas coming in 2012 it certainly won’t hurt St. John’s to add another star in Sina the following year to bring the ball up and make things happen.

His accuracy from downtown is a major plus and being that he is currently a sophomore, his talent along with his stock will certainly continue to elevate.