Hold’n Court: The HoopGroup Blogs

2009 Top Performers

 

George Adams, Xavier (NY)

Big with great grades was great at drawing contact around the basket and converting as well.

 

David Laury, Nia School (NJ)

Not many players around as talented as Laury.  He can handle like a point, shoot like a wing and score inside like a big.  He is a fantastic finisher and a great kid.

 

Kenny Click, Don Bosco (NJ)

Big man showed nice touch from the perimeter over the weekend – but we’d like to see him do a little more work on the block.

 

Matt Blumel, Rumson Fair Haven (NJ)

Strong built, lefty wing can hit from outside and slash to the basket effectively.  I don’t think enough college coaches are on this one.

 

Jonathan Brown, St. John The Baptist (NY)

Skilled, active combo forward is a good athlete and had one of the plays of the weekend with a big time dunk in traffic.

 

Azfar Khan, East Meadow (NY)

Steady point man that can create and shoot it from deep.  Didn’t have the ball in his hands a ton this weekend, but when he did he made great decisions – pushing in transition, feeding the post, etc.

 

John Kalin, Lawrenceville (NJ)

A Mr. Hustle if there ever was one.  Hard worker who does the dirty work but can score and make plays as well.

 

Matt Grossbard, Pearl River (NY)

Lefty combo guard that can be the set up man or the finisher from the wing.

 

James Frazier, Elizabeth (NJ)

Filled up the stat sheet all weekend.  Scored on drives to the basket and in transition but also showed a consistent stroke from beyond the 3. 

 

Russ Thompson, West Orange (NJ)

Strong point guard showed a nice floor game and made a bunch of shots from the perimeter as well.

 

Derek Hall, Jefferson Township (NJ)

Probably had the best post moves in the gym, and despite only being 6-3, 6-4, was able to go to work on the block.

 

Latif Rivers, Elizabeth (NJ)

Quick, strong PG made some nice moves to get to the rim.

 

Craig Clark, Hodgson Vo-Tech (DE)

Clark showed a much improved floor game this weekend.  Made great decisions with the ball in his hands and used his strong build to basically get wherever he wanted.  Has improved a lot in the past 6 months.

 

Ryan Duffy, Phillipsburg (NJ)

Face up 4 man has a very good stroke from the outside.

 

Javae Gilchrist, Teaneck (NJ)

Point man may have been the best ball handler at the event.  Hit some poor defender with a nasty crossover that left him wondering where Gilchrist had gone.  Finished effectively at the rim as well.  An improved jumper would open up the game a ton for him.

 

Jin Hong, Archbishop Molloy (NY)

Another skilled four who was very active on Sunday.  Needs to tighten up perimeter skills and handle a little bit, but when he does will be a major inside outside threat.

 

Amadou Bah, Fort Lee (NJ)

Strong 6’3” guard who seemed to score every time I looked over at his games.  Good shooter as well.

 

Jose Diaz, Point Pleasant Beach (NJ)

Very good basketball IQ – always seems to make the right choice on the floor.  Has improved his point guard skills over the past year.  One of the hardest working guys you will find.

 

Mark Moorman, Hoboken (NJ)

Forward who has a knack for scoring.  Always seemed to be in the right position around the basket.

 

Mike Dudas, Don Bosco (NJ)

Has had two great weekends back to back (last weekend at the HG Fall Jam Fest and this weekend).  Lefty was on fire from the perimeter and was able to attack the rim when defenders realized he wasn’t missing from deep.

 

Alex Smart, Timber Creek (NJ)

Versatile wing has good size and skill level.  Battled David Laury well in their match-up.

 

 

 

 

2010 Top Performers

 

Shaquille Thomas, Paterson Catholic (NJ)

Thomas was the most electrifying player in the gym on Sunday with 5 dunks in his final game that day.  Really showed off a great ability to pass which I hadn’t noticed before.  Starting to realize his potential but has just barely scratched the surface.

 

John Greenwald, High Tech (NJ)

Greenwald is a scoring threat as soon as he walks in the gym.  At 6’4”, is slightly undersized inside, but still finds ways to finish.

 

Jimmy Gray, Binghamton (NY)

Tough guard from upstate NY who is good with the ball and also showed good touch from the perimeter.

 

Kyle Cancillieri, Middletown South (NJ)

Attacks the rim on offense and defense and is a physical presence on the court.  Had a couple of impressive dunks and blocked shots on Saturday.

 

Jermaine Pert, Paterson Catholic (NJ)

One of my favorites, Pert showed off great athleticism on Sunday.  The Underclassmen All Star from Hoop Group Elite this summer continues to show improvement.

 

Lance McKenzie, Freehold Boro (NJ)

Tough PG who handles well and is very quick going to the rim.  A winning player.

 

Omar Grier, Episcopal Academy (PA)

One of the best mid-range games of anyone in the junior class.  His 1-2 dribble pull up game is fantastic.  He gets great separation from his defender and buries the jump shot more often than not.

 

Kevin Baez, High Tech (NJ)

Baez might have been the best passer at the event.  Great court vision and is fantastic in transition.

 

Harry Givas, Southern Regional (NJ)

SCORER!  Givas is a strong built wing that gets to the rack and scores with regularity.  Once he improves his 3 point stroke will be a tough matchup for other wings.

 

JP Kambola, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

The big fella didn’t have a lot of other true “bigs” to play against, but still made some plays around the basket that were very impressive.  Just like in Boston, I was impressed by his ability to make tough catches and the go strong to the rim.

 

Xavier Munford, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

Combo guard who is solid in all areas.  Scored well, set up his teammates, hit mid range J’s. 

 

Andre Rose, Paterson Catholic (NJ)

Small point who controls the game.  Pushes the tempo and usually finds guys in the right spots.

 

Amir Tarif, Proctor Academy (NH)

Big, physical power forward who throws his body around and scores inside but also showed an ability to handle in the open court.  Also showed nice touch from the perimeter.

 

Holden Collick, Lawrence Woodmere (NY)

Does a little bit of everything.  An effective rebounder, defender and ball handler.  Can score and is really good around the rim.

 

Jayon James, Paterson Catholic (NJ)

6-5 point forward really knows how to play.  A tough matchup for most high school players because of his versatility. 

 

 

2011 Top Performers

 

Jayson Johnson, St. Anthony’s (NJ)

No one could keep Johnson from getting to the rim this weekend.  Also showed an improved stroke.

Kelvin Amayo, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

Power guard gets to the basket well.  Is also a very good finisher due to his strength.  Must tighten up his perimeter game and improve his jumper, but is a hard worker and I have no doubt he will do both.

 

Jhamir White, Paterson Catholic (NJ)

You can tell that White plays with a ton of other talent at Paterson Catholic.  He plays the role of distributor very well – getting the ball to his teammates in the right spots.  White could definitely shoot and score more, but at this point plays the role of true point guard better than most.

 

Ryan Clinesmith, Calhoun HS (NY)

Active four man who is a good athlete, runs the floor very well and scores inside, even against bigger players. 

 

James Chillemi, Archbishop Stepinac (NY)

Very nice player.  Smart, good with the ball, impressive quickness and showed the ability to hit from the outside.

 

Jarelle Reischel, Point Pleasant Beach (NJ)

One of the best players in the gym on Sunday.  Strong, 6-4 wing guard hits 3’s from deep, mid range pull-ups and is difficult to stop around the rim. 

 

Lucky Jones, St. Anthony’s (NJ)

Plays with great composure for a sophomore.  Had 9 3’s (yes, you read that correctly) in a game on Saturday.  Could be the next great St. Anthony’s guard.

 

 

Andris Misters, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

The Latvian import showcased his “Euro” game all weekend.  Very crafty and fundamentally sound, Misters is a 6’4” guard who is very comfortable with the ball and usually makes the right decisions.

 

 

 

2012 Top Performers

 

Aaron Brodie, Newark Eastside (NJ)

The 6’6” Brodie is raw, but has some great tools.  He is active around the basket and showed good athleticism getting into passing lanes for steals. 

 

 

Gary Simpson, Hackensack (NJ)

Point guard controlled the game like an upperclassman.  Held his own against older guys and showed great poise doing it.

 

 

Tarique Carey, Newark Eastside (NJ)

Great talent here.  Carey can score and handle with great effectiveness, but probably most impressive was his desire to learn and get better at the optional Sweatshops held throughout the weekend.

 

 

Marcello Kambola, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

JP’s little brother is a 6-3 lefty combo guard that was nearly unstoppable driving to the basket.  Has 3 point range already and once his jumper gets a little more consistent will be a very tough player to stop from scoring

by Alex Schwartz

Playoff Sunday at the Fall Jam Fest was eventful and full of comeback victories. There were some upsets, some spectacular performances, and eventually some champions crowned. While it certainly did not draw big name coaches like July events do—how could it?—there were college coaches in attendance both today and yesterday. Schools such as Felician, Delaware Valley, Assumption, St. Michael’s, Widener, and Rutgers-Camden all had coaches out and about. In addition, over the two days there were scouts from a number of services including Tom Konchalski of the HSBI Report, Jay Gomes of NJHoops.com, Norm Eavenson of Bob Gibbons All Star Report, Allen Rubin of HoopScoop and Steve Keller of The National Recruiting Report.  All said, it was a great event that gave a lot of athletes exposure. A number of ballers took advantage of the opportunity and shined today. Here is a list of some of those talented players:

Lorenzo Freeman ’09, Edison Academy (NJ), Edison Academy Blue
Travis Farrell ’09, Unknown, JJ Hoops (NJ)
Kyrie Irving ’10, St. Patrick’s (NJ), New Jersey Roadrunners
Shondell Stewart ’10, Paterson Eastside (NJ), New Jersey Roadrunners
Andrew Nicholas ’11, Eastern York (PA), Jersey Shore Warriors
Omar Grier ’10, Episcopal Academy (PA), Jersey Shore Warriors
Wayne Newsom ’10, Piscataway (NJ), Team New Jersey ABC
Dondre Whitmore ’10, Trenton Cathoic (NJ), Team New Jersey ABC
Jansy Cruz ’09, Unknown, New England Playaz
Nadir Tharpe ’11, Brewster Academy (NH), New Engand Playaz
Rob Gagliardi ’09, Pickering (Ontario, CAN), Grassroots Canada
Fuquan Edwin ’10, Paterson Catholic (NJ), Playaz Red (NJ)
Aishon White ’10, Union (NJ), Playaz Red (NJ)
Antonio Jennifer ’10, McKinley Tech (DC), Team Assault (MD)

Five of these gifted players really put on a show. Lorenzo Freeman was dominant for Edison Academy Blue, helping to lead the squad to the Open Silver Bracket title. The 6’8 big man displayed athleticism and fantastic post player. Freeman had a number of monster dunks, at least two of which were right on top of defenders. Travis Farrell knocked down eight threes as his team was knocked out the Open Silver Bracket in the first round. Despite the loss, Farrell demonstrated an uncanny ability to knock down treys. Every time he shot the rock, you just expected it to go in. Kyrie Irving has been one of the best players in America this summer, regardless of class or position. Irving probably had the best showing in the event out of everyone. The 6’3 point guard was unstoppable, scoring and dishing the ball out at will. Irving dropped 27 and 25 in the Open Gold Bracket semifinals and finals respectively. Like Farrell, Jansy Cruz also played in just one game on Sunday, but he made the most of it. Although his squad was bounced in the first round of U-17 Gold Bracket play, the short and stocky point guard put on a show. Cruz was nearly impossible to contain, getting to the rack with ease en route to finishing the game with 20 points. You probably haven’t heard of the other major big-time performer from Sunday, but you will want to watch out for Rob Gagliardi in the future. The senior shooting guard had 29 points in the in the Open Gold Bracket quarterfinals . . . in the first half, that is. That’s right, Gagliardi had 29 points in a 16-minute half. He finished the game with 31 points, as he was on the bench for most of the second half in a blowout win.

SCHOOL LISTS

John Johnson ’11, Girard College HS (PA), Hunting Park Warriors (PA): LSU, Marquette, La Salle, Virginia Tech, St. Joseph’s, Villanova, and Notre Dame
Favorites: None

Chris Cantino ’09, Northeast Prep (PA), Sam Rines (PA): Houston, Seton Hall, UMass, and Binghamton
Favorite: UMass
Note- Cantino said that he is “going to visit” both UMass and Seton Hall

Rob Gagliardi ’09, Pickering (Ontario, CAN), Grassroots Canada: Clemson, Virginia Tech, and St. Bonaventure
Dream School: St. Joseph’s
Note- School list information is from Ro Russell, Gagliardi’s AAU coach with Grassroots Canada. Russell mentioned that Gagliardi was on the “Canadian Junior National team” this summer for the games in Argentina, and that Canada won a bronze medal.

JP Kambola ’10, St. Benedict’s (NJ), Grassroots Canada: Kansas, Arizona, Syracuse, Michigan, Louisville, Miami, Marquette, Minnesota, Virginia, and Louisiana Tech
Favorite: Kansas
Note- School list information is from both Kambola and Ro Russell, the coach of Grassroots Canada.

Andrew Nicholas ’11, Eastern York (PA), Jersey Shore Warriors: Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Syracuse, Davidson, Notre Dame, Villanova, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, and Kentucky
Favorites: “Rutgers and Virginia Tech so far.”
Dream School: Duke
Note- Nicholas said that he has a “3.9” GPA.

Antonio Jennifer ’10, McKinley Tech (DC), Team Assault (MD): UMass
Favorites: n/a
Dream School: Michigan State

Donte Thomas ’10, Ballou (DC), Team Assault (MD): Georgetown, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, St. Mary’s, and Maryland
Favorite: Georgia Tech
Dream School: Georgia Tech

Kyrie Irving ’10, St. Patrick’s (NJ), New Jersey Roadrunners: Kansas, Kansas State, Indiana, Villanova, Syracuse, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Rutgers, Providence, Pitt, Notre Dame, Marquette, Georgetown, UConn, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Memphis, Duke, USC, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, Wake Forest, Ohio State, Texas A&M, St. Joseph’s, Arizona, and George Washington
Favorites: “I don’t have any favorites.”

In the U-17 division, two top-notch squads squared off in the quarterfinals: Team New Jersey ABC and the New England Playaz. The boys from New England were without two of their best players, big men Nate Lubick ’10 and Jordan Williams ’09, both of whom injured their an ankle on Saturday. Austin Carroll ’09, Jansy Cruz ’09, and Nadir Tharpe ’11 were still in action, making the team still quite formidable. In the first half, the teams were neck and neck throughout, with the NE Playaz taking a one-point, 30-29 lead into the break. Markus Kennedy ’10 had 15 points for NJABC in the first 16 minutes of action, teaming with Wayne Newsom ’10 to keep the squad in the game. The Garden State boys raced out of the gate in the second half, quickly grabbing a lead, holding it, and stretching it out even further. Wayne Newsom and Dondre Whitmore ’10 led the charge for NJABC as Markus Kennedy was silent with just one point in the half. Gansy Cruz and Nadir Tharpe refused to give in, keeping the ultra-talented team within striking distance. The guard duo repeatedly got to the hole and got buckets in the paint. Just when it seemed like NJABC was pulling away, Cruz came up with a number of big buckets, but it was too little too late, and NJABC picked up the win. The squad was knocked out in the semifinals after blowing a lat 12-point lead against Team Assault (MD), who would end up with a seven-point win. In the other semifinal affair, the Jersey Shore Warriors knocked off Hoopdreamz Basketball (PA) to advance to the finals. Once there, Jersey Shore took control of the game early and never looked back. Team Assault led 5-0 to start things and the game was knotted up at 12 with 10:20 left in the half. Then, Andrew Nicholas ’11 banged in his third triple of the half to give the Warriors a three-point cushion. From there, it was all about the Warriors. The squad stretched its lead to seven, 25-18, with 3:10 in the half. It was in the second half though, that they really began to run away with it. The team led by 20 points, 50-30, with 10:30 to play, and was in full control of the game. The team, which featured Nicholas, Omar Grier ’10, Jesse Krasna ’10, and Jack O’Neill ’10, led 61-32 with eight minutes remaining, the equivalent of one quarter. There was not much scoring the rest of the way, and the Jersey Shore Warriors coasted to the U-17 Gold Bracket championship by a final score of 66-36. Omar Grier led the way with 17 points, with Andrew Nicholas adding 16, including four three-pointers. For Team Assault, Donte Thomas ’10 was the high scorer with 14 points. Antonio Jennifer ’10 had 10 points in his own right for the runner-up squad.

The Open Gold Bracket championship was one of the final games of the event. The participants, Grassroots Canada and the New Jersey Roadrunners, both had to get past superb teams in the semifinals. Grassroots Canada narrowly edged the Memorial Park Playas, a team that included David Laury ’09, Markens Charles ’09, and Jerry Coriolan ’09, in a game that came down to the wire. Many people probably didn’t expect the New Jersey Roadrunners to win their semifinal game against Playaz Red (NJ), but did just that, in dominant fashion. Kyrie Irving ’10 led the charge for the squad, scoring 19 points in the first half, as his team had a double-digit advantage heading into the intermission. For the Playaz, Aishon White ’10 was really the only one scoring, as Isaiah Epps ’10 was limited to just three points and Fuquan Edwin ’10 had only two. When it was all said and done, the Roadrunners walked away with a 20+ point victory, and Irving had 27 points. Fuquan Edwin used a strong second half to finish with 21 points for the Playaz, and Aishon White ended up with 14. In the championship, it was a tale of two halves. Grassroots Canada jumped out to a 16-3 lead just 4:40 into the affair, and controlled the first 16 minutes almost effortlessly. Although the Roadrunners were able to cut the lead to 19-12, they could not stay close for long. The boys from across the border led 34-17 with 5:40 remaining in the half, and it seemed as if the Open Division Gold Bracket championship game would be just as lopsided as the U-17 one was. The Roadrunners trailed 45-31 at the half and seemed somewhat dejected as head coach Sandy Pyonin tried to rally the troops. Whatever he said worked, as his team worked its way back into the game. With 11:40 to go the deficit was just seven points, 47-40. Then, a three-ball from Rob Gagliardi ’09 made it a double-digit cushion for the Canadian squad once again. Kyrie Irving—who had 10 points in the first half—and his teammates would not give in, dropping the lead down to four, 52-48, with 9:50 left. Gagliardi again nailed a three to stop the momentum. His trey led to his team going on a run to take a 64-52 lead with only 6:10 left for the Roadrunners to get back in it. Slowly but surely the team did exactly that. The team from the Garden State caught fire and surged right back into the game. A triple from Irving with 2:05 to go made it a one point game, 66-65, as the team was on a 13-2 run. Fifty seconds later things got even sweeter for Pyonin’s team, as Shondell Stewart ’10 got a steal at about halfcourt and converted it for an easy deuce and a 67-66 lead. With the Roadrunners having the momentum and Grassroots Canada falling apart, the game seemed headed for a Roadrunners win. The lead was all the way up to 73-66 with three seconds to go, as the squad was on an incredible 21-2 run over a 6:07 period, which included a 16-0 stretch for the last 3:47 of that. A buzzer beater from around half court made the final score 73-69. The Roadrunners got the win and the title. Kyrie Irving finished the game with 25 points, draining three treys. Shondell Stewart also played a key role in the win, ending the game with 16 points. Eddie Brown ’09 had 11 points, while Alex Rosenberg ’10 and Blaise Mbargorba ’11 had major contributions. Mbargorba will be a player to keep an eye on. He is currently a sophomore at St. Benedict’s (NJ), coming over from Cameroon recently. He is a big man with solid game, and displayed a lot of potential. In the Silver Bracket of the Open Division, the Edison Wildcats Blue (NJ) squad knocked off the Pennsylvania Blue Devils, a team featuring West Virginia-commit Dalton Pepper ’09.

The Fall Jam Fest was a nice event with a lot of talent. The event allowed for a preview of the upcoming high school and gave a number of players a chance to enter the scene. Both days featured great games, good competition, and gave the players a lot of exposure. Watching players ball with their AAU programs once again was a treat and seeing new faces emerge was just as interesting. With it all being said and done, it’s safe to say that the Fall Jam Fest was a success.

by Alex Schwartz

With numerous prestigious programs and dozens of talented high-major prospects in attendance, day one of The Hoop Group’s Fall Jam Fest was quite eventful, with a number of great performances. Teams came from all over the Northeast, with most of the squads from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Featuring six age groups, U-13 through Open, there was talent of all ages on display. Here are a few of the big-time ballers competing:

Dalton Pepper ‘09, Pennsbury (PA), PA Blue Devils
Isaiah Epps ‘10, Plainfield (NJ), Playaz Red (NJ)
Ferguson Myrick ‘09, Prep Charter (PA), PYO (PA)
Tyreek Duran ‘10, Neumann-Goretti (PA), PYO PA)
Carson Desrosiers ‘10, Central Catholic (MA), Expressions Elite (MA)
Jordan Williams ‘09, Torrington (CT), New England Playaz
Nate Lubick ‘10, St. Mark’s School (MA), New England Playaz
Nadir Tharpe ‘11, Brewster Academy (NH), New England Playaz
Myles Mack ‘11, Paterson Catholic (NJ), Playaz (NJ)
Markus Kennedy ‘10, St. Patrick’s (NJ), Team New Jersey ABC
Rakeem Christmas ‘11, North Catholic (PA), Team Phenom (PA)
Juan’ya Green ‘11, Archbishop Carroll (PA), Team Phenom (PA)

Of these stars, three of them stood out as top performers on the day. Nadir Tharpe was phenomenal with the high-powered New England Playaz. Tharpe, who has re-classified and will be repaeating his sophomore year, did a great job running the point. Arguably the best sophomore in all of New England, Tharpe showed why he has such a big reputation, and did a great job backing it up. Markus Kennedy of St. Patrick’s was an offensvie force for Team New Jersey ABC. The 6′8 big man dropped 36 points to go along with nine boards in his team’s 27-point win in the morning, and then had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds in NJABC’s second win. Rakeem Christmas of Team Phenom demonstrated why he has been one of this summer’s main stock boosters. Christmas showed off amazing athleticism and a knack for blocking shots. He has great size and was a presence in the paint. Christmas usually runs with Team Kobe (PA), but the squad is together with Team Phenom this weekend.

SCHOOL LISTS

Rakeem Christmas ‘11, North Catholic (PA), Team Phenom (PA): Florida, Villanova, La Salle, St. Joseph’s, Temple, Memphis, and West Virginia
Favorites: “I know he likes warm weather,” said Sylvester Mitchell, a part of the Team Kobe organization. Mitchell is the one who provided the school list as well.
Dream School: n/a

Jarrod Davis ‘11, Lakewood (NJ), Playaz (NJ): St. Joseph’s, Louisville, Villanova, and St. John’s
Favorites: “I like St. Joe’s and Villanova.”
Dream School: None

Myles Davis ‘11, St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) Playaz (NJ): Kansas, Villanova, Syracuse, Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Marist
Favorites: “Kansas [and] Villanova, and I’m starting to like Rutgers a lot too.”
Dream School: Georgetown
Note- Davis said the following to explain his transfer from St. Benedict’s (NJ) to St. Peter’s: “I wanted to start over academically, . . . and plus, [with] basketball, . . . I wanted to show everybody I can play.”

Cameron Ayers ‘10, Germantown Academy (PA), Playaz Red (NJ):  Georgetown, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Richmond, La Salle, St. Joseph’s, and Temple
Favorites: “I like Georgetown [and] Michigan so far. That’s really it.”
Dream School: None
Note- Ayers is out of action this weekend because he “had a sports hernia-type injury,” but said that he has been “doing a lot of rehab [and] . . . should be back in two to three weeks.” Ayers added that he will “be ready ready for the [high school] season.”

Ryan Rhoomes ‘10, Rice (NY), Playaz Red (NJ): St. John’s, Providence, and Penn State
Favorites: None
Note- Rhoomes explained his transfer from Middletown South (NY) to Rice (NY) by saying this: “[It] wasn’t really my decision, it was my mother’s decision. She was sick of where I was at. She wanted what’s best for me. That’s it.”

Vaughn Gray ‘10, Don Bosco Prep (NJ), Playaz (NJ): USC, Providence, Rhode Island, Temple, St. Joseph’s, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, and George Washington
Favorite: “I like Seton Hall.”
Dream School: UCLA

Fuquan Edwin ‘10, Paterson Catholic (NJ), Playaz Red (NJ): Providence, UMass, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Marquette, Texas, and La Salle
Favorites: Providence, UMass, and Marquette are his top three, but Edwin said, “I like all of them.”
Dream School: UMass

Ian Chiles ‘09, Edison Academy (NJ), Edison Academy Blue (NJ): None
Favorites: n/a
Dream School: UConn
Note- Chiles said, “Before I came [to Edison Academy] I had a [few] schools looking at me, but I [didn’t] qualify. That’s why I came here. I had to get my SAT scores up.” Chiles, who said that Tennessee State, Alabama State, and Western Kentucky were the schools previously interested, said he does hope to have new interest, and mentioned that higher SAT scores are all he needs to qualify.

Carson Desrosiers ’10, Central Catholic (MA), Expressions Elite (MA): Syracuse, Rutgers, Providence, Pitt, Richmond, Fordham, Oregon State, Arizona State, Purdue, New Hampshire, Marquette, Virginia, UMass, Notre Dame, and UNLV
Favorites: None; “I still have another year to go, so I’m just going to take it easy.”
Note- Desrosiers, who said he “took a visit to Syracuse and Providence . . . [and] liked them both,” mentioned that New Hampshire “was [the] first school over the summer” to extend a scholarship offer.

Billy Soriano ’10, Unknown, Expressions Elite (MA): LSU, Texas, Rhode Island, Providence, Syracuse, Fordham, and Fairfield

Nate Lubick ’10, St. Mark’s School (MA), New England Playaz: Georgetown, Michigan, Virginia, Stanford, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech
Favorites: n/a
Note- Lubick said that Georgetown, Michigan Virginia, Stanford, and Wake Forest “are just the ones that are really coming on [him] the hardest.”

Nadir Tharpe ’11, Brewster Academy (NH), New England Playaz: Xavier, Georgetown, Providence, Marquette, Boston College, and UMass
Favorites: Xavier, Georgetown, and Providence

Austin Carroll ’09, Worcester Academy (MA), New England Playaz: Michigan, Xavier, Holy Cross, Colorado, Davidson, and Rhode Island
Favorites: “Probably” Michigan and Davidson; “I’m taking a visit to Michigan at the end of the month and Davidson [is] supposed to be coming to my school.”
Note- “I’m [going to PG for] a year too, so I’ll be in the class of 2010 . . . somewhere in Class A in New England,” said Carroll, with his reasoning being that he has “been injured since March . . . [and] wants to get another year [and] it won’t hurt either.”

Unfortunately, two of the main stories on Saturday were not happy ones, and they both had to do with injured ankles of New England Playaz stars. In the squad’s first game of the day, Nate Lubick, arguably the top player in competition, was injured and missed his squad’s other two games. “I tried to save a ball and I fell back and rolled it,” said Lubick. The big man is trying to tough it out, adding, “I think I’m going to try to play tomorrow.” I would not be a shock if Lubick did play, as he was walking on the ankle well by the end of the night, despite have it wrapped up. In the group’s second matchup, Jordan Williams, who also has a legitimate argument as the best player in attendance, came down hard on his ankle. Williams had to be walked off the court and after the game had to be walked out of the gym, as he was unable to put any pressure on the ankle. According to Williams’ teammate Austin Carroll, “he sprained his ankle pretty badly.” Carroll also mentioned that Williams, regarded as one America’s best uncommitted senior big men, would not even be at the gym on Sunday.

Despite the unfortunate injuries to Lubick and Williams, the first day of the 2008 Fall Jam Fest was a good one. With most of the game being play at the RAC and the Livingston Gym on Rutgers campus, it was easy to get around and see all the talented ballers competing. Sunday should bring more of the same excitement, with it being playoff time. There are some good matchups on the slate, including Team New Jersey ABC against the New England Playaz in the U-17 Gold Bracket. Assuming Nate Lubick plays, it would be a battle of two of the premier junior big men in the country, as he would face of with Markus Kennedy. Be sure to check back later tonight for a recap of the second and final day of the Fall Jam Fest.

Northern Virginia Top 100

 

Class of 2009

 

Charles Sedrick 6’2 Potomac

He is an athletic slasher that can get to the rim and finish above it. Streaky 3 point shooter and can score the ball.

 

Curtis Symonds 6’1 Paul IV

He is continuing to refine and expand his game. This weekend he showed improved leadership and point guard skills, while knocking down some open shots.

 

Keith Thomas 5’9 Gwyn Park

Good vocal floor leader with quick hands and can pressure the ball defensively. He penetrates the lane well and makes good decisions with the ball once in the lane. Shot the ball well this weekend.

 

Stuart French 6’5 Central

Strong 4 man, with a face up game to the basket. Big strong body!  He can step out and shoot the 3, and has a good post game to compliment his shot. Great touch around the basket. I would like to see him work on his foot speed and lift.

 

Daron Tabron 6’0 Northwestern

Quick, athletic, scrappy guard. Great on the ball defender. I saw a couple of opposing PG shake their heads after they played Tabron! He wowed the fans with some tremendous dunks on the fastbreak.

 

Nicholas Ross 5’9 Suitland

Good guard that handles the ball well. He showed good ability to get the rim and to finish when he gets there.

 

Stephen Manga 6’4 Centreville

Good all around player that has a nose for the ball and understands how to play. He shoots the ball well from the 3 and is active on both ends of the floor rebounding the ball.

 

Gerrell Banks 5’11 Potomac

Good point guard who runs a team extremely well. He is one of those players that does a little bit of everything to make his team go. He is a glue guy.

 

Devin Cole 5’8 Bishop O’Connell

He is a quick point guard that runs a team well, and applies great pressure on the ball defensively. He shoots the ball well and can get to the middle of the lane. Once in the lane he has the ability to finish well, and make good decisions with the ball to find the open shooter.

 

 

Dominic Morra 6’0 Lake Braddock

Good point guard that is strong with the basketball and can get into the lane. Once in the lane he has the ability to finish around the basket or find the open man. He shoots the ball well out to the 3 point line.

 

Danziel Cartwright 6’2 John Handley High School

Pure shooter! It is that simple! One coach described him as lights out!

 

Elijah Gore 6’0 Winston Churchill School

Strong guard that plays hard. Great body, looks like he should play football! He has good form and range on his shot. He can get into the lane and do a number of different things with the ball.

 

Lamar Giggets 6’4 Courtland

He is a 4/3 that is very athletic. Does a little bit of everything. He needs to become more comfortable with the ball to be a 3. Very active 4 that rebounds the ball and runs the floor well.

 

Edward Hall 6’6 Paint Branch

He bangs around the basket with a good low post game. Also has nice touch around the basket. He rebounds and runs the floor well. Work ethic will determine if he can reach his potential.

 

Daniel O’Connor 6’3 Potomac School

Smart off guard that knows how to play. Plays hard on every possession and took every opportunity this weekend to work on his game. I would like to see him shoot the ball a little more consistently. Just one of those players that is always diving for loose balls and taking charges.

 

 

Class of 2010

 

Nic Martin 5’10 St. Maria Goretti

Plays hard every possession! He had a sequence in a game on Sunday were he blocked a 3 pt shot, saved the ball from going out of bounds to a teammate, and then got the layup on the other end of the floor. One of those guys that gives you everything he has. Fun to watch!

 

Marcus Pilgrim 5’10 Bishop McNamara

Quick, defends well, can get to the rim. He makes good decisions in the lane with the ball, and can knock down the open 3. Loads of potential!

 

Doug Spetalnick 6’1 Washington International

Had another strong weekend to go on top of his previous weekend in Baltimore. He is an aggressive player that can get his shot off and score the basketball. He finds ways to help his team.
 

Deshaunt Walker 6’0 Spring Brooke
Good guard with a nice pull up jump shot. He can get to the rim and finishes well. I would like to see him become a more consistent outside shooter.
 

Patrick Bridges 6’8 Bladensburg
Big strong body, and knows how to use it in the post. He has a great drop step and is hard to handle in the blocks. I would like to see him a little more active on the boards. Has potential to be a scholarship big.

Jordan Cheney 6’7 George Mason

Good defensive presence. Still working on getting comfortable with using his size to his advantage. He blocked a number of shots this weekend. On the offensive side of the ball he has good hands, with a soft touch around the rim. He needs to develop a go to move in the post. I would like to see him play more aggressive.

 

Steve Frank 6’2 Magruder

Started the weekend by hitting a game winning shot in the first game, and had a great weekend. He is an athletic and strong guard who knows how to play. He can shoot the 3 and get to the rim.

 

Arturo Oberg 6’5 Bishop Ireton

He can shoot the 3 and has a good basketball IQ. He sees the floor well, and defends well for his size.

 

Rashad Gadson 5’9 Herndon

Quick guard that can get to the rim and showed range on his jump shot. He made good decisions with the ball and can create his own shot.

 

Patrick Kelly 6’5 Highland

Plays hard, aggressive, active on the boards. He is a 4/3 with the potential to become 3. Very active player, one of those players that coaches love to coach.

 

Nick Doolan 5’11 Marriots Ridge

Good point guard who ran his team well this weekend. He has good lift on his shot and 3 point range. He handles the ball well and gets his teammates involved in the game.

 

Dominique Hansberry 6’2 Montgomery

Good shooter and plays hard. He can flat out shoot the ball.

 

Chris Huff 6’4 Dominion

Great shooter! I saw him knocked down three 3s in one game, and a couple of coaches raved about how he is a deadly 3 point shooter.

 

David Falk 6’6 Madison County

Good, active wing. He gets up and finishes above the rim. Rebounds the ball well for a wing and had great put back and blocked shots as well. Tough kid played through an injury on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Class of 2011

 

James Bourne 6’5 Bishop O’Connell

Fantastic body for a sophomore, looks more like a senior. A big that can face up to basket, makes strong post moves, and finishes strong around the rim. Showed the ability to take his man out of the post and take him off the dribble. Can shoot the mid range jump shot. Active on both the offensive and defensive glass. Great college prospect!

 

Jalen Bowe 6’5 North Pointe

Good young big man. Rebounds the ball well on both ends of the floor. Very active. He can take his man away from the basket and step out and shot the 3. Sometimes wants to shoot the 3 a little too much.

 

Bradley Hunt 6’3 Bishop O’Connell

Good wing, He has quick hands and defends well! He can get to the rim, finishes strong, and sees the floor. Handles the ball well for a wing, and has good 3 point range. I would like to see him shoot it a little better.

 

Devin Ballam 5’10 Chantilly

Strong point guard! Makes great decisions with the ball, sees the floor well, and runs a team well. One of those guards that just goes all day! He defends 94 feet and makes the other point guard have a long day! Good college prospect!

 

Nic Doolan 5’11 Marriot Ridge

Good young point that runs his team well, and makes great decisions with the ball. He has good lift on his shot with 3 point range.

 

Prince Okoroh 6’3 Eleanor Roosevelt

He is an impressive young talent. He can do it all on the wing. He is strong, athletic and not afraid to attack the rim. He loves to work on his game and has a great attitude. He made some great moves in transitions and played well. Good college prospect!

 

John Schoof 6’4 WT Woodson

He does it all as a wing. He is a hustler. Diving for loose balls, taking charges, and runs the floor hard. He handles the ball, can shoot it, and gets to the rim. Good college prospect!

The New England ELITE Top 100 did not disappoint as over 150 players were in attendance, with players representing every state in New England, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Canada.  The 50-plus college coaches in attendance got to see some great action and some very talented players.  The event proved that high school basketball in New England is very strong and the future is bright.  Here were some of the top performers:

2009 Top Performers

 

Phillip Spotswood, St. Francis HS (FL)

Division 1 steal alert!!!  Tough, athletic PG impressed all weekend with his ability to get to the basket, make plays in transition and run his team.  A little work on his jump shot would make him a lock to be a D1 player. 

 

Colby Verge, Pinkerton Academy (NH)

One coach said over the weekend that Verge was the MVP of the weekend.  Made a ton of “winning” plays – took charges, dove for loose balls, made the extra pass.  6’1” strong built shooting guard will help some college team win a lot of games.

 

Nick Rimsa, Loomis Chaffee (CT)

Big man with great grades really works hard on the court.  Rebounds and runs the floor hard like every big should. 

 

 

Craig Cameron, South High Community School (MA)

Attacking PG was aggressive getting to the basket all weekend.

 

Eric Fazio, Our Lady of Lourdes (NY)

6’6” power player was solid at both ends.

 

John Hickson, Springfield Cathedral (MA)

6’3” shooter hit an array of shots this weekend.  Mid range jumpers, deep 3’s, pull ups.  Can heat up quickly and has great range.

 

Karl Busch, Smithfield HS (RI)

Very active big man.  Showcased a nice left handed hook.

 

Aaron Bray, Latin Academy (MA)

Combo guard who just makes plays.  Uses strong body to score around the rim and created a lot of opportunities for teammates.

 

Geoff Woodburry, Newton North (MA)

One of the strongest guards you will find anywhere.  Drives hard to the rim and loves to initiate contact.  Not a lot of defenders want to get in his way.  Hit a few 3’s in the game I saw.  Scholarship player.

 

Joe Sciro, Westerly HS (RI)

Lefty wing who can score.  Finds a way to the rim and usually finishes when he gets there.  Think a small college version of Omari Lawrence.

 

Fabrice Yo Yo, Marlboro HS (MA)

Has more to his game than a great name.  Big body uses his body well around the rim but also showed very nice touch from the outside.  Nailed a 3 and a pull up jumper on back to back possessions.

Jacob Kahane, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols (MA)

Skilled big man (6’5”) who show some nice post moves throughout the weekend.

 

Azfar Khan, East Meadow (NY)

Point man who is equally effective penetrating to the basket and shooting from the outside.  Did some good work out of the pick and roll.

 

Frank Robinson, East Providence HS (RI)

One of the best athletes in attendance.  Very active blocking shots and also finished strong at the rim.

 

Matt Lanchantin, Brooks School (MA)

Legit 6’7”.  Have great touch from the perimeter and will be a solid face up 4 man at the college level. 

 

Mario Monroe, North Cambridge Catholic (MA)

Monroe, one of my favorites, showed flashes of brilliance despite battling an injury - whether it’s the 17 footer from the baseline, the impressive shot block, the offensive rebound in traffic.  However, he needs to play hard all the time and do more of his work on the block.  Mario will prep next season and be in the class of 2010.  Division 1 talent.

 

Jon Pavao, Durfee HS (MA)

Very athletic wing guard that had some impressive finishes at the rim. 

 

Chisom Azubuko, Brighton Academy (ME)

Strong built wing scored inside, and hit a bunch of mid range jumpers.  He handled and pushed well in transition.  Improved range on his “J” would make him very tough to defend.

 

Anders Rasmussen, St. Thomas Aquinas (NH)

Didn’t get much of a look at Rasmussen, but did see him nail 2 3’s in a short stretch.

 

Craig Marriro, Newton North (MA)

Very solid point man ran his team well.

 

2010 Top Performers

 

Derek Murphy, Brooks School (MA)

Strong built point controlled games well over the weekend.  Broke down the defense and made some great passes – including a left handed cross court pass that found a streaking teammate for a basket.

 

Jose Cruz, Shrewsbury HS (MA)

The lefty face up 4 man had a great weekend.  He absolutely dominated from the right block.  He scored, faced up and hit jumpers and passed very well out of double teams.  He has a nice stroke and with work on his handle could become a very hard player to guard.  Division 1 prospect.

 

Billy Donovan, St. Francis HS (FL)

Despite not making as many shots as he would have liked over the weekend, Donovan has a very pure stroke.  Very good basketball IQ as you would expect.

 

Sean Cangeeter, New Leadership Charter (MA)

Slashing wing went hard to the rim and was difficult to stop in transition.

 

Michael Palumbo, Classical HS (RI)

Smart point who handled tough ball pressure from Tavon Sledge – which is no easy task. 

 

Eric Alleyne, Brimmer & May (MA)

Lefty PG has good quickness and used his strength to get to and finish around the rim. 

 

Cesar Castro, Chelsea HS (MA)

I asked Cesar if he had been watching a lot of Mark Jackson tapes recently.  The powerful two guard couldn’t be stopped by other guards in the post.  Also hit a few 3’s.

 

Sean Cunningham, Amherst Regional (MA)

Very good point guard prospect.  Great court vision and awareness.  Runs his team really well and always seems to be on point with his passes.  Has Division 1 ability with continued improvement.

 

Matt Palazini, Franklin HS (MA)

Palazini, an Underclassmen All Star at Academic Elite, played very well when I saw him on Sunday.  Has a great motor and never seems to stop.  Does a little bit of everything at this point – handles, shoots, scores, rebounds, defends.

 

Evan Kulak, Wellesley HS (MA)

6’5” face up 4 man who is active at the rim and showed a very good touch from 15-17 feet.

 

Ishmael Kalilou, Windsor HS (CT)

Can score on you in many ways.  Made a nice post move to score over JP Kambola, the biggest player in the gym.  Stepped out and made a 3 and a 17 footer later in the game.  Can still improve his handle to make complete transformation to being a “3”.  Division 1 prospect.

 

Kyle Lawrence, Catholic Memorial (MA)

Point man runs his team well and is very good going to the rim and finishing when he gets there.

 

JP Kambolla, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

The 6’9” big guy was very impressive in Boston.  He has good hands and finishes very well around the basket and in traffic.  Already has some solid post moves and had some of the more impressive finishes of the weekend.  Mid major plus to high major player.

 

Abdul Aziz Dieng, Pomfret HS (CT)

6’3” combo guard showed nice touch from 3 and did a little bit of everything.

 

Derek Retos, Brimmer & May (MA)

Didn’t see much of him this weekend, but did get to see him drop a few deep 3’s – which we’ve come to expect from him.

 

 

2011 Top Performers

 

Joseph Adel, St. Francis HS (FL)

The 6’7” forward has a lot of potential.  Already possess great hands and good touch from the perimeter.   Will add size in the coming years and be a Division 1 face up 4 man.

 

Kyle Reardon, Salem HS (MA)

Inside/outside forward has a high skill level for a sophomore.

 

Zach Auguste, Marlboro HS (MA)

Raw and versatile, the 6’6” Auguste needs to add strength and improve his handle but already seems comfortable playing on the perimeter.  Has a chance to be a very good player.

 

Billy Soriano, Mount Pleasant HS (RI)

Quick point can be flashy, but showed his solid side over the weekend.  Found his teammates with pin point passes.  Needs to improve jump shot to take his game to the next level.

 

Tavon Sledge, St. Benedict’s (NJ)

Fast player in the gym - and it might not have been close.  Had two of the best plays of the weekend: a quick spin move that left his defender wondering where he went and a rim rattling dunk which not many 5’9” guards could pull off.  Fantastic talent.

 

Tylon Smith, Kingswood Oxford (CT)

Really smart, tall (6’1”) point man sees the game and doesn’t force the action.  Uses great body control to finish well around the rim.

 

Anthony Taylor, New Leadership Charter School (MA)

One of the best rebounders – offensively and defensively – of the weekend.

 

Keenan Ottley, North Cambridge Catholic (MA)

Very quick point guard.  Defenders had a very difficult time keeping him from getting to the basket.

 

 

2012 Top Performers

Andrew Chrabascz, Portsmouth HS (RI)

At first glance, I figured Chrabasacz was a junior or senior based off his skill level and footwork.  Has a chance to be very good with improved perimeter skills.  One to track for the next few years.

 

Stephan Deas, Academy of Strategic Learning (CT)

One of the more impressive prospects from the weekend.  Very quick guard was very difficult to contain.  His coach repeatedly went to a 1-4 set and let Deas go to work.  His pull up was on and got the ball to his teammates in the right spots.

Please don’t miss out on the last 2 stops of the Fall ELITE Top 100 Tour:

Metro - September 27th-28th at Farleigh Dickinson Univ. in Teaneck, NJ

Philadelphia - October 4th at Germantown Academy in Ft. Washington, PA

As promised, the top performances by players in the 2010 and 2011 classes from this past weekend at The Hoop Group Elite Mid Atlantic Top 100.

 

2010 Top Performers
 

Anthony Goode, Milford Mill Academy

One of the more impressive players at camp, Goode’s athleticism and outside shot were on display.  He is a combo guard who can create or fill it up from the wing.  Equally effective in transition and in the half court. 

 

Jeff Fields, Parkville HS

Fields showed a lot of versatility in his game throughout the weekend.  He was very impressive going hard to the rim and finishing with both hands.  He also stepped out a few times and knocked down shots from beyond the arc.

 

Kyree Watson, Lake Clifton

Great potential here – and he is starting to come into his own.  Watson does everything you want from a big man – rebounds at both ends, runs the floor and attacks the rim offensively.  He has good hands as well.  As he develops a few more post moves and a face up game he has the potential to be a mid major Divison 1 player.

 

Thomas Fisher, Vance (NC)

Fisher may be slightly overshadowed during the high school season playing with Daryl Trayham, but he certainly proved he can hold his own and is quite the point guard himself.  He controlled the game from the point guard position, created for his teammates and scored as well.

 

Wayne Bradford, St. John’s Catholic

Bradford was impressive shooting the ball all weekend.  His shot was dropping from deep.  Despite not being the biggest guy, he used his body well to finish around the rim.  As he fills out physically he will be one to watch.

 

Rob Gouldoy, Oakcrest (NJ)

Strong PG who is deceptively quick and gets to the rim.  Needs to work on staying under control, but already does a nice job running a team.

 

Douglas Spetalnick, Washington International (DC)

A strong inside/outside threat.  Made shots despite a low release point.  Uses his strong frame to get to the rim and the finish when he gets there. 

 

Durrand Johnson, Parkville (MD)

Johnson has improved dramatically in the last 12 months (even 6 months).  He knocked down 3’s, mid range J’s, and made shots off the dribble all weekend.  Also had a couple of impressive finishes at the rim. 

 

Corey Spence, Dunbar (MD)

Spence made the Underclassmen All Star Game at Hoop Group Elite Session #4 mainly due to his ability to get to the rim.  This weekend he showed definite improvement in his jumper – both from mid range and from the 3.  He also ran his team well and used his strong frame to finish at the basket – two things we’ve come to expect from Spence.

 

JacQuan Jones, Lake Clifton (MD)

Was unstoppable getting to the basket all weekend.  Jones explodes to the basket like he is shot out of a cannon.  Very difficult to stop in transition as well.

 

 

2011 Top Performers
 

Prince Okoroh, Eleanor Roosevelt (MD)

The impressive sophomore is a jack of all trades at this point.  He is fantastic in transition, attacks the rim with great athleticism and is not afraid of contact.  Okoroh needs to develop his skills more (what sophomore doesn’t?), but has the talent and the attitude to be a big time player.

 

De’Ontre Haywood, Lake Clifton (MD)

The sophomore was one of the most impressive players at the event.  The first thing you notice is his strong build – not matched by many sophomores.   Then, he proved to be one of the best shooters in attendance – knocking down 3 after 3 after 3. 

 

Jalen Bowe, North Pointe (MD)

Very promising young big man.  Rebounded and used his size well inside.  Has a soft touch and is a worker as well.

The first stop on The Hoop Group Elite Fall Top 100 Tour was in Baltimore this past weekend.  Despite the bad weather, the talent still came out to Essex Community College.  Here were some of the top 2009 performers in attendance:

 

Karl Nelson, Park School (MD)

Nelson showed nice touch throughout the weekend – making mid range jumpers as well as hitting from 3.

                              

Darrien Hutton, Ewing HS (NJ)

One of the sleepers to come out of the event.  Hutton is impressive physically and was impressive during games as well.  He uses his strong build well when attacking the rim.

 

Jason Sharp, Lake Clifton (MD)

Quick and strong going to the rim.  Very difficult for guys to stay in front of him.

 

Tavon Perry, Parkville (MD)

Face up 4 showed good touch from 15 feet as well as finishing strong at the rim.

 

Matt Miller, Mount St. Joe’s (MD)

Miller showed significant improvement from the spring at this same event.  You always knew he would play smart and under control.  But you can see he worked hard this summer on his shot (he went for 6 3’s in his last game of the weekend) and ability to attack the rim. 

 

Devon Saddler, Aberdeen (MD)

Saddler was very impressive during his one day at the event.  He showcased his strong driving ability as well as a few rim rattling dunks that we’ve come to expect from him, but what stood out was Saddler’s passing ability.  He made great decisions in transition and got the ball to his teammates in the right spots.  The most impressive part of Saddler’s day was that in between his games he was over doing an optional workout – you can see why his game has developed so much over the past year.

 

Nate Goldsmith, Bowie (MD)

Just has a nose for the ball.  Every time you look up, Goldsmith seems to be involved – hitting the glass, tipping the ball to a teammate, etc.

 

Ben Montgomery, The Severn School (MD)

One of our favorite players of the weekend.  Montgomery had three straight tip-ins during one game and might have taken 6 or 7 charges during the weekend.  Does the little things it takes to win games.

 

Francis Ashe, Eleanor Roosevelt (MD)

Strong, lefty point guard.  Quick off the dribble.  Can finish around the rim against bigger players due to strength and craftiness at the rim.

 

Cleveland Melvin, Lake Clifton (MD)

Another player who has worked on his game a lot – and you can easily see the results.  It always seems like Melvin is the first player down the court and that results in a lot of dunks for the 6’7” 4 man.  Still needs to improve his jump shot, but after a prep year next year, Melvin will be highly coveted by many college coaches.

 

Collin Gibbons, Centennial HS (MD)

Tough point guard.  Used quickness to get to the rim all weekend.

 

Adam Johnson, City College (MD)

At Hoop Group Elite Session #4 this summer, Johnson impressed with his fantastic athleticism.  Here, he showed an improved skill set to go along with the athleticism.  He made a few 3’s and passed well out of double teams.  His most impressive move of the weekend was a face up – jab right – go left move with an impressive left handed finish.  Expect big things from Johnson this season.

 

Ronald Fisher, North County (MD)

Small, quick, point man can do it all.  He handles well, pushes in transition, makes good decisions and can stroke the 3 as well.

 

James Smith, Eleanor Roosevelt (MD)

Versatile wing player who doesn’t excel in any particular area but does a little bit of everything.  Type of guy who will help you win games.

 

Daniel Jacas, Bowie (MD)

The face up four man definitely showed his ability to consistently knock down the mid range shot.  Jacas can cause some match-up problems by bringing bigger guys out to the perimeter.

 

Kevin Harrison, Dulaney (MD)

The combo guard impressed with his ability to make shots all weekend.  Hit a few tough one dribble pull-ups.

 

Alex Rodriguez, Bowie (MD)

Rodriguez catches fire quickly, as evidenced by his 3 straight three’s in one game on Sunday.  Also gets to the rim well but his bread and butter is definitely from beyond the arc.

 

Check back tomorrow for the top performers from the 2010 and 2011 classes.

 

For more info on the Elite Top 100 Tour, click here:

http://www.hoopgroup.com/hoopgroup/eibc_t100.php

 

To register, click here:

http://www.hoopgroup.com/hoopgroup/index.php?cPath=63