Hold’n Court: The HoopGroup Blogs

The Hoop Group ELITE Top 100 in Philadelphia held this past weekend at Germantown Academy in Ft. Washington, PA, may have been our most talented session of the fall.

Below are a list of top performers and a recap:

2009

Kris Redd, APEX Academies (NJ)

Art Morrison, APEX Academies (NJ)

Mike Ewii, Bowie HS (MD)

Teon Russell, APEX Academies (NJ)

Eric McAlister, APEX Academies (NJ)

Brian Boyle, Monsignor Bonner (PA)

Cameron Badger, APEX Academies (NJ)

Josh Dorsey, APEX Academies (NJ)

Nathan Smith, Port Jervis (NY)

Shane Miller, APEX Academies (NJ)

Brandon West, Northeast Prep (PA)

Farley Lloyd, International Christian (PA)

Michael Spence, APEX Academies (NJ)

Eugene Teague, APEX Academies (NJ)

Steve Spinella, APEX Academies (NJ)

Chris Cantino, Rise Academy (PA)

Dominique Youmans, APEX Academies (NJ)

Khalil Murphy, APEX Academies (NJ)

Harley Williamson, Lower Merion (PA)

2010

Andrew Radomocki, Penncrest (PA)

Anton Popov, Germantown Friends (PA)

Tyrone McFadden, Lampeter-Strausburg (PA)

Mike Terry, North Catholic (PA)

Zaahir Allen, APEX Academies (NJ)

Joel Brokenbrough, Hodgson VoTech (DE)

Anthony Taylor, APEX Academies (NJ)

Alex Schmidt, St. Mark’s (DE)

Jaleel Mack, North Catholic (PA)

Elijah Carter, St. Anthony’s (NJ)

Skylar Scrivano, CB East (PA)

2011

Eddie Joyner, LaSalle HS (PA)

Kyran Howard, Shipley (PA)

Matt Chiusano, Shawnee HS (NJ)

Markus Kennedy, APEX Academies (NJ)

Scott Slade, Monsignor Bonner (PA)

Aquil Younger, West Catholic (PA)

Mark Wilmer, Prep Charter (PA)

2012

Damien Williams, Plymouth Whitemarsh (PA)

Byron Whiting, Abington Friends (PA)

The major theme of the day was the emergence of APEX Academies. Over 30 players from APEX attended the event and some of the best prospects in attendance represented APEX: Eugene Teague, Khalil Murphy, Anthony Taylor, Zaahir Allen, Mike Spence, Steve Spinella and Markus Kennedy. Kennedy’s all around skills were on display and he is hard to guard in the post. Spence has a great knack for scoring around the bucket. Spinella displayed one of the purest shooting strokes in the gym. It was tough to keep Allen and Taylor from getting to the hoop all day.

The sleeper of the day was Brandon West from Northeast Prep. The big man was dominant around the rim. He had a number of big time dunks. Chris Cantino also showcased his impressive all around skill set. Lower Merion’s Harley Williamson also played the best – and most aggressive – we have ever seen him. He looks to be a late bloomer like his brother Garrett who is a junior at Saint Joe’s.

Brian Boyle and Farley Lloyd showed why they are fantastic small college prospects. Not many guards play harder or smarter than Boyle and Lloyd led his team well and was one of the quickest players in the gym.

In the junior class, the underrated North Catholic duo of Mike Terry and Jaleel Mack both played very well. Both guards are very versatile showing the ability to score as well as be primary ball handlers. St. Anthony’s Elijah Carter was fantastic as well. Rapidly developing Skylar Scrivano also showed a lot of improvement and was very active around the rim.

West Catholic’s Aquil Younger scored at will. He is one of the quickest players you will see and got to the rim with ease. He also showed enough control to finish when he got to the rim. Younger still needs to work on decision making and point guard skills, but his talent is undeniable.

Young bigs Matt Chiusano and Damien Williams also played well, showing improvement from when we saw them in the summer.