Teams
Caveman 5th Grade
Caveman continued their extraordinary play in the 5th grade age group, winning all 3 of their games by 35+ points. All 7 players that they brought contributed to their dominance. On the offensive end they were very organized and unselfish. They were constantly passing and cutting until there was a high percentage shot available. On multiple occasions, they also executed the pick and roll to perfection. Defensively, they played fundamental man-to-man defense. Each individual did a good job of staying with their man, making it difficult for drivers to get into the lane. This led to a lot of turnovers which they turned into quick, easy offense.
NJ Shoreshots Nitro 7th Grade NXT
The NJ Shoreshots 7th Grade NXT might lack size, but they sure don't lack grit, chemistry, and depth. They concluded the weekend with a 4-0 record, including 2 blowout victories and 2 come from behind victories. On Saturday, they faced an NJ Scholars team that has a lot of size and athleticism. After initially struggling in the first half, they mounted a comeback in the second half to win by 10. Against Team Education, they found themselves in a double-digit deficit midway through the second half and found a way to comeback. Regardless of the score, their relentless effort never wavered. During the most critical possessions of the game they always seemed to be able to string good possessions together. The energy they brought from the players on the court to the players on the bench and coaches, especially in the most crucial moments was unmatched. They moved the ball very well and there wasn't a lot of overdribbling. In the half-court they were able to get the ball into the middle and work from there(ball reversal, high low action, etc.). They also ran some offensive sets to perfection, creating wide-open opportunities from behind the arc.
North Star 8th Grade GEN
North Star's size and athleticism was on display this weekend. They applied constant pressure on the defensive end, oftentimes implementing a full-court or 3/4 court press. Their size and length were too much for opponents, as they finished the weekend 3-1. They showed complete dominance in a 53-23 win against PSB Philly, forcing turnover after turnover, using their length to get deflections and steals. It was a struggle for PSB to get past the half-court line. If they were able to pass the half-court line, North Star did a good job of limiting them to one shot and not allowing many second chance opportunities. In a 65-48 win against NJ Shoreshots Select, they showed off their ability to hit the outside shot, hitting a few big ones down the stretch allowing them to pull away in what was a close contest most of the way. The last thing that stood out was their relentless pursuit of offensive rebounds. Expect them to be competitive in most games with their ability to capitalize on second chance opportunities and rack up the points off turnovers.
Hood Enriched 7th Grade GEN
Hood Enriched was dominant all weekend, finishing with a 106-point differential across their 3 games. They have a good mixture of guards who can handle the ball and forwards with size down low who can dominate the paint. They shared the ball very well and always looked to push the tempo, which resulted in easy opportunities in transition. The guards knocked down some 3-pointers and did a good job of breaking down the defense with their drives. The forwards took advantage of a lot of second chance opportunities, where they were simply too big and strong for opposing players. The balance that they have will present a challenge for any team they play.
K-Low Elite 8th Grade NXT
K-Low continued to show that they are the team to beat in the 8th grade age group, improving to 7-0 after pulling out wins in all 3 games that they played in this weekend. Each of these three games was closely contested, including a 3-point victory against United NJ, a 4-point victory against Philly Pride Orange, and an 11-point victory against Hilltopper BC White. They showed poise and maturity down the stretch of these games. The battle against Hilltopper was especially intense and physical, but K-Low did a commendable job of not letting the Hilltopper's press speed them up and for the most part limited their turnovers. Ultimately their composure, depth, and ability to make big plays in critical moments proved pivotal in securing the victory. Standouts Melo Aylmer and Jayden Carr took over the game late to help seal a well earned win. This team boasts players who have the potential to make a significant impact at the high school level, and some may even reach the college level.
Hilltopper BC White 8th Grade NXT
Whether it was pressing full-court or trapping in the half-court, Hilltopper BC White sped up their opponents all weekend. They boast a lot of size and athleticism and were constantly up in the grill of opposing players, making it difficult for opponents to run offensive sets. On offense, they have multiple players who are comfortable with the ball in their hands. They attacked the rim with ferocity, earning a lot of momentum changing and-1 opportunities and also knocked down the long ball in big spots.
Team Success 8th Grade NXT
In their first event of the year Team Success made their presence felt, going 2-1 with double digit wins over very talented NJ Shoreshots Elite and United NJ teams. On offense Success shares the ball, shooters to space the floor, and talent to create their own shot. Defensively they rotate, rebound, and communicate everything. Will be a program to watch on the NXT GEN circuit all year long.
Player Standouts
Braden Quinn | PA Hoops Academy
Despite 2 tough losses on Sunday, Quinn's full skill set was on display. The first thing that stood out was his playmaking abilities. Quinn looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands and did a lot of the ball handling for his team. Although he only tallied a few assists across the 2 games, he generated a lot of open looks for his teammates. Whether it was looking ahead on the fast break or driving and kicking out in the half-court, the 5-10 guard was clearly actively looking for his teammates. In addition to his passing, he showed off a smooth stroke from behind the arc and picked the right times to attack the basket, using his big frame to out-muscle his defender on his way to a high percentage look in the paint. On the defensive end, he brought the intensity and was oftentimes asked to guard the opponent's best player.
Boston Richburg | Philly Pride
Richburg was everywhere in a dominant 61-14 win against NEPA NXT 6th Kiehart. He took advantage of a lot of easy opportunities in transition where he grabbed the defensive rebound and went the length of the court himself. Richburg was also actively looking for teammates to pass to. During one fast break he showed off some flashiness with a behind the back pass which was right on the money. He brought a lot of energy, diving on the floor and out-hustling his opponents on the offensive glass.
Brady Chitren | NJ Shoreshots Nitro
Chitren is the perfect example of heart over height. He did a little bit of everything, playing a big role in his team's 4-0 weekend. Standing at just 5 feet he was oftentimes the smallest player on the court, but always found a way to leave his fingerprints on the game. He knocked down multiple clutch 3-pointers, showing no fear at all from behind the arc. When the defense started overplaying him, he utilized a pump fake to get the defender jumping in the air and managed to get the ball over a much bigger defender's arms at the rim. Even when he was struggling on the offensive end, he always brought it on the defensive end. On multiple occasions, after a missed shot or turnover, he sprinted down the court and got the ball right back.
Ryan Toole | Caveman
While Toole's box score numbers didn't necessarily stand out against NJ Scholars and Team Elevation, his maturity and basketball IQ sure did. He was the team's primary ball handler and made a lot of plays for his teammates. On multiple possessions, he executed the pick and roll to perfection, putting a bounce pass right on the money to the roller. Scoring wise, shots weren't falling for Toole, but bad selection wasn't to blame. He took a lot of high percentage shots which just weren't falling, some of which just rimmed out. On the defensive end, he showed off lateral quickness, staying with his opponent on the perimeter and forcing turnovers.
Osa Adeghe | North Star
Adeghe used his size and strength to dominate the paint all weekend. He was constantly crashing the offensive glass and hunting down the next rebound opportunity. He took advantage of easy opportunities around the rim. Adeghe also ran the floor well allowing himself to get some high percentage looks in transition. On a few occasions, he showed off a nice touch from 8-10 feet away from the basket. He was very active on the defensive end, blocking a handful of shots and altering a few more.
Melo Aylmer | K-Low Elite
Aylmer made big play after big play down the stretch for K-Low on Sunday in a win versus Hilltopper BC White. The 5-11 point guard always looked in control, acting as the team's primary ball handler. The way he moved on the court was very smooth and he seemed very calm, even in pressure packed moments, something you don't see often from someone his age. He played at his own pace and it was very hard for the defense to speed him up. Aylmer impressed both as a scorer and facilitator. He drew a lot of oohs and ahhs from the crowd with a couple of the passes he made, fitting them through tight spaces. On the scoring front, he looked very comfortable shooting it from deep and impressed with a couple of difficult finishes around the rim. He played his best basketball in crunch time which included going 6-6 from the free throw line in the last 2 minutes to help close out the game.
Jayden Robinson | Hilltopper BC Black
On Saturday, Robinson had the ball on a string against Team Success. His drives to the basket could not be contained. The 5-10 Guard used an array of moves to get past defenders. On a couple of drives he used a nasty crossover that created a ton of separation from the defender, creating an open lane for him to drive. Once he got to the rim, he showed off his athleticism by converting some tough, acrobatic shots around rim protectors. On Sunday against Penn Playmakers he showed off his ability to knock down the long ball, making a couple of pull-up 3-pointers. Robinson is very hard to stop 1-on-1 and is capable of taking a game over with his ability to get into the paint and score the ball.
Youssouf Gassama | Team Elevation
Gassama was Team Elevation's primary ball handler and did a solid job of handling pressure. He displayed his quickness by blowing by his defender on multiple occasions. He was also active on defense coming up with a few steals in games against Caveman and Philly Pride. Gassama also showed that he is capable of hitting the outside shot, knocking one down against Philly Pride. Lastly, he shared the ball well and was able to get everyone involved.
Hanif Nixon-Hughes | Hood Enriched
Nixon-Hughes was one of the more impressive forwards this weekend. He showed off a lot of versatility in a 46-18 win against PSB Philly. The 6'0 forward was a force down low. He was relentless on the offensive glass, racking up second chance points on his way to a double-double. Another thing that stood out was his ability to run the floor. In transition he sprinted up the court to get ahead of everybody, giving the guards a big target to pass the ball to, and creating easy opportunities for himself. He also showed off a nice touch from 15 feet away and even stepped behind the arc and knocked down a 3-pointer. Nixon-Hughes is one of the more intriguing big men in the 7th grade age group.
Jayden Carr | K-Low Elite
Carr didn't need a whole lot of touches to inflict damage on Sunday against Hilltopper BC White. The 6-0 combo guard took what the defense gave him and was extremely efficient with his touches. He was able to score the ball in a number of ways. He showed off a smooth jumper from long range and didn't need a ton of room to release it. When the defense started playing up on him, he took advantage and started viciously attacking the rim. He did not shy away from contact at all and oftentimes went right through the defender's body on his way to a powerful finish at the rim. Carr also moved very effectively off the ball. He earned a couple of open looks around the rim, as a result of his hard cuts. On the glass, Carr worked extremely hard to box out to help his team secure the defensive rebound and also fought persistently for second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. He showed willingness to sacrifice his body, constantly diving on the floor for loose balls and he also took a momentum-changing charge in the late stages of the game.
Avery Rogers | Hilltopper BC Black
Rogers went on a scoring rampage during a game versus Penn Playmakers. At one point he went on his own 8-0 run. The 5-3 displayed exceptional activity in the passing lanes, turning steals into easy opportunities at the other end. He was a blur in transition and his ferocious drives to the rim proved unstoppable. Rogers converted a couple of tough shots around the rim and mixed in a floater.
Collin Carter | Team Education First
On Sunday, facing NJ Shoreshots Nitro, Carter showcased an impressive ability to drive to the basket. He constantly sliced through the defense on his way to the rim. When he reached the basket, he displayed physicality by taking on rim protectors head-on. The 5-8 guard made some big plays in the late stages of a closely contested game. He nailed a crucial 3-pointer during the final minutes, but ultimately the comeback effort fell just short.
Jacob Paubman | Caveman
Paubman asserted his dominance in the interior throughout the weekend, playing a pivotal role in Caveman's success. Against Team Elevation, he capitalized on several second chance opportunities, proving to be a formidable presence in the paint and displaying a soft touch around the rim. Paubman also contributed with well-set screens and constant movement off the ball.
Ekaou Harris | Hilltopper BC Black
On Saturday, against Team Success, Harris constantly put pressure on the defense by relentlessly attacking the rim. When he got an open lane to drive, he was very hard to stop. Throughout the weekend the 5-6 point guard showed off his ability to draw fouls and also knocked down a couple of 3's. He was very comfortable with the ball in his hands and was one of the better point guards in the 8th grade age group.
Taije Slaughter | Penn Playmakers
Slaughter littered the stat sheet on Saturday against Hilltopper BC Black. The 6-1 forward used his long frame to impact the game on both ends. He was extremely active on the defensive end, blocking a couple of shots and altering a few more. He also disrupted the passing lanes, helping his team turn defense into offense. When the 6-1 forward got the ball in the post, he drew a lot of fouls due to opponents simply not being able to handle his size down low. He was also active on the glass helping his team gain an edge in the rebounding category.
Gene Deshazor Jr | Philly Pride Black
Deshazor Jr showed off a versatile offensive game, scoring the ball at will, all weekend long. The 5-10 guard showcased his 3-level scoring ability. He displayed a smooth jumper from long range. When the defense pressed up on him, he took what the defense gave to him on the interior. He was able to get to the rim and also confidently knocked down a pull-up midrange jumper. Deshazor Jr's scoring ability makes him a player to look out for during the rest of the fall circuit.
Brandon Johnson | NJ Blue Chips Elite
Johnson was one of the more versatile forwards this past weekend. He played on the perimeter just as much as he did inside. Against PA Hoops Academy the 6-4 forward really set himself apart from most big men at the event when he stepped a few feet behind the 3-point line and confidently drained two deep triples. Down low, he made his presence felt with his size and soft touch. He did a good job of making himself a big target for guards and caused a lot of havoc when he got the ball in the paint. Johnson got a few easy opportunities around the rim and also drew a handful of fouls, going to the line 4 times, making 6 of 7. His tremendous size, ability to dominate opponents down low, and ability to stretch the floor gives Johnson a high ceiling.
Anthony Perez | NJ Blue Chips Elite
Perez was doing whatever he wanted on Sunday against PA Hoops Academy. The 5-10 Guard was a wizard with the ball. He showed off a tight handle and got to the rim with ease. He had a couple of highlight plays where he used a nasty change of direction move and had his defender totally lost. Most of his damage came inside the paint, but he also added a 3-pointer to his final line.
Dom Bustamante | Hilltopper BC White
Bustamante stood out as one of the more unique guards this weekend. The 5-10 guard is built like a football player, making it extremely hard to stop him when he gets a head of steam going to the basket. He was his team's primary ball handler and did a good job of orchestrating the offense. He showed off a nice touch in the paint and made a few off-balance shots. On a few possessions, Bustamante recognized a mismatch, cleared everyone out and played bully ball. He sized up his defender and simply went right at him. His sheer size and strength was just too much in these cases for smaller defenders. He presents a matchup problem for a lot of players, as he is too big for most guards and too quick for most forwards.
Semaj Warden | Hood Enriched
Warden always looked in control on Sunday against PSB Philly. His demeanor was that of a composed and true floor general. He ran the fast break really well, making good reads and delivering precise passes. Although, in that particular game, he didn't shoot the long ball as well as he wanted to, he still managed to sink two 3-pointers and is clearly really comfortable with his long-range game.
RJ Wicks | Hilltopper
Towering over most of his opponents, Wicks terrorized opponents' interior defense. He was a constant threat to grab an offensive rebound and converted a lot of high percentage shots around the rim. The 6-5 forward was always pursuing the basketball when it came off the rim and was rewarded with a handful of putback opportunities. He played with a lot of intensity and passion, which helped propel his team to a 3-1 weekend.
