By: Claire Mulgrew

Mount St. Michael Academy

CHSAA AA League

Head Coach: Tom Fraher

Assistant Coach: Tom McKenna

2015-16 record: 12-16

Mountaineers Ready to Compete!

After an exciting 2015-2016 season, the Mountaineers lost in the 2nd round of the city playoffs to eventual city champion, Xaverian HS. This upcoming season they will compete in the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Classic in Elmira, NY. They will also face Hempstead HS in the NYC/Long Island Challenge.

Here’s a look into the Mountaineers Top Returnees:

Elijah Buchanan, 6'2'' senior guard. Led the CHSAA in scoring as a junior averaging 22.3 PPG. Outstanding scorer who has a nose for the ball. Very good defender who has a long wingspan. 80% free throw shooter. Currently being recruited by mid major Division 1 schools and has an offer from St. Peter's of the MAAC Conference.

Joe Bull, 6'5'' senior forward. Really has a feel for the game. Can score, pass and rebound with the best of them. True leader. Could really be an impact player for a Division 2 school.

Jacob Rodriguez, senior 6'4" guard/forward. Super athletic player who plays above the rim. Needs to improve offensive skills, but has a big upside because of his athleticism.

Jalen Jefferson, senior 6'4'' forward. Quick off of his feet and is very strong. Needs to improve post play and finishing around the basket. Terrific rebounder on both ends.

Mike Green, 5'10'' sophomore point guard. One of the better sophomores in the city. Deceptively quick. Gets in the lane to kick out or score. Great vision and can knock down perimeter shots. Needs to improve on ball guarding and needs to get stronger.

Key Newcomer for the Mountaineers:

Mike Krauss, 6'2'' junior guard. Can really shoot the ball. Deadly from 3-point range. Also, an active rebounder on both ends. Good head on his shoulders who will compliment other players. 80% free throw shooter.

For more information, click here

By Leo Jorge

Greens Farms Academy 

Westport, CT

Fairchester Athletic Association

New England Prep School Class C (small school division)

Head Coach: Doug Scott (6th Year)

         2015-16

Overall Record: 14-11  

FAA Record: 8-6

New England Prep School Class C Tournament Final Four

Greens Farms Academy Rewiring for 2016-17

Dragons' Head Coach Doug Scott is not completely sure where his squad will end up in the 2016-17 season. "The natural thing is to first compare us to last year's GFA squad. Last year, we were big and athletic, and accordingly all of our schemes were built around tapping into those strengths. Well, we've lost four college-bound players from that squad, with them taking a large share of that size and athleticism edge."

"Offensively, this year we will be fine. We have the coach-ability, IQ and shot making to run some pretty sophisticated and effective stuff."  Evan Roteman (2017), Henry Holzinger (2018) and Cole Prowitt-Smith (2019) are all skilled offensive players and are drawing the college scout interest to prove it. "Those three guys will each put up 20 ppg nights this winter. Fortunately, they also have the court vision and IQ to put up just as many 10 assist nights as well."

"Our issue will be defense and rebounding. Frankly, when you have size and athleticism, you don't have to be much of a coach to hold your own on defense and the boards. This year, I and my staff of Peter Deutsch, Mike Harris and Chad Upshaw are really going to have to earn our pay. We will need to get our guys to compensate with exceptional effort, technique and communication. So far, in the under-coached environments of summer and fall ball, we are not there."

"We have two guys in Sunday Okeke (2017) and Greg Lawrence (2019) who can help-defend and a rebound as well as any coach would want. But in our league,  two is not enough." Okeke is spending his fall sorting through his college offers. Lawrence will have a similar situation in two years from now. "I'm guessing the answer will likely come from our high-motor guys Jake Manton, Mack Muller, Bennett Close and Brady Reynolds. If you see us winning a lot of games this winter, I'm guessing you will also see those names in our box scores."

This Dragons' roster is the youngest one that they have featured in some time. "We are very young overall, which bodes well in, say, 2018, but right now that makes us soft. Instead of the typical senior-on-senior warfare that we'd like setting the tone at our practices, we have more of a big brother coddling thing going on. Granted, that makes you love our guys as human beings, but on game night that tends to come back and bite you in the butt. This league of ours eats it's young."

6'6" Teddy Brown (2019) and 6'3" Max Mitchell (2020) have varsity-sized bodies. "Those two have improved as fast and as much as anyone I've coached over the summers, but I just think that they are a couple of dozen bloody lips and bruised ribs away from understanding what they are up against this winter. And how to compete through that. I also love the grit, moxie and improvement that Jack Seegers (2020) and Kobi Agard (2020) have shown all summer banging against the older competition. But understandably, they are probably a year of weight lifting and a couple quarts of testosterone away from making the mark that they will make eventually."

"As a team goal, I'm assuming that the guys will likely set making it to our fifth consecutive New England Prep School Final Four as one of the big ones. That challenge will be big. Our league is loaded with college-bound talent. Both St Lukes and Hamden Hall are not only in the FAA but also in our New England Class. They are both loaded with talent and are experienced in winning. For us to make the New England tourney, it probably would mean that three of the eight seeds would being coming out of the FAA for the second year in a row. Given that it is a seven state region, that will be a  big mountain to climb with the selection committee."

By Claire Mulgrew

​Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology

Brooklyn A - North East

Coach Micheal Levy (3rd year)

           2015-16

PSAL A Conference Tournament - Elite 8 

Overall record: 20-5

Brooklyn A NE record: 14-4

Brooklyn HS for Law and Technology, a Force to be Reckoned with This Season.

Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology are coming off a successful season, where they make it to the Elite 8 of the A Conference playoffs.  This season they return most of last year’s successful squad.  The Jets had an extremely successful summer winning multiple tournaments, such as Fun Sport and the Joakim Noah's Ark.  The Jets also shocked the world making an improbable run to the finals of Conrad McRae beating Banneker High School and powerhouses such as Curtis High School and Wings Academy until they ultimately lost in a competitive game against St. Patrick's. The Jets proved they can hang with any team in the city on any level.  

Brooklyn Law and Tech is led by arguably the top back court in the A division and two of the top players in the city, senior Mikko Johnson and junior Larry Moreno. Johnson is a 4-year Varsity PG, who has grown to 6'3.  Johnson is a floor general who plays lockdown defense.  He has an outstanding pull-up jump shot and makes everyone around him better.  He is starting to garner interest from several Division 1 and 2 schools. Moreno, who has earned the nickname "The Dominican Mamba" due to his love for Kobe, and his ability to elevate his game in pressure situations.  Moreno is coming off an outstanding junior Season where he averaged 19 pts per game and made three buzzer beaters during the season. During the playoffs Moreno, exploded averaging 31 ppg in including a 40 point explosion against Erasmus. Moreno sporting one of the best crossovers in the city is fearless at attacking the basket and is prime to have an even better junior Season. He too, has been garnering interest from several Division 1 and 2 colleges.  

Perhaps the biggest reason the Jets are very optimistic about the upcoming season has been the vast improvement of 6'5 junior center Victor Ogbo.  After spending the summer working on his body and conditioning, he dominated in summer tournaments.  Ogbo is a problem in the post and demands double teams.  He will score if not doubled.  He is also an outstanding rebounder and rim protector.  Ogbo very well may be the top center in the A division this season.   

Seniors Javell Garnes and Walter Pitt are the epitome of a scholar athlete.  They have a 92 and 88 Average respectively and are outstanding defenders and very good shooters. Senior Prince Spivey provides a nice spark off the bench as a 3 point specialist. 

Sophomores Joseph Pena (6'4) and Davanta "Tank" Cook (5'10) are future stars and will be impact players this year.  

Brooklyn Law and Technology is on mission this season. Watch out because they are a force to reckoned with and in the mix for the PSAL "A" Championship.

By Emma Yavel

St. Edmund Prep

Brooklyn, NY

Head Coach: Dan Wiatre

CHSAA “A” Division

The St. Edmund Prep Eagles expect to be contenders in the ultra-competitive CHSAA "A" Division in the 2016-17 season. The Eagles return all five starters from last season and a total of eight men overall.

In the back court, three-year starter Jordan Williams 6'4 (2017) returns. Jordan led the CHSAA "A" in scoring last season at over 19 ppg. The rest of the back court is deep and talented. Xavier Cantey (2017) returns for The Eagles and is expected to provide scoring off the bench. Moving up from the JV is point guard Kevin Langaman (2018). Kevin is the type of floor general The Eagles have been lacking and will be welcoming with open arms this season. NewcomerBelmin Purisic (2017) can fill it up from the outside and will add scoring on the boards. Rounding out the back court will be Jahvante Bain (2017).

On the wing, the Eagles return three players with starting experience. Jonathan Auguste 6'1 (2017) can defend and score in a variety of ways. Michael DeGaetano (2017) is the team’s top defender, and will likely continue that streak going into next year’s competition. Jon Sagesse(2017) does all the little things needed to win games. Moving up from the JV are four players who can help the cause for sure. Chris Curatola (2018), Gino Bova (2018), Richie Simon(2018), and Conor Leon (2018) are all expected to contribute once they get accustomed to Varsity basketball.

In the front court, the Eagles return two forwards with starting experience. Justin Carter 6'4 (2017) and William McCaffrey 6'3 (2017) form a solid tandem as both can rebound, run, defend, and score around the basket. Moving up from the JV is Anthony Caccamo (2018). A future force to keep an eye on is Kris Parbs-Slawson 6'3 (2019).

Coach Wiatre expects this team to compete and fight for 32 minutes. He says, “Aside from our challenging league schedule, we also play in the Msgr. King ChristmasTournament against a field that includes CHSAA rivals: Nazareth, McClancy, and Lasalle. PSAL powers: Wagner, Bedford Academy, Transit Tech, and North Babylon. "We hope to be successful”. 

By Emma Yavel 

Rockville High School

Vernon, CT

Head Coach: Nathan Martins (4th year)

Central Connecticut Conference East Division

Connecticut State Class L

2015-2016

     Overall Record: 4-16 

Rockville High School in Connecticut can attribute its expected success in this upcoming winter season to its players who are spending hours working on their game in the offseason.  Last yearMason Resendes (2018), Romeo Sowah (2017) and Jake Cichon (2017) learned how important playing together in the offseason can be..  “They had great chemistry”, said coach Martins. 

Rockville’s success won't be measured just on the court.  Five out of their 10 Varsity players were selected for the All-Academic team. “The players are doing the work in the classroom, and that’s the number one goal.  On the court ,those three are constantly working on their game, leading the younger players in the program” according to coach Nathan Martins.

One of the themes that Coach Martins is always preaching is “changing the culture”. His players have responded, when most players are playing for multiple AAU organizations, members of the Rockville high school basketball program are spending their offseason playing AAU basketball together. Vernon-SECC is their team name and their coach Dan Resendes says “Each day the players are getting better, we have five freshmen playing in the 17U/open division, with two teams, North and South. The practices are very competitive”.

Three of last year's freshmen were moved up to the Varsity practices during the winter. They' developed their game then and that's continued into the offseason.  Lorenzo Percy (2019) is a 6’5 solid, strong, big man has soft hands and enjoys playing with his back to the basket, but can also shoot the ball well from the outside. The best part is he is still growing; his father is 6’8. 

Justin Collins (2019) is a 6’3 forward, rebounds the ball well; he has a strong body and likes to make contact on the block. He has an endless motor that you can’t teach. He is also a high academic student.

Nolan Storo (2019) is a 5’6 gifted, athletic point guard who can get to the rim. He has good court vision and likes to dish the ball.

  “Last year Mason, Romeo, and Jake spent the off season playing together and they had so much chemistry during their season, that’s what we want.  All this work is going to carry into next season” according to Justin Collins.

Rockville is expected to return eight seniors for the 2016-2017 seasons. But even more exciting is that the program is filled with young players who are committed to working on their basketball game in the offseason.  “Our season schedule is filled with competition. 13 out of the 20 teams we faced last year were State Tournament qualifying teams.  No nights off” says coach Martins. The club hopes to take growth from last year and ride it forward into success with 2016-2017 season.

 For more information, click here or contact James Cormier at jacormier@cushing.org

2016 FALL EXPOSURE EVENT
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH    BRONXVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR GAME- 2:00PM

MIKE MANLEY                PLEASANTVILLE

ZAIRE WOODY                KETCHAM

JARETT HAINES                NEW ROCHELLE

PARIS BROWN                WOODLANDS

KEVIN LYNCH                TAPPAN ZEE

KEVIN KELLY                    VALHALLA

CHARLIE MINER                EDGEMONT

TANNER DYSLIN                YORKTOWN

AYO SHOKEYE                GORTON

MILES D’ALESSANDRO        NORTH SALEM

COACH:                        BRIAN SENIOR (BRONXVILLE)

CHARLIE NAGLE                RYE

NOAH MORGAN                MT. VERNON

JUSTIN BULLOCK                MAGNUS

TERRENCE MULLINS            PALISADE PREP

SHANE WALCYK                ARLINGTON

MAX BOSCO                    SCARSDALE

VICTOR ROCA                DOBBS FERRY

JACK REILLY                    BRONXVILLE

PHILLIP LADSON                YONKERS MONTESSORI 

MATT MILONE                BYRAM HILLS

COACH                        JOHN AGUILAR (RYE)

ALTERNATES 

JAY CRISS                    OSSINING

MIKE SHULER                WHITE PLAINS

JACK STARKEY                SLEEPY HOLLOW

JOHN SMITH                    ARLINGTON

UNDERCLASSMEN GAME-  NOON

SKYLAR SINON                BYRAM HILLS

CHRIS ALTERIO                NORTH SALEM

BRANDON HODGE            PANAS

JULIAN MCGARVEY            ARDSLEY

WILLY KREBS                SUFFERN

DEMITRI ROBERTS            MT. VERNON

BOTHANAMIE MARTIN         MAMARONECK

NOE FLOURIMOND            WOODLANDS

JAKE DIGSANTE                BLIND BROOK

NICK OVCHLINNKOFF            CLARKSTOWN NORTH

COACH:                        SEAN STAHN (PALISADE PREP)

CJ REDD                    PEEKSKILL

DYLAN FRASER                HEN HUD

JASON DOUGLAS-STANLEY    MT. VERNON

MATT LUCIDO                CLARKSTOWN SOUTH

SPENCER LODES                WHITE PLAINS

KEYSHAWN MILLER            SAUNDERS

SEAN BRESNAN                SAUNDERS

TRUTH HARRIS                MT. VERNON

DARNELL SHILLINGFERD        PUTNAM VALLEY

BEN LEFF                    BYRAM HILLS

COACH:                        MATT BACKS (CLARKSTOWN SOUTH)  JORDAN HIRSCH (HEN HUD)

ALTERNATES 

MILES HARDY                WHITE PLAINS

WILLY SAMSEN                BYRAM HILLS

ISIAH THOMAS                MAMARONECK

EMMANUEL OWUSU            PALISADE PREP

         The 2016 Stamford YMCA Fall League  for varsity boys basketball team schedules

 are accessible at the following weblinks:

(After clicking on the weblink, menu select the team of your choice)

 Darien High

 Greens Farms Academy

 Greenwich High

 New Canaan High

 Port Chester High

 Rye High

 St Lukes School

 Stamford Academy

 Stamford High

 Westhill High

 Trinity Catholic High

  The Stamford YMCA is located at 10 Bell Street in Stamford, CT

For the full schedule, click here

By Leo Jorge

The Lincoln Park Classic in South Ozone Park, NY took a huge leap in exposure this summer. The non-sponsored league (Adidas uniforms don’t mean Adidas sponsorship) brought out loads of talent. We caught most of the action and here are our top performers:
 

Hamidou Diallo (2017) 6’6 G/F, Putnam Science Academy

Hamidou is a guy that we’re bound to see in the NBA Draft sooner than later. His main weakness is keeping a consistent jumpshot when he’s tired. At the next level, wings will wear him out all game. If he can’t shoot, then they’ll sag off and that’ll be the end of the story. As long as he can make defenders respect his jump shot, I see nothing but success in Hamidou’s future.

​​Tyler Bourne (2018) 5’7 G, Abraham Lincoln HS

Tyler Bourne is a quick, high level guard. He has a great understanding of the game and I’m yet to see a defender that can completely shut him down from making plays. Although he attended Lincoln last year, word is that he’ll be at a different school this year. I hope he finds a system that fits for him, Tyler can do a lot of damage at a high level school.

Jamari Lewis (2017) 5’7 G, Thomas Jefferson HS

Jamari is the definition of a New York City PG. He has a string on the ball, he’s tough too guard. He has great passing ability and every now and then, he might also have a game with over five three pointers. He’s not a guard to sleep on, I look forward to the show he’ll put on for his senior year.

Keith Williams (2017) 6’5 SG, Bishop Loughlin HS

Keith is a player that deserves a lot more national recognition. His game is way beyond his years and he just understands how to put the ball in the basket. He’s super athletic and can really shoot the ball. I look forward to watching the damage he does in the CHSAA this year.

Alonzo Ortiz-Taylor (2017) 6’5 F, Monsignor McClancy HS

Alonzo is a guy that’s on this list just because he plays hard. His name isn’t big in NYC but that doesn’t matter to him, he’ll still go at you. He’s tough around the rim and his finishing ability gets better every time I see him. In order to have those D1s come in, Alonzo needs more work on his guard skills and perimeter game. He needs to develop the ability to make a player on the wing if coach needs him to.

Joel Boyce (2017) 6’5 G, St. Luke’s School

Joel is a very high level guard. He can score the ball in various ways and the year of reclassification really helped him. I see Joel being a great scorer at the next level.

Rheaquone Taylor (2017) 6’7 G/F, Barringer HS

Rheaquone is a guy that NYC would hear more about if he attended school in NYC. Firstly, I’ve never seen someone dunk on so many people. Every time I’m at an event, Rheaquone dunks on somebody. He’s super athletic and has a composed game. He’s not about the hype and that has helped him a lot. He will definitely end up on a D1 roster somewhere, I hope he continues to do the same damage.

Klay Brown (2017) 6’5 G/F, Abraham Lincoln HS

Klay is an athletic wing that can have an amazing game at any given moment. He’s not one to sleep on, Klay will be one of the main guys at Lincoln this year. He has great scoring ability and I hope to see him also develop his play-making ability.

Damarri Moore (2016) 6’9 F, George Westinghouse HS

Damarri is the definition of potential. His length makes him a match up nightmare. He can already dribble the ball and make plays but he still has a lot of skill work to do. However, if Damarri stays focused, sky is the limit. I hope Damarri gets in the gym and becomes the best basketball player he can be.

Curtis Smith (2016) 6’0 G, Thomas Jefferson HS

Curtis is a lights out shooter. He’s small which puts a limit on his game but I wouldn’t sleep on Curtis if I was an opposing coach. He makes things happen and I hope he can do the same at the next level.

Isaiah Washington (2017) 6’1 PG, St. Raymond’s HS

Isaiah Washington has a special feel for the game. His ball handling ability and court vision are only part of what make him a great PG. It’s the mentality and swagger to his game that really makes Isaiah stand out. Defenders all around the country better be on their game, Isaiah is on a mission to prove everybody who doubted him wrong.

Jose Alvarado (2017) 6’0 PG, Christ The King HS

Jose is another guard who has the ability to prove that NYC isn’t just a bunch of iso basketball. He can make plays and is a great floor general. ESPN didn’t consider him a top 100 player this year but that doesn’t change the fact that he went toe-to-toe with some of the best, and won. I believe in Jose, hopefully he makes a good college decision and continues to prove people wrong.

Dejavaughan Utley (2018) 6’4 G, Benjamin Cardozo HS

Dejavaughan is a lesser known guard that still gets the job done. He has great scoring ability and is very strong. He played with New Heights 16U this year, I believe that more people will talk about him once he gets on the 17U circuit. I hope that Dejavaughan does damage on the PSAL circuit this year and continues to prove that he belongs.

Donald Flores (2017) 6’0 G, Abraham Lincoln HS

Donald gets better every time I see him play. He’s a seasoned guard that literally has no fear on the court. He’s one of those smaller guards that bang with the bigs and comes out on top. At the next level, he’ll need to dish out many more assists in order to succeed. I hope D1s continue to believe in Donald, he’ll be a great player.

Kion Hill (2017) 6’1 G, Queens High School of Teaching

Kion is another guy that has been slept on in this city full of high level guards. He can score the ball in various ways, I’ve seen him drop 30 against some of the city’s best. I hope as many scouts as possible come out to PSAL games this year, there are certain guys such as Kion that deserve more attention.

Marcus Hammond (2018) 6’0 G, Benjamin Cardozo HS

Marcus is a young guard that has a great understanding on the game. Although he’s not psychically built for the next level, he has time. He’s a great floor general and I have no doubt that you’ll hear his name much more this year after he does damage on the PSAL circuit.

Rahmel Thompson (2016) 6’2 G, Queens High School of Teaching

Rahmel is a tough guard that will go at it with anyone. He has his moments that show that he can be a high level scorer. I wouldn’t sleep on Rahmel, he’s one that can and will surprise you.

Khayri Harris (2017) 5’8 G, Springfield Gardens HS

Khayri is a guy that’s on this list because he’s full of heart. Not too many little guys would go toe-to-toe with all these big name NYC guards, Khayri had no problem doing that. However, Khayri is more than just a guy with heart. He’s had impressive showings of 20+ points and great playmaking displays. Springfield will get a lot of good basketball out of Khayri this year. 

D’Andre McLamb (2016) 6’3 F, Seward Park HS – Midland College

D’Andre had to be one of the most athletic players in NYC this year. He gets his head to rim on layups, that’s scary to jump with. Athleticism comes with a bunch of potential on both ends of the floor. He has a lot of skill work to do but I see the improvement, I believe that D’Andre has a bright future.

Mel Horton (2016) 6’5 F, Holy Cross HS – Notre Dame Prep

Mel is a great defender & all-around player. The year at Notre Dame Prep can do great things for his development and exposure. As long as he lives in the gym, schools are bound to come his way very soon.

Rashond Salnave (2016) 6’2 G, Benjamin Cardozo HS – Monmouth University

Ray is tough. His strength allows him to score at will against most guards he matches up with. It’ll be interesting to see how he matches up with grown men at the division 1 level.

Jaquan “Kuda” Angevine (2016) 6’5 G Acorn HS - ASA College

Kuda is a crafty, versatile guard that can do great things with basketball. He won matchups all summer with nationally ranked players and it’ll be interesting to see him play in an organized system. I hope Kuda stays focused and stays in the gym at ASA this year.

Jawaun Gillespie (2015) 6’4 G, Niagara Community College

Jawaun is one of those guys that nobody knows about but still goes out there and proves people wrong. He can score 20+ on just about any of these known NYC guys and I expect him to do great things on the JUCO level.

By Leo Jorge

New York City Carmelo Anthony and Nike Jordan’s “City is Mine Classic" was held in the famous Terminal 23 this year. This is one of the few events that bring out All-Star talent in a showcase that forces them to play real basketball rather than “All-Star game” basketball. Check out some of the video highlights here. Here are some of our top performers:

Baba Tall (2017) 5’10 G, Liberation Prep

Baba continues to prove himself, it’s hard to ignore him. He plays lots and lots of defense and has a lot of heart. He showed his ability to pass the ball, especially on the drive. His court vision and driving ability is better than many think. Although he has a lot to work on, I think it’ll all come together for Baba.

Noah Morgan (2017) 6’5 F, Mount Vernon HS

Noah is a tough player. He goes hard and is fearless on the court. After a season of EYBL with the New York Rens, competition doesn’t seem to scare Noah. D1’s are all over Noah for good reason, he can play.

Jose Alvarado (2017) 6’0 PG, Christ The King HS

Jose is a great floor general that can really score the ball. Guards that tower over him in height still have trouble guarding him, Jose has a wide range of moves. Christ The King has a great player to trust with the ball this year, he’ll do a lot of damage.

Isaiah Washington (2017) 6’1 PG, St. Raymond’s HS

Isaiah Washington is just too crafty. On multiple occasions he turned plays that seemed to be a turnover into plays that ended up being great assists. Isaiah’s mix of court vision, ball handing ability & feel for the game is unmatched in this city.

Sidney Wilson (2018) 6’6 F, Brewster Academy

Sid is a versatile forward with lots of potential, the reclassification in Brewster Academy was a great idea for his development. Reclassification is for kids like Sid, his stock skyrocketed after the move. He plays great defense and will be a pro one day if he stays focused.

Brandon Randolph (2017) 6’6 G, Westtown School

Brandon Randolph is a guy who’s lesser known by the NYC fans because of his school. Nonetheless, that doesn’t matter because he gets the job done. At his level a skill and a height 6’6, Brandon is built for the next level. Arizona, North Carolina and Syracuse are just some of the schools he’s hearing from, Brandon will do great things very soon.

Marco Morency (2017) 6’2 G, Mount Vernon HS

Marco is another Rens player that is lesser known but still gets the job done. He’s a great guard that I would trust with the ball in many situations. He’s great in the lane and also has a sneaky passing ability. He will definitely be a good guard on a high level program.

Moses Brown (2018) 7’1 C, Archbishop Molloy HS

If Moses isn’t the definition of potential, then no one is. Standing at over 7 feet tall and being 16 years old, sky is the limit for this kid. New Heights did great things for his development and now he’s hearing from schools such as Kansas and UCLA. It’s evident that Moses wants to add versatility & guard skills to his game which isn’t a terrible thing in the era of point forwards. However, I would recommend for Moses to make sure his finishing ability and strength at the basket is as strong as can be, he might have the best shot at a long basketball career out of all of the NYC guys.

Kofi Cockburn (2019) 6’11 C, Christ The King HS

Kofi Cockburn is an animal down low. He’s someone that other bigs dread to play against, Kofi is a strong guy. He’s still young so you’ll catch a few plays where the older guys school him, however, that won’t last for long. Kofi will have a very long list of schools within the next few years.

Nick Richards (2017) 6’11 C, The Patrick School (NJ)

Nick Richards is another big that people don’t want to matchup with. If you’re not ready to be aggressive and strong, don’t bother guarding Nick. He’s great around the basket on both sides of the floor and I hope he chooses a school that will develop his game the right way.

Markquis Nowell (2018) 5’8 PG, Bishop Loughlin HS

Markquis is a very skilled guard. He’s extremely hard to stay in front of because of his lightning quickness. As long as he keeps up the good work and continues to play good basketball, Markquis will definitely be a success story.

Louis King (2018) 6’8 G/F, Hudson Catholic HS

Louis King is very versatile. He’s a lanky guard that will matchup with anyone of any size. His mix of lankiness and versatility scream potential, it’s the reason D1’s all over the country want him on their roster. I hope to see Louis hit the weight room, it’ll take his game to the next level.

Saquan Singleton (2017) 6’5 G, Monsignor Scanlan HS

Saquan is a tough guy to guard. He’s 6’5 but can play the PG position with ease. At times it seems like Saquan can just make plays at will. I want him to continue to improve and do as much damage as he possibly can in the CHSAA, he’ll be a great player.

Donald Flores (2017) 6’0 G, Abraham Lincoln HS

Donald Flores plays as if he’s a veteran guard. He understands that he’s small but he doesn’t let that stop him from playing with aggressiveness. He’s a guy that I would put on my roster with no hesitation.

Ja’Quaye James (2018) 5’8 PG, Teaneck HS (NJ)

Ja’Quaye is a quick, crafty guard that is hard to stay in front of. He had Carmelo Anthony on his feet, I don’t think too many juniors in high school can say that. As long as Ja’Quaye remembers that basketball is a team game and doesn’t get too caught up in isolations, coaches from all over will want him on their roster.

By Leo Jorge

Dyckman Summer League, a Nike sponsored basketball league, is one of the hottest spots for basketball in New York City. Bringing out nationally ranked talent on the high school circuit and NBA stars on the unlimited circuit, there’s no questioning the talent level in the park. NYC is the place where you either get exposure, or you get exposed. Here are our top high school performers in this year’s circuit.

Nick Richards (2017) 6’11 C, The Patrick School

Nick has a big body that was made for the pro level. He’s scary around the rim on both offense and defense. As long as Nick stays focused and continues developing his skill, he’s destined for a long career in basketball.

Isaiah Washington (2017) 6’1 PG, St. Raymond’s HS

Isaiah Washington is the definition of electrifying. There aren’t too many other people that have the capability to get a whole audience of people on their feet several times throughout a game. The game seems to come natural to Isaiah, he just needs to learn when he should capitalize on an isolation and when he should get his teammates involved. Over-dribbling is his biggest weakness but I see him eliminating that problem once he plays on a more organized stage.

Hamidou Diallo (2017) 6’6 G/F, Putnam Science Academy

Hamidou is a future pro. After playing so many games in the summer, he seemed to be a little worn out. However, it’s easy to see that he can be scary good at the next level just because of his mix of skill and outstanding athleticism. As long as he develops a more consistent jump shot and continues to play hard, there will be a lot of high level basketball in Hamidou’s future.

Keith Williams (2017) 6’5 SG, Bishop Loughlin HS

Keith is most definitely one of the most underrated prospects in the country. Towards the end of the summer he did a lot of proving. I’ve seen Keith match up with some of the nation’s best and he won the matchups without too much difficulty. He’s strong, has great size for a guard and can basically score at will. Any school that offered Keith will be lucky to land him.

Jose Alvarado (2017) 6’0 PG, Christ The King HS

Jose is a guard that just seems to always get the job done. He’s not ranked in ESPN’s top 100 but he’s won matchups with guards that are ranked top 10. As long as he finds a system that fits his game, Jose will do great things for a high level program at the next level.

Jordan Tucker (2017) 6’7 G/F, Wheeler HS (Marietta, GA)

Jordan is a high school guard that has the game of a pro. He does a great job at shooting the ball from various spots on the court and he has a wide range of NBA-like moves. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops in Georgia, Jordan Tucker can be a household name one day.

Rashond Salnave (2016) 6’2 G, Benjamin Cardozo HS – Monmouth University

Ray just seems too strong for his age. Many guards at the high school level can’t matchup with him because he over-powers them to the basket. He can definitely score the ball but being that he will be playing grown men in college, he needs to make sure his ball handling ability is better than ever. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the college level.

Baba Tall (2017) 5’10 G, Liberation Prep

Baba is the definition of heart. You will never see a game where Baba isn’t playing hard. Even if it’s an isolation/NYC playground type of game, he will still give it his all. He needs to keep developing his overall skill set, but don’t sleep on Baba. He’ll surprise you. If he can develop a jump shot, he might just be really good one day.

Elvin Rodriguez (2017) 6’1 G, Forest Trail Academy

Elvin is a quick, athletic guard that can shoot the ball. He seems to have been on a mission to prove himself in the past year or two and he definitely didn’t disappoint. His explosiveness makes him hard to guard and I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him doing great things for a good Division 1 program.

Markquis Nowell (2018) 5’8 PG, Bishop Loughlin HS

Markquis is the type of player that doesn’t come around too often. There aren’t too many 5’8 kids that have enough skill to receive offers such as Georgetown. He reminds me of Erving Walker, Markquis plays like a pro. As long as he doesn’t get too caught up in the isolation game, I can see Markquis doing well in just about any system on the collegiate level.

Ja’Quaye James (2018) 5’8 PG, Teaneck HS

Ja’Quaye is a small guard that has no fear on the court. His quick handle makes it hard for bigger defenders to guard him. He’s deceptive with the ball and although I feel like he gets too caught up in his head sometimes, I still believe he can be a high level guard.

Nazreon Reid (2018) 6’9 F, Roselle Catholic HS

Nazreon is another guy that has pro written all over him. He’s extremely versatile and is built to matchup with multiple positions on just about any level. He seems to be out of shape at times which can really hurt his career. However, is Nazreon gets focused, he can play on just about any level he puts his mind to.

Shamorie Ponds (2016) 6’1 G, Thomas Jefferson HS – St. John’s University

Shamorie is super crafty. It’s tough for defenders to stay in front of him unless they are very athletic and can make up for the space that Shamorie creates. The game comes too easy for him against HS guards, I look forward to seeing how he matches up with high level college guards.

Jaquan “Kuda” Angevine (2016) 6’5 G Acorn HS - ASA College

Kuda is a guy that can be really good if he puts his mind to it. He’s very tough and can basically score at will. I would like to see him in a more organized system, hopefully ASA can mold him into the player that he has the potential to be.

Jose Perez (2017) 6’5 G/F, Wings Academy HS

Jose is a great wing guy. He’s the guy that consistently scores a quiet 30 and you put on the floor to make things happen. He has sneaky athleticism and when he’s taking good shots, he’s basically automatic.

Leondre Washington (2017) 5’11 PG, Roselle Catholic HS

Leondre is a little guard that plays with a lot of heart. He’s quick and seems to be unaffected by the competition around him, regardless of height. He’s a high level guard, there’s a reason that D1’s all over the country have him on speed dial. I hope to see great things from Leondre in the future.

Emmanuel “Buda” Egbuta (2016) 6’5 F, Westside HS – Navarro College

Buda was made for college ball since he was 16 years old. He has NBA like athleticism and strength, most wings in HS can’t hold him. JUCO was a great move for him to develop his skill, he may come out a very high level D1 wing. Buda can have many great things ahead of him as long as he lives in the gym.

Jahlil Tripp (2016) 6’5 G/F, Abraham Lincoln HS

Tripp is another guard with great size and scoring ability. He was originally commited to Rutgers but being that there was a change in the coaching staff, that situation is now a mess. I hope a good D1 gives him a chance, he’s definitely ready for that level. As long as Tripp remains focused and doesn’t lose any steps in the development process, basketball will take him to many places.

Jalen Lecque (2018) 6’4 G, Monsignor Scanlan HS

Unfortunately, Jalen tore his ACL in Dyckman. However, when he did play, it’s easy to see why his name on the rise. He’s a very athletic guard that can score the ball and was bound for this breakout, I hope Jalen has a speedy recovery and can get right back to proving that he’s a high level player.

CJ Robinson (2020) 6’2 G

CJ is way beyond his years. I don’t know what high school he will be attending but any school will be lucky to land him. I’ve seen 2016’s with D1 offers lose matchups with CJ. He still has a long way to go, a lot of can happen in four years. However, as long as he stays in the gym, CJ is bound to have a long list of options when choosing which college he wants to attend for free.

Victor Potter Jr (2018) 6’7 G/F, Monsignor Scanlan

Victor is a versatile, athletic guard that is on the rise with his other Scanlan teammates. Victor’s name really broke out this summer and he proved a lot. His size and athleticism makes him a high potential player, hopefully Victor acts on that potential.

Saquan Singleton (2017) 6’5 G/F, Monsignor Scanlan

Saquan improves every time I see him and the CHSAA “AA” should be scared. Although he’s really a combo guard, I see Saquan as a versatile guy who just makes things happen. Local D1s are all over him just like they should be and hopefully Saquan stays on this track of improvement, he may end up doing bigger things than he can dream of.

Donta Sanders (2016) 5’11 G, Satellite HS

Donta is a small guard that plays with arguably the most confidence in the whole city. If he’s knocking down shots, there’s not much you can do to stop him. There’s a reason he averaged 50 points this season, don’t sleep on him. I hope to see Donta develop a consistent lethal jumpshot, it’ll take his game to the next level.

Chauncey Hawkins IV (2017) 5’10 G, St. Joseph

Chauncey is a small guard that’s tough to stay in front of. He makes plays and is a great example of a floor general. If I was coach, I would trust Chauncey with the game winning play.

Cheick Kone (2016) 6’3 G, Monroe Campus

Cheick has a developed game, he’s ahead of the competition. Scoring and making playing on this level seems to come relatively easy to him, I hope he can do the same on the collegiate level.

Malik Mooving (2016) 5’10 G, Wings Academy HS

Malik is a small guard who some may say is very underrated. I’ve seen him drop 20+ points against high level competition, Malik can play. In a city full of high level guards, it’s easy to be overlooked. Hopefully Malik keeps working and proves that he belongs.

Baron Goodridge (2016) 5’10 G, Cardinal Hayes

Baron is the definition of a floor general. He’s a wizard with the ball and has a great understanding the game. He’s not in division 1 shape right now but I wouldn’t be surprised if his name comes up on the collegiate level, he can definitely play.

Rakym Felder (2016) 5’10 G, Abraham Lincoln HS – University of South Carolina

In my opinion, Rakym is one of the most underrated guards in the country. He’s a playmaker with great court vision. He’s short but he’s very strong which made it difficult for HS guards to stay in front of him. I look forward to seeing him prove more people wrong at USC this year.

Derren Horn (2017) 6’5 G, West Oaks Academy

Every now and then, Derren has plays that show that he’s a quiet killer. He can score the ball against high level defenders and it’s very likely that he’ll do the same thing on a Division 1 team. If he gets in to Division 1 shape, he’ll be a great wing for a good school.

Tyrone Cohen (2016) 6’5 G/F, Christ The King HS – Holy Cross

Tyrone just goes out there and plays. He’s athletic which makes him a great defender and scorer in the lane. He has a lot to work on but he seems to have a great understanding of the game which puts a huge boost on the process. Nothing can stop him from doing great things at Holy Cross besides himself. 

For more information, click here

A mini documentary written and produced by Long Island City's

 Leonardo Jorge

 Class of 2016

Episode 1: Unsigned Senior Hype Try-outs

Episode 2: My Live Period

Episode 3:  l Baba Gz: The Beginning

By Brett Wilson

SmartBall Classic 2016 Pre Season High School Tournament. Single game elimination.

These are the players we noticed:

Thursday, August 18
Bishop Loughlin vs Frederick Douglass Academy
Curtis High vs Jefferson High
Lincoln High vs Kennedy High

Keith Williams 2017 6'5 wing Bishop Loughlin HS - Runs the floor hard on the fast break. Good in transition. Good athlete with good ability to be effective on the boards from the wing. Can be streaky as a scorer. Needs to be better with his dribble and shooting from the perimeter.

Markquis Nowell 2018 5'7 point guard Bishop Loughlin HS - good with his dribble and pass. Has the ability to find others with his pass. Good court vision and awareness. Average 3pt  shooter. Can be turnover prone. Needs to become solid on defense

Travis Cox 2017 6'0 guard FDA - combo guard with decent instincts. Can dribble well. Solid frame. Can take it to the basket and get into the lane in transition. Needs to work on his shooting

Ransford Agyeman 2017 6'0 guard Curtis - good with the ball. Knows how to make plays. Good in transition and crashing the boards. Good defender. Needs to keep his dribble under control

Samuel Majekodunmi 2017 6'1 guard Curtis HS - nice skill set. Can play the point. Good in the half court. Good IQ.  Can hit mid range shot. Needs to work on his 3pt shooting. 

Marques Watson 2018 6'5 wing Jefferson HS  - good dribbling skills.  Can play the point wing. Nice with his dribble drive to the basket. Average passer. Needs to get stronger  and play better defense.

Donald Flores 2017 6'0 point guard Lincoln HS - physical point guard. See the court. Good with his pass. Can take it strong to the basket with his dribble. Average defender.  Needs to be consistent with his outside shooting.

Othello Smith 2017 6'9 center Lincoln HS - can block some shot and grab some rebounds. Average player in the post. Needs to get stronger and develop into a offensive threat.

Joshua Moore 2017 6'5 wing Kennedy HS -  average skill set but has good upside.  Can hit open shots. Can be effective with his pass. Needs to look to score more and be more aggressive. 

Wednesday, August 17
Cardinal Hayes vs Wadleigh High
Bedford High vs WHEELS

Joe Toussaint 2019 5'10  point guard  Cardinal Hayes HS -    good with his dribble. Has the ability to make good passes. Getting better on defense. Needs to be a better shooter.

Tyrese Williams 2018 6'2 guard Cardinal Hayes HS - good with his ability to get to the basket. Has 3pt range.  Average dribble and defender. Needs to be consistent as a go to player

Jalen Nesmith 2019 5'10 point guard Cardinal Hayes HS  - good shooter. Can dribble and is a good passer. Needs to improve as a lock down perimeter defender. 

Babacar Ndiaye 2017 6'17 forward Wadleigh HS - shows good upside as a post player. Runs well. Decent footwork and post presence. Needs to stay aggressive as a rebounder and a post defender and with his offensive skill set.

Marlon Moretta 2017 6'5 wing WHEELS HS - decent spot shooter. Can hit 3pt shots. Decent perimeter awareness. Needs to get with his dribble, defense and on the boards for his size.

Jahlil Nougues 2017 5'6 point guard Bedford Academy -  good point guard in the making. Shows that he can run the team and make his shots. Needs to stay strong with his dribble when being pressured.

Tuesday, August 16
Boys & Girls High vs John Bowne High

Marcus Patterson 2019 5'9 point guard  Boys & Girls HS  - good court sense. Plays under control.  Does a good jobs at setting up his teammates. Not afraid to be aggressive with his dribble.  Needs to look for his offensive more.

Kareem Reid 2019 6'7 forward John Bowne HS - Long frame. Good wingspan. Can protect the rim as a shot blocker. At times can put the ball on the floor and dribble when he is not under heavy pressure. Good athletic potential. Can rebound.  Needs to become a scorer and get stronger. 

Monday, August 15

South Shore High vs St. Raymonds

​Monsignor Scanlan vs Benjamin Cardozo High

Isaiah Richards 2019 6'9 center South Shore HS - can be a shot blocker.  Average  rebounder.  Young player. Needs to play tough against good competition

Isaiah Washington 2017 5'10  point guard St Raymond - good with the ball. Good with his dribble and pass. Has 3pt range.   Needs to play better defense.

Dallas Watson 2018 6'1  St Raymond - Decent in transition.  Can get above the basket when driving in transition. Needs look for his outside shot.

Omar Silverio 2018 6'5 guard St. Raymond HS  - combo guard. Works Hard on offense.  Steady improving with his offensive play. Nice touch with his dribble and pass. Needs to stay hungry on defense.

Saquan Singletary 2017 6'6 wing Scanlan HS  - knows how to attack the basket.  Long player.  Decent passer. Can play the point wing. Needs to develop shooting ability.

Victor Potter 2018 6'7 forward Monsignor Scanlan - good athleticism. Good bounce and jumping around the basket. Can rebound. Can block some shots on the defensive end. Needs to work on his dribbling skills.

Marcus Hammond 2018 5'9 point guard Cardozo HS  - Smart player. Knows how and when to make the right pass. Can hit open shots. Young player. Need to become a better defender and get stronger.

These games will be played at Lincoln Playground Park, 135 Street and 5th Avenue

Register here: wooterleague.eventbrite.com

By: Claire Mulgrew

This weekend in Ardsley, NY at the House of Sports, Zero Gravity hosted the Empire State Challenge where teams from all over the tri-state area came out to show their talents. Some of the top performers at the tournament included the following:

Max Mitchell (2020) 6’3” Forward, Greens Farm Academy, Hometown: Westport, CT AAU Team: CT Premier Hoops Development. Mitchell has exceptional big man skills, despite the fact that he is only in 8th grade. He can go hard to the basket, while also sinking outside shots. He grabs many rebounds and plays with confidence.

Joey Gulbin (2020) 5’7’ Swing, Fairfield Warde High School, Hometown: Fairfield, CT AAU Team: CT Premier Hoops Development. Gulbin is a strong defender who puts his heart in every possession he plays. He is always hustling and plays with determination to see his team win.

Diontae Eady (2020) 5’8 Point Guard, Hometown: Milford, CT AAU Team: CT Premier Hoops Development. Eady has good ball handling skills and also makes smart passes to his teammates.

Jadyn Tabois (2019) 5’11” Guard, Fairfield Prep, Hometown: Southport, CT AAU Team: CT Premier Hoops Development. Tabois has good shot, whether it be from outside, in the paint, or down low. He also is very consistent with his foul shooting. 

Gavin Greene (2020) 6’2” Forward, Saint Joseph’s High School, Hometown: Monroe, CT AAU Team: CT Premier Hoops Development. Greene has a nice mid range jumper and is powerful down low as well.

Kameron Jones (2020) 5’9” Shooting Guard, West Genesee High School, Hometown:Syracuse, NY AAU Team: Gymratz. Jones is really increasing the depth of all of his ball handling skills and makes lots of steals. He hustles and stays with the play. He also has nice mid-range jumper.

Travis Gray (2020) 6’3’ Shooting Guard, Fayetteville Manlius High School, Hometown:Syracuse, NY AAU Team: Gymratz. Gray creates many opportunities for his teammates to score when he is on the court. He also gets many points inside, resulting in him getting to the foul line.

Will Amica (2020) 5’8” Point Guard, West Genesee High School, Hometown: Syracuse, NYAAU Team: Gymratz. Amica is a natural point guard. He can easily get around many defenders, making it easy to dribble up and down the court under pressure. He makes good decisions with the ball. He also has a good shot.

Charlie Godsden (2020) 6’3” F/C, Fayetteville Manlius High School, Hometown: Manlius, NYAAU Team: Gymratz. Grabbing rebounds is Godsden’s specialty. He plays strong and gets his points down low.

Zack Brown (2020) 6’2” Forward, Solvay High School, Hometown: Syracuse, NY AAU Team:Gymratz. Brown is an all around good player, who plays smart and uses that to help his team succeed.

Jaden Ezomo (2020) 6’3” Forward, Nottingtham High School, Hometown: Syracuse, NY AAU Team: Gymratz. A good outsider shooter, who is strong and able to block shots. He also is a dependable rebounder for his team.

Aidan Kudzy  (2017)  6'0"  Guard, Ludlowe High School Hometown: Fairfield, CT  AAU Team: ABC-Krumins.  It is not often we see a kid dominate a game from the defensive end. This kid plays stifling on-ball defense, gets to every loose ball and can also pin layups on the backboard. Gets to the rim and finishes.

Connor Payne (2018) 6’3” PF/C, Massapequa High School, Hometown: Massapequa Park, NYAAU Team:  Lightning-Busch. Payne makes nice moves to the hoop, resulting in lots of rebounds and point down low. He uses his size to his advantage, often resulting in him taking charges and getting to the foul line.

Teandre Rountree (2018) 5’9” Point Guard, Bellport High School, Hometown: Bellport, NY AAU Team: LI Elite. Rountree overwhelms any team trying to defend him with his exceptional ball handling skills and his overall ability as point guard. He is a good defender, making it tough for players to get around him.

Troy Goode (2018) 5’9” Point Guard, Riverhead High School, Hometown: Riverhead, NY AAU Team: LI Elite. Goode is fast, which helps him create turnovers for the other team. He goes strong to the basket and gets points down low.

Sean Braithwaite (2019) 6’4” Guard, Center Moriches, Hometown: Center Moriches AAU Team: LI Elite. Braithcoaite does a little bit of everything for his team. He can also shoot well from the 3-point range.

Jake Gaudiello (2018) 5'11 Guard - HS Team Westhampton Beach HS, Westhampton NY  AAU Team: LI Elite. Heady guard who competes at both ends; has tremendous range and good IQ. Made winning plays down stretch to help his team secure win.

Elijah Harding (2017) 6’1” Forward, Bridgehampton High School, Hometown: Bridgehampton, NY AAU Team: LI Elite. Harding clogs up the middle, and is always helping his teammates out on defense. He uses his body to his advantage down low and finishes his shots strong. He is a true team player who is always hustling.

Micah Snowden (2019) 6’4” Center, Southampton High School, Hometown: Southampton, NYAAU Team: LI Elite. Snowden consistently gets to the line and makes his foul shots. He is strong down low and always goes hard to the basket.

Jack Reese (2019) 5’7” Guard, Easthampton High School, Hometown: Easthampton, NY AAu Team: LI Elite. Between his quickness and ability to get to the basket, when Reese is on the floor, he gives it his all. He makes smart passes, grabs rebounds, and always goes the extra mile for his team. He is an all around good player.

Hayes Kelchner (2017) 6’6”, Forward, Ludlowe High School, Hometown: Fairfield, CT AAU Team: ABC-Scott. The cornerstone of any successful basketball, a hard playing, tough minded big. Kelchner is all of that. Relentless rebounding effort, and runs the floor well in both directions . He is a strong defender, who is a road block to the rim.

Hamilton Forsythe (2017) 6’7" Wing, Weston High School Hometown: Weston, CT AAU Team: ABC-Scott. Forsythe is blessed, a high academic with a D1 body. He is smooth and athletic. Too athletic to be guarded by bigs on the perimeter, and too long to be guarded by guards in the paint. He has a pretty and high release on his smooth jumper. Very active and mobile on both ends of the court.

Cole Prowitt-Smith (2019) 6’2” Guard, Greens Farms Academy Hometown: Fairfield, CT AAU Team: Academic Basketball. Smith has excellent change-of-direction athleticism, gets to the line frequently and is a very consistent shooter from deep. Despite playing two years "up" in the 17u division, he plays with confidence that helps bring his team to success. 

By Leonardo Jorge

Many of the top high school players in New York City gathered at the Bronx River Gym and played in this year's Hoop City Showdown All Star game. Here are some of the guys who shown brightly.

Victor Bakre - 6'4 G - 2016 - Jane Adams HS (Bronx). Victor is an athlete. He has good size for a guard and a great wingspan. His jumping and finishing ability make him a major offensive threat.

Darrin Horn - 6'5 G - 2017 West Oaks Academy HS (FL). Darrin needs to get in the gym to take his game to the next level but he can play. He had tough matchups and went at it with all of them. He can put the ball in the basket but he needs to sharpen his skills in order to be a great player.

Saquan Singleton - 6'5 SG - 2017 - Monsignor Scanlan HS (Bronx). Saquan needs to get stronger and be more aggressive in order to be a high level D1 player. However, he's a guy that you don't sleep on. He shut down the gym with his SportsCenter Top 10 worthy poster dunk.

Isaiah Washington - 6'2 PG - 2017 - St. Raymond's HS (Bronx). The game comes easy to Isaiah and he uses that to be a great leader and floor general. His mix of court vision, aggressiveness, passing ability, and flashy handle make it easy to see why some call him NYC's next best PG. I would like to see him work on his shooting ability so that he can strive on the next level.

Sidney Wilson - 6'7 F - 2017 - St. Raymond's HS (Bronx). Sidney is a big time prospect, it's easy to see why many high level programs have been recruiting him for awhile now. At 6'7, he's very skilled and versatile. Around the right coaches he can develop into a  good pro.

Cyril Langevine - 6'9 F/C - 2016 - The Patrick School HS (NJ). Cyril didn't get many touches but it's easy to see that he gets the job done. He's an underrated big, there aren't many as efficient and fundamentally skilled as he.

Nazreon Reid - 6'9 F - 2018 - Roselle Catholic HS (NJ).He has a lot of work to do in order to maximize his potential but being that he's only a sophomore, Nazreon is big time. As he was bringing the ball up, coach Kashif Pratt told him "go catch a dunk". His response was simple, one dribble to get from half court to the three point line, one in and out dribble to get rid of his defender and another one to make sure he put an exclamation on the dunk. If Nazi keeps developing his skills, he will be a matchup nightmare at the highest collegiate level. 

Markquis Nowell - 5'8 PG - 2018 - Bishop Loughlin HS (Brooklyn). Markquis is tough, skilled and efficient. Because of his poise and on court leadership, it's hard to believe that's he's still an underclassmen. Markquis will find a good fit at the next level.

Baron Goodridge - 6'0 PG - 2016 - Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx). Baron is a natural born PG. He's great with the ball in his hands but I would like to see his play making ability tested a little more. He was slept on in the recruiting process but he'll be a good college player somewhere.

Elijah Pemberton - 6'4 SG - 2016- Cheshire Acadmemy (CT) Elijah is a guy who will have lots of success at the next level. He's very skilled and has a great understanding of the game. His superb athleticism takes him over the top and it's a big part of the reason that he'll be able to compete against other great guards next year. 

Unique McClean - 6'2 G - 2016 - The Hoosac School (NY). Unique can fly. His pull up jump shot is hard to guard but he'll need to develop more handle and moves to have the same success at the next level.

Chuba Ohams - 6'8 F - 2016 - Coastal Academy (NJ) Chuba's versatility takes him over the top, he's a matchup nightmare. In order to take his game to the next level he needs to hit the weight room and also develop a stronger handle.

Jalen Nesmith - 5'11 PG - 2019 - Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx) Jalen has heart. Unlike most NYC guards, he doesn't take any plays off. He has the package that all of the elite guards come with: leadership, flashy handle and passing ability. He needs to learn how to run a team better but that'll come with time and experience. His future is all on him, Jalen might be great one day.

Ismael Massoud - 6'7 G - 2018 - Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx). Ismael isn't too much fun to watch for fans who want that classic NYC playground ball. However,  playground ball isn't what takes you to the next level. Ismael is a next level player, he knows how to play the game and seems fearless of any defender you put on him. Colleges should be all over him.

Michael Maynes - 6'0 G - 2016 - Spring Valley HS (NY). Michael is the guy who you don't want to play against. He's the guy who'll dive into the crowd and has no fear on the court. He can put the ball in the basket but he needs to be more efficient.

Marlon Taylor - 6'6 F - 2015 - Mount Vernon HS (NY). Marlon is a superb athlete. Because of his strength and ability to get his eyes to rim level, Marlon can get in the lane and score the ball at will. He can be developed into a good college player.

By Leonardo Jorge

Established by Harry "Hank" Carter, the Wheelchair Classic, as a major part of Wheelchair Charities, Inc., started in 1973 and is a magnificent charity game played by the best high school players in New York City. The monies raised to go help support individuals who are wheelchair-bound.

Our top players included: 

Chaz Platt – 5’10 G - Holy Cross - Class of 2016.  Chaz can shoot the basketball, but because of his height, he needs to do it more consistently to be an impact player at the next level. He needs to get better at creating space for his shot. He has IQ and is a natural leader. Overall, with a few tweaks, Chaz can be a good player at the next level.

Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor – 6’5 F - Monsignor McClancy – Class of 2017. Alonzo is a strong forward who can step out. If he develops his handle, don’t be surprised if he starts his senior year with D1 looks.

Daniel Kissoon – 5’8 G - Springfield Gardens – Class of 2016. Daniel is an undersized guard but his toughness makes up for it on this level. He’s tough and has lots of heart. Because of his aggressiveness and understanding of the game, he will find a fit somewhere on the next level.

Tyrone Cohen – 6’5 G - Christ The King – Class of 2016. Tyrone needs to work on his decision making but he can easily be developed into a good Division 1 guard. He gets into the lane with ease and plays hard, he’ll be a good player for Holy Cross next year.

Isaac Grant – 6’4 F - Archbishop Molloy – Class of 2016. Isaac is a high IQ player. He’s very strong which makes him a problem in the paint. However, he’ll need to work on his guard skills in order to be successful at a high collegiate level.

Lenny Kadisha – 6’5 G - Coastal Academy (NJ) – Class of 2016. Lenny has both the size and skill to be a Division 1 guard. However, he has a lot of mental work to do. He makes strong moves but he needs to be less of a ball stopper. If Lenny can learn to balance looking for his own shot and to looking for his teammates, he will take his game to the next level.

Reggie Quezada – 6’2 G - Thurgood Marshall Academy – Class of 2016. Reggie needs a lot of work on his jump shot, especially his form. However, you can’t deny the fact that he’s tough. He takes it to the rack fearlessly and finishes a lot of and 1s. He’s not a kid to sleep on.

Chuba Ohams – 6’8 SF - Coastal Academy (NJ) – Class of 2016. Chuba is a BIG time prospect. He’s a 6’8 with guard skills and I wouldn’t be surprised if his wingspan is over 7 feet. His jump shot and free throw shooting need a lot of work but Chuba is special. Fordham isn’t necessarily known for breeding NBA players but if he works hard enough then Chuba may be the one to start that trend.

Bryan Assie – 6’6 F - Thurgood Marshall Academy – Class of 2016. Bryan is tough down low. He’s strong and has great fundamentals for a big. He can be a steal for many big time programs at the next level.

Bryce Council – 5’8 PG – LaSalle Academy – Class of 2017. Bryce is a tough floor general. He has enough handle to hold his own against athletic defenders and he has a whole lot of heart. He’s a guy who isn’t scared of the spotlight, he’ll give it his all.

Terrell Fullerton – 6’3 G – BDA – Class of 2016. Terrell is one of Brooklyn’s underrated guards. He had a couple of plays that displayed his efficient handle and scoring ability.  Don’t put a guy who can’t play defense in front of him because Terrell will expose him.

Gerald Williams – 6’5 G – Westinghouse HS – Class of 2016. Gerald is a great athlete. His strength and toughness allows him to take it to the basket on just about any big in America. Watch your head if you plan to run and jump with Gerald on the break.

Damarri Moore – 6’7 F – Westinghouse HS – Class of 2016. Damarri displayed his versatility in his matchup with Chuba Ohams. He has a lot of weight room work to do and he needs to keep developing his skills but he’ll be a steal for a low major D1 if he can stay focused.

Anthony Munson – 6’2 PG – Bedford Academy – Class of 2016.  Munson didn’t necessarily have any special plays but he proved that he’s a floor general. His composure and leadership ability will allow him to be successful at the next level.

Rasheem Dunn – 6’3 G – Thomas Jefferson – Class of 2016. Rasheem was a big time steal for St. Francis. He’s a strong guard who can get in the lane and give you a lot of buckets. Because Thomas Jefferson had so much talent, Rasheem couldn’t necessarily display all of his talent but he could’ve easily been the Russell Westbrook of the PSAL this year.

Jahlil Tripp – 6’5 G – Lincoln HS – Class of 2016. Tripp has the size and athleticism to be a big time D1 guard. Defense doesn’t seem to faze him but he needs to remember to stay aggressive. Without the aggressiveness, he’s not as efficient with the ball as he can be. Rutgers got a good one.

Travis Morgan – 6’ G – Elmont HS – Class of 2016. Travis is a guard who can do good things for your program. He needs to be more aggressive in order to completely display his skills but it’s easy to see that overall Travis can just play. 

Mike Almonacy - 6’1 G – Brentwood HS – Class of 2016. If Mike was from NYC then the hype around him would be real. Because of his court vision and wide variety of skills, he’s a great PG who can do it all for your team. If I’m a coach, I’m putting the ball in Mike’s hand for the game winning play. 

Lukas Jarrett – 6’5 F – Northport HS – Class of 2016. It took a few minutes into the game for Lukas to turn the switch on but once he started, there was no stopping him. This kid can play. Because of the combination of his length and skill, he has a lot of potential. It doesn’t hurt that his jump shot is automatic. A good coach can mold this kid into a great college player. 

Jose Pabon – 5’11 PG – Upper Room Christian HS – Class of 2016. Jose has a lot to work on in order to run the point for a good team next year. However, he plays hard and has a great understanding of the game. 

Alex Sorenson – 6’3 G – South Side – Class of 2016. The first few times he touched the ball, Alex proved that he can shoot the ball with ease. After the defense closed out on him, he also proved that he can make strong moves. He’s a kid who’s easy to sleep on in warm ups but once the ball is in his hands, it’s hard to stop this kid from making a play.   

By Claire Mulgrew and Emma Yavel

Big Time Competition at HOS

Ardsley, NY Zero Gravity hosted another tournament at the House of Sports, filled with talent from all over the east coast. It was an exciting weekend where the NY Lightning was crowned the Big Time Champion in the 14U/8th grade division. Here are the weekend's top performers that we saw: 

Andy Vittoria (2019) 6’4” Center, Regis High School, Manhattan Hometown: Greenwich, CT AAU Team: Tristate Thunder. Vittoria is a strong player, who is always grabbing rebounds. He is powerful down low and positions himself well to score.

Bruno Barbosa (2019) 5’11” Small Forward, Pelham High School Hometown: Pelham, NY AAU Team: Tristate Thunder. Barbosa can shoot from just about anywhere on the court. His confidence shows, especially when making foul shots under pressure. He also can drive strong to the hoop.

Samuel “Gus” Thompson (2019) 6’1” SF/PF, Scarsdale High School Hometown: Scarsdale, NY AAU Team: Tristate Thunder. If the ball is on the floor, so is Thompson, every possession he finds someway to show his hustle. He also has a good shot and is a strong defender.

Jamari Foy (2020) 5’8” Point Guard, Hometown: Boston, MA AAU Team: eXpressions Elite  Foy is a good outsider shooter, with long range. His is always hustling hard to make good plays for his team.

Jamel Shaheed (2020) 5’10 SG/SF, Hometown: Boston, MA AAU Team: eXpressions Elite. Shaheed consistently gets to the line, making many of his foul shots. He is also a good outsider shooter.

Kurtis Henderson (2020) 5’6” Point Guard, Hometown: Brockton, MA AAU Team: eXpressions Elite. Henderson is a strong point guard, who can get down the court quickly and set up his teammates nicely for shots. He also can drive strongly to the hoop, but can pull up for a long range shot.

Karl Jeannot (2020) 6’5 SF/PF, Holderness High School (NH) Hometown: Everett, MA AAU Team: eXpressions Elite. Jeannot uses his height and long arm span to help clog up the middle. He grabs many rebounds on either end, providing him with ton of points right under the basket. He does not shy away from contact and is a strong all around player.

Quaran McPherson (2020) 6’2” PG, Vermont Academy (VT) Hometown: Queens, NY AAU Team: NY Lightning. McPherson can dribble around many defenders, making it hard to defend him. He also can drive hard to the basket, getting points easily.

Trey Hall (2020) 6’7” SG/SF, Hometown: Willimantic, CT AAU Team: NY Lightning Hall excels when under the basket, whether it be grabbing rebounds or getting baskets off. He also can drive to the basket from further out, making it hard for small players to defend him. He can jump very high, allowing him to easily block shots. 

Gary Grant (2020) 6’3” PG/SG, St. Raymond’s High School, Bronx Hometown: Queens, NY AAU Team: NY Lightning. Grant is tough and a good defender. He can shoot from all over the court and also is able to dribble around many defenders.

Quron Zene Jr. (2021) 6’4” Guard, Hometown: Windsor, CT AAU Team: NY Lightning  Zene provides great help to his team on defense, often stepping up to help out his other team members. He also is a good shooter.

Primo Spears (2020) 6’0” Point Guard, Northwest Catholic, CT Hometown: Hartford, CT AAU Team: NY Lightning. Spears is good with the ball, and clearly comfortable dribbling under pressure. He also creates good scoring opportunities for his teammates, leading him to a lot of assists.

Sylvanus Isiah Thompson (2019) 5’8” Shooting Guard, Danbury High School Hometown: Danbury, CT AAU Team: Keen Vision. Thompson is a good shooter that has long range. He defends the ball very well, and can easily annoy the players he is defending.

Denali Burton (2019) 6’2” Small Forward, Danbury High School Hometown: Danbury, CT AAU Team: Keen Vision. Burton is always hustling and giving his all on every possession, which is part of what makes him a tough defender in the paint. He can easily get by defenders, helping him get to the foul line frequently.

Keyon Moore (2019) 5’7” PG/SG, Danbury High School Hometown: Danbury, CT AAU Team: Keen Vision. Moore makes big plays for his team, including getting steals and getting to the foul line. He takes it hard to the rim, making foul shots and playing tough throughout the game.

Nazeer Priar (2019) 5’4” Shooting Guard, Abbott Technical High School Hometown: Danbury, CT AAU Team: Keen Vision. Priar is not afraid of contact, often going right up against the taller players when down low. He plays with confidence and is a good outsider shooter.

Charlie Weitzel  (2020) 6’4” Power Forward, Roxbury Latin HS (MA) AAU Team: Boston Bobcats. Weitzel has the height to be an excellent low post player. Always knows what to do with the ball on the offensive end. Poses a huge threat to opponents just by standing there – the guy gets to the free throw line.

Donovan Crawford (2020) 5’7” Point Guard, Beaver Country Day School (MA) AAU Team: Boston Bobcats. Crawford always capitalizes big time on every point. He has the range and can also make the easy lay-up. Smart player with high basketball IQ. Hopefully will be college bound.

Aaron Cooley (2020) 6’3” Forward, Newton North HS (MA) AAU Team: Boston Bobcats. This guy always seems to be in the middle the point – whether its on offense or defense. He fights for all the rebounds and seems to always come out on top. He is a very talented 8th grader with prosperous years ahead of him.

Jacob Harris – (2020) 6’0” Small Forward, Brookline HS AAU Team: Boston Bobcats. An unbelievably agile player. Made quite a few unbelievable plays off the dribble. Exciting player to watch, as he is pretty unpredictable. Very fast but can sometimes get overly aggressive. His charisma and love for the game will go far. Once he matures, he’ll be an extremely hot prospect in a few years time.

Trey Hall  (2020) 6’7” Wing  AAU Team: NY Lightning. Standing at 6’7”, Hall who is only in 8th grade, can dunk, play the point, and can basically play anywhere on the court. It would be unbelievable if this guy is not finished growing.

Camaron Tongue (2020)  6’3” Forward  Beaver Country Day School (MA) AAU Team: Boston Bobcats. Tall lanky guy who, although does need some work down low, can be a huge asset to the team once he matures. For now, he can contribute to the team’s offense and give them a decent amount of minutes. Coach says: “He is known for his shot blocking, rebounding and physical play. He also has the ability to guard guards”.

Zion Bethea  (2020) 6’1” Guard, Hometown: South Orange, NJ AAU Team: NJ Playaz. Big bodied guard that shows off a great deal of talent. He has the ability to catch and shoot the ball very quickly while demonstrating a soft touch in the lane as well. Bethea will be a hot prospect in the coming years.

Jahmali Carnegie (2020)  6’1” Guard, Hometown: Teaneck, NJ AAU Team: NJ Playaz. Grad Year: 2020 Carnegie is a defensive specialist, as he was one of the best defenders noticed all weekend. He has definitely earned time out on the floor and played extremely valuable minutes this weekend.

Reajon Figures – (2020) 6’2” Guard, Hometown: Hackensack, NJ AAU Team: NJ Playaz. Figures is a combo guard who truly gets the job down up top. His skill set allows him to a reliable finisher. He is clearly a leader of the squad and is able to produce results in pressured situations. 

By Brett Wilson

Saturday April 9
This year marked the 21st year that Big Apple Sports conducted their college exposure showcase. Here are some notable players that we saw.

Nathan Josaphat class 2016    6'0 guard Brooklyn Friends HS - good shooting touch, strong attacking the basket, very athletic overall and a sharp defender. Needs more confidence, which affects his decision making

Tim Awosika class 2016 6'7 center Southside HS - can block shots in the paint and as a weakside defender. Will hustle hard. Can rebound and has good wingspan. Still developing his offensive game

Myles Patten class 2016 6'3 guard St. Anthony NJ - good player.  Efficient with his play.  Can shoot the 3 ball and good in transition and half court settings. Needs to consistently be a scorer.

Markus Wilson class 2016 6'2 point guard Kennedy HS - left handed point guard with good skill set. Good 3pt shooter.  Good feel for the game and good basketball IQ.  Needs to get stronger

Vaughndras Lennon class 2016 6'6 forward Saunders HS - long with good athletic ability. Good mid range shooter. Will get rebounds on both ends.  Needs to work on his dribbling skills.

Marcus Richardson class 2016 6'5 forward Hoosac Prep -  decent shooter.  Plays well in the half court setting.  Knows how to make the right play. Still improving on his athletic ability

Vinace Zoungrana class 2016 6'6 forward Kennedy HS - athletic ability. Good in transition.  Has good ability to be a shot blocker.  Needs to work harder on the offensive end. 

Chris Burkley class 2016 6'0 combo guard Long Island Lutheran - good combo guard. Good with the ball in his hands and making decisions. Will try hard on defense. Needs to better at mid range shooting

Jamir Cheeks class 2016 6'0 point guard Boys & Girls HS - good with the ball in his hands. Good with his dribble and drive moves.  Good energy on the court. Average defender

John Green class 2016 6'6 forward Manhattan HS - has some explosive power moves to the basket. Can get vertical and finish above the rim.  Needs to work on better footwork and crashing the boards

Obadiah Toppin class 2016 6'7 forward Ossining HS - good player good athleticism. Can beat you to basket with his long arms and reach. Can play above the rim. Can turn and face. Needs to get tough on defense

Yaradyah Evans class 2016 6'7 forward South Shore HS - can block shots and be athletic. Good movement in the lane. Knows how to space the floor. Plays unselfish. Still developing as a strong post player

Najee Scott class 2016 6'4 Boys & Girls HS - 3pt shooter. Streaky shooter but aggressive in his willingness to take the shot. Can push the fast break.  Needs to let the game come to him more often

Denzil Haynes class 2016 6'5 forward Transit Tech - can play in the post and good mid range action.  Can be aggressive on the boards.  Needs to stay focused during the game.

By Brett Wilson

The notable unsigned seniors who showed out at James Barrett Showcase on Friday, April 8 were as follows:

Teshaun Beckles class 2016 6'3 wing Eagle Academy - good player. Good in transition.  Knows how to create off the dribble.  Needs to get more defensive minded. 

Baron Goodridge class 2016 5'11 point guard Cardinal Hayes - good in his ability to pass the ball.  Good with his decision making in transition. Can hit open shots. Needs to develop his ability to play consistently with his weak hand.

Kevin Saylor class 2016 6'2 guard Wings Academy - quick and fast.  Can beat you with his dribble drive. Needs to work on his shooting and being a shooting threat

Brian Adams class 2016 6'3 guard St. Raymond HS - will continuously give you good effort.  Decent mid range shooter.  Needs to fall into his niche as a perimeter player.

Cheyenne Nettleman class 2015  5'9 point guard South Shore HS Notre Dam Prep - quick up and down the floor. High energy type of player with scoring and play making ability. Still improving on his shooting and being a good facilitator

Betjol Jeremy class 2016 6'9 center Bishop Loughlin - knows how to crash the boards.  Good flow to his game around the basket. Has the potential to become a go to post player. Needs to jump higher.

Lenny Kadisha class 2015 6'5 wing Wadleigh HS - good size and shows to have better than average athletism. Can score and be a threat. Needs to add steady rebounding and  defense to his game.

Demari Moore class 2016 6'6 forward Westinghouse HS - will play defense and block some shots. Average offensive skills in the post.  Needs to get stronger for more physical play

Malik Mooving class 2016 5'9 point guard Wings Academy - good passer and distributor. Decent at creating and be a play making.  Average shooter.  Still improving at being a strong defender all the time

Gianni Ford class 2016 6'1 point guard Boys & Girls HS - good with the ball in his hands. Can break you down and get past you. Good scoring ability. Needs to be less herky jerky with some of his offensive moves.

Kevin Dennis class 2016 6'4 forward Truman HS - good strong player.  Strong body type and physique. Can rebound and doesnt mind attacking the basket. Still developing as a perimeter player

Obadiah Toppin class 2016 6'7 forward Ossining HS - good player.  Long wingspan. Athletic around and in transition. Has good perimeter abilities. Needs to get tougher on his perimeter defense.

Ronald Jefferson class 2016 6'2 guard Christ The King HS - nice player.  Can handle the ball.  Crafty at finishing at the basket. Willing to take the 3pt shot.  Still needs to physically get stronger for stiff competition.

Wesley Nelson class 2016 6'2 guard Construction HS - good passer.  Sees the floor.  Can be scorer.  Needs to be more vocal with his communication on the court.

Fatir Hines class 2016 6'9 forward The Patrick School - can rebound and be physical in the paint.  Will try hard defending in the post.  Needs to work on better footwork.

Positive Influence Summer League

Season runs from June 15-August 15, Monday through Saturday, 3-10pm