2005 Five-Star Invitational
NEW LONDON, Conn. – After two years in Massachusetts, the Five-Star Invitational moved to Connecticut College this year. That wasn’t the only thing different about this year’s version, which featured a 16-and-under division after having 32 teams in one division last year. Five-Star has a long history of events like this, and it all went off without a hitch and with some good basketball throughout the weekend.
In some ways it was a typical tournament in the month of May. Division I coaches cannot attend, so the place isn’t bustling with people moving around. A number of coaches from area schools outside of Division I were present, but by and large the attendees were family members of players or just basketball fans.
The 17-and-under championship game was close throughout the first half, save for the fast start that Cecil Kirk got off to as they scored nine of the game’s first 11 points. The Chicago Jaguars came alive after that, then broke open a close game early in the second half en route to a 68-56 win to take home the championship. DeAngelo McIntosh led the Jaguars with 19 points, while Jeremiah Kelly added 17 and tournament MVP Mac Koshwal added 15. Cecil Kirk was led by Jamaal Barney‘s 18 points.
The 16-and-under championship game was a rematch of an earlier pool play game. In pool play, Bingo’s All-Stars took out their New York rivals Juice All-Stars, and they proved that it wasn’t a fluke with a 76-57 win in which they blew the game open right away in the second half. Paul Scotland led the winners with 20 points, while MVP Kidani Brutus added 12 points. Nick Leon led Juice with 17 points.
The All-Tournament selections went as follows for each division:
17-and-under
Mac Koshwal, Chicago Jaguars (MVP)
Kenny Hasbrouck, Team Maine
Thijin Moses, Chicago Jaguars
Kiwan Smith, New England Playaz
Dajuan Summers, Cecil Kirk
16-and-under
Kidani Brutus, Bingo’s All-Stars (MVP)
Domonique Jones, Abyssinian Church
Nick Leon, Juice All-Stars
Paul Scotland, Bingo’s All-Stars
Damien Saunders, Connecticut Nike Elite
Player Notes/Evaluations
Jamaal Barney (6’3″ Jr. SG, Baltimore (MD) Southwestern HS) Had a solid weekend scoring the ball, both shooting and driving. His championship game effort was one of three in which he went for 18 points, and he had 22 in another game. Mid-major plus prospect.
Adam Baumgartner (6’7″ Jr. PF, Arlington (VA) O’Connell HS) Nice role player was active and rebounded well, while showing a decent offensive game. He went for double figures in two games we saw, with a mix of baskets coming from facing the hoop, posting up and running the floor. Mid-major prospect.
Calvin Betts (6’3″ Jr. SG, Rochester (NY) Rush-Henrietta HS) This well-built guard had a nice showing at the offensive end, shooting it well. He’s been a good role player in the past, including at the defensive end, and here he went for 13 in one game and 14 in another. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Corey Bingham (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Winchendon (MA) School) Thin slasher just about took over one game where he went for 22 points. He looks to be more of a shooting guard than point guard, as he scored the ball well and hit a couple of three-pointers along the way. He’s a bit thin, but quick and finished well. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Kidani Brutus (6’1″ So. SG, Bronx (NY) Wings Academy) Well-built but undersized shooting guard had an excellent weekend in leading his team to the 16-and-under championship. His lowest point total was 12, while he went for 26 in one game as he shot the ball well all weekend.
Reggie Davis (6’4″ Fr. SF, Brooklyn (NY) Xaverian HS) Athletic wing was very active on the offensive glass and often played inside on a team that didn’t have great size. He generally scored close to the basket, while also getting some rebounds.
Chris Donald (6’3″ So. SG, West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial HS) It’s unfortunate that we only got to see one of his games, though it was a very good one. He went for 22 points in a losing effort, scoring mainly on slashes to the basket and in transition. He also dropped in a three-pointer and looks like he has a nice future.
Tyler Emmons (6’5″ Jr. SG, North Bridgton (ME) Bridgton Academy) Good shooter had a nice weekend in helping his team reach the semifinals. He shot it well and occasionally showed a little in-between game. In their quarterfinal win, he went for 20 points, and reached double figures in at least three other games. Mid-major prospect.
John Galvin (6’9″ So. PF, New Canaan (CT) Weston HS) This developing big man had a nice weekend, rebounding and holding down the fort inside. He did have one good scoring game, going for 14 in a late Saturday game, but he didn’t score much because that wasn’t his role.
Travis George (6’7″ PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) At times, this athletic post player dominated, but at other times he looked ordinary. He scored well on the post and blocked some shots on Saturday, but on Sunday he wasn’t a major factor on the offensive end. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Jacob Green (6’9″ Jr. PF, Washington (DC) Gonzaga College HS) He has a nice frame and can run the floor, but he was generally a non-factor in the games we saw. Partly, he didn’t get a lot of touches offensively, but on the glass and inside he wasn’t a major factor. Mid-major plus prospect.
Kenny Hasbrouck (6’3″ Sr. PG, Pittsfield (ME) Maine Central Institute) Good floor leader got better as the weekend went along, capping off the weekend with a 30-point effort in their semifinal loss. He has above-average quickness and good size for the position, making him a good scorer, while also handling the ball well. Although he’s not a great shooter, he had some stretches where he really shot it well. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.
Shawn Hilliard (6’5″ Sr. SF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) The nice thing about him is that he keeps getting a little better every time out. He’s a good athlete and can handle the ball some, and overall has a versatile game. He won’t score a ton of points or fill a stat sheet, but he’s a nice mid-major prospect.
William Jay (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Madison HS) He went for 22 points, including six three-pointers, in one game, but disappeared in another game when he was scoreless. Although he is a capable long range shooter, he didn’t show all that much of an in-between game. Mid-major prospect.
Jeremiah Kelly (6’0″ So. PG, Chicago (IL) Julian HS) Excellent floor leader was a quiet key to his team’s championship run. He’s not a jet, but not lacking in quickness, and he made good decisions with the ball and did some scoring of his own, both on drives and on jumpers.
Nick Leon (5’10” PG-SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) Not overly quick, he’s a capable scorer who showed well at this event last year and made the all-tournament team this year. He’s more of a scorer than a playmaker, especially since he can shoot it well (had six three-pointers in one game en route to 20 points), which means he’s undersized for his position and will have to adapt to the point more. Mid-major prospect.
Mac Koshwal (6’9″ So. PF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS) The MVP was a consistent force inside both scoring and rebounding, though at times he tried to be more like a perimeter player and it led to turnovers. But when he stays at home, he has good post moves and a solid frame and can run the floor. He missed a few shots close to the basket and at times his hands didn’t look too sure, but overall he’s among the better post prospects in the class of 2007.
Dan McGeary (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon) Developing guard had a nice weekend as a complementary player. While he had some good moments and even went for 16 in their playoff loss, he’s still clearly a work in progress. Next year, the West Roxbury, Mass. native will attend Northfield Mt. Hermon to play for a respected mentor, which will only help his development. Mid-major prospect.
DeAngelo McIntosh (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS) Athletic wing was better on Sunday than Saturday, as he was generally a non-factor early. He’s mainly a scorer, showing the ability to finish drives with either hand and being a little stronger than he looks. He capped it off with a game-high 19 points in the final. Mid-major plus prospect.
Kevin Menner (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) Scoring wing has a good frame and played bigger, getting some offensive rebounds and posting up smaller players. He went for double figures in scoring in at least four games. Mid-major prospect.
Thijin Moses (6’9″ Jr. SF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS) Very long and athletic forward had an excellent weekend and continues to look better. He was consistently scoring and also got some rebounds, and his shot selection was generally very good as well and part of the reason he played so well. High-major prospect has lots of upside.
T.J. Robinson (6’6″ So. SF, Bridgeport (CT) Kolbe Cathedral HS) Lefty wing is a little thin, but had a nice weekend and showed some of his potential. What’s more, he’s likely not done growing yet, and his weekend highlight was a 21-point effort in pool play.
Damien Saunders (6’7″ Jr. PF, Waterbury (CT) Crosby HS) Athletic forward had some moments where he looked very good, blocking shots and running the floor while also showing some ball skills. He struggled mightily with his free throws, so his scoring numbers could have been a little better. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Paul Scotland (5’11” So. SG, Bronx (NY) Urban Peace HS) Good scoring guard has a decent frame and some quickness, but the best thing he does is find ways to score. He’s a little undersized for the shooting guard spot, as he doesn’t appear to have the point guard mentality, and his efforts included two games over 20 points.
Brad Sheehan (6’11” So. C, Albany (NY) Shaker HS) Thin post player fared better in a later game against a smaller team, which at least shows that he can use a height advantage when he has it. He showed a touch on mid-range jumpers and had his moments of being a factor inside, and with added strength that should continue.
Kiwan Smith (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute) Very athletic combo forward had a big weekend scoring, with games of 31, 28 and 27 points (twice) included. His shot selection at times was questionable, but he knocked down three-pointers and scored on drives, in the post and in transition. While he did block a few shots, overall his defense tended to be lacking and full of gambles to knock the ball away or steal it. High-major prospect.
Dajuan Summers (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Baltimore (MD) McDonough HS) Another solid weekend for this athletic forward, who looks to have the potential to play both forward spots at the next level although his game is a little more geared towards the power forward spot. He again consistently reached double figures. High-major prospect.
Mike Trimboli (6’2″ Sr. PG, New Canaan (CT) St. Luke’s HS) Good scoring point guard had another solid weekend. He consistently drove and scored, while hitting some shots from outside and even looking like a combo guard. He’ll play the point at the next level, and on Tuesday this mid-major prospect will decide between Vermont and Siena.
Wayne Turner (6’1″ So. PG, New York (NY) Grady HS) Quick slasher had a big game Saturday night, going for 27 points in Team Maine’s last pool play game. He made a couple of very difficult shots and drew a good number of fouls while driving, using quickness and evasiveness to get to the basket. He didn’t shoot it well and his body still needs to mature, but he can get to the basket and score the ball and also be a pest on defense.
Edwin Ubiles (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Poughkeepsie (NY) High) Athletic and skilled wing had a couple of excellent games that we saw, going for 27 and 22 points. More than that, he showed good hands and often handled the ball for his team, and scored in several ways. High-major prospect.
Brandon Walters (6’9″ So. PF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) He didn’t quite match last year’s showing, when he put up some big scoring numbers on the post. His frame is maturing and he runs the floor well, and he showed a mid-range touch a couple of times. He’s a solid post prospect overall.
Matt Wheelock (6’9″ Jr. PF, Pittsfield (ME) Maine Central Institute) Post player got better as the weekend went along. He has a decent frame but clearly needs more strength, and though he didn’t score much, he did make a couple of mid-range jumpers. His post game needs a little work and he wasn’t a big factor defensively, but he could wind up helping a mid-major team out.
Jahmar Young (6’5″ Jr. SG, Baltimore (MD) W.E.B. Dubois HS) Thin scoring wing had another good weekend at the offensive end. Perhaps best of all, he did a good amount of it with his in-between game, as he’s already shown he can shoot it. With added strength, he’ll only get better off the dribble and driving against the big guys inside. High-major minus prospect.
Other players who caught our attention at the tournament:
Chris Abney (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Queens (NY) Christ the King HS)
Mike Auriemma (6’2″ So. PG, Manchester (CT) East Catholic HS)
Talor Battle (5’11” Jr. PG, Albany (NY) Bishop Maginn HS)
Remy Cofield (6’4″ Fr. SG-SF, West Roxbury (MA) Roxbury Latin HS)
Alexander Franklin (6’7″ Jr. SF, Reading (PA) Catholic HS)
Elton Frazier (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Syracuse (NY) Corcoran HS)
Tyshon Goode (6’0″ Fr. PG, Syracuse (NY) Nottingham HS)
Desmond Hendrix (6’10” PF-C, Chicago (IL) Julian HS)
Lamont Jones (6’0″ 8th grade PG-SG, New York (NY) St. Charles Middle School)
James Lewis-Brown (6’7″ So. PF, Springfield (MA) Science Tech)
Napoleon Lherrison (6’7″ So. PF, Braintree (MA) Thayer Academy)
Shaine Matthews-Burks (6’3″ SG, Cape Elizabeth (ME) High)
Brandon McDonald (6’2″ Jr. SG, Greenbelt (MD) Eleanor Roosevelt HS)
DaeQuan Montreal (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Syracuse (NY) Corcoran HS)
Michael Myers (6’5″ So. SF, Fairfield (CT) Prep)
Zamal Nixon (6’0″ So. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Xaverian HS)
Jarwand Rheubottom (6’5″ So. SF, Baltimore (MD) Southwestern HS)
Andre Roberson (5’11” Sr. PG, Wilbraham (MA) Monson HS)
Jovan Robinson (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Dorchester (MA) Boston College HS)
Brandon Triche (6’1″ 8th grade SG, Dewitt (NY) Jamesville HS)
Antwan Waller (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Bridgeport (CT) Warren Harding HS)
Additional player news: Ryan Shields, a 6’9″ power forward from New Canaan (CT) St. Luke’s HS, recently committed to Vermont. He played with the Fairfield County Stars on Sunday. Also, a previous teammate of his, Todd Ward, quit playing basketball altogether. Ward played well last month at the Charlie Weber Capitol Invitational and was a borderline high-major prospect. He will attend the University of Tampa and move on with life after basketball.
