Hoop Mountain Brings Back Event For Local Stars
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – For the first time in over a decade, Hoop Mountain held the Greater Boston All-Star Game on Saturday night at Harvard’s Lavietes Pavilion. It was actually two games in one, with the first game featuring top seniors and the nightcap featuring top underclassmen. The junior class right now projects to be one of the best the state has seen in quite some time and looks better than previously thought.
As is often the case with such games, these games featured little defense and at times players going more for the highlight reels than making plays. But a few players had very favorable showings in each game, including a couple who had a coming out party of sorts.
Senior Stars
At times, Rhode Island-bound Stevie Mejia (5’8″ PG, Hyde Park (MA) Lawrence Academy) played uncharacteristically too much for show, but there’s nothing to be read into it. He got caught up in the game itself, and he did knock down a shot from beyond NBA range along the way.
Robert Wesley (6’0″ PG, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin School) might have been the MVP of the game if there was one. He drove and dished when he had the chance and also knocked down a couple of jumpers en route to scoring 14 points. Fresh off some good games in the state tournament, he’s rounding into form.
Before his brother stole the show at times later, Matt Pressey (6’1″ PG-SG, Ashburnham (MA) Cushing Academy) played well. He has legitimate combo guard capability and showed it off, hitting several jumpers that showed a little more range than he’s shown before. Eastern Kentucky and High Point are two schools involved with him, but he hasn’t qualified yet so more may try to get involved later.
Andrew McCarthy (6’7″ SF-PF, Sudbury (MA) BB&N) looked a little like he did a couple of years ago at times. When he’s at his best, he’s active on the boards and hitting from mid-range, and he did that en route to 13 points. He is headed to Northfield Mount Hermon for a prep year.
Another player who is headed to Northfield is Tim McKinney (6’5″ SG-SF, Duxbury (MA) Boston College HS), who saw his first game action in a couple of months. He missed the last month and a half of the season with an MCL injury and has been working out for about two weeks. He looked all right considering it was his first game action in two months.
An intriguing prospect we saw for the first time is Francisco Luano (6’7″ SF-PF, Boston (MA) Trinity HS). He showed some athleticism and made a few plays, and while he has some work to do, he opened some eyes with his play here.
Tyler Patch (6’3″ PG-SG, Seekonk (MA) High) showed that while he’s improved, he’s the same type of player – a solid blender who plays well with good talent around him. He scored in flow and handled and passed well.
A couple of players who are likely bound for prep school next year and are worth keeping an eye on are Romeo Diaz (6’4″ SF, Methuen (MA) High) and Chris Flores (6’1″ SG, Dorchester (MA) O’Bryant HS). Diaz has played the wing and even inside some for his AAU team in the past and can score, while Flores has shown his sweet stroke and improving game off the dribble over the past couple of years. Neither starred on Saturday night, but each had their moments.
Underclassmen
At times, Phil Pressey (5’9″ So. PG, Ashburnham (MA) Cushing Academy) basically stole the show. He made a few dazzling passes and also had a breakaway dunk that few probably saw coming, showing how his athleticism continues to improve along with his ability to score.
The player who had the biggest coming-out party was Allen Williamson (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, South Hamilton (MA) Pingree School). A relative unknown, he’s athletic and has a good body, impressing at various points in the game as he scored 16 points. He’s getting the attention of some excellent academic schools right now.
Carson Desrosiers (6’10” So. PF-C, Lawrence (MA) Central Catholic) didn’t put up big numbers, but he’s an intriguing prospect worth keeping an eye on.
Evan Smotrycz (6’8″ Jr. SF, Reading (MA) High) showed a little potential, primarily with his versatility. He’s still clearly a work in progress, but he can get better and has the size to be a matchup problem.
Gerard Coleman (6’3″ Jr. SG, West Roxbury (MA) High) has shown some potential before, and if Saturday is any indication he’s on his way to fulfilling some of it. He looks more athletic and remains a terrific finisher close to the basket. The big things for him going forward are adding strength and showing a jump shot to keep defenders honest since he can certainly go by someone.
If Malik Smith (6’0″ Jr. SG, Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep) ever got his act together in the classroom, he’d surely have no shortage of college suitors. Every time out, he looks better and better shooting the ball, and at times he showed some ability to find open teammates as well.
Dave Johnson (5’9″ Jr. PG, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s) was a key to his team’s NEPSAC Class C title this season, and he played well on Saturday. Not known for his scoring ability, he went for 15 points and made things happen for his team.
Darryl Cato-Bishop (6’2″ Jr. SG-SF, Dorchester (MA) Lawrence Academy) didn’t surprise with what he did. He didn’t put up big numbers, but made plays and showed some toughness inside.
One player who quietly had a nice night was Sam Martin (6’2″ Jr. SG, Worcester (MA) Academy), who scored 16 points on a variety of jumpers. He moved well without the ball to get open, and a couple of times he scored off the dribble as well.
Another shooter who played well was Mike Marra (6’4″ Jr. SG, Smithfield (RI) Northfield Mount Hermon). The Louisville commit showed nothing new, but his stroke looked good and he showed his athleticism as well.
Akeem Williams (5’10” Jr. SG, Avon (MA) High) had a huge season as he put up big numbers night in and night out. Unfortunately, his body doesn’t look any better than it did last spring, when he first caught our eye with his impressive shooting stroke. Unless he improves his conditioning, he’s likely to find that it’s not so easy putting up the same kind of numbers against competition outside of Massachusetts.
Nadir Tharpe (5’11” So. PG, Worcester (MA) St. Peter Marian) will be heading to Brewster Academy next year and will likely re-classify into the class of 2011. He will be the latest superbly talented point guard to take his talents to Wolfeboro.
