Summer Classic East Recap
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The month of July is a busy one for many, and that includes the Hoop Group. Just last week, they ran their recently re-branded Hoop Group Elite Camp, followed by a team camp. Friday and Saturday was their latest event, Summer Classic East.
A number of head coaches were among the Division I coaches present. With teams from the northeast, especially New Jersey, the Big East and Atlantic 10 were well-represented in the head coaching ranks.
In the 16-under final, the New York Panthers gained the momentum in the second half after trailing by three at the break. They got better defensively and took advantage of more opportunities, going on to knock off Team NJ ABC 2010 by a score of 65-58. Chris Hampton (6’0″ Jr. PG, Centereach (NY) Our Savior New American) led the winners with 15 points in a fine effort. Team NJ ABC 2010 got 17 points from Markus Kennedy (6’7″ Jr. PF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS).
The 17-under final was a tale of two halves, with the New Jersey ShoreShots Select holding a three-point lead at halftime after closing the half well. In the second half, the Juice All-Stars got some run-outs to gain momentum, but couldn’t break the game open. Down the stretch, they made all the plays and sealed the game with late free throws in a 75-70 win. Curtis Loving (6’5″ Sr. SF, Bronx (NY) Wadleigh HS) and James Padgett (6’8″ Sr. PF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) had 18 points each to lead Juice. Hofstra commit Chaz Williams (5’8″ Sr. PG, Bishop Ford HS) led the ShoreShots with a game-high 19 points.
Now, here is a look at some of the players who competed.
Antoine Allen (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Baltimore (MD) Notre Dame Prep) An athletic and multi-skilled guard, he has a good body and above-average quickness. Though he looks to be a bit between guard spots as he doesn’t seem an obvious point or shooting guard, he looked crafty at times with his drives and has a jumper that must be respected.
Oderah Anosike (6’7″ Sr. PF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep) An intriguing prospect, a number of coaches had an eye on this athletic post player. His body isn’t mature yet and he has a good amount of work to do on his game, but he plays stronger and is a solid presence with rebounding and blocking shots. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Carl Baptiste (6’8″ Sr. PF, Annandale (NJ) North Hunterdon HS) His big body doesn’t indicate what his game is about, as he loves to play away from the basket and is capable of shooting the ball. Although he can score inside, he scores more away from the basket, including from three-point range although that’s not his specialty. We saw him go for 13 points twice as a role player on a team with wing scorers.
Ade Barek (6’7″ Jr. PF, Pennsauken (NJ) Apex Academy) Long, athletic post plays stronger than he looks. He has a thin upper body, but battles inside and is a live body whose game is quite rough around the edges. Rarely did he get offensive opportunities, and when he did it’s clear his game is raw.
Will Barrett (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Warrington (PA) Central Bucks South) His stock probably rose more from this event than anyone else, and justifiably so as he had a solid day on Friday. The lanky combo forward showed some promise early, as he was active, blocked shots and showed ball skills and the ability to finish getting the ball off of a cut. Then he turned up the volume on each and scored on drives and from long range, going for 23 points in his last game of the day. Big East coaches are paying attention, although he might not quite be at that level as a high-major minus prospect.
Anthony Baskerville (5’11” Sr. PG, Plainfield (NJ) High) Well-built point guard is a lefty capable of scoring. He showed a touch from long range while also driving and finishing a few times, while as a floor leader he looks a bit more like one who initiates the offense. He has the body to drive and create as well as score. Mid-major prospect.
Paris Bennett (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) A talented forward, he has a good body and a solid, unspectacular game. He doesn’t score in flashy ways or with eye-popping athleticism as he’s a good, not great, athlete, but shows a nice feel for the game. His game seems to be mainly 10-15 feet from the basket, where he’ll often post up and look to score while also knowing when to give the ball up. He’ll score with drives, post moves and mid-range jumpers, and he did all of that to the tune of 33 points, including a winning three-point play in one game. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Aaron Brown (6’5″ So. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Roman Catholic HS) Athletic wing already shows a little physical maturity, though he’s not done there. He went for 17 points in a Saturday game and impressed with his scoring ability, and with that and being in a program that has produced plenty of Division I players, he’ll be one to watch.
Lance Brown (6’3″ Sr. SG, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS) Very athletic wing had an excellent showing here, as he was a consistent scorer and got better as the tournament went along. His in-between game is excellent because he’s so athletic, and he can score in transition as well. His jumper had been an unknown from prior viewing, but he knocked down several from mid-range and beyond later on. His efforts included 26 points in the quarterfinals and 16 in the semifinals. High-major minus/high-major prospect.
Mike Burwell (6’6″ Sr. SF, South Amboy (NJ) Cardinal McCarrick HS) An athletic wing with good size, he’s been getting better and his stock appears to be on the rise. He showed a good touch from long range in one game en route to 12 points. Mid-major plus prospect.
John Calarco (6’0″ Sr. PG, New Rochelle (NY) High) We’ve seen him score before, but here he didn’t put up the same numbers. Nonetheless, we like his good body for the point guard spot and how active and fearless he is, as he’ll drive inside and take contact while also knocking down the occasional three-pointer. Mid-major prospect.
Tony Chenault (6’2″ Jr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) St. John Neumann-Goretti) Talented point guard is still not there yet physically, but the talent he shows now means a lot for when his body catches up. He has a good upper body and can use that when driving, which he does often, and while he can knock down shots from long range, his forte looks to be driving to score.
Trevor Clemmings (6’6″ Jr. PF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS) Wide-bodied post player already has a mature body and is likely done growing, so where he gets better is from being more skilled. He’s active and moves well for his size, and is a capable rebounder. Offensively, he can get shots inside, but too often we saw him go up too strong, so he’ll need to refine his touch.
Chris Coleman (6’10” So. PF-C, Buffalo (NY) Lee Academy) Well-built post player already has a mature body and is clearly talented, but he also doesn’t seem to have the best motor. Several times, he was late getting back on defense, and he also settled on his jumpers instead of trying to operate more inside on offense. Right now, he looks like a “potential” guy.
Devon Collier (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) Lefty forward has a slight frame but plenty of upside, as he also has some length. His length is also a weakness in that he doesn’t often use it to his advantage when finishing, though he also tends to go up off-balance when there doesn’t seem to be a need to. He had a couple of double-digit games to lead a well-balanced team into the semifinals.
David Diakite (6’5″ Sr. SF, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) Well-built wing is athletic and aggressive, attacking the basket when he looks to score and at times finishing spectacularly. He’ll draw his share of fouls, as he’s more of a scorer than a shooter, going for 21 points in one game at this event. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Corey Edwards (5’10” So. PG, Queens (NY) Christ The King HS) The son of a former Georgetown guard, he played good minutes as the youngest player on his team. His frame is a bit slight, but he has a little physical maturity and scored more off the dribble than shooting the ball.
Joe Efese (6’7″ Jr. PF, Montvale (NJ) St. Joseph’s HS) Post player really works inside, as he has a good body and some scoring ability but didn’t get many good touches. What we also liked is how he’ll battle inside defensively, ably defending post players and poking away passes.
Alex Francis (6’5″ Jr. SF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness School) A live body, he’s a bit thin but makes a lot of plays because he’s very active. This athletic wing rebounds well and gets his share of loose balls, runs the floor and finds a way to get involved despite not bowling you over with great skills. He reached double figures in a couple of games and was his team’s best player.
Tyrone Garland (6’2″ Jr. SG, Philadelphia (PA) John Bartram HS) One of the best underclassmen at this event, he’s a scorer deluxe who puts up big numbers and can still improve his scoring ability. He’s quick and can really finish, while showing a great touch with runners right up over a defender, even a taller one. Though he has range out to the three-point line, his forte is his in-between game, which he showcased in a 39-point effort. At times, he took some questionable shots, and he has a thin upper body, so there are places for improvement.
Sterling Gibbs (6’1″ So. PG, South Orange (NJ) Seton Hall Prep) The younger brother of Pitt-bound Ashton, he’s a baby physically but not on the floor. He seems to have a calmness about him that belies his youth, as he does this while playing up on a 17-under team. He’s quick and can shoot from long range, and he shined in one effort with 24 points.
Winston Graham (6’0″ Sr. PG-SG, Bronx (NY) Roosevelt HS) His forte is shooting the ball, and he did just that in one game we saw as he went for 16 points with some nice jumpers. His body isn’t mature yet and he showed the ability to drive to score. Mid-major prospect.
Jamir Hammer (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Philadelphia (PA) Southern HS) A prospect to keep an eye on, he’s long, athletic and a baby physically. He went for 12 points in a Saturday win for his team.
Chris Hampton (6’0″ Jr. PG, Centereach (NY) Our Savior New American) The likely MVP of his championship team, he’s a baby physically but has plenty of talent. He had an excellent championship game, driving often to make plays and finishing well when he got to the basket, and he showed range out to the three-point line.
Hakeem Harris (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy) Well-built guard has some combo guard ability and uses his body to absorb contact when driving to the basket. He consistently scored in double figures here, in part from shooting the ball well from long range. Each time out, he looks better than before.
Jeff Holton (6’7″ Sr. PF, Fort Washington (PA) Germantown Academy) A role player on his guard-oriented team, he contributed nicely as an active forward who got some rebounds and made plays inside. His body can get better, and he contributed 12 points in his team’s opening game. Mid-major prospect.
Tamir Jackson (6’2″ Sr. SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) Although he didn’t score like he has before, he did put up 19 in one game in more of a complementary role. One nice thing was that he got several offensive boards, including a couple of stickbacks. High-major minus prospect has committed to UAB.
Markus Kennedy (6’8″ Jr. PF, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) Post player is hard to move out of the block, but his weight isn’t all good and he’s not very explosive. In light of that, it’s noteworthy that he rebounds well, in large part from good box-outs and getting position, so improved conditioning should only make him a better rebounder. Offensively, his low-post game needs work, as he doesn’t look like a major scoring threat right now.
David Lowery (6’8″ Sr. PF, Newark (NJ) Nia School) Though not his team’s most talented player, he was at times their best player here as he finds a way to be very effective. He’s well-built and at times looks like he can play away from the basket, but he’s not overly athletic. Occasionally, he can score with an athletic play, but most of his points come close to the basket. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
Mike Marra (6’4″ Sr. SG, Smithfield (RI) Northfield Mount Hermon) Early on, he struggled with his jumper and was visibly frustrated at times. But later, he got going and started making shots, and everything changed. He’s more streaky than consistent, at times looking like a volume shooter when his shots aren’t going, but as we saw in a 28-point effort, he’s also athletic enough to be more than just a shooter. High-major prospect has committed to Louisville.
Chris Matagrano (6’9″ Sr. PF-C, Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy) Big man has a good lower body, but on the whole he needs to get stronger. At the offensive end, he showed a little touch from mid-range as a complementary player for his team.
Harold McBride (6’0″ Jr. PG, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS) A consistent scorer for his team in this event, he scores often on jumpers, though he shows some combo guard capability. His size dictates that he’s likely a point guard at the next level, and as he’s not a selfish scorer, one can see him playing there.
Ferguson Myrick (6’6″ Sr. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Prep Charter) In a solid 17-point outing, he didn’t shine in any one area, but gave a good account of himself. He’s a plus athlete and has some physical maturity. Mid-major prospect.
Dera Nd-Ezuma (6’8″ Sr. PF, Burlington (NJ) Life Center Academy) Long post player is very raw, as he needs a lot of work, but his body is not mature. Mainly, he would benefit from adding strength, as he had trouble holding his ground inside and also lost the ball easily. His ball skills are also lacking even for a post player.
Brian Neller (6’3″ Sr. SG, Lincroft (NJ) Christian Brothers Academy) A steady blender player, he has good size on the wing and shot the ball well from long range. He didn’t put up big numbers, though he had 13 in the semifinals, but played his role as a shooter well on a team with some inside players and a couple of very good scorers. Mid-major prospect.
Ali Odd (6’4″ Sr. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Notre Dame Prep) Very athletic wing will go to the hoop all day if he has the opportunity. A scorer from the wing, he has a thin upper body but can finish close, going for 13 points in a losing effort.
Ashton Pankey (6’7″ Jr. PF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) An athletic post player with a good body, he’s very capable but doesn’t often put up big numbers on his team because he has a lot of talent around him. He went for double digits in each of two games later in the event but was effective just about every time he was out there.
Dalton Pepper (6’5″ Sr. SF, Pennsbury (PA) High) With Big East coaches watching, he played well, although not to the level of teammate Will Barrett. A good transition scorer with a mature body, he drives aggressively to the basket, sometimes finishing and a few times passing nicely on the move, and will occasionally knock down a mid-range jumper. High-major minus prospect.
Jayvaughn Pinkston (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) Solidly-built forward again showed all the tools to be a star player, although not quite with consistency. He’s a nice passer, whether facing the basket or with the ball on the post, and has the ability to drive for a layup and also hit a couple of runners. Consistency has been a bit hard to find, but it looks like he’s getting there.
Darius Quarles (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Paulsboro (NJ) High) Thin wing is athletic and showed some scoring ability. He went for 15 points in a losing effort, scoring on a short runner as well as in transition.
Steven Rennard (6’2″ So. SG, Metuchen (NJ) St. Joseph’s HS) A nice blender player, he has some physical maturity and showed a nice shooting touch. He plays on a team with some talent inside, so he’ll get some looks from long range and is capable of knocking them down.
Ryan Rhoomes (6’9″ Jr. PF, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) A nice prospect, he has some length and runs the floor well, getting rewarded on a few occasions by getting to finish. He works inside and doesn’t try to be a small forward, and while he might not be the first player to grab attention on his talented team, he’s a good prospect who should keep getting better.
Stephen Spinella (6’5″ Sr. SF, Newark (NJ) Nia School) This active wing improved his stock about as much as anyone in the two days, as he went from looking like a complementary player to a key player. He’s a plus athlete and a bit slight physically, but he’ll drive and take contact to score, and while his range reaches the three-point line, he scores more from his in-between game. He was a consistent double-digit scorer en route to his team’s appearance in the title game. High-major minus prospect.
Jeff Tagger (6’0″ Sr. PG, Brockton (MA) Central Catholic HS) Still a baby physically, he was a bit up and down but had a few solid efforts, including a 22-point outing that included four three-pointers. He’s not the most aggressive guard, generally initiating an offense more than creating, and at times on this team he didn’t assume that position in playing with smaller guards. An excellent student, he has good intangibles, and smaller schools near his home may be sleeping on him.
Dylan Talley (6’5″ Sr. SF, Burlington (NJ) Life Center Academy) Not overly athletic, this wing has a mature body and some guard skills, as he’s capable of handling the ball. He’s not really a point guard and not a scorer, though he went for 14 in a losing effort in his team’s final game. Though he doesn’t do anything very well and doesn’t have an obvious position, he should be able to help a team at the next level. Mid-major prospect.
Dante Taylor (6’9″ Sr. PF, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) Athletic post player didn’t play his best ball here, but his talent is not lacking. His body can get better and he has hints of combo forward ability, as he can use his body and athleticism to score inside. High-major prospect recently committed to Pittsburgh.
Josten Thomas (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Camp Springs (MD) Progressive Christian Academy) Well-built forward has plenty of talent to play both forward spots. He has the size and body to play inside, but he’s athletic enough to drive and score at times and his ball skills aren’t bad. He went for 20 points in one game, although it was a quiet 20, and he’s capable of those numbers consistently. High-major prospect.
Markese Tucker (6’5″ Jr. SF, Trenton (NJ) Catholic HS) Well-built wing is a role player on his team and won’t put up big numbers. Still, he’s a factor on the floor, as he’s a plus athlete but not overly explosive.
Ralph Watts (6’6″ Sr. SF, Peekskill (NY) High) Another star to come out of his school, he has a good body with nice skills on the wing. He put up 30 points in one game, but he was effective in other ways as well, as he isn’t selfish and got a few points on stickbacks.
Akeem Williams (5’10” Sr. PG-SG, Brockton (MA) Avon HS) A scoring machine, this mature-bodied guard struggled in one game but shined in others. He scored 23 of his 33 points in the second half of the opener, then went for 23 in another game later. While he scores often from long range, he was actually better driving to the basket here. As he’s not jet-quick and undersized for the shooting guard spot, his drives succeeded from finding gaps and simply being tougher than the defenders he ran into.
Chaz Williams (5’8″ Sr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Ford HS) Jet-quick point guard is also very athletic and capable of rising up over some taller defenders when shooting the ball. His playmaking has been good all along, and now he looks like a better scorer, which will only make him tougher to guard. Mid-major prospect has committed to Hofstra.
Harley Williamson (6’5″ Sr. SF, Lower Merion (PA) High) This athletic wing player could easily get lost alongside two stars on his team that commanded a lot of attention, but he’s a solid player with some potential. His body isn’t mature and he’s just a complementary player, but he looks like one of those players that helps a team win games by doing little things. Mid-major prospect.
Sharrod Wright (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Mt. Vernon (NY) High) Athletic wing has a good upper body and finishes well when he gets to the basket. He went for 20 in one game, generally scoring close to the basket, although he’s shown the ability to shoot from long range.
Denzel Yard (5’11” Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) Franklin Learning Center) An undersized shooting guard, this lefty is a scorer who can get to the basket and finish despite his lack of size. While he showed range out to the three-point line, he clearly prefers getting to the basket for higher percentage shots.
Mouphtaou Yarou (6’10” Sr. C, Woodstock (VA) Massanutten Military Academy) Big man has some potential considering what he did despite not being fully mature physically and needing strength. The latter point was evident from him losing the ball easily, but he has a good body right now and he went for 18 points in a win for his team. He has work to do, but is clearly more prospect than project. High-major/high-major minus prospect.
Other players who caught our attention:
Jordan Allen (6’5″ So. SF, Bay Shore (NY) High)
Luke Apfeld (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy)
Jarell Briggs (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy)
Jake Cohen (6’10” Sr. C, Berwyn (PA) Conestoga HS)
Myles Davis (6’0″ So. PG-SF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Isaiah Epps (6’2″ Jr. PG, Plainfield (NJ) High)
Jesse Morgan (6’4″ Sr. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Prep Charter)
Wayne Newsome (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Piscataway (NJ) High)
James Rodrigues (5’10” Sr. PG, Hamilton (MA) Hamilton-Wenham HS)
Corey Wright, Jr. (5’10” Jr. PG, Pawtucket (RI) Marianapolis Prep)
