FITCHBURG, Mass. – If you’ve seen Notre Dame Prep over the years, you’re all set in terms of having a description of the team. The Crusaders are known for having a team loaded with guards and trying to press teams into submission with max-effort players. This year’s team won’t be any different, and there’s no reason to deviate considering the success the program has had.
Head coach Ryan Hurd has a lot of players he can freely change around. While some teams can boast about an abundance of size, it’s the other way around on this team, where nine players stand 6’3″ or shorter. They aren’t diminutive, as only two are shorter than six feet, which means there won’t be much of a size difference when substitutions are made. With that personnel makeup, one can figure this team will want to push the pace.
The most talented player is Memphis commit Antonio Barton (6’2″ Sr. PG-SG, Baltimore (MD)). Though not a jet, he is quick and has a body is far from being done maturing, and on this day he got to the basket and finished very well with both hands. He also has the look of the team’s vocal leader.
Tyler Strange (5’9″ Jr. PG, Leominster (MA)) is the only player on the roster who is not a post-graduate. He has a mature body and isn’t very quick, but when he’s playing with the pass-first mindset he’s a solid floor leader. With all the scoring options on this team, he could rack up the assists while he’s on the floor.
The best true scoring guard on the roster is Lamont Samuels (6’3″ Sr. SG, New York (NY)). Much more of a scorer than a shooter, he has a good body that can still get better and will aggressively drive to the basket often. When he gets there, he finishes well, and while he knocked down a couple of jumpers that included one from long range, that’s not his forte. If he shoots it more consistently, he’ll be that much tougher to guard.
Jordair Jett (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Minneapolis (MN)) has a mature body and a strong upper body, which he used a couple of times to finish. Antoine Myers (6’3″ Sr. SG, Baltimore (MD)) is a lefty athlete whose body isn’t there yet and whose highlight on the day was a great block on a fast-break layup attempt. Mike Forrest (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Plantation (FL)) has a very slight frame and is a baby physically, and had his moments at the workout, as did Mike Glenn (6’4″ Sr. SG, Rochester (NY)). Both are good students, getting interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools. Sean Armand (6’2″ Sr. SG, Brooklyn (NY)) has a good body and knocked down a couple of shots from long range on the day. Andre Armstrong (6’3″ Sr. SG, Queens (NY)) was active and knocked down a couple of mid-range shots off the dribble. He plays stronger than he looks, which never hurts on a team that doesn’t have a great deal of size. Levi Noel (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Luton (England)) was a little slow to get going, but in the latter part of the workout he knocked down several three-point shots.
Also seeing time on the perimeter will be Hamed Akanni (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Fitchburg (MA)), the only player from Fitchburg on the team, and John Grenier (6’3″ Sr. SG, Pembroke (NH)), who will see time off the ball.
In the frontcourt, Providence commit Ron Giplaye (6’7″ Sr. PF, Wilmington (DE)) is the player Hurd will hang his hat on. A tough inside player, Giplaye will battle all comers and can score inside, but he showed some difficulty offensively on this day. His ball skills looked shaky, he traveled a few times when he tried to drive and tended to settle for the jumpers he took instead of taking them in an offensive flow. Fundamentally sound, he can finish with either hand and generally shows a good feel for the game.
Cleveland Melvin (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Baltimore (MD)) can run all day and is deadly in transition. Looking like he weights a little more than the 190 pounds he is listed at, he doesn’t have the best ball skills but is best with his in-between game at the offensive end when he’s not getting a transition basket. He’ll fit in well on this team.
Darrell Ward, Jr. (6’7″ Sr. PF, White Plains (NY)) is a well-built forward who didn’t have the best day at the workout. He didn’t get much going offensively, but what might be more of an issue is that he didn’t play strong, which the Crusaders will need as he’s one of just three players on the roster who stand 6’7″ or taller.
Hurd gives a lot of tough love to his players during their workout. He stops play right in the middle to illustrate what they need to do better, and abruptly substitutes players with a message for the player he yanks. It’s all in an attempt to further toughen the team up, and it stays right with the identity of Crusader teams over the years as one full of hard-nosed competitors. While this year’s team isn’t loaded with big-time talent, they aren’t lacking in that area and have plenty of personnel options, which means they can’t be underestimated.
