THOMPSON, Conn. – The place to be on Sunday was Marianapolis Prep for the last day of the Hoop Mountain Prep Classic. The event was spread out over four days, with full days of action on both Saturday and Sunday. While games ran late on Sunday, most were very competitive with the last game proving to be well worth the wait for those who stayed around.
Sunday Scoreboard
Newark (NJ) NIA Prep 76, North York (Ont.) Phase I Academy 52
New York (NY) Satellite Academy 66, Hamilton (Ont.) REDA 62
Worcester (MA) Academy 75, Saltsburg (PA) Kiski School 61
Putnam (CT) Science Academy 64, Winchendon (MA) School 63
Thompson (CT) Marianapolis Prep 75, North Bridgton (ME) Bridgton Academy 67
Salisbury (CT) School 62, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s School 51
Wilbraham (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy 73, Chestnut Hill (MA) Brimmer & May School 68
South Kent (CT) School 79, Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy 44
Ashburnham (MA) Cushing Academy 76, Saxtons River (VT) Vermont Academy 70
Player Notes
Tavon Allen (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (CT) Worcester Academy) didn’t get going in the first half, although he did show a nice drive and dish ability. In the second half, he came to life and played like he’s capable of, scoring all 16 of his points as he got hot from long range and on one play had a nice driving layup with his right hand. The Drexel-bound wing had a nice game all in all.
Wilson Arob (6’9″ Sr. PF-C, Putnam (CT) Science Academy) has a big body and is a presence inside, and had a highlight reel play with a dunk on his man that few in the gym probably saw coming. Not the most mobile player, he rebounded better as the game went along. Likely a Division II prospect.
Marco Banegas (6’1″ Sr. PG, Dorchester (MA) Brimmer & May School) didn’t have his best game, fouling out early with a player control foul for his final foul. While in the game, he called his own number a little too much, which has long been his Achilles heel. Low-major prospect/
Xavier Branham (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, Newberry (FL) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) had a nice effort in his team’s win, scoring nine points and showing well defensively. The well-built lefty is athletic and looks like he can defend either forward spot.
Jaylen Brantley (5’10” So. PG, Springfield (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) had five three-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points to lead his team’s win over Brimmer & May. When he wasn’t doing that, he was finding players inside with a few good post passes and calmly running the show.
James Cambronne (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Debary (FL) Winchendon School) is an intriguing prospect. He’s long and athletic and showed a touch from mid-range along with a nice baseline jump hook. Overall, he needs to upgrade the skill package for the next level regardless of his position.
Kareem Canty (6’0″ Jr. PG, Lexington (NY) Bridgton Academy) is not a scorer but tried too much to be one on Sunday. In addition, he showed bad body language often as his team trailed throughout the game. He had 27 points with five three-pointers, some of which came as the outcome was already decided. It’s fair to say he looked a lot better in the spring, when he made guys better and scored within the flow of the offense.
Casey Carroll (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Youngstown (OH) Kiski School) looks like a nice mid-major prospect at one of the forward spots. His body isn’t there yet, but he made a lefty layup, a baseline mid-range shot off the dribble and got a couple of blocked shots and rebounds to go with 13 points. Mid-major prospect.
Michael Carter-Williams (6’4″ Sr. SG, Hamilton (MA) St. Andrew’s School) showed more of what he’s made of in the losing effort. Shots weren’t going for him early, and he got knocked around all game as Zaid Hearst battled him well, but give the Syracuse-bound guard credit: he kept competing. He scored often on the move en route to 20 points and gave his team a chance to win the game until late.
Stanley Cespedes (6’1″ Sr. SG, New York (NY) Satellite Academy) has a good body and shot the ball well off the catch, hitting four three-pointers en route to 21 points.
Zach Chionuma (6’4″ Sr. SG, Syracuse (NY) Marianapolis Prep) is a very athletic wing who drove and scored often in a 23-point outing to lead his team’s win, though he was a little quiet at the beginning of the second half. He also handled the ball a fair amount, and his body isn’t there yet, so Boston University is getting a good addition with him.
Andrew Chrabascz (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Portsmouth (RI) Cushing Academy) played a nice game to lead his team to a hard-fought victory. He scored a game-high 22 points in several ways, like a post move to his left, a tough mid-range jumper, an aggressive drive to the basket and a three-pointer.
Bonzie Colson, Jr. (6’4″ Fr. PF, New Bedford (MA) St. Andrew’s School) didn’t do much in terms of numbers, but he’s wasted little time getting into better shape. He’s running better and played assertive inside, and looks to be well on his way to developing into a better player.
Jevane Dawson (6’0″ Sr. PG, New York (NY) Satellite Academy) is a nice point guard who ran the show well for his team. He has above-average quickness, can slash to the hoop and either score or pass, usually doing the latter, and he was active here at both ends in helping his team win.
Keron DeShields (6’1″ Sr. PG, Baltimore (MD) Vermont Academy) showed some good potential at the point guard spot as he certainly has the physical gifts for the position. He has a good first step he used often to get to the basket, finished well and also passed on the move, including one time when he got a rebound and went most of the length of the floor to find a teammate on the break.
Martin Dixon (6’3″ Jr. SG, Toronto (Ont.) Vermont Academy) is a well-built guard with athleticism who had a decent ballgame and can get better. He had nine points in his team’s losing effort and should get better with more work.
Ousmane Drame (6’8″ Sr. PF, Roxbury (MA) Marianapolis Prep) has clearly developed, but the Quinnipiac commit still shows a propensity for head-scratching plays. His body is maturing, his ball skills are better and he’s a better presence on the boards, but he still tries to do too much from time to time and commits a dumb turnover.
Jared Fay (6’3″ Sr. SG, Lynn (MA) Brimmer & May) had his best game in going for 18 points, making all six of his three-point attempts. The senior looked ready to have a nice year a couple of months ago and made a clear impact on Sunday.
Maurice Harkless (6’7″ Sr. SF, Jamaica (NY) South Kent School) has a consistent demeanor, if nothing else. When on the court, he has a game face on and simply plays it without a flair for the dramatic. The St. John’s-bound forward went for 12 points in his team’s blowout win.
Zaid Hearst (6’3″ Sr. SG, Silver Spring (MD) Salisbury School) was the primary reason his team knocked off St. Andrew’s as he played a complete game. Though more of a wing, he ran the team for a good portion of the game and also played good defense on Michael Carter-Williams, not shutting him down but making him work for every point he got. The Quinnipiac commit had 15 points and also was able to drive and dish and was steady on offense.
Chris Hooper (6’6″ Sr. PF, New York (NY) Satellite Academy) is an undersized post player with a mature body. He scored 14 points in his team’s win, getting close baskets while showing that his mobility and footwork could stand to improve.
Ricardo Ledo (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Providence (RI) South Kent School) did all his damage in the first half, which was all his team needed as the game was in the bags early in the second half. He scored 17 points and, as he has done before, made it look easy between long range shooting and a couple of drives to the basket.
Asur Madison (5’8″ So. PG, Los Angeles (CA) Worcester Academy) used his size to aid his quickness in getting into the gaps in the defense. The baby-faced point guard has a ways to go physically but also some potential as he develops physically.
Chris McCullough (6’8″ Fr. SF-PF, Salisbury (CT) School) caught the eye of plenty in attendance as he’s long and athletic. That alone would do it, but he also has some ball skills, which could stand to improve if he is to one day play on the wing.
Sherard McKinney (6’6″ Sr. PF, New York (NY) Satellite Academy) is an undersized post player who is certainly more potential than player right now. He has a good frame, but is raw offensively and also not the most fluid, clearly needing a lot of skill development. He’s intriguing enough to be a scholarship college player.
Daquan McNeil (6’3″ So. SG, Baltimore (MD) Vermont Academy) is an athletic guard with a lot of upside. He scored on drives, stickbacks and a mid-range shot off the dribble en route to 14 points, while also making a nice drive and dish one time.
Xavier Pollard (6’2″ Sr. SG, Bronx (NY) Winchendon School) is a plus athlete who drove all day to the basket, much preferring drives to jumpers. He struggled to finish, which kept his scoring numbers down. Low-major prospect.
John Powell (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Ashland (MA) Brimmer & May) played perhaps the best game in his high school career in Brimmer & May’s losing effort. Finally healthy, in going for 16 points he showed ball skills that weren’t previously in his arsenal and didn’t struggle to finish, which at times has been a problem.
Ryan Romich (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, West Groton (MA) Vermont Academy) had a solid game in the losing effort for his team and is a terrific glue guy.
Brian Rouse (6’3″ Sr. SG, Hamilton (Ont.) REDA) is an athletic guard with a slight frame. More of a scorer than a shooter, he went for 11 in a losing effort.
Jerel Scott (6’5″ Sr. SF, Albany (NY) Worcester Academy) had a nice game with 15 points and some rebounds. Offensively, his scoring included a three-pointer, which isn’t his forte as he’s much more of a scorer, and he battled as he often does.
Chris Sherwood (6’4″ Sr. SF, Sharon (MA) Brimmer & May) was very aggressive with the ball, as he tried a couple of times to finish with a dunk. He’s certainly capable of that as a great athlete, and he slashed through the defense one time get a basket. The one-time New Hampshire commit has an open recruitment once again.
Jordan Wejnert (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Lavallette (NJ) Worcester Academy) looked like he has before: a solid role player. He was active and had a nose for the ball, and also had a highlight reel play when he came seemingly out of nowhere to block a dunk attempt. He’ll be a nice pickup for UMBC, his future school.
Desmond Williams (6’2″ Sr. SG, Putnam (CT) Science Academy) is quite underrated, especially since he’s listed as a Division II/III prospect. In fact, he’s someone a low Division I coach should be looking at, as he’s a lanky athlete who can score off the bounce and shoot, and also made a nice alley-oop pass in a 25-point outing. He was also active on the boards and handled the ball well.
Enosch Wolf (7’1″ Sr. C, Wilbraham & Monson Academy) certainly had the attention of many observers, both because of his size and having committed to Connecticut. His mobility is a question mark, he pushed off on offense and also travels with the ball, but the lefty went for 13 points and dove for a loose ball on one play. It’s debatable whether or not he’s a Big East center, but he’s not lacking the ability or physical tools.
Connor Wood (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Hamilton (Ont.) REDA) is a plus athlete with a body that’s close to being as mature as it will get. He scored all 10 of his points in the second half and was in his share of plays, scoring mainly on the go but also knocking down an elbow jumper.
