NEPTUNE, N.J. – While the Final Four is capturing plenty of attention, some young players who hope to one day compete in the Final Four were playing in the Playaz Spring Fling. Now in its tenth year, the event signals the travel circuit beginning in earnest every spring and brings plenty of good talent from the northeast corridor. This year, the 15-under and 17-under groups competed on this particular weekend, while the 16-under teams competed a week earlier.
The 15-under final saw the Juice All-Stars get off to a strong start, before getting sloppy late in the half as Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover got some momentum and cut an early lead to 31-26 at the half. Team Takeover then took the lead in the second half, although they never had a big one, and the teams were tied late before Juice couldn’t score at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime tied at 54. Team Takeover had just enough in the extra session to eke out a 58-57 win. Allante Holston (6’5″ Fr. SF, Washington (DC) St. John’s College HS) led Team Takeover with 14 points and Drake Goddard (6’0″ Fr. PG, Washington (DC) Maret School) added 11. Isaiah Whitehead (6’3″ Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) led the Juice All-Stars with a game-high 19 points.
The 17-under final saw the host Playaz look better for most of the first half against New Heights, but they didn’t dominate on the scoreboard and led 25-18 at the break. New Heights then came alive behind the hot shooting of Joel Angus (So. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS), as he scored all of his game-high 17 points in the second half including five three-pointers. They would eventually take a 46-39 lead, but the Playaz rallied and eventually tied at 50 before a controversial foul in the paint with 1.7 seconds left gave Marquis Barnett (6’6″ Sr. SF, Queens (NY) Cardozo HS) two free throws, one of which he hit, and the Playaz could only get a very tough shot off after a difficult inbounds pass as New Heights took home the title with a 51-50 win. Barnett added 13 points for New Heights and Tyliek Kimbrough (6’0″ Jr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) had 11 en route to tournament MVP honors.
Now, a look at some of the players we saw this weekend.
Mike Aaman (6’8″ Jr. PF, Hazlet (NJ) Raritan HS) Although he struggled to finish and scored just seven points in a game his team lost, he showed some good fundamentals at the offensive end. He made a nice post move for a jump hook on one play, and later faced the basket and drove for a layup. A Wagner commit, he fared well on the boards as well.
Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof (6’6″ Fr. SF, Washington (DC) Gonzaga College Prep) The lanky forward didn’t have a big scoring game in the final, but he had a good overall weekend en route to earning tournament MVP honors.
Kyle Anderson, Jr. (Jr. SF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) Highly-skilled forward isn’t an elite athlete, but he has a tremendous feel for the game and at times makes plays no one else in the gym can. A point forward-type, he made a couple of nice long lead passes for layups, one of them a bounce pass, and made a nice move to get free for an inbound pass that he dunked after he got it. Big-time prospect.
Joel Angus (So. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) His three-point shooting keyed the rally in the second half of the 17-under championship. But that wasn’t all, as he also had a big stickback that broke a tie late in the game. He has a good body and his shooting means he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.
Ryan Arcidiacano (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Langhorne (PA) Neshaminy HS) Terrific combo guard didn’t have a big scoring game on Saturday, but he played very well in a win for his team. He scored 13 points on a variety of jump shots, but he also facilitated very well in the halfcourt and picked apart the opposing team’s press to get some easy baskets as well. High-major prospect has committed to Villanova.
Bob Brackett (Jr. PF, Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrence HS) An undersized power forward, the lefty got his share of rebounds in part from moving well to find the ball. He didn’t impress much at the offensive end, although he did knock down a long jumper that suggests he has a little range when facing the basket.
Nate Britt (6’1″ So. PG, Washington (DC) Gonzaga College Prep) This quick left-handed point guard doesn’t look like a big scorer, but showed terrific passing ability and especially on the move. He did show a mid-range jumper that has to be respected and drives well to his right, and looks like a very heady player. Foul trouble hurt him in a playoff game, but overall it was a good showing for him.
Charles Cooke (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Trenton (NJ) Catholic HS) A wing with good size, he started off the day nicely by keying a win with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Later, he wasn’t a big factor, but his team didn’t need it as they won handily. He’s new to the travel team circuit and his coach thinks by the end of the spring and summer could become a pretty good prospect.
Maurice Dickerson (Sr. SG, Asbury Park (NJ) High) An athletic and aggressive guard, he went to the basket often and tried to dunk whenever he had a chance, and succeeded a couple of times en route to scoring 19 points in a game his team won. Not mature physically, he dunked with contact and also made a nice long bounce lead pass on one play. Mid-major prospect.
Chancellor Ellis (Fr. SG-SF, Middle Village (NY) Christ The King HS) His shooting ability was certainly on display in a playoff win, as he went for 24 points with six three-pointers in the semifinals. He’s not the most athletic or smooth player and was a little slow getting up the floor, so he’ll need to get his body in better shape. If he does that, his offensive game should only get better, between his shooting and plays like the tough runner he hit for his highlight in the final.
Junior Etou (PF, Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day School) Not a big scorer, he has a good body and put it to use inside, as he was a constant presence on the boards. He battled inside the entire time, and even hit a baseline mid-range jumper after he got an incidental blow to the face on one play, and his rebounding got him a couple of stickback tries.
Jordan Fuchs (6’6″ So. PF, Middle Village (NY) Christ The King HS) An undersized post player, he finished well and ran the floor, one time getting a dunk off a missed fast break layup. He scored 12 points in a pool play game, knocking down a mid-range jumper in addition to his work in close.
Drake Goddard (6’0″ Fr. PG, Washington (DC) Maret School) Quick point guard makes his team go with his competitiveness, and he had a big hand in their championship run. He finished well when he got to the basket, including one time when he scored a big transition layup by simply beating everyone up the floor. He was a very deserving all-tournament selection.
Jordan Goodman (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day School) He’s a great example of a “potential” player, one who passes the “look” test and leaves you wanting more. While he was better in a playoff loss on Sunday in which he scored 14 points, he generally didn’t get much done despite having a good body and a reasonably good motor. High-major minus prospect has committed to Rutgers.
Savon Goodman (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Bryn Athyn (PA) Academy of the New Church) Well-built forward is athletic and plays with a lot of energy. He finished close, including a tip-in one time, and scored even after getting bumped. He didn’t show much away from the basket, but his energy and athleticism make him the prospect that he is.
Jimmy Hall (6’8″ Jr. PF, Brooklyn (NY) St. Anthony’s) A good complementary player inside, he got his share of stickbacks and other close field goals to do most of his offensive damage. He did show a little range, even hitting a three-pointer, but mostly he scored in close and rebounded.
Dominic Hoffman (6’7″ Jr. PF, Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School) A solid post player, he has a good body and solid skills that make him effective inside. He was very active on the boards, including at the offensive end, and he moves well with good footwork when he gets the ball and is very fluid. He scored 18 points in a win for his team, being aggressive offensively and running the floor for baskets, and is a solid mid-major plus prospect.
Thomas Holley (Fr. PF, Middle Village (NY) Christ The King HS) Thick post player moves reasonably well considering not all of his weight is good weight. He’s also fairly quick off his feet considering his size, and he got a few stickbacks at the offensive end.
Allante Holston (6’5″ Fr. SF, Washington (DC) St. John’s College HS) A long and thin wing, he’s athletic and certainly has some good potential down the road. He showed a touch from mid-range and the ability to use his left (off) hand. On the down side, he picked up a dumb foul when he shoved an opposing player who taunted him. Overall, there’s a lot to like.
Kuran Iverson (6’8″ So. PF, Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic) Though very talented, he’s at times looked like a feast-or-famine player, and unfortunately it was the latter in a Saturday game his team lost. He spent too much time hanging on the perimeter and was well out of control driving on one play, and was never really a factor. When he does some work inside and then lets the outside game come to him, he looks like a big-time talent.
Donavan Jack (Jr. PF, Reading (PA) Central Catholic HS) A post player with a good frame, he finished well in close in helping his team win with 14 points. His body’s not there yet, but he made some good spin moves to show he could score on the post.
Ramon Johnson (6’8″ Sr. PF, Newark (NJ) Central HS) Thick post player had a couple of double-digit scoring games on Saturday, scoring 10 in one and 12 in the other. Not all of his weight is good weight, but he can be a force inside and also made a nice pass for a layup while facing the basket one time. A post-graduate year is in his future next year.
Tyliek Kimbrough (6’0″ Jr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) The 17-under tournament MVP had a big game in the semifinals, scoring 18 points to help get his team into the title game. He has a good body and scored in several ways, from long range to a drive through the defense to a runner he banked off the glass while going to his right.
Jamal Lewis (6’0″ Jr. SG, Washington (DC) Sidwell Friends School) Although his size would lead him to project as a point guard, he looks wired to play off the ball as he shot the ball well en route to 17 points in one game. His body’s not there yet, but he showed some good scoring ability.
Alex Mitola (5’11” Jr. PG, Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School) Small floor leader has a great motor that helps him be effective at both ends of the floor. He was adept at passing on the go and got out in transition often, and he scored well (17 points in a win for his team) in addition to running the show. His jump shot release is not pretty, and he missed early before hitting a couple of jumpers late, and he showed that he can go to his left. Also an excellent student.
Javion Ogunyemi (6’6″ So. PF, Troy (NY) High) A post player with a good frame and not far past being a baby physically, he showed some promise playing up in the 17-under division. He showed some post scoring ability and also hit from beyond the elbow, reaching double digits in a semifinal win for his team.
Jaren Sina (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Gladstone (NJ) Gill St. Bernard’s School) An aggressive and crafty guard, this early Alabama commit put up big scoring numbers often but isn’t a gunner. He’s a capable ball handler and simply scores, as he knocked down some three-point shots, got out in transition and found his way to the basket en route to 23 points in a win for his team.
Quadree Smith (6’6″ Fr. PF, Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll HS) A thick post player, he showed some promise although he will certainly need to get his body in better shape, especially if he doesn’t grow more. He made a couple of good outlet passes and got a stickback, but also had some difficulty scoring on the post. With a better body, he should be able to improve on that.
Brandon Taylor (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Trenton (NJ) Catholic HS) Foul trouble plagued him in a Saturday game, including a couple of questionable calls. While in the game, he was active and hit a couple of three-point shots, and he has a mature body.
Maurice Watson (5’10” Jr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) Boys Latin HS) A baby physically, he’s not overly quick but is capable of running a team. He didn’t show exceedingly well against a very good point guard in Nate Britt, but had his moments and is an excellent student. Mid-major prospect.
Isaiah Whitehead (6’3″ Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS) A prospect to keep an eye on, he had a big semifinal game with 21 points, then had his moments in the title game loss. He hit a tough mid-range jumper and also had a nice driving layup in traffic en route to 19 points and an all-tournament selection.
Mike Williams (6’3″ Fr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) A nice scorer on the wing, he mainly scored going to the basket and in transition as a solid complementary player. He scored 12 in the title game loss and was an all-tournament selection.
Eric Youncoski (Jr. PG, Middletown (NJ) North HS) Lefty point guard battled all game in a losing effort for his team. He scored 12 points, including a three-pointer, but made his mark by being tough despite his size and being able to drive and dish to teammates.
Other players who caught our attention:
Marquis Barnett (6’6″ Sr. SF, Queens (NY) Cardozo HS)
Eric Fanning (6’4″ Jr. SF, Pennsburg (PA) Perkiomen School)
Derrick Fenner (6’6″ So. SF, Seattle (WA) Prep)
Chris Jones (6’3″ Jr. SG, Teaneck (NJ) High)
Darrel Lucky (Sr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Paul Robeson HS)
Joe Lundy (6’5″ Jr. SF, Upper Marlboro (MD) Wise HS)
Matt Rennie (6’8″ Jr. PF, Somerset (NJ) Rutgers Prep)
Darrick Wood (6’2″ Sr. SG, Newark (NJ) Nia Prep)
Ryan Yearwood (Jr. SF-PF, New York (NY) St. John’s Prep)
