PATERSON, N.J. – The first stop on a busy basketball weekend was in New Jersey for the Playaz Spring Fling – Phase III. The final part of their series to open the spring is also a qualifier for the Nike Peach Jam in the 16-under age group, so a few top Nike teams were at the event in that age group. There was also an open division with eight teams competing. Pool play took place on Saturday, with playoff games set to go on Sunday.
A trip to Connecticut was on tap for Sunday, so here’s a look at some players who stood out during pool play on Saturday in New Jersey, as well as a few worth checking out again later.
Levan Alston (6’3″ So. SG, Philadelphia (PA) Haverford School) This long and athletic guard wasn’t a big factor in his team’s first game of the day, but was very good in the second. He has a slight frame and his body has a ways to go, and with the success he had in his team’s press you can imagine him fitting in well on a fast-paced team. While he showed the ability to finish with contact, he really came alive with his shooting touch in the second game en route to 17 points.
Tyus Battle (6’5″ Fr. SF, Edison (NJ) Gill St. Bernard HS) There has been some buzz about this young man, and understandably so. The verdict from a couple of games here is that there’s certainly talent and potential, but plenty of room to improve. Very athletic and with a good frame, his body has a ways to go and so does his feel for the game, which doesn’t always develop so fast anyway. He has some good ball skills and range out to the three-point line on his jumper, the latter evident on a long jumper he swished off-balance. At times the decisions he made with the ball left something to be desired, but at this stage of the game that’s not a deal-breaker. There is a lot of potential here.
Christopher Clarke (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Virginia Beach (VA) Cape Henry Collegiate HS) There might not have been a better player seen on Saturday, largely because he has a motor that never stops running. He’s long and has a slight frame, but never stops competing and was very active, seemingly in most plays. He has quick reactions and good ball skills, and was dangerous in transition as he did a lot of scoring (14 and 20 points in his two games) there. Jump shooting isn’t his game, and the lack of jumpers could be good (he knows that’s not his forte) and bad (he may not be very good at it right now).
Nick Garth (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Houston (TX) Cy Lakes HS) In his team’s first game, he shined with his good shooting touch as he went for 21 points with four three-pointers. But he also showed some limitations, as he tried to play a little too fast at times and didn’t show quite as good a game off the bounce. On the plus side, he was around the ball often, so he does more than shoot and there’s reason to believe he’ll improve off the bounce offensively.
Temple Gibbs (6’2″ Fr. PG, Scotch Plains (NJ) Seton Hall Prep) The younger brother of Ashton and Sterling, he’s in the same mold as his brothers and many other Seton Hall Prep players. Namely, he isn’t going to wow you with anything, but he is very cerebral and his intangibles are off the charts. He has a good frame and is very good with the ball, took a charge on defense, scored on some drives including while fouled, and from every angle looks like a winner. His 21 points led his team to a victory over an older team on Saturday.
Juwan Gooding (6’0″ So. PG, Milton (MA) New Mission School) For a while, he showed some really good progress, as he was running the show very well and looking more and more like a floor leader as he found teammates often on his drives. But later, he reverted to his old form of forcing up shots when facing defenders on drives, and his body language left something to be desired. He scored 21 points, hitting from long range and on one play showing a nice hesitation, and got into the lane often, so there’s plenty to like, but also some areas of concern.
Malik Gray (6’7″ So. SF, Newport News (VA) Caoe Henry Collegiate HS) A nice complement to Clarke on the Boo Williams team, he has a good frame and body that he used well. Not the most athletic wing, he scored in double digits in both of his team’s pool games, mostly on drives as he finished well when he got near the basket.
Lamarr Kimble (6’0″ So. PG, Philadelphia (PA) St. John Neumann-Goretti) At first glance, he doesn’t pass the “look” test for a point guard, but he was very effective all day. More athletic than he looks, he has a good frame and mature body and was very good at eluding contact in addition to protecting the ball well and being able to score. While he was most effective scoring in close, including one play where he put it up high off the glass over a big man, he also showed a touch shooting the ball, including three three-pointers en route to 24 points in his team’s second game of the day.
DeAndre Noble (6’2″ Sr. SG, Newark (NJ) Peddie School) Any team looking to add a player late for next season could do worse than adding this well-built guard. The lefty has a mature body and went for 31 points in one game on Saturday to help his team win convincingly.
Mohammed Touray (6’3″ So. SG, Bronx (NY) Wings Academy) A baby physically, he looks to be a gunner but one who could be pretty good if he improves shot selection. At first, he put up several shots from the corner, not hitting at all, but then he got going and even hit a nice runner in a 21-point outing.
Other players who caught our attention:
Cary Angeline (6’7″ Fr. PF, Chester Springs (PA) Downington East HS)
Jermaine Bishop (6’1″ So. PG, South Ozone Park (NY) Holy Cross HS)
Thomas Bryant (6’9″ So. PF, Rochester (NY) Bishop Kearney HS)
Vaughn Covington (5’10” Fr. PG, Sicklerville (NJ) St. John Neumann-Goretti)
Jordan Hunter (5’10” So. PG, Beaumont (TX) Ozen HS)
Najja Hunter (6’5″ Fr. SF, Montclair (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Justin Jenifer (5’10” So. PG, Gwyn Oak (MD) Millford Mills HS)
Vaughn Jenkins (6’3″ So. SG, Wilmington (DE) Kennent Square HS)
Freanziel Reyes (6’9″ So. C, Lawrence (MA) High)
William Robinson, Jr. (6’3″ So. SG, Baltimore (MD) Digital Harbor HS)
Scott Spencer (6’6″ So. SF, Suffolk (VA) Nansemond River HS)
