BOSTON – The Boston Back to School Showcase came and went quickly on Sunday with 19 teams in action. Held at UMass-Boston, where renovations to the Clark Athletic Center have come out very well and more building is happening elsewhere on campus, the event was a mix of school and travel teams and provided a venue for teams and players to get some much-needed competition at a time when many school teams are also in fall leagues, albeit often without those who also play football. On a busy day of basketball in the area, many of the players and teams in the event were also busy with games elsewhere and had a full day on the hardwood.
Alma Academy traveled from north of the border for two early games and impressed with their length and deep lineup. Link Kabadyundi (7’1″ Sr. C) is long and has a good frame and can alter shots inside. Joel Tshimanga (6’7″ Sr. SF) is athletic and has a good frame, and Levi Londole (6’7″ Sr. SF) impressed with his play on the wing. They also got a chance to see what their backcourt will look like, and they have good size and athleticism all over the perimeter.
The Shooting Stars brought two teams of mostly Rivers School players, with the seniors playing with one group and another composed entirely of underclassmen. Rivers normally has a tough time getting its entire team together in the fall because a number of their kids play football, so this was a good chance for that. Carlin Haymon (5’9″ Sr. PG) had some good moments driving to the basket, but he also drove into trouble often. He’ll be pressed at the point by Justin Leip (So. PG), who is short in stature but gets teammates involved, and Jamari Venter (Fr. PG). The best prospect on the team, Jermaine Samuels (6’6″ Fr. SF), joined the underclassmen in the afternoon and played well, hitting a mid-range jumper while fouled on one play. A down note is that he showed some bad body language at times, something he’ll need to improve on. The Shooting Stars also had Bobby Martin, Jr. (6’7″ Jr. PF, Waltham (MA) Noble & Greenough School), who looked better before having to leave due to a nasty gash on his arm. He really got after loose balls and was more of a factor inside.
Rivals/Prodigy also brought two teams and impressed with their collection of perimeter players. Kyle Padmore (6’2″ So. SG, Milton (MA) Beaver Country Day School) may be the best prospect of the bunch, as he’s an athletic guard who was deadly in transition all day both leading and finishing the break with his ability to pass as well as finish. Though a different player, Rohan Shukla (6’3″ Jr. SG, West Roxbury (MA) Roxbury Latin School) was also impressive, showing his ability to shoot as well as pass, and in turn his solid feel for the game and ability to play within the team concept. Demetrius Keeler (6’8″ Jr. PF, Milton (MA) Beaver Country Day School) is a presence inside with a good frame, although he looked a little mechanical with the ball.
One of the best big men at the event was Anthony Green (6’8″ Sr. PF, North Quincy (MA) High), a very good student. He has some length and a decent frame, and while not a baby physically his body is certainly not mature. In addition, he can block shots, is bouncy and showed a couple of strong moves for layups, though he also didn’t finish a couple of good chances he had.
The WBC team from Connecticut went 1-1 on the day, pulling out an overtime win and impressing with their ability to move the ball offensively. They have a promising post player in Andrew Frederick (6’8″ Sr. PF, Windsor (CT) High), who moves well inside and showed a nice turnaround jumper one time, along with a solid passing point guard in Tyler Rowe (Sr. PG, Windsor (CT) High). While Rowe’s lack of size, including a very slight frame, will push down his college level, the baby-faced floor leader can make a college coach happy with his passing ability, which he showed outside the halfcourt as well with a nice long lead pass. Dalon Hakim (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Windsor (CT) High) also impressed, as the lefty wing is a plus athlete who made a nice pass on the break one time.
The team WBC beat, Charlestown, lost two tough games on the day. Freddie Oliveira (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Dorchester (MA)) had his moments with ten points against WBC, and as he is now a senior he needs to show the sense of urgency he’s lacked to reach his potential. Jovani Harper-Lopez (6’4″ So. SF, Roxbury (MA)), who the coaching staff has been high on since he arrived, had 15 points, including four three-pointers, in the loss, a nice development.
The first tough loss for Charlestown came against Pawtucket Hoops, who have several intriguing prospects. Ben Vezele (Sr. SF-PF, Providence (RI) Hope HS) has some length and is a baby physically, and he contributed 13 points in the win. Denzel DePina (Sr. SF-PF, Blackstone Academy) is built similarly and didn’t score as much, but he did show a nice post move and field goal. Alex Holloway (Jr. PG) ran the show capably all day.
Mass Elite brought two teams that got their games in during the first half of the day, with Mickey Lyons (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF) being their most impressive player. He scored 24 points in each of their two games, showing an ability to drive and finish with contact, something he should get better at with added strength. He came up short from three-point range a few times, although he hit some others, so his range might be right there on the line.
The Camrbidge Rindge & Latin School had a busy day as they also began a fall league on Sunday in between picking up two wins here, holding off Rivals/Prodigy in dramatic fashion in the second one. Isaiah McLeod (6’0″ Jr. PG) impressed the most, scoring 31 points in their first game, and while a baby physically he showed he can use his body effectively to finish. Fredens Deneus (6’7″ Sr. PF) has a good frame and can rebound, and his body is developing, but he needs to continue to improve the skill package at the offensive end. Isaiah Fontaine (6’7″ Jr. PF-C) and Daniel Rhymer (6’6″ Fr. PF) are prospects worth keeping an eye on, with Rhymer also getting some time in with a Greater Boston Lions team that also came for two games.
Boston Academy went 3-0 on the day, with a solid slate turned in by Johnny Hilaire (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Lynn (MA) English HS). An active athlete, he was all over the court and a constant factor on the glass in addition to scoring in close from drives and other plays, although he also hit a couple of three-pointers in a 16-point effort to start the day. Nick Cross (Sr. SG-SF, Beverly (MA) High), who has been on a roll of late, showed his shooting touch, though his game off the bounce isn’t bad as well.
The last game of the night was also the most dramatic, as it was the only double-overtime game of the day and went to Winchester High School. They were led by Michael Grassey (6’4″ Jr. SF-PF), a fundamentally sound forward with a good frame who came up big in the extra sessions, one time making a good post move to score while fouled. The team they beat, S.T.A.R. Athletic Club from Connecticut, had a nice point guard in DeAnte’ Bruton (5’10” So. PG, Waterford (CT) Ledyard HS), a lefty who is a baby physically with above-average quickness. While he drove into trouble at times, he does have three-point range and also returned late in the game after cramping up. Nicholas Barner (6’5″ Jr. SF, New London (CT) High) has some length and athleticism and can block shots, but is very raw offensively and needs strength.
