Pitt JamFest Recap: Out of Region Standouts
The annual Hoop Group Pitt JamFest took place last weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, and one of the best April live period events in the country did not disappoint. Both Jack Herron and Adam Ayalew were there for Vantage…
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Continue ReadingThe annual Hoop Group Pitt JamFest took place last weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, and one of the best April live period events in the country did not disappoint. Both Jack Herron and Adam Ayalew were there for Vantage Hoops, and with 32 courts under one roof it was impossible for them to see all of the action, but they did see a good amount of kids as Virginia had teams in the 17U Gold, 16U Platinum and 15U Platinum championship games. Here’s some of the top performers that we saw that weren’t from the Virginia area!
Brandon Wade; 6’2″ CG Michigan Gators Elite (2018): Despite a tough loss to BWSL Chiz, Wade showed out in front of a number of coaches including a Michigan assistant who coaches in his backyard. The 6’2” sophomore from Michigan was 6-for-7 from deep and finished with 30 points as coaches raved about his ability to create space and knock down shots.
Geo Baker; 6’3″ WG DC Bluedevils NH (2017): A player we saw dominate Hoop Group events last summer, Baker’s recruitment has took off and caught up to his ability on the basketball court. A knock down specialist, Baker has good size at 6’3”, can play both guard positions and has a very high IQ on and off the court. He’s up to almost 20 offers now, with Kansas State being the latest to jump on board.
Caleb Green; DC Bluedevils NH (2017): An absolute rock at the point guard position, Green is a vocal leader that directs traffic and puts players in positions to succeed. The 5’11” lead guard is up to six offers now, and he’s the perfect guard to help change a programs culture to a winning one.
Laquill Hardnte; 6’6″ WF Crusader Nation (2018): Hardnte showed a lot of promise, as the Baltimore native and Perry Hall wing ran the floor well and showed the ability to create his own shot in isolation situations. He played somewhat of a point forward role, and his size and ball handling ability allowed him to see over the defense and make plays for others. He’s a versatile wing that should pan out well if he keeps working.
Myles Hanson; 6’5″ WF Minnesota Fury (2017): Myles is a long, athletic wing with a soft touch around the basket and a smooth, confident perimeter stroke. He’s a tremendous passer who exhibits very good vision and awareness. He did a nice job communicating to his teammates, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Jeffrey Planutis; 6’4” WG JB Hoops (2018): With good size and touch, Planutis is the type of player that basketball is starting to trend towards. He’s a good athlete that can shoot, and he plays and guards multiple positions both on the wing and in the post. He doesn’t have a true position, but he’s versatile and does a lot of positive things on both ends of the floor.
Cormac Ryan; 6’4” WG Middlesex Magic (2018): High major no brainer for this Boston wing. Ryan was lights out all weekend, leading the Middlesex Magic to the Championship game. He has good size, locks up defensively, is an underrated athlete and can flat out score the basketball. The best part? He plays with a competitive chip too!
Brendan Hoban; Middlesex Magic (2017): Brendan displayed big time shot making ability, netting 5 first half threes in a big game vs. Team Takeover Black. He’s a crafty guard who demonstrated poise and toughness, exhibiting the ability to handle pressure and create for his teammates.