Hard Work Finals: Best Games and Prospects from JFK HS, Saturday
During day two of the Hard Work Finals, the bracket produced tantalizing matchups and, surprisingly, a change in the landscape. During the final weekend of grassroots basketball, prospects from other circuits swapped jerseys for another weekend in front of scouts and coaches. Those roster changes were prevalent in today’s action, as was the talent overhaul from the 16U field.
Below we recap the top matchups and prospects from Saturday at JFK high school while honing in on the new editions to familiar rosters.
Game Recap: SW IL Jets beat Iowa Prep Black, 62-58
This game proved that teams still compete in late July, but most of that energy and competitiveness came pouring out in the second half. The first sixteen minutes shined on the frontcourt depth of Iowa Prep. Kiks Rosengarten tacked on two buckets off of up-and-under moves early in the game while Kole Tupa’s relentless back-downs forced the Jets onto thin ice throughout the first half.
The energy was different in the second half, and so was David Roberts. The Jets guard finished with 20 points as his non-stop driving and three-point shooting jostled his teammates — and a few college coaches watching from the baseline — into newfound energy. Rashad Weekly-McDaniels began to heat up from range while Armond Williams’ length and finishing ability became a tough defensive task even for the Iowa Prep frontcourt. As buckets started piling on, so did the momentum, and the Jets methodically crawled out of the first-half hole and into the lead.
The win took them into the next round of bracket play where they would match up with Team Factory Gold and lose a lopsided affair.
Top New-Editions –
Isaiah Rivera, Y&R – Boateng 17U: Following a successful week at Peach Jam, Rivera paired up with Martice Mitchell, Aquan Smart, and the Y&R – Boateng 17U team. From the get-go, you could tell he had been seasoned on the EYBL circuit. He seemed one step ahead of his opponents skill-wise, knocking down contested jumpers along with some crafty finishes en route to 17 points against Minnesota Select Cave.
Senior Prep Hoops analyst Scott Burgess has this to say in a tweet about the guard: “Rivera has been unstoppable going downhill & with a head of steam in transition. Finishing with both hands! Top 5 in state!”
Amar Aguillard, Y&R – Brim 16U: At the Summer Challenge two weekends ago, I dubbed him one of the most versatile players at the venue. But I’m not sure I was specific enough then. If David Joplin didn’t wear purple this weekend, Aguillard would have that title outright. He had 13 points today for Brim, adding a small forward presence to a roster featuring big men. Though he shot at a 50 percent clip (3-6) from the stripe, he drew contact a few times today and flashed his multidimensional skill set when inside the paint.
Standouts –
Brandon Leach, Wisconsin United 16U: Wisconsin United has had a handful of marquee players crop up this spring, Leach is no exception. The guard rattled off 13 points today, a few from deep while the others came off of crafty drives to the hoop. The guard has some obvious poise to his game and a skill set that’s tailored to scoring.
John Lovelace, ABC Young Lions 16U: Lovelace did all the little things today. That’s not to hint at scoring struggles, but to emphasize his secondary skills. He passed the ball with willingness and purpose, finding teammates striding ahead of the defense on fast breaks or dumping passes to bigs on the block. He poked away a few balls and disrupted shots on defense too, utilizing his length more than in past weekends.
Jake Layman and Paul Bruns, SD Attack 16U: Attack dethroned a Wisconsin Playground team that was the frontrunner in the 16U bracket. Bruns scored 19 points in the matchup, as he was burning hot from beyond the arc and liable to freezing the defense with a mid-range pull up. Layman was a smooth, lengthy forward that had the jumper and inside game to affect the outcome in multiple ways. He finished with 16 points and was crucial in building a second-half lead.