Southeastern PA Grassroots Report – Week 3
[player_tooltip player_id="1189096" first="Jalil" last="Bethea"] (C/O 2024) of Philly Revolution & Archbishop Wood. This past weekend at tournaments such as the Big Shots / Philly Pride event (PA); E3 Challenge (PA); and the Kansas City Classic (MO) southeastern Pennsylvania’s grassroots squads…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend at tournaments such as the Big Shots / Philly Pride event (PA); E3 Challenge (PA); and the Kansas City Classic (MO) southeastern Pennsylvania’s grassroots squads laced ‘em up against a number of the elite grassroots teams on the circuit.
Below is a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who excelled on the Spring 2021 grassroots scene between May 7th and May 9th.
17U (2022)
Liam Cummiskey – 6’4”/ Central Bucks East / Philly Heat / Combo Guard: At the Big Shots / Philly Pride runs, Cummiskey shot the ball extremely well (He hit 13 threes across 3 games.) and led the Philly Heat in scoring (15 ppg.). Additionally, at an event where defense took a backseat, Cummiskey looked solid at that end of the floor and was excellent on the glass all weekend. Philly Heat Head Coach Ray Horn tells me that Cummiskey has been coming on strong of late and is starting to get noticed at the D3 level.
Jevin Muniz – 6’5”/ Executive Education AC / Philly Pride National / Wing: Muniz has scored 1,512 points so far in his high school career and led the Raptors to their three straight District 11 championships, so Muniz is a well-known SEPA prospect. He knocks down threes and can get out in transition for buckets. He displays solid enough handles to take on a point-forward role times. It looks like since ECAC’ season ended that he spent some time in the weight room. Muniz helped push Philly Pride Select to the 17U hardware at the Big Shots/Philly Pride tournament.
Kaseem Watson Kaseem Watson 6'6" | CG West Catholic | 2022 State PA – 6’6” / West Catholic / K-Low Elite / Combo Guard: K-Low Elite traveled to Missouri for the Kansas City Classic which boasted a field littered with national powerhouse level grassroots teams. The squad managed a 1-3 record against a brutal schedule that included games vs. Team Takeover EYBL and Houston Hoops EYBL, but Watson did more than hold his own. A true combo guard, his ability to score and distribute is something special. Additionally, Kaseem’s ability to shoot it from the outside at a high clip opens up the floor for himself and teammates
16U (2023)
Adam “Budd” Clark – 5’9” / West Catholic / Philly Pride National / Point Guard: After starting 8 games this past season for the PCL power West Catholic, you had to figure Clark (5 ppg. & 2.5 apg.) was going to post a big spring. An elite on ball defender, Clark scored repeatedly this weekend by stripping his man of the rock (as well as his dignity), then racing down the floor for contested lay-ins. In one game Clark had thefts on three consecutive possessions before the ball crossed half-court. The undersized lead guard also hit some jumpers in the half court along the way. Clark and Horace Simmons (see below) were major reasons Philly Pride National captured the title their 16U division.
Jackson Hicke Jackson Hicke 6'5" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA – 6’3” / Radnor / SJ Hoops Elite – Grey / Wing: Again, don’t let the name of this team fool you. The squad is based out of Devon Prep and features Delaware County, PA prospects. On Friday Hicke lit it up with 32 points vs the NY Jayhawks including a nasty dunk. In addition to flushing on defenders heads, Hicke shot the ball very well in the mid-range and from behind the arc all weekend as he helped push SJHEG all the way to their 16U division championship game.
Myles Grey – 5’10” / Reading / Reading KTB / Point Guard: A true floor general with a high basketball IQ, this past season Grey was the starting PG on Reading’s 6A state championship team. It’s clear that Grey’s prioritizes getting his teammates involved, but this weekend at the E3 Challenge (PA) Grey showed that can score if need be. With Grey’s outstanding point guard play leading the way, Reading KTB ran up 4-0 record and won their 16u division at the E3 Challenge (PA).
Horace Simmons Jr Horace Simmons Jr 6'6" | PF La Salle College HS | 2023 State #221 Nation PA . – 6’6” / LaSalle CHS / Philly Pride National / Wing: The improved offensive game (13.7 ppg on 53% shooting from the field) Simmons unleased on the Philadelphia Catholic League this past winter, continues to flow on this spring grassroots circuit. To put it simply, Simmons’ game is now more polished. His footwork; shooting mechanics and dribbling skills are all much improved. Thus he is a significantly more fluid scorer. Simmons is still extremely long as well as athletic, and he owns significant hops, so his status as an elite rim protector continues. Simmons helped lead Philly Pride National to their 17U division hardware.
15U (2024)
Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA – 6’3” / Archbishop Wood / Philly Revolution / Combo Guard: Bethea posted 21 points on Friday night as he dominated the action by scoring at all 3 levels and Philly Revolution just destroyed LA Elit3 by a score of 78-27. Bethea’s scoring ways continued on Saturday and Sunday (17.5 ppg. over weekend) when he was especially deadly from especially from behind the arc. On Saturday he drained five threes in a W over East Coast Power. But Bethea turned up the pressure at the defensive end as well over the weekend. He is a very well rounded player. Even though his squad lost to K-Low Elite in the Final 4 of the Big Shots/Philly Pride event, Bethea showed more than enough to prove that he has DI potential.
Dan Curran – 5’10” / Archbishop Carroll / Pro Youth / Shooting Guard: A complete nearly shooting guard who torched the nets with his outside shooting all weekend at the Big Shots / Philly Pride tourney, Curran drained 4 threes in PYF’s come from behind victory (73-70) over Philly Pride Gold. In addition to his elite spot up perimeter shooting, Curran showed that he can create space for himself off the dribble so that he can then dial up a 3-ball or get to the mid-range area.
Kaydin Ford – 5’7” / Abington Friends / Philly Pride Select / Point Guard: Ford is a smaller guard who has learned to use his quickness and change of speed abilities to overcome his size disadvantages. This weekend he showed some spot-up shooting ability. Still what stood out about Ford at the Big Shots / Philly Pride tournament was his slick, but not unnecessarily showy handles, his court vision and his passing skills. I cannot confirm his A/TO ratio, but it had to be pleasing to his coach as Ford very rarely turned the ball over this weekend.
Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central | 2024 State PA – 6’2”/ Friends Central / Philly Pride Nationals / Combo Guard: Oshodi was the 15U age group MVP for the Big Shots/Philly Pride event after leading his team to the tournament title. A consistent perimeter shot maker who can also kill opponents in transition with his speed and quickness, Oshodi drained threes and free throws all weekend. He is an absolute blur as he goes end to end. Against K-Low Elite in the championship game he posted 20 points and PPN cruised to a 49-25 win. As I have noted previously, Oshodi exudes a tough, aggressive vibe at the defensive end