Hoop Group Jersey Shore Jam Fest Day 3 Notepad
In this article:
Great culture is always on display on Championship Sunday and today was no exception. New Jersey and Pennsylvania teams separated themselves from the rest of the pack, with K Low Elite and Philly Pride teams thriving at each participating level. …
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGreat culture is always on display on Championship Sunday and today was no exception. New Jersey and Pennsylvania teams separated themselves from the rest of the pack, with K Low Elite and Philly Pride teams thriving at each participating level.
Jamarques Lawrence Jamarques Lawrence 6'2" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2022 State NJ Roselle Catholic ‘22 6’2 NY Jayhawks had himself a day, hitting shots but getting to the basket with more regularity and finishing well through contact. That in-between game was showcased with 1 or 2-dribble pull-ups at the elbows, leaning floaters off glass after a bump in the paint, turn-around shots- Lawrence showed that he’s not just a shooter and thrived in his NY Jayhawks championship run.
‘22 6’3 PG Adam Silas (St Thomas Aquinas, NJ) efficiently ran the offense for his NY Jayhawks team, using a solid frame and dependable handle to find his guys coming off of the short roll. Silas also excelled defensively, staying connected to his matchup throughout the weekend and often forcing the ball handler to turn his back to protect the rock.
6’7 teammate Blair Thompson (Northfield Mount-Hermon) handled secondary ball-handling duties quite well, using his length and size to distribute and score well in the paint. The high academic recruit (4.0) tells me that he currently holds an offer from Xavier and a trio of Ivy League schools in Yale, UPenn, and Harvard.
‘24 6’7 Drew McKenna (Glenelg Country Day) and ‘24 6’4 sniper Alexander Mostashari stood out for Team Melo 15u. McKenna utilized explosive athleticism and used his length to contest shots and snag rebounds. Very mobile, can shoot consistently from midrange and 3, and has a great motor. Mostashari’s movement off the ball throughout all 3 games that I watched was consistently good- taking advantage of turned heads and screens to relocate for shots around the perimeter. Quick trigger and compact form on the release, takes good shots, shoots the same way every time, finds guys on the opposite wing well when faced with a hard closeout- liked his patience and confidence on a Melo team that needed his floor-spacing.
‘24 6’6 F Jeremiah White (Imhotep Charter) turned heads for college coaches watching the game with his intensity, communication, and athleticism. White was everywhere for Philly Pride from start to finish- contesting shots, diving for loose balls, converting put-backs at the rim, rotating out to the wing. The consistent and loud communication throughout the game shows maturity, leadership, and an intense approach to the game that will serve him well going forward.
‘25 6’7 F Oliver Spence (Takoma Academy) stood out for DMV Elite 17u in both games that I got to see. Great size, showed a soft touch in the paint, handles and shoots the ball very well for his size, good hands, moves well. I think as he continues to grow and develops a more muscular base, his game will standout as one of the best in a loaded DMV area.
‘25 5’9 guard Jeremiah Harris (Bullis School) also stood out for DMV Elite as the best playmaker and passer. Harris utilizes a great burst to rocket through defenses and find teammates rolling to the hoop or spotting up from the perimeter. A relentless athlete, his ball pressure forced opponents into turnovers that turned into easy layups at the opposite end.
Early Risers PG Darrell Victory (Cardinal Hayes) was phenomenal for his team all weekend. The ‘22 5’8 guard is a blur with the ball- using his low center of gravity to change directions and fly past opponents on the fastbreak and in the halfcourt. Using a variety of dribble moves, Victory routinely kept defenders on his hip and made the right read. His finishing package around the rim was impressive- using scoops, floaters, inside hand finishes and baby hooks to finish over taller defenders. His coach tells me that Marist, Adelphi, Drexel, and Monmouth are all interested in the explosive guard.
A trio of young prospects from K Low Elite’s ’24 roster caught my eye: 6’6 F Deuce Ketner, 6’2 SG Matt Lang and 6′ G EJ Campbell. Deuce (Bonner-Prendie) finished well in the paint, showcased athleticism on dunks and blocks, and can slide his feet well defensively. You could tell that Lang (Shipley) is the son of a coach- his feel for the game and pace showed an understanding for the game that he coupled with elite shot-making from the perimeter to turn in several impressive performances for KLE. Campbell (Spring-Ford) is a shifty lead guard, sets up his defender with a slow cross before attacking the opposite shoulder and wreaking havoc in the paint.
Other prospects that impressed:
Bryson Wilson ‘23 6’5 G (Maret/Boo Williams)- great size and frame, physical with the ball, gets where he wants to go in the paint, can pass, shows flashes of HM potential
Assad Madassalia ‘22 6’3 F (Early Risers, Bishop Laughlin)- aggressive, athletic, gets up and down, flashes well to the basket with hands up, rebounds and defends at a high level
Jonathan Spatola ’22 5’7 PG (Jersey Force, Scranton)- lightning quick in the open court and halfcourt, finishes well in the paint, pesky defensively, shoots it well from distance, plays insanely hard