Jersey Shore Jam Fest Preview
[player_tooltip player_id="990952" first="Aaron" last="Lemon-Warren"] (C/O 2022) of [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite']. This weekend a significant number of the top grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania will travel to Atlantic City to participate in the Hoop Group Jersey Shore Jam Fest. Widely…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend a significant number of the top grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania will travel to Atlantic City to participate in the Hoop Group Jersey Shore Jam Fest. Widely considered the final marquee East Coast event of the July grassroots season, the Jersey Shore Jam Fest boasts an extremely competitive field that includes powerhouse regional teams.
Below is a glance at the SEPA grassroots squads participating in this event as well the how the bracket could play out for each of the teams.
17U (2022):
BW Elite: Marcus Branker, Jr. an elite, 6’5”, slasher style wing leads this team that just last weekend won the 17U platinum division of the Spooky Nook Jam Fest. Branker excels in the transition game and can play above the rim. In the half court he moves well without the ball well and is very smooth when scoring off the dribble. Along with Branker this roster boasts extraordinary prospects such as Quadir Brown, Earle Greer Jr., and Angel Ortero. This weekend BW Elite will open play with a game against NJ Shoreshots-Pooley. If they win that game, a matchup with the winner of K-Low Elite 2023 vs. Global Squad-Rogers contest awaits.
East Coast Power-Rap: Thanks to break out spring/summer performances from Westtown’s Matt Mayock Matt Mayock 6'4" | SG Westtown School | 2023 State PA (2023) and Devon Prep guard Allen Cieslak Allen Cieslak 6'1" | PG Devon Prep | 2022 State PA , this squad is receiving a great deal of attention from college coaches. Brett Byrne Brett Byrne 6'1" | CG Methacton | 2022 State PA , a physical combo guard who overpowers smaller players is also having an outstanding grassroots season. Those three headline the ECP 17s group that will take on the Middlesex Magic (MA) in the 1st round. If they win that game, they move on to play SHA Elite Blue (NJ) or CT Select-HGSL.
K-Low Elite 2022: Combo-guard extraordinaire Justin Moore Justin Moore 6'1" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2022 State PA leads a very talented K-Low Elite group this weekend. On the wings he will have West Catholic’s Kareem Watson Kareem Watson 6'5" | SF West Catholic | 2022 State PA and Kaseem Watson Kaseem Watson 6'6" | CG West Catholic | 2022 State PA . Did we mention that former Archbishop Ryan star and PIAA 5A POY selection Aaron Lemon-Warren Aaron Lemon-Warren 6'4" | SF Archbishop Ryan | 2021 State PA (Who is now reclassed into the 2022 grad year at Mt. Zion in Maryland.) is also running with this K-Low Elite group? Well he is. Their opener at JSJF is against King Unlimited. After they win that tune up game, a potential match-up with Team Final Red is next.
K-Low Elite 2023: This group is arguably the most talented 16U squad in the region. In early July at the Battle for the Bell event, this squad defeated Philly Pride National UAA and then Team Final EYBL. So you know this group is legit. Their 10-1 record in July should be further evidence of that statement. In the backcourt K-Low 16Us features lights out shooter / scorer Trey Shinholster Trey Shinholster 6'2" | SG William Penn Charter | 2023 State PA , and the Pennsylvania backcourt prospect who stock has arguably risen the most this spring/summer — Xzayvier Brown Xzayvier Brown 6'1" | PG Roman Catholic | 2023 State #233 Nation PA . On the wing is our guy Anthony Finkley Anthony Finkley 6'6" | SF Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA who thrives in that unique point-forward role. At the Jersey Shore Jam Fest this team is “playing up” in the 17U division. On Saturday their schedule starts with Global Squad-Rogers. Once that victory is secured, they get either NJ Shoreshots-Pooley or BW Elite.
L&L Running Rebels: Liam Joyce Liam Joyce 6'6" | PF Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA (PIAA 4A 1st Team All-State) is a dominant mid-range player who is also an excellent rebounder. This weekend his running mates will include scoring guard CJ Miles (26 ppg. for Scotland Campus) and knock down three point shooter Edixon Gomez. The Running Rebels tip off this event by taking on a very good Rhode Island Elite-HGSL team. If they manage a win in that one, then the winner of Philly Pride Gold vs. HBSA has got next.
Team Final Red: 6’8” versatile wing player and recent Niagara MBB commit Donovan Hill Donovan Hill 6'7" | SF Central Dauphin | 2022 PA headlines a deep and talented TFR 16s roster. Running the floor with Hill this weekend in Atlantic City will be Reading HS prospects Tyson Thomas Tyson Thomas 6'1" | PG Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA (PIAA1st Team 4A All-State player) and Daniel Alcantara Daniel Alcantara 6'4" | SG Reading | 2022 State PA (3rd Team 6A All-State selection). That is a lethal offensive trio. Team Final Red plays Team Richmond-HGSL in the 1dt round. With a win in their opener, they will most likely face K-Low Elite 2022 in the second round.
16U (2023):
BW Elite: This is a newly formed team for July, but a good deal of the names will be familiar. Undersized, but lightening quick lead guard Adam “Budd” Clark is the engine that dries this train. He will have plenty of help this weekend from 2024 prospect Makye Taylor (Imhotep Charter) who has been “playing up” this month and has turned heads. Taylor has tremendous upside. Running with those two will be high level prospects Malcolm Muhammad (‘23 Imhotep); Niare Poplar (‘23 City School) and Nayeem Johnson Nayeem Johnson 6'2" | SG Math, Civics And Sciences | 2023 State PA . BW Elite tips off against PPA Broncos-HGSL and in the 2nd round it’s most likely that they will take on Philly Pride Gold.
Philly Pride National 2024 UAA: The No. 1 team in our SEPA 15U rankings is 10-3 over their last 13 games and will look to maintain their winning ways at the Jersey Shore Jam Fest. This weekend they are “playing up” in the 17U platinum division, but we know elite combo guards Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central | 2024 State PA , Ryan Williams Ryan Williams 6'3" | SG Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA and Ty Burton Ty Burton 5'10" | PG Moravian Prep | 2024 State NC can handle the competition. Keep an eye on Reggie Selden, Jr., Jeremiah White Jeremiah White 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2024 State PA and Isaac Moore Isaac Moore 6'7" | PF Life Center Academy | 2025 State NJ . All three have played solid basketball here in July. On Saturday night this group takes the floor vs. NJ Roadrunners in opening round play. Once Philly Pride National 24s is victorious, they will most likely play Jersey Force-HGSL in the 2nd round.
SJ Hoops Elite-Grey: After a solid showing this July this squad featuring suburban Philadelphia prospects heads down to Atlantic City to end their summer season at the shore. High level SEPA prospects like wing Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA , shooting guard Jackson Hicke Jackson Hicke 6'5" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA , point guard Danny Rosenblum Danny Rosenblum 6'0" | PG Radnor | 2023 State PA and small forward Jacen Holloway Jacen Holloway 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA will lead this roster into the Jersey Shore Jam Fest event. Watch for recent addition Cooper Mueller Cooper Mueller 6'3" | SG Radnor | 2023 State PA . Mueller is an athletic wing with plenty of bounce who played at Park City HS in Utah last winter. In the 1st Round they play Middlesex Magic-Alex (MA). If they win, then SJHE would advance to play the winner of the Early Risers-HGSL vs. District Basketball Club-HGSL game.
Team Final Red: The meteoric rise of guard Davion Hill Davion Hill 6'0" | CG St. John Neumann | 2023 State PA (1st Team 1A All-State selection) continues here in July as he recently received an offer from Maryland. Hill is an outstanding prospect who competes with intensity at both ends of the floor. Complimenting Hill is the wing play of Saraj Ali Saraj Ali 6'4" | SG Olympus Prep | 2023 State NJ (1st Team 3A All-State selection). Ali can really get out in transition. Both players will need to be playing at a high level if TFR 16’s are to defeat the NJ Bulldogs. A win in the 1st Round means Team Final Red takes the court in Round 2 against NJ Panthers-HGSL or Red Rush.
15U (2024):
*Note: Three of the Top 5 teams in our weekly southeastern Pennsylvania 15U rankings will be in action at the Jersey Shore Jam Fest this weekend.
K-Low Elite 2024: The team in the No. 3 spot in our latest 15U team summer rankings is led by the highly talented duo of Darren Williams Darren Williams 6'4" | SG Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State PA and Touari “Deuce” Ketner. Here in July that duo has been getting major support from 6’5” pure shooter Pearse McGuinn Pearse McGuinn 6'8" | PF Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA . Williams, Ketner, McGuinn and the rest of K-Low Elite 15’s take the court in the opening round down in Atlantic City vs. the NJ Panthers-HGSL. With a win in that contest, K-Low Elite will most likely set up a much anticipated game against Team Final Red.
Philly Pride Select: The Abington Friends dynamic duo of superb combo guard Kaydin Ford Kaydin Ford 5'10" | PG Abington Friends | 2024 State PA and interior force Nate Osbourne highlight a stacked roster that debuted at No. 4 this week in our 15U team rankings. Ford is undersized, but he owns jaw dropping quickness, extremely slick handles (but rarely turns the ball over) and outstanding court vision. Osbourne can dominate the paint at both ends. This roster also features extraordinary perimeter shooter Gyasi Miller (Shipley School) and combo guard Brendan Styer (Conestoga). During Saturday’s first round action at the Jersey Shore Jam Fest tournament, Philly Pride Select will face Early Risers-HGSL and then the winner of the Philly Pride Gold-HGSL vs. Jersey Force-HGSL.
Team Final Red: The squad currently sitting at No. 5 in our weekly 15U rankings features has added a number of new pieces to support standouts David Fridia David Fridia 6'6" | PF Allentown Central Catholic | 2024 State PA and Jake West Jake West 6'1" | PG William Penn Charter | 2025 State #193 Nation PA . 6’3” lights out 3-point shooter Isaac Dye (Texas transplant headed to State College Area HS.) has been with the team for two weeks now. Father Judge star Laquan Byrd Laquan Byrd 6'3" | SF Father Judge | 2024 State PA and much talked about 2025 prospect Alfonso Burnett recently joined the roster as well. In their last 11 games TFR boasts a 7-4 record. We really like the overall talent level on this roster and if this group can gel quickly at the Jersey Shore Jam Fest, they could run the table. The gelling process starts on Saturday afternoon with a contest vs. One Dream. A win in that game sets up a run against either K-Low Elite 2024 or NJ Panthers-HGSL.
WeR1 UAA: Officially WeR1 is a grassroots program based out of Delaware, but since this roster is stocked with prospects from Pennsylvania high schools, we are going to include this squad in our Jersey Shore Jam Fest preview. Headlining this roster is Elijah Duval, a prospect we have previously described as “Russell Westbrook with a jump shot”. Duval’s backcourt running mate is Dior Kennedy, a combo-guard from Coatesville HS who plays downhill from the opening tip to the final horn. This duo’s aggressive and explosive style of play will be tested against Philly Role Models Elite in the opening round. If they advance, Round 2 will bring a game vs. K-Low Elite 2025 or NY Lightning Select-HGSL.