Great 8 Basketball Showcase Standouts

<p>The end of January means teams are preparing for county and state tournaments. The Great 8 Basketball Showcase was a great test for teams with multiple prospects having good games throughout the day. Here are the top standouts from the Great 8 Basketball Showcase.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013044" first="Adam" last="Silas"], 6’3 CG St. Thomas Aquinas 2022</strong></p> <p>Silas was a one-man wrecking crew for the Trojans as Morris Catholic had no answer to him throughout the game. The 6’3 guard has a tight handle, which he used to blow by his defender and finish in a variety of ways around the rim. Silas has a smooth release on his jumper and can shoot either off the catch or dribble. He is a good passer and makes plays on the defensive end. Silas is a scholarship worthy player who has been playing at a high level for St. Thomas Aquinas all season.</p> <p><strong>Jahmir Tyrell, 6’3 G/F Pioneer Academy 2022</strong></p> <p>Tyrell had a strong game against Patrick School National as he was able to impact the game in multiple ways. The 6’3 wing attacked the basket hard as he had a big poster dunk in the second half that got the crowd going. Tyrell did more than just slash as he got to his spots in the half court and shoots the ball with confidence. He skied for rebounds on both ends of the floor and has the athleticism to defend multiple positions. Tyrell is an athletic wing prospect who makes plays for Pioneer Academy.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933707" first="Starrell" last="Hearns"], 6’2 SG Patrick School National 2022</strong></p> <p>The Celtics were unable to come out with the victory against Pioneer Academy, but Hearns was still able to stand out. The 6’2 guard jumps out of the gym as he was constantly playing above the rim and had a thunderous two-handed dunk. Hearns used his handle to get into the lane and did not force the issue in the half court. He used his athleticism to swat shots around the basket and is a strong rebounder. Hearns is a big-time athlete who is a difference-maker at both ends of the floor.</p> <p><strong>Marco Restelli, 6’2 SG Morris Catholic 2023</strong></p> <p>Restelli had a solid showing against St. Thomas Aquinas as he was able to find his spots in the half court. The 6’2 guard has a good shooting stroke as he wastes little motion in his jumper. Restelli is capable of shooting either off the catch or bounce and moves exceptionally well off the ball. He has an underrated handle and slides his feet on the defensive end. Restelli’s shooting ability is something that will help his stock in a big way as the season continues for Morris Catholic.</p> <p><strong>Chima Okeoma, 5’10 PG Plainfield 2023</strong></p> <p>Okeoma was the go-to guy for Plainfield as he led the Cardinals in scoring against Newark East Side. The 5’10 guard has a lightning quick release on his jumper and made the Red Raiders pay for giving him space on the perimeter. Okeoma was also able to score in the mid-range and has a nice handle. He is an underrated passer and is capable of playing off the ball. Okeoma is a shooter who can get hot in a hurry, which will be key for him and Plainfield for the rest of the season.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Prospects to Know:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1183116" first="Marco" last="Gordils"], 5’8 PG Morris Catholic 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Samar Abdullah, 5’10 PG St. Thomas Aquinas 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933044" first="Richard" last="Machado"], 6’1 CG Saddle River Day 2023</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850674" first="David" last="Olaniyi"], 5’10 PG Newark East Side 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>Trevor Gittens, 6’1 SF Plainfield 2022</strong></p>