SEPA Spring Grassroots Report: Week III

[caption id="attachment_1439141" align="alignleft" width="149"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Hadir-Boswell-2022-II-e1650941711383.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1439141 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Hadir-Boswell-2022-II-e1650941711383-149x300.jpg" alt="" width="149" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1283975" first="Hadir" last="Boswell"] of Team Final 2022. Photo: @mackey187blvd[/caption] After a weekend off for the holidays, the 2022 grassroots circuit fired back up this past Friday night. The top grassroots teams from southeastern PA traveled to places like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri and Atlantic City, NJ to compete in spring tournaments featuring extremely competitive fields. Below is a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who played well on the grassroots circuit this past weekend. 17U (2022s / 2023s) [player_tooltip player_id="1116019" first="Dylan" last="Blair"] – 5’10” / Junior / Downingtown West / East Coast Cyclones / Point Guard: Blair is a dual threat (scoring & distributing) floor general with a high basketball IQ. He can score at all three levels, but his ball-on-a-string handles are what really grab your attention. When Blair is weaving through traffic on the fast break, it looks like he is gliding down the court. This past weekend Blair led his team to the Final 4 of their division at HG Pitt Jam Fest. [player_tooltip player_id="1283975" first="Hadir" last="Boswell"] – 6’4” / Senior / Math, Civics & Sciences / Team Final 2022 / Wing: Boswell’s physical presence on the interior helped push TF 2022 to a 4-0 record as they captured the 17U Open division title at the Hoop Group Pitt Jam Fest. Boswell exhibited decent touch in the mid-range. However, he exceled at second chance opportunities and at scoring with his back to the basket. In both situations, Boswell can absorb a good deal of contact while scoring the rock. [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] – 6’7” / Junior / Imhotep Charter / Team Final EYBL / Combo Guard: This past weekend Edwards was out in Indianapolis for the EYBL Session II event. His is outstanding performances in Indy showed Midwest folks why he is one of the top 2023 prospects in the nation. Edwards averaged 18.8 ppg. and scored the ball in every way imaginable. His unique brand of point-forward basketball continues to impress scouts and college coaches. Edwards is a program defining level of prospect. Jayson Love – 6’3” / Junior / Academy at Palumbo / Ghost Elite / Combo Guard: Love is a versatile athlete with a muscular frame and good foot speed. He can play in transition as a ball handler or wing filler. Love also shoots the three-ball at a solid clip. He competes on the glass at both ends. When he grabs an offensive rebound Love is quick to gather himself and then score the rock with either hand. He was a rock steady performer all weekend at the ZG XL Atlantic City tourney, but his 20-point game vs. Force NYC-Red really stood out. Love helped direct his team to a 2-1 record at the ZG XL event. [player_tooltip player_id="1281811" first="Izaiah" last="Pasha"] – 6’5” / Cardinal O’Hara / Philly Pride National / Combo Guard: Pasha (recently named 2021-22 Delco POY) is an attacking style of point guard who gets downhill quickly at applies constant pressure on opposing defenses. The up-tempo pace at which Pasha plays is breath taking. He can finish a fast break at the rim with either hand. As a bonus, Pasha is a solid 3-point shooter. His outstanding weekend at UAA Session II (MO) was highlighted by a stat line of 22 points and 3 rebounds in Philly Pride’s (3-1) win over Team Sizzle. [caption id="attachment_1439132" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/TFR-2022-Pitt-Jam-Fest-Champs-crop-788x518-1650941404.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1439132 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/TFR-2022-Pitt-Jam-Fest-Champs-crop-788x518-1650941404-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Team Final Red HGSL -- HG Pitt Jam Fest 17U Champions.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1378453" first="Ruben" last="Rodriguez"] – 6’2” / Junior / Reading / Team Final Red HGSL / Point Guard: Coming off a high school season in which he averaged 20 ppg. and scored a school record 50 points in a single game, Rodriguez continues to impress with his elite scoring abilities. He is a blur in transition who can score through contact. Rodriguez also shoots triples at a high percentage and possesses a solid stop-n-pop skill set. If needed he can switch back to the distributing style of point guard, he played early on in his high school career. At HG Pitt Jam Fest Rodriguez led his TFR squad to a 4-0 record and the championship of their division. 16U (2024s) [player_tooltip player_id="1173982" first="Ty" last="Burton"] – 5’10” / Lampeter-Strasburg / Philly Pride National / Combo Guard: Burton can score the rock in so many ways, but it was his 3-point shooting that turned heads at the UAA Session II (MO). To be honest, over Philly Pride’s last three games of the weekend, this kid shot the lights out from behind the arc. If you watched Burton (Lebanon-Lancaster League Section 3 POY) play this past winter, none of this should come as a surprise. When he is not raining in triples, Burton’s speed and creative dribble skills get him to the rim for easy lay-ins. He holds an offer from Manhattan. Nathan Townsend – 6’2” / Neshaminy / Mt. Pleasant / Combo Guard: Townsend is a player who can score at all three levels. However, if you watch closely, you will notice that he is an equally impressive facilitator. Townsend is a shifty ball handler who is exceedingly difficult to guard on dribble drives. He can score off those dribble drives or distribute via drive and kick / dump to an open teammate. He owns a bigger frame than most guards, so he is not afraid to back down a defender, then convert in the paint. Townsend guided the Mt. Pleasant Bulldogs to a 2-1 record at the HG Pitt Jam Fest. [player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"] – 6’2” / Neumann-Goretti / Team Final EYBL / Combo Guard: Wright has established himself as one of the elite backcourt prospects in this region’s Class of 2024 and he continues to build on that reputation this spring. At EYBL Session II in Indianapolis, Wright pushed his TF group to a 3-1 record thanks to an 18.8 points per game average. He scored a weekend high of 22 pts (2 threes) against Boo Williams and posted a near triple-double -- 14 pts; 9 rebounds and 7 dimes -- vs. Arizona Unity. Wright’s well rounded skill set is astonishing especially given that he is only a sophomore. [caption id="attachment_1268409" align="alignleft" width="238"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Kevin-Beck-2025.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1268409" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Kevin-Beck-2025-300x257.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="204" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1197606" first="Kevin" last="Beck"] (C/O 2025) of Philly Revolution. Photo: Philly Revolution[/caption] 15U (2025s) [player_tooltip player_id="1197606" first="Kevin" last="Beck"] – 6’2” / Father Judge / Philly Revolution / Combo Guard: Beck is one of the most feared perimeter aces in SEPA and he proved that fact once again at HG Pitt Jam Fest. During the Revolution’s win over the Riverside Hawks (NY) Beck drained 6 threes. While Beck’s high percentage 3-point shooting is impressive, it is his logo distance range and quick release that really drop jaws. As a bonus to his 3-point shooting, Beck can also handle the rock and is a solid rebounder. Colin Hollingsworth – 6’4” / Perkiomen Valley / PSB Philly-Harken / Combo Guard: A solidly built athlete (also plays football) who does not shy away from contact on the boards, Hollingsworth registered an outstanding weekend at the Zero Gravity XL event in Atlantic City. Included in that stretch of stellar play was a 14 and 10 double-double in a win over the SJ Titans (NJ). Hollingsworth is a good three-point shooter, scores it off dribble drives and can run as a primary ball handler if needed. PSB Philly-Harken went 4-0 at the ZG XL in Atlantic City and won their division. They now own a 14-0 record this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="1188620" first="Shareef" last="Jackson"] – 6’7” / Roman Catholic / NJ Scholars Elite / Power Forward: Scholars 15U (2025) is an extremely talented team that is flying under the radar. Jackson’s play on the interior at both ends has been a huge reason for their recent success. For a youngster, Jackson’s positioning skills and footwork are very polished. Once he receives the rock in close, Jackson can score over a defender or bully his way through contact. On defense he provides intimidating rim protection and ferocious rebounding. Scholars posted a 4-0 record at EYBL Session II (Indianapolis, IN). We expect their winning ways to continue all spring and into the summer circuit. Rashid Ushery – 6’4” / Delcastle Tech (DE) / Philly Pride National / Combo Guard: Ushery tipped off the HG Pitt Jam Fest on Friday night in impressive fashion -- 18 points; 7 rebounds and 3 assists -- in a win over the York Ballers (PA). He continued to play at that elevated level all weekend and helped Philly Pride assemble a 3-1 record. Ushery knocked down threes, got buckets in transition, cleaned the glass, and provided smothering on-ball defense.