NEPSAC Showcase Standouts Part 2

This past weekends NEPSAC Showcase was one of the best events of the year! Top players from all over the country finally had a chance to play with their new prep schools and we got to see improved games from tons of different players. At every position there were college prospects for every level D3-D1 showcasing amazing skills. These are some of the guys who really raised their stock!

Isaiah Watts Isaiah Watts 6'3" | CG South Kent | 2023 State NLG 6’3 South Kent 2023 – Watts was a player who raised his stock tremendously this past weekend. The 6’3 combo guard has a good length, which allowed him to defend very well at his position, constantly in the passing lanes. His ability to flat-out score stood out immediately. I saw an immediate impact offensively at all levels, even showing off some tremendous footwork in the mid-post on a Kobe-like fadeaway that led to an And1 bucket late in the game. Watts was an unknown by many coming into this weekend, but now Watts has picked up a high major offer from the University of Missouri after a fantastic weekend.

Gavin Griffiths Gavin Griffiths 6'7" | SF Kingswood-Oxford | 2023 State #82 Nation NLG 6’7 Kingswood Oxford 2023 – I got a chance to see Gavin off schedule, returning from lunch; it was a pleasant surprise to see this 6’7 shooting guard playing point guard for most of this game. He was an extremely hard worker on both sides of the ball. He saw the floor well and facilitated the ball for his team while also showing off an arsenal of scoring moves. Griffiths could do everything from off-the-catch threes to pull-up threes in transition. Currently committed to Rutgers, the four-star will immediately be an impact at the next level due to his tremendous size for his position and ability to score wherever and defend multiple positions.

Marvin Musiime-Kamali Marvin Musiime-Kamali 6'6" | SF Cushing Academy | 2023 State NLG 6’6 Cushing Academy 2023 – A college-ready body already, Musiime-Kamali dominated his competition this weekend as no one who guarded him had the strength to keep up. An unwavering motor makes him a threat every time he steps on the court, but he also has the athleticism to make him a threat on every play. In transition, he constantly had chase-down blocks on defense and lived above the rim in transition offense. What separated him from all the other “super athletes” at the event was me seeing Kamali knock down two threes back to back without hesitation. If he becomes a consistent shooter, I see him boosting his recruitment heavily in the coming months.

Tate Laczkowski Tate Laczkowski 6'10" | PF Wilbraham and Monson | 2023 State NLG 6’10 Wilbraham & Monson Academy 2023 – Seeing Tate for the first time was a pleasure to watch. The 6’10 PF/C wasn’t your typical big on the perimeter. I watched him handle the ball and attack the basket with some guard skills. How he has snuck under the radar is strange seeing this. He has tremendous footwork and understands how to use his size and length. With a smaller defender, he finished over the top with post hooks, and with bigger defenders, he showed finesse around the rim, finishing with confidence through contact. Also, stretched the floor well in the pick-and-pop game knocking down threes with confidence this weekend. A natural stretch four at the next level I think Tate’s recruitment will explode this July after coaches got a chance to see him this past weekend.

Nathan Bledsoe Nathan Bledsoe 6'4" | SF Cushing Academy | 2023 State NLG 6’4 Cushing Academy 2023 –  Nathan Bledsoe Nathan Bledsoe 6'4" | SF Cushing Academy | 2023 State NLG e isn’t a prospect that will blow you away at first sight, but after watching him for three games this weekend I noticed the kid was a sharpshooter and everyone knew it. He was hitting shots from everywhere and no matter the difficulty it seemed like he just couldn’t miss. His release was extremely fast which let him get his shots off before more athletic defenders could even contest. What really impressed was his understanding of how the defense was guarding him, once his shot was falling his pump fake became even more deadly which allowed him to get to pull-ups and his crafty finishes in the lane. A High division 3 prospect who if can become a little more athletic may be able to outplay that prediction.