Small and Private Schools Champion Crowned NIBC Title Hopeful
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We have our first champions crowned on the Island. Portledge won the private school championship. They were the best team from start to finish. Southhampton won the B championship. A small school with a deep talented roster. The third team…
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Continue ReadingWe have our first champions crowned on the Island. Portledge won the private school championship. They were the best team from start to finish. Southhampton won the B championship. A small school with a deep talented roster. The third team in this report is the #1 ranked team in New York. Long Island Lutheran Crusaders who play in the NIBC a league with teams competing from around the country. We reported on their game last week. Monteverd, IMG, La Lumire and AZ Compass Prep are some of the top teams in this super league. Today we will highlight the top players Portledge and Southhampton. Plus give you the rest of the roster of LUHI who we didn’t mention in our report last week. The LUHI players are all major talent D1 players.
With the graduation of Long Islands all time leading scorer, Anthony was going to be needed to produce, he sure has. Last year he was the second option to Zaire Baines. He showed a sweet stroke from three . The lefty shooter has put it all together and has not missed a beat being the man. Likes the corner three. He is very good in transition. Has a strong handle and body getting to the rim. Can finish through contact. Has the ability to score the old school three with converting from the line. Makes winning plays. Averaged 25 ppg.
Brandon is another player who excelled in his expanded role. A smooth mid range shooter. A good strong frame. Has some bulk and uses it well. Sets good hard screens and is equally good at rolling or popping off that. Excellent rebounder who works hard. Feels every ball up or on the ground should be his. Gets his team extra possessions.
Derek Reed
Derek Reed
Has a smooth elusive handle. Outstanding in transition. Super quick but under control. Possesses excellent court vision on both the break or off half court sets. He’s an outstanding on the ball defender and also jumping passing lanes. Had 5 steals in the championship game. Made some nice back door cuts has a high basketball IQ. A flat out scorer of the ball.
Naevon Williams Naevon Williams 6'3" | SF Southhampton | 2025 State NY
Naevon Williams Naevon Williams 6'3" | SF Southhampton | 2025 State NY
Naevon is a polished 2025 player. A soft touch from the foul line in. Many times he can flash to the high post catch the pass and put up a little turn around jumper. Looks like a really nice face up shooter is in his further. Right now he’s done a lot of scoring off the catch in the lane. Terrific rebounder on both ends.
Excellent on the ball defender. Uses his quickness to stay in front. He just makes a lot of positive plays. Tremendous court vision. Very crafty scorer. His handle and first step gets him into a potent mid range game. Will be a high major recruit in the coming year. Luhi is putting out high D1 players so don’t wait on this young player or any of the rest in this report.
The younger brother of Kayden should be his running mate nest season in the starting lineup for the Crusaders. Ball is on a string in his hands. Has deep range beyond the arc. Excellent frame. Strong with the ball, extremely confident. Can get into the lane and score in a variety of ways. Understands the importance of changing speed and direction with the ball.
Jacob is the younger brother of Jayden who we reported on in our LUHI -Oak Hill game of the week. Jacob is his own player though. He has a really smooth pull up jumper off the bounce. Has tremendous lift on his jumper. Can get to the rim with his dribble. Mid range is outstanding. Another high talented LUHI player.
Highlights
With a team of high flyers up and down elite athletes, it’s still nice to have the big man in the middle. Just ask Shaq! Now I’m not comparing Godswill to Shaq but he does have a nice power game. He is a rim protector who rebounds the ball equally as hard on both ends. Offensively he keeps possessions alive. On the defensive side he clears space and gets the break going. An extremely agile big man. Saw him when he was at Iona Prep in the Spring he possesses a quick spin in the post can finish with either hand and finesse it off the glass or throw it down. A future stud and already really good.
Ben Michaels
Ben Michaels
Ben has come over from Great Britain. He has fit in beautifully. A tough strong player. Skilled and an elite athlete. Runs the floor, blocks shot, defends off or on the ball. Tremendous finisher. Very determined player with a lot of can’t teach skill.