Pitt Jamfest Preview: HGSL Prospects (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hoop Group Pitt Jamfest is one of the oldest and most popular live period events in grassroots basketball, and it's back this weekend! College coaches of all levels will flock to the Bridge City to watch some of the top independent teams in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The HGSL, which is Hoop Group's circuit, features some of the top teams from across the country, with an endless amount of prospects for all levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part one of some of the HGSL Prospects to keep an eye on from NY teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josh Decady| 6'6” F | Crown Basketball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Decady is a high upside hybrid forward who had a good junior season at Archbishop Molloy and already holds an offer from Bryant. At 6'6” he's strong and explosive in the paint so he can clear out space and finish above the rim, he can step out on the wing where he can shoot the ball from deep and put it on the deck and he plays with a great motor and can defend multiple positions as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chike Ndefo | 6'6” PF | Crown Basketball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dealing with both Decady and Ndefo will be a problem for other teams in the HGSL, as they both provide physicality and are very productive. Coming off a great junior year at Vermont Academy and standing with three offers already, Ndefo brings great energy to the floor as he gets up and down and fights on the offensive glass, he finishes well in traffic and is a load to deal with in the paint and he has touch out to 18 feet as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1392622' first='Roddy' last='Jones'] | 6'3” WG | Crown Basketball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones moved to Cheshire Academy last year where he saw success as an underclassman in the NEPSAC, and his ability to score the ball will intrigue coaches at Pitt. The 6'3” wing has a flamethrower from deep with effortless range and a quick release, he can handle the ball in transition and get downhill and he's a strong finisher through contact at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kesean Shillingford | 7'0” C | House We Built</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shillingford is going to have a lot of coaches looking at him, as he stands a legit 7'0” and a solid 250 pounds and he's still relatively new to the game. His size alone makes him an impact on the defensive end as he can clog the paint and challenge shots without leaving his feet, he runs the floor hard and hits the glass on both ends of the floor and he's developing nicely over the past few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Cofield | 6'9” PF | House We Built</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cofield had a monster season at Catholic Memorial and with him and Shillingford it's going to be tough for HGSL teams to matchup with them. Cofield's a super productive forward who is a walking double-double as he attacks the glass and finishes everything in the paint, he is a good rim protector with good timing and he brings a blue collar type of style to the teams he plays with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1141998' first='Jireej' last='Cole'] | 6'6” SF | Kips Bay Mustangs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole is an unsigned senior that had a great senior year at St. Raymond's and could be that player that a new staff is looking to get a steal with. The 6'6” wing has great size and a big time athlete that can guard on the perimeter and alter shots defensively, he's strong and gets downhill aggressively where he can score in traffic and he's a good rebounder for his position too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->