Prep Hoops New Jersey Expo: Top 7 Standouts

Today at the Wayne Police Athletic League in Wayne, New Jersey, Prep Hoops held their first-ever Expo showcase in the state of New Jersey. 45 plus prospects from all over Northeast, came to compete against each other in 3 v 3 and 5 v 5 scrimmaging to put their talent, effort, and demeanor on display to talent evaluators, like myself, in attendance. There was talent abound throughout the entire event, but without further ado, here are my Top 7 standouts from the New Jersey Expo!    [player_tooltip player_id='2478635' first='Andrew' last='Balagot'] did everything you wanted a point guard to do on the floor. With the ball in his hands, he displayed a tight handle on his drives and wasn't afraid to take on contact at the rim even with his slim frame. He was also whipping passes to his teammates all around the court in both the 3 v 3 and 5 v 5 settings. He was knocking down shots from deep with confidence, highlighted by a sweet jab step three ball. Lastly, he was hustling the entire time, laying his body on the line for rebounds and saving the ball from going out of bounds—a terrific showing across the board.     [player_tooltip player_id='2623183' first='Brandon' last='Andrews'] could not be stopped offensively. Every time he drove to the basket, he used his physique to body up defenders and finish strongly at the rack. He did it repeatedly, and no matter who tried to guard him, he was scoring and that was the end of it. He was also knocking down shots from the perimeter with side-step and catch-and-shoot threes with ease and effectiveness while also playing the other side of the ball causing turnovers at the point of attack defensively. Finally, he made some slick dimes which wrapped up a marvelous afternoon.     [player_tooltip player_id='2081040' first='Connor' last='Lee'] was good in the 3 v 3 but was even better during the 5 v 5 scrimmages that cemented his spot as a top standout. He was scoring effortlessly with the ball in a variety of fashionable ways. With the combination of tough finishes, a nice soft touch floater, and a pure three-point stroke, he was putting the ball in the basket with a fury. His quick first step helped him too, as he got by his defenders quickly which led to his field day of huge scoring outbursts throughout multiple games.     [player_tooltip player_id='2621632' first='Joshua' last='Swain'] was a bigger guard who played team basketball and was also able to create for himself when the time called for it. He made solid passes in the half-court and I appreciated that he didn't force anything and read the defenses to perfection. He had some nice defensive moments by using his height while also getting down to rebound on both the offensive and defensive end. He was also able to get a bucket with solid drives to the rim, pull up middies, stretch the floor from downtown, and hit shots off the dribble from said long range.     [player_tooltip player_id='1948972' first='Ilan' last='Santos'] impressed with his scoring versatility for a guard with a well-built figure. He looked comfortable from the perimeter, pulling off step-back threes and knocking down shots with movement. He had a dependable dribble which he used to get to the basket for easy layups while using his strength to his advantage at the rim. He also ran the floor well in transition and had easy scores by leaking out or running past other players with his speed.     [player_tooltip player_id='2504902' first='Jamieson' last='Young'] was lighting it from three throughout the course of the afternoon. With a lightning-quick trigger and smooth mechanics, he was getting his shot off anytime and anywhere. Off the dribble or off the catch, it did not matter as he was consistently getting the ball straight through the net. Additionally, he got inside and finished strong on his occasional drives while making quick passes in transition.     [player_tooltip player_id='1599859' first='Jack' last='Fitzpatrick'] was dominant during the 3 v 3 scrimmaging and was dominant as the lead ball handler for his team. His handle was outstanding and could manipulate his body with the ball to create space effectively. He was hitting step-back and pull-up threes while using his gravity to get inside for easy uncontested finishes. Lastly, he made some slick passes, highlighted by a no-look pass that was spectacular.

Today at the Wayne Police Athletic League in Wayne, New Jersey, Prep Hoops held their first-ever Expo showcase in the state of New Jersey. 45 plus prospects from all over Northeast, came to compete against each other in 3 v 3 and 5 v 5 scrimmaging to put their talent, effort, and demeanor on display to talent evaluators, like myself, in attendance. There was talent abound throughout the entire event, but without further ado, here are my Top 7 standouts from the New Jersey Expo!