Game Recap: Governor's Academy vs. Belmont Hill School

Governor's Academy knocked off Belmont Hill School tonight in a tightly contested ISL match-up in Byfield, by the final score of 63-50.   In a back and forth game, both teams proved to be well-coached, executed their sets, and played hard on the defensive end of the floor.   At the end of the night, while Belmont Hill's [player_tooltip player_id='1529119' first='Isaiah' last='Langham'] was arguably the best player on the floor, Governor's senior perimeter quartet of [player_tooltip player_id='2396729' first='Momo' last='Nkugwa'], [player_tooltip player_id='1106071' first='Joey' last='Hart'], [player_tooltip player_id='1532626' first='Thomas' last='Ferdinando'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1532445' first='Will' last='Wertz'] won the night.   Below, we'll highlight three notable prospects from each team and what stood out about their performances.    What Stood Out: Feel for the Game   Nkugwa has long been noted for his elite athleticism, standing out as a perimeter defender, threat to score in the open floor, and high level off ball cutter. He's lean and will probably need to add some mass at the next level, but has great physical attributes including long arms and wiry strength. On this occasion, it was his ability to make plays as an offensive initiator that really stood out. He handled the ball against pressure, made good reads out of ball screens, and quickly moved the ball to find open shooters. Combine that with his ability to get downhill off the bounce as a finisher and you have a well-rounded guard that has the potential to play on or off the ball at the next level.     What Stood Out: Physical Transformation   Hart had a really good spring and summer, showcasing a versatility that allowed him to make an impact on both ends of the floor. This was the first time I'd seen him this winter and he looks to be in the best shape of his life. He's leaned out while also adding muscle and now looks like a prospect that could hold his own physically on a college floor today. His athleticism, conditioning, and physicality all looked to be at another level than they were this spring. All of which only adds to his versatility, allowing him to play on the perimeter or in the paint on both ends of the floor.     What Stood Out: Decision Making   Ferdinando is a noted perimeter shooter that has garnered attention over the last year with his ability to score the basketball. While that still holds true, he looks more comfortable than ever with the ball in his hands as a decision maker. He can bring the ball up the floor and initiate offense from the lead guard spot, gets his teammates into their sets, and makes quick reads on his catches. His evolution from pure scorer to versatile combo guard should only raise his ceiling at the next level as opponents will have to respect both his ability to shoot the ball and to create for others.     What Stood Out: Offensive Creation   Langham is a physical specimen that looks like part of future linebacker or tight end. He's muscular with broad shoulders and a strong base; he looks the part physically when he walks on the floor and pops athletically in lay-ups line before the game. What you might not expect is his ability to create offense in space. He moves incredibly well for his size, has no problem handling the ball against pressure, and can really get downhill off the bounce. While he struggled to shoot the ball on this night, his ability to consistently get in the paint off the bounce provided his team with plenty of scoring opportunities, either at the rim or on kickouts for open threes.     What Stood Out: Scoring Ability   Robinson is another prospect that jumps off the page physically when he takes the floor. He's lean, but strong, and has long arms with quick twitch athleticism. He's made a name for himself with his ability to guard, but is starting to stand out with his ability to put the ball in the basket. He came out firing in this game and proved to be a capable shot maker from behind the arc. The lefty has the ability to create space off the bounce to open up his jumper and once he gets a few of those to fall, can get by the defense and finish at the rim with quickness and athleticism. He's quickly becoming a three level scorer and real threat with the basketball in his hands.     What Stood Out: Perimeter Defense   Kaplan is a steady lead guard that knows how to run an offense, picking his spots as a scorer and facilitator. A little out of the norm for him, he also struggled to make shots from the perimeter in this game. But what was really impressive was that he didn't let that deter from his effort on the defensive end of the floor. He did a great job of guarding at the point of attack and making opposing ball-handlers work for every inch. He moves well laterally, with really quick feet, and has the strength needed to be physical on the ball. His fight level in ball screens was terrific and he repeatedly forced the opponent to pick up his dribble without getting to his spot.

Governor's Academy knocked off Belmont Hill School tonight in a tightly contested ISL match-up in Byfield, by the final score of 63-50.