Hoop Group Jersey Jam Fest: MD 16U Standouts

Hoop Group continues its spring tournament slate with its Jersey Jam Fest taking place across several sites this coming weekend, featuring a selection of sneaker circuit, HGSL, and independent programs. After spending Saturday afternoon and evening taking in a half-dozen sets of 16U action at Multi Sports Kingdom in Manalapan, the following Maryland-based prospects stood out with their respective play.    It's easy watching him play to see where the nickname "Hell Rell" stems from, as Davis makes life miserable on either end of the floor for opposing guards. His dynamite quickness and non-stop two-way aggression combine with a viciously creative handle and increasing maturity as a decisionmaker to make for a nightmarish matchup in the backcourt despite a lack of standout physical tools. Davis was a walking paint touch on Saturday, creating easy shots for teammates and also showcasing his advanced skill level on a number of soft-touch lefty finishes over opposing rim protectors. Davis also continues to get more dangerous in the pullup game with his base getting stronger as he matures physically. Making the move to SPIRE to play for legendary coach Kevin Boyle, Davis should have every opportunity to follow the footsteps of his brother DaQuan (Providence) at the high-major level.     It seems like just a matter of time before Malonga breaks out at least on a regional scale, with the runway left in front of him to potentially make noise nationally despite a quiet winter during his sophomore season. With elite athletic tools for the perimeter, he's continued to polish his skillset in order to better showcase his above-average two-way instincts over the course of the game. A tighter handle and more comfortable spotup stroke have the French-Cameroonian swingman looking much more effective within a halfcourt structure, while he remains a terror in transition with increasing explosiveness as a finisher around the rim. Malonga has bloodlines at the highest levels of the sport, with his sister having just been taken 2nd in the WNBA Draft, and it shouldn't be long before he begins generating more steam on the recruiting front in his own right the more he's allowed to stretch his wings this summer.     The man in the middle for a high-powered Thrill group off to a blistering start this spring, Mancho was up to his usual tricks on Saturday while imposing his will up front on either end. A bruising frontcourt presence with a broad frame and explosive athleticism, he's a safe bet to make an impact on any game on the merit solely of his physical tools and nonstop motor. He was a force on Saturday cleaning the glass to kickstart the transition attack before sprinting the floor to beat opposing bigs to the lane for easy finishes. The Cameroonian has a foundational to skill level to build on as well, with solid hands and the ability to finish over either shoulder in the lane. His ability to protect the rim while also stepping out comfortably onto the perimeter will be the other key area of intrigue for high-major coaches tracking Mancho in the next couple years.     The other half of a dynamic backcourt, Hill has been a fixture of the Thrill program for years and was playing some of his best basketball on Saturday in the course of engineering two wins. Despite being nominally undersized, he packs a big punch with his airtight skillset, using his handle, quickness, and low center of gravity to routinely leave defenders in the dust on the perimeter. Hill was consistent in his reads, finishing skillfully around the rim to evade rim protectors but primarily looking to dish off or kick out to open teammates after sucking in the defense. He'll have a chance to cement himself as a clearcut D1 guard, despite obvious questions about his size, particularly if he's able to prove himself as a consistently dangerous shooting threat from the perimeter.     It's been a nice start to the spring for Busse, who continued his strong play with WeR1's 16U in a strong two-game showing. He began picking up some buzz over the course of the winter as the primary sniper for a balanced Spalding group, and it's certainly still his smooth lefty jump shot that makes him most dangerous. But Busse has intrigued while showing off a more well-rounded on-ball skillset than seen in the past, operating for extended stretches as a lead guard while showcasing impressive vision and feel as a passer. Coming on strong with plans to return to Spalding before a post-grad year to enter the 2027 class, Busse is firmly on the scholarship radar at this point and is a name D1s should be beginning to monitor heading into the summer.

Hoop Group continues its spring tournament slate with its Jersey Jam Fest taking place across several sites this coming weekend, featuring a selection of sneaker circuit, HGSL, and independent programs. After spending Saturday afternoon and evening taking in a half-dozen sets of 16U action at Multi Sports Kingdom in Manalapan, the following Maryland-based prospects stood out with their respective play.