Hoop Group Spring Showdown: Unsung heroes

As the calendar turned to April, the grassroots season kicked off in the Garden State this weekend with a strong local event at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune, NJ, featuring a handful of premier programs across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After taking in several sets of action on the opening afternoon of the event, we'll continue coverage with a look at some unsung performers who may not have earned standout recognition but were nonetheless crucial to their teams' success.    With his Shoreshots squad facing an early deficit in their season-opening matchup with fellow UAA club [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'], Nwobu came off the bench and immediately helped swing the momentum with his energetic play in the backcourt. A true pest of a two-way guard, he helped speed up the tempo of the game in his team's favor by getting underneath of opposing guards with his hounding ball pressure. Playing in a true combo guard role, Nwobu showed effectiveness both making plays off the dribble out of ball screens but also spacing the floor as a dangerous shooter off the catch. While he can be a bit streaky with his offensive contributions at times, Nwobu has carved out a nice calling card with his relentless energy on both ends of the floor in a way that's sure to earn him points in the eyes of college coaches over this summer's live periods.     While he's been known as a prolific shooter and scorer, first in his native Virginia and then with eventual state champ Roselle Catholic, Hunter took a bit of a backseat with his offensive production on the day. That didn't speak to his impact, however, as Hunter was a persistent force with his defensive presence across the backcourt and relentless rim pressure both in transition and the halfcourt. Usually doing a bulk of his work via the jump shot, he showed an added element getting downhill for a series of strong and athletic finishes, plus a handful of drawn fouls. More of a volume scorer as an underclassman, Hunter has carved out a nice niche as a two-way guard able to contribute efficiently in winning situations. He should attract D1 attention across the region over the course of the summer.     Returning alongside his [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] teammates for another run on the UAA circuit, Waters' steadying and tough-nosed presence off the bench was key in helping secure a narrow OT win over fellow UAA member NJ Shoreshots. Previously seen as more of a scoring guard or combo, Waters looked comfortable as a true lead guard. He was steady and consistent in his reads off the dribble, touching the paint in the halfcourt for drive-and-kicks and routinely slicing the floor in transition before hitting the ball ahead to an open teammate. Having really packed muscle onto his frame in the past year, Waters was also a consistent factor at the point of attack defensively. He's certainly on the scholarship radar and will have a chance to catch the eye of D1 coaches as he continues coming into his own as a floor general.     Making his debut on the circuit level with his new team, Okebata wasted no time getting acclimated while contributing across the board as the Shoreshots put on a dominant display in a season-opening blowout win. Having filled out notably and tacked on several inches to his frame in the past year, the young rising junior was effective largely by virtue of his athleticism and natural two-way instincts. Okebata was a regular around the rim as a strong and explosive finisher off cuts or runouts, while also using his strength and leaping ability to make plays defensively and help clean the glass. The potential is apparent with Okebata as he continues to refine his skillset, with the things he already brings to the floor being inherently difficult to teach and his best basketball still clearly ahead of him coming off his first year of varsity experience.     With a collection of talented wings and forwards comprising the bulk of the Beasts' rotation, it can be easy at times to overlook the smallest guy on the floor. But make no mistake, Barnett remains the engine that makes everything else run in his second go-round with one of the region's higher-level independent teams. In a narrow close to the UA-sponsored NJ Shoreshots, he proved to be a persistent threat with his skilled and heady play off the bounce. Barnett was a regular touching the paint both to set the table for his teammates or finish with his floater over opposing bigs. He won't be a fit for everybody at the next level given his stature, but coaches up to the D1 level who embrace smaller guards would be wise to give Barnett a look over the next several months.

As the calendar turned to April, the grassroots season kicked off in the Garden State this weekend with a strong local event at Hoop Group Headquarters in Neptune, NJ, featuring a handful of premier programs across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After taking in several sets of action on the opening afternoon of the event, we'll continue coverage with a look at some unsung performers who may not have earned standout recognition but were nonetheless crucial to their teams' success.