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Sleeper Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits

Sleeper Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits
Jake Scherzer (2027). Photo: (@ndfilmz_)
Carey Smith
Carey Smith
May 30, 2025 @ 10:26 PM
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In this article:

Amon Hawthorne
Amon Hawthorne 6'1" | PG | 2026
PA
Jake Scherzer
Jake Scherzer 6'1" | CG/SG | 2027
PA
Yariel Gonzalez
Yariel Gonzalez 6'4" | SF | 2027
PA
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of prospects who played outstanding ball in May, but for some reason they are still being slept on by college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches need to wake up and contact these players immediately. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2427239"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683a769238227"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gonzalez is an athletic, speedy, and versatile backcourt prospect with the ability to play above the rim. That list of assets enabled Gonzalez to thrive in the open court on the May circuit. He filled lanes and then finished with authority and pushed the rock himself for scores or assists. Gonzalez proved to be a skilled half-court player too, as he burst past defenders off the dribble for floaters and lay-ins. Additionally, Gonzalez showed that he the IQ and court awareness to dive to the cup for scores or slash back door for for lay-ins.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2949804' first='Amon' last='Hawthorne'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Penn Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Caveman Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683a7692382e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a monster junior year in which he averaged 18 points to go along with 5 assists per game and was named the Section 2-5A POY, Hawthorne played impressive ball during May's grassroots action. Hawthorne is a speedy and skilled point guard who can score as well as facilitate for teammates. His high IQ and unselfish nature enable Hawthorne to balance his own scoring opportunities with getting teammates involved. When he is looking to get buckets, Hawthorne is extremely difficult to stop because he can score in a multitude of ways. Hawthorne can lace threes from all over the floor. He can also get into the paint off the dribble for lay-ins or come to a jump stop and then score off two feet. The trifecta of Hawthorne's change of direction / pace handles, quickness and instinctive decision-making combine to make him a transition phenom.        </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Justin Mayers ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Scranton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2245515' first='NEPA' last='Elite'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683a769238384"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mayers owns the size and frame of a guard, but he plays more like a crafty and tenacious small forward. He excels at catching the rock in the mid-range, turning to face the hoop, and then attacking the rim off one or two dribbles. Mayers can also score on baseline drives and work the offensive glass for put backs. In all these scenarios, Mayers has shown the ability to convert through significant contact. He also is comfortable operating on the perimeter where he has flashed a solid three-point stroke. Additionally, college coaches will love Mayers activity on the defensive end and his non-stop motor.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2427323"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683a7692383e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Two weekends ago this three-point sniper helped push FCP 16U to a 5-0 record at the Spring Jam Fest. Scherzer's jumper possesses a quick release and logo distance range. He was especially effective coming off screen action, but Scherzer also knocked down transition threes as well as spot up triples. When opponents manage to chase Scherzer of the arc, he got to his mid-range spot off the dribble for pull ups and runners or all the way to the tin for lay-ups. Plus, Scherzer displayed a high IQ and excellent court vision as his creative passes repeatedly found teammates for easy buckets.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

Below is a review of prospects who played outstanding ball in May, but for some reason they are still being slept on by college coaches.

College coaches need to wake up and contact these players immediately.  

Yariel Gonzalez

Yariel Gonzalez

PA
SF
HEIGHT 6'4"
POS SF
CLASS 2027
View Player

Yariel Gonzalez

State: Pennsylvania
School: Executive Education Academy

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Gonzalez is an athletic, speedy, and versatile backcourt prospect with the ability to play above the rim. That list of assets enabled Gonzalez to thrive in the open court on the May circuit. He filled lanes and then finished with…

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<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Sleeper Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(247,101,23, 0.95) 0%,rgba(247,101,23, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/sleeper-prospects-from-mays-grassroots-circuits/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Jake-Scherzer-2027-crop-895x588-1748661860.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Sleeper Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Sleeper</span>
                    <span class="last-name">Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

                    </span>
    </span>

Amon Hawthorne Amon Hawthorne 6'1" | PG Penn Hills | 2026 State PA

HEIGHT 6'4"
POS PG
CLASS 2026

Amon Hawthorne Amon Hawthorne 6'1" | PG Penn Hills | 2026 State PA

School: Penn Hills

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

After a monster junior year in which he averaged 18 points to go along with 5 assists per game and was named the Section 2-5A POY, Hawthorne played impressive ball during May's grassroots action. Hawthorne is a speedy and skilled…

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Is this you, [player_tooltip? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing →

Justin Mayers

Justin Mayers

HEIGHT 5'11"
POS SF
CLASS 2028

Justin Mayers

School: Scranton

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Mayers owns the size and frame of a guard, but he plays more like a crafty and tenacious small forward. He excels at catching the rock in the mid-range, turning to face the hoop, and then attacking the rim off…

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Is this you, Justin? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing →

Jake Scherzer

Jake Scherzer

PA #191
CG/SG #47
HEIGHT 6'1"
POS CG/SG
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Jake
Scherzer CG/SG
Class
2027
Height
6'1"
HS
Upper Dublin
|
PA
Sleeper Prospects from May’s Grassroots Circuits
Two weekends ago this three-point sniper helped push FCP 16U to a 5-0 record at the Spring Jam...
Written by Carey Smith
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Jake Scherzer

Instagram Twitter
State: Pennsylvania
School: Upper Dublin
Club: Philly Power

Two weekends ago this three-point sniper helped push FCP 16U to a 5-0 record at the Spring Jam Fest. Scherzer's jumper possesses a quick release and logo distance range. He was especially effective coming off screen action, but Scherzer also knocked down transition threes as well as spot up triples. When opponents manage to chase Scherzer of the arc, he got to his mid-range spot off the dribble for pull ups and runners or all the way to the tin for lay-ups. Plus, Scherzer displayed a high IQ and excellent court vision as his creative passes repeatedly found teammates for easy buckets.  

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