Philly Live II: New Jersey's Friday Eye Catchers Part I

Philly Live serves as a premier scholastic live period showcase held in Philadelphia, PA at the Alan Horwitz Sixth Man Center and Jefferson University. This past weekend's second session brought together some of the nation's top high school basketball talent and a boatload of New Jersey prospects stood the test of the nation's best talent. Philly Live served as a key evaluation opportunity for college coaches and scouts during the NCAA live recruiting period. The second session of Philly Live highlighted standout performances both from the state's emerging stars who's stocks are beginning to rise coming out of the weekend alongside well entrenched prospects who also confirmed their reputations as some of the state's best. Let's take a look at some players that turned heads on the first day of action in Philadelphia, PA Friday.    Making a strong offensive impact Friday afternoon for Hudson Catholic, [player_tooltip player_id='2628239' first='Yu' last='Lyu'] showcased his steadily improving offensive skillset— in the low post around the basket and off the dribble out on the perimeter. Lyu showed good touch around the rim when finishing inside, good footwork in the low post, and soft hands when catching dump offs. Lyu also showed flashes of some his guard skills in his ability to put the ball on the floor, change direction, and finish at the rim through traffic. Lyu also did a good job of competing on the offensive glass— fighting well on box outs and showing a solid second jump.     Contrary to his typical on ball point guard responsibilities, [player_tooltip player_id='2202014' first='Rey' last='Weinseimer'] impressed Friday afternoon with his ability to be a dangerous threat off the ball. Weinseimer excelled as a shot maker out on the perimeter and in the mid range area, both off the catch and coming off different types of screens. Weinseimer continued his impressive play off the ball moving well without the ball constantly relocating for open shots while also cutting back door for open looks at the basket.     Extremely capable of being effective at either guard spot, [player_tooltip player_id='2504902' first='Jamieson' last='Young'] had a strong showing both as a lights out shooter at the two guard position and a offensive initiator at the point guard position. An elite sharpshooter with beautiful mechanics, Young shot the three ball with confidence while showing his versatility as a shooter— off the catch and coming off different screens. Young also impressed with the offense he was also able to generate off different screens and pin downs largely due to the gravity he attracts as a perimeter shooter— being able to get to the mid range area and finish strong at the rim.     A true table setting point guard for Cherry Hill East, [player_tooltip player_id='2763527' first='Chris' last='Abreu'] was extremely effective in the ways he was able to run the offense and create open looks for his teammates. Abreu displayed excellent court vision both on dribble drives and in transition, consistently finding open shooters out on the perimeter. Abreu also scored the basketball, particularly finishing at the rim, when the offense called for him to do so.     A confident shot maker from the perimeter, [player_tooltip player_id='1790209' first='Ethan' last='Lin'] impressed in his ability to be a lethal and versatile shot maker during Friday afternoon's acton. Possessing a compact release with fluid footwork, Lin displayed his ability to shoot it well from three point territory in a variety of different ways— off the catch, coming off screens, creating separation off the dribble, and with range too. Lin also moved well without the ball, constantly looking to relocate to open space. Lin also attacked the basket on a few dribble drives finishing with craftiness around the basket.     An exceptional threat off the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='2683649' first='Michael' last='Simborski'] thrived in the ways he was able to impact the game without dominating the ball. With a smooth and compact release, Simborski provided exceptional floor spacing while demonstrating his ability to be a knockdown shooter off the catch while also being a authoritative and purposeful attacker off the bounce, and finishing strong at the basket.     A strong showing Friday afternoon saw Caleb Jones display his ability to be a strong finisher around the basket. Jones excelled at being effective out the dunker spot and in the short corner area, catching dump offs from penetrating guards and finishing with strength and power at the basket. En route to a strong performance against Bonnner (PA), Jones also thrived in transition, running the floor and finishing above the rim. An extremely active rebounder, Jones also excelled on the offensive and defensive glass while also making highlight plays defensively.     Shouldering the boatload of the offensive production for Arts Friday afternoon, Tyshaun Boyd got into a nice rhythm and showcased his ability to score the basketball from different areas in the halfcourt— being an aggressive downhill driver putting pressure on the rim, operating out of the mid post and displaying his face up game, and knocking down open shots both from behind the three point line and in the mid range area. Boyd has impressive length and is a fluid athlete, and used those physical tools to make on impact both on the glass and the defensive end of the floor as well.     A pivotal factor in Linden's OT victory over Imhotep (PA), [player_tooltip player_id='1595685' first='Jekhi' last='Burnam'] was impressive in his ability to be a versatile, two-way impact player. Offensively, Burnam continued to demonstrate his ability to be a dangerous floor spacing threat, knocking down open catch and shoot threes while also showcasing an expanding offensive skillset, showing flashes of his in between game off the dribble. On the defensive side of the floor, Burnam demonstrated his ability to be a switchable defender and fight on the boards.     A real offensive spark plug in the backcourt for Linden, [player_tooltip player_id='1595682' first='Jayden' last='Holman'] shined in his ability to score the basketball from different areas Friday afternoon. Holman got to his mid range game early and often, using his in between game to establish a nice rhythm offensively, attacking all game. With Linden playing at a little more uptempo pace, Holman also thrived at getting to the rim and finishing through contact and around defenders.

Philly Live serves as a premier scholastic live period showcase held in Philadelphia, PA at the Alan Horwitz Sixth Man Center and Jefferson University. This past weekend's second session brought together some of the nation's top high school basketball talent and a boatload of New Jersey prospects stood the test of the nation's best talent. Philly Live served as a key evaluation opportunity for college coaches and scouts during the NCAA live recruiting period. The second session of Philly Live highlighted standout performances both from the state's emerging stars who's stocks are beginning to rise coming out of the weekend alongside well entrenched prospects who also confirmed their reputations as some of the state's best. Let's take a look at some players that turned heads on the first day of action in Philadelphia, PA Friday.