Westtown Invitational: 2026 standouts (Sunday)

Westtown hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving tournament, featuring eight high-level prep programs from across the Northeast for three days of early season action. After taking in the championship Sunday slate, we'll continue coverage with a handful of 2026 prospects who stood out over the course of the day.    One of the best players in the CIAC last year while averaging over 20 points and 6 assists for St. Bernard, Gray has picked up right where he left off since sliding across the state for his post-grad year. With Bridgeport facing a nearly 20-point deficit early in the third quarter, Gray flipped a switch and changed the entire tenor of the game, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the third quarter to will his team back into the game and set up a nip-tuck fourth quarter that would end in a buzzer-beating championship win. A tough-nosed lead guard, Gray ran the team with energy and natural leadership traits, showcasing a blend of burst and craft while navigating downhill with the ability to keep defenses honest as a dependable shooter from the arc. He's a tailor made fit for Bridgeport's fullcourt press, flying around en route to six steals on Sunday to kickstart the transition attack going the other way. Gray may not be the sexiest, but his clean skillset and no-nonsense approach on both ends of the floor is bound to make a scholarship-level program happy in due time.     Despite a narrow loss, Holloman put together as thrilling an individual performance as we saw all day. The dynamic southpaw shook off an uncharacteristically slow start with just two first-quarter points, getting going just before halftime before erupting for 19 of his 29 points in the second half. Holloman helped drag Redemption back from an early deficit, coming out in the third quarter with a different pep in his step while pouring in jumpers from all over the floor. He knocked down four 3s with deep range and impressive mechanics on his pullup, also showing a slick handle getting downhill and soft touch as a finisher near the rim. A non-negotiable for a guard of his stature, Holloman also helped set the tone on D with intense ball pressure at the point of attack. His size will be a turn-off for some coaches but Holloman has been productive wherever he's been and is bound to win over the right scholarship-level program before much longer.     Esposito could serve as a poster child for what prep school is designed for, as the swingman is coming off a nine-inch growth spurt in a year's time that has him looking every bit a bona-fide scholarship prospect as a post-grad after a nondescript high school career at powerhouse Bergen Catholic (NJ). With his newfound size on the perimeter, he's established himself as one of the more prolific and reliable shooters in the region. He knocked down four 3s on Sunday en route to 16 points (13 in a dominant first half showing by the Lions), showcasing a quick release and polished footwork getting himself square while running off screens. The swingman moves better than expected for someone still adjusting to their frame and shows some natural craft when attacking closeouts off the bounce while also displaying nice toughness and court instincts to help out on the glass with his length. With recruitment spanning across all three levels given his unorthodox trajectory, Esposito is clearly trending up with a clear chance to find a home as a D1 shooting specialist at some point.     Despite taking a tough loss at the hands of Phelps, Falko impressed with his shotmaking, competitiveness, and expanding offensive skillset in a well-rounded 22-point effort. Known as a prolific threat from distance, he knocked down a pair of 3s while staying in constant motion hunting space off the ball. Falko showed an improving handle as he was able to navigate to spots off the bounce, particularly when attacking in transition. His toughness and vocal leadership was also key as he made a number of plays on the defensive end and helped spark his team down the stretch in order to keep the score respectable. Somewhat of a late-bloomer with D1 bloodlines, Falko is steadily emerging as a scholarship-level prospect in his own right with a chance to garner some real attention throughout the rest of the winter.     An emerging name on the local scene, Sharif has been key to the Phelps prep team's hot start to the year, and the budding jumbo guard impressed again in the Lions' resounding win on Sunday over West Nottingham. With striking size, length, and strength for the backcourt, the Vermont native jumped off the page with a handful of knifing drives into athletic, acrobatic finishes near the rim. He kept things honest while converting on a pair of shots from beyond the arc and also helped set a tone with his intensity and versatility on the defensive end. Sharif would finish with 14 points while continuing to build his case as a scholarship-level prospect early on in his post-grad year.

Westtown hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving tournament, featuring eight high-level prep programs from across the Northeast for three days of early season action. After taking in the championship Sunday slate, we'll continue coverage with a handful of 2026 prospects who stood out over the course of the day.