Game Recap: Hun School 79, Lawrenceville 65

Hun School went on the road in MAPL play for a tough come-from-behind win over league rival Lawrenceville. The Raiders were led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1454276' first='Blake' last='Hargrove'] with a game-high 25 points, while sophomore swingman [player_tooltip player_id='2436976' first='Marque' last='Johnson'] paced Lawrenceville with 18.    Among the top guards in the state, Hargrove shook off some first half foul trouble to pour in a game-high 25 points while controlling the bulk of the game from the lead guard spot. The junior was rock solid with the ball, weaving to his spots with pace while keeping his head up to make passing reads. He routinely stopped on a dime for a textbook pullup jumper and also showed his improved athleticism on an explosive dunk through the teeth of the defense. Despite being nominally undersized, Hargrove used his strength and low center of gravity to put up a good fight when opposing matchups tried to post him up. The Lehigh Valley native had coaches from Princeton in attendance to see him and certainly treated them to a show.     With the benefit of having his college commitment in the rearview, Mateo is able to play his senior season with a focus on winning and preparing himself for the next level. He checked both boxes on Wednesday, contributing 18 points to the victory while showcasing some noteworthy improvements to his game. The senior guard and Cornell commit has previously been known for his perimeter shooting and connective passing, but thrived in this one as a playmaker off the dribble both for himself and others. He showed improved craft while working to his spots off the bounce and finishing with skill near the rim. Mateo's passing is always fun to watch and Wednesday was no exception as he set up teammates for a handful of easy looks. He profiles as a valuable program piece moving forward in the Ivy League.     The highest-ranked prospect in the game, Johnson used his hard-charging downhill style to rack up a team-high 18 points in a near double-double effort. The southpaw showed a blend of explosiveness and budding skill while attacking the rim relentlessly off the bounce, particularly to his favored left hand. He knocked down a perimeter jumper to start the game but otherwise was focused on his bread and butter, which the defense was never able to fully take away. Johnson was engaged on the defensive end while guarding across the entire lineup and showed good communication for being just an underclassman. He has to continue working to refine his skillset but Johnson nonetheless showed why he's among the more productive swingmen in his class.     Cullert's impact can sometimes be overlooked given that so much of it comes without the ball in his hands, but make no mistake about how important the junior's role is toward winning basketball. A sharpshooting swingman, Cullert contributed 11 points with his four field goals coming off a total of zero dribbles. He thrives in Hun's movement-heavy system, finding open space along the perimeter for a smooth high-release jumper or converting easy layups on opportunistic cuts to the rim. Despite lacking strength, Cullert also uses his height and length to chip in as a rebounder. His blend of size, shooting, and IQ should make him a popular name among high-academic D1 programs over the course of the recruiting cycle.     Considered among the top tight ends in the country and already committed to Alabama for football, Lumpris is on the basketball court just for fun but nonetheless manages to show an appealing skillset in a key role off the bench. The hybrid big scored 16 points mostly by way of his activity and athleticism around the basket. He showed strong hands and swift athleticism as a finisher both in the halfcourt and transition, also drawing consistent contact and cashing in on his opportunities at the foul line. It's clear Lumpris would have a scholarship-level future in hoops had he decided to go that route.     Despite the loss, Hodge was able to impress with an energetic 11-point effort. Splitting time both on and off the ball, he showed a valuable plug-and-play skillset in an active complementary role. He was effective from the perimeter with deep range as a smooth shooter off the catch, but was also able to get north-south while attacking closeouts off the dribble before showcasing a crafty finishing package around the rim. His handle is steady enough to initiate some offense at the point but Hodge's future appears to be as a well-rounded utility guard at the scholarship level.     Coming down the stretch of his post-grad year, it's important to make every game count, and Tassey managed to make a positive impression despite leaving with the loss. The Freehold Borough (NJ) grad scored 11 points in an important role as a complementary scorer on the perimeter. He was effective as a floor-spacer while also showing some craft and shotmaking touch in the process of creating his own offense in 1-on-1 situations off the dribble. He'll have to work to get stronger as he transitions to the next level but could prove to be an intriguing scholarship-level option late in the cycle.

Hun School went on the road in MAPL play for a tough come-from-behind win over league rival Lawrenceville. The Raiders were led by junior guard Blake Hargrove Blake Hargrove 6'0" | PG Hun School | 2027 State NJ with a game-high 25 points, while sophomore swingman Marque Johnson Marque Johnson 6'5" | SF Lawrenceville School | 2028 State #34 Nation NJ paced Lawrenceville with 18.