Metro Classic: New Jersey Thursday Notables

One of the most anticipated weekends in New Jersey high school basketball returned this past weekend in the Metro Classic—a marquee multi day invitational loaded year after year with top national talent and some of the region's very best. With the spotlight set on Stockton University in Galloway, NJ, let's break down a few standout prospects from the state of New Jersey who turned in standout performances to kick the action off Thursday evening.    Continuing to firmly solidify himself as one of the top guards in the entire national 2027 class, four star point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2344521' first='Micah' last='Gordon'] once again delivered a standout performance that exhibited a complete offensive package that combines advanced and crafty three level scoring with natural high level playmaking while also fully embracing the responsibility of applying constant ball pressure and disrupting opponents at the point of attack defensively. Gordon settled into a nice offensive rhythm that essentially saw him get whatever he wanted— particularly from a shot creation and perimeter shooting standpoint, getting to his spots in the mid range area with pace and creativity while also excelling as a dangerous and confident outside spot up shooter. Possessing a keen overall feel for the game, Gordon also allowed the attention he warrants from opposing defense(s) to excel as a selfless facilitator who routinely puts teammates in positions to succeed. Equally impressive as a defender, Gordon distinguished himself on the defensive end, showing strong instincts and a readiness to be a persistent defensive presence.     With every showing [player_tooltip player_id='2504896' first='William' last='Brunson'] continues to find ways to exhibit his glaring offensive polish and advanced skillset paired with his legitimate positional size, and that was once again very much the case Thursday evening for the left handed four star wing. Continuing his emergence as a true two way wing, Brunson demonstrated the impressive attributes to his game as a bigger wing with scoring prowess and willingness as a facilitator— crafty and creative shot creation with poise, impressive soft touch shooting from the outside, attacking driving angles in transition and in the half court, all while also making plays for perimeter shooters and finishers in the dunker spot with his impressive passing feel and potent court vision.     [player_tooltip player_id='2509329' first='Ashton' last='Graves'] is a naturally aggressive offensively minded guard who separates himself with his confidence and scoring mentality. Efficient in his approach in getting to the rim, Graves is at his best attacking downhill and pressuring the rim both in transition and in the half court and that was very much the case in Hudson Catholic's matchup against Spire International (OH), demonstrating a unique combination of speed and body control on the number of finishes he converted on at the basket. While effectively balancing those paint touches with a reliable and repeatable spot up shooting stroke from the perimeter, Graves remained a threat from the outside flashing his three point shooting ability.     A steady and reliably productive guard in Rutgers Prep's backcourt capable of being a dependable source of offense particularly with outside scoring and while also being a tough finisher in the paint, [player_tooltip player_id='2202018' first='Rocco' last='Loomis'] provided much of that in their matchup against Salem. Loomis knocked down opportunistic shots from three point range as a spot up shooter, while also attacking closeouts and open driving angles to finish in the lane. Loomis also showed comfort initiating offense and made smart, timely reads, delivering sharp passes to open teammates.     Few guards in the state of New Jersey impact the game like [player_tooltip player_id='2342638' first='Jaden' last='Brown'] does. The Fairfield commit plays with noticeable pace, fearless confidence, and a high level of command of the offense, very often dictating the tempo while stressing defenses as a legitimate creator. Smooth off the bounce, Brown got to his spots with decisiveness, converting on a number of soft touch mid range pull up jumpers while also showcasing his perimeter shooting touch off the catch, with deep range accuracy, burying a number of open looks from the outside. With his court awareness and decision making highlighting his value as a true floor general, Brown also made a handful of sharp reads with the ball in his hands, generating clean looks for cutters and open shooters.     A guard who's flown under the radar up until a masterful and head turning showing this past weekend to kick things off at the Metro Classic, [player_tooltip player_id='2763537' first='Tymear' last='Lecator'] delivered a standout performance that demonstrated his ability to get hot and score from multiple different spots on the court. An impressive 31 point performance saw Lecator consistently bury open looks from three point range as a spot up shooter while also getting in the lane to convert on soft touch runners and crafty finishes in traffic. Lecator displayed an interesting blend of sound footwork, versatile soft shooting touch, excellent body control around the basket, and an ability to remain an unselfish and willing passer.     A tough and scrappy guard who's game translates seamlessly with his ability to provide legitimate value both on and off the ball, [player_tooltip player_id='2202019' first='Alex' last='Mazzella'] showcased much of his overall skillset— facilitating the basketball and getting his teammates the ball in the right spots on the floor while also remaining a threat to score particularly with his dangerous outside shooting. Mazzella rarely ever forces offense and has a natural tendency to make a lot of the right reads to keep opposing defenses honest and that was very much the case in Bergen Catholic's matchup against Spire Academy (OH), with the different layers he adds to their offensive success.

One of the most anticipated weekends in New Jersey high school basketball returned this past weekend in the Metro Classic—a marquee multi day invitational loaded year after year with top national talent and some of the region's very best. With the spotlight set on Stockton University in Galloway, NJ, let's break down a few standout prospects from the state of New Jersey who turned in standout performances to kick the action off Thursday evening.