Prep Open Championship: Blair Academy 74, Patrick School 71

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The nation's top-ranked prep team, Blair Academy took home its third straight NJ Prep championship in a nailbiter over The Patrick School. Duke commit and McDonald's All American [player_tooltip player_id='1595679' first='Deron' last='Rippey Jr.'] led the way with 25 points with key support inside from junior center [player_tooltip player_id='2470853' first='Kamsi' last='Awaka']. Freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='2879104' first='Flory' last='Kuminga'] paced Patrick School with a game-high 27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1595679"],"_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-69a282c743402"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The best player in the state added another chapter to his storied legacy with a dynamic 25-point effort to secure the state title. He came out in attack mode looking to get downhill, scoring Blair's first 8 points of the game while imposing his will physically and athletically throughout the first half. Aside from his trademark explosiveness, Rippey also showed advanced footwork and touch as a finisher in the lane. He showed his jumper in the second half with a pair of 3s and a midrange pullup before making a handful of key plays in the fourth as a facilitator, including setting up both the tying and go-ahead buckets in the final minute. Rippey did all this without ever coming out of the game and playing almost entirely mistake-free basketball. Great players tend to play their best in big games and Rippey served as just the latest example.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470853"],"_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-69a282c7434b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming in off the bench and providing arguably the key difference in the game, Awaka was a dominant force inside on both ends for his entire time on the floor. He imposed his will as a rim protector with a pair of emphatic blocks immediately upon checking in. The New York native owned the paint on the other end as well, showing increased explosiveness as a finisher in traffic and drawing contact to generate easy points at the foul line. He would convert the game-winning bucket after receiving a lob in traffic from Rippey in the closing seconds. Awaka was effective cleaning the glass and also flashed with his ability to keep the ball in front when drug out to the perimeter on D. His two-way effort gave a clear window into why he's being pursued at the high-major level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879104"],"_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-69a282c743532"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arguably the top freshman in the state, Kuminga was held almost entirely in check for the first half before putting the team on his back in the second to nearly pull off the upset in comeback fashion. Kuminga scored 25 of his 27 points after halftime, getting into a rhythm as a shooter with five 3s while showcasing a smooth and consistent high release. He was active and engaged on the other end as well, using his strength and mobility to guard his yard and make plays to ignite the Celtics' transition attack. While he bites off a bit more than he can chew right now at times, Kuminga also showed a promising foundation as a ballhandler and passer for this stage in his development. When his motor is running like it was on Thursday, there aren't many freshman wings nationally who can contend with him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1865348"],"_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-69a282c7435af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One half of one of the nation's most potent backcourts, Chatman wasn't at his most efficient but still provided a key source of secondary scoring to help engineer the win. The Rhode Island commit was at his best as a floor-spacer from the perimeter, consistently posing a dangerous threat as a movement shooter in the halfcourt and transition, despite his shot not falling at its usual rate. He was also dynamic getting into the paint whether attacking closeouts or pushing the ball in transition. Chatman consistently finds ways to impact the game at a high level even when not playing at his absolute best, a trait which bodes well for his ability to get on the floor early at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1880464"],"_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-69a282c743641"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leading the way from the backcourt for The Patrick School, Anderson put up a valiant effort with 17 points in his final high school game. Playing a Swiss-army role as a utility guard, he got going with opportunistic buckets near the rim as a cutter or getting out in transition. Anderson would go on to show a much cleaner and more confident perimeter stroke, previously a major question mark in his game, knocking down a pair of smooth pullup 3s in the second half. Having played more of a ball-dominant role in previous settings, it was also nice to see Anderson be able to adapt his game into a more condensed role while still remaining effective. He's available as a clear scholarship-level guard prospect who could certainly hold his own at the D1 level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2610671"],"_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-69a282c7436e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Finishing out a breakout year as a repeat junior, Mehu wasn't too prolific in the scoring column but was nonetheless consistent in his two-way impact. He was at his best getting out in transition but also looked like the game was starting to slow down for him as a ballhandler and passer in the halfcourt, and he also showed nice touch as a finisher around the rim with either hand. Defensively, he was an effective secondary rim protector in smaller lineups and slid his feet impressively on the perimeter with Blair's dynamic guards. Mehu's ability to impact games on the margins without needing his number called should give him a chance to generate traction among D1 programs this spring and summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879017"],"_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-69a282c7437a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the breakout juniors across the state after relocating to the U.S. this fall via Hungary, Rosta stood out with his impressive versatility in a quietly effective two-way effort. Despite lacking in strength, he was active around the rim on both ends with his length and fluidity, helping to clean the glass and contributing as a secondary rim protector. The southpaw showed his defensive versatility while sliding with guards on a number of occasions before effectively challenging shots at the rim. He was rewarded for his tough-nosed effort with two of the biggest shots of the game, a layup and a corner 3 to tie things back up after Blair had briefly fallen behind in the waning minutes. Rosta has a handful of mid and high-major programs tracking his development closely heading into the grassroots season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->