Donofrio Round One: Keystone Blazers Philly Blaze vs Team Awesome

The annual Donofrio Classic continued on Wednesday with more first round action featuring some high-level talent taking the floor across both games. Keep reading for a recap of some top performers from Keystone Blazers/Philly Blaze's win over Team Awesome.    The top performer of the night, Newson exploded for nearly 40 points while putting on an aerial assault with his above-the-rim exploits. The Delaware native took advantage of the up-and-down style of play, consistently attacking the basket both off the dribble and as a cutter, whether in the halfcourt or especially in transition. He authored arguably the highlight of the tournament so far with an explosive poster dunk in the second half while also showing his ability to use his length to contort around defenders and finish in traffic. As he continues refining his ball skills and decisionmaking, the ceiling becomes more and more in sight for the dynamic two-way athlete.     Getting back on the floor for the first time after Wood's early exit from the state tournament, Lundy was playing with a purpose while running the show for Keystone Blazers in a big win. The lanky lead guard was difficult to contain with his shifty handle and deceptive changes of pace, working to his spots consistently while showing an ability to score or facilitate from each level of the floor. Lundy finished with 20 points while making plays on defense and keeping his teammates involved throughout the night. He continues to track as one of the more dynamic playmakers in the region.     Making a splash despite the loss in one of his final showings at the high school level, Crispin left a strong impression after erupting for 33 points. The post-grad by way of Pitman (NJ) erupted for 10 3s to almost singlehandedly keep things competitive despite facing extra defensive attention throughout the night. Rather than playing off the catch, Crispin created the majority of his shots on his own, creating space with his handle before displaying polished footwork and DEEP range into his pullup jumper. He doesn't necessarily pass the look test but Crispin's skill level and moxie continue tracking as a safe bet to translate for the scholarship-level program smart enough to pull the trigger.     Getting a chance to function as a go-to guy after playing more of a condensed role for Phelps in the winter, Valera Melo took advantage of the opportunity despite the loss, getting loose for 23 points in a display of his clear long-term upside. The smooth wing guard showed his silky jumper both off the catch and creating his own space off the dribble, knocking down five 3s with as feathery a release as you'll find in the region. He also showed his ability to get to his spots off the dribble and finish with dexterity and evolving athleticism. It looks like only a matter of time before the Dominican product begins percolating onto high-major radars.     Teaming with a handful of other District 1 stars for Keystone Blazers, Grasty put in a dynamic two-way effort to help coast into the second round. The junior guard played an exciting style with his quick-twitch athleticism attacking off the bounce and finishing in traffic among the trees. He showed a nice ability to blend in with other talent and make plays in the floor game after being used to having the ball run primarily through him for the bulk of the high school season. His ball pressure was also effective in forcing turnovers and sparking transition opportunities going the other way. Grasty continues tracking as a clear scholarship-level guard with a chance to catch some D1 attention on the Adidas circuit this spring and summer.

The annual Donofrio Classic continued on Wednesday with more first round action featuring some high-level talent taking the floor across both games. Keep reading for a recap of some top performers from Keystone Blazers/Philly Blaze's win over Team Awesome.