New England Jam Fest: 7 Studs from 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, I attended the Hoop Group's New England Jam Fest at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, MA. I mostly took in games from the 17u and 16u divisions, but I watched a ton of teams and players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, it's impossible to see everyone, and I was only at one facility each day. There are LOTS of good basketball players out there!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-best-7-players-i-saw/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: Best 7 Players I Saw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-studs-from-2028/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: 7 Studs From 2028</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-high-d3-prospects/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-high-d3-prospects/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: 7 High D3 Prospects</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that being said, below are 7 studs from 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='3590193' first='Michael' last='D'Ambra']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bishop Hendricken High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Middlesex Magic HGSL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a062a8d322ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">D'Ambra feels like a player who's game will translate well to the college level, and that's why I'm high on him. The lefty shoots the light out from three but also has better decision-making and passing instincts than I think people realize. He's a super smart ball-mover and always makes the right play for his teammates, but he also gives them space to operate because of his quick shooting stroke and size. Defensively, he plays hard and uses his size and improving strength to stick with bigger forward. D'Ambra plugs holes for Middlesex Magic, and he'll do the same for a college program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2960045"],"_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-6a062a8d3235e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Odutayo is known as one of the better shot-blockers in the region, but his offensive feel looks to have improved as of late. His outside shot is better than I've seen it, and that has allowed him to drive more closeouts and show his composure and balance in the lane. The 6-foot-8 forward has decent touch around the rim and good footwork, but he's relatively raw. The signs point to him continuing to improve, though. Defensively, Odutayo has a knack for blocking shots and uses his wingspan to stifle drives consistently. He's better every time I see him and is blooming late. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zayd Leanna","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Northfield Mount Hermon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"NE Storm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a062a8d32404"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leanna is on the NE Storm B team, but he might be their most productive player and has been phenomenal every time I've seen them play. I think he's one of the most underrated shooters in the region—he has a beautiful release and can make shots with range and off the dribble—but he also has better athleticism than people think when he drives closeouts. Most impressive is Leanna's defense, where he showcases the ability to guard numerous players off the dribble and is very, very strong. He's a tough kid who will make a D3 coach super happy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568521"],"_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-6a062a8d32457"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown is quite impressive and had one of the better games I've seen him play when his New Haven Heat squad beat Team Sims UA Rise in a close one Saturday. The 5-foot-10 guard is clearly undersized, but he has incredible strength and speed and makes some moves to the rim and finishes at the hoop that make very little sense. He completely moves offensive players with his strength, and his jab-step game allows him to get a first step or create enough separation for him to score over the defense. Brown also stonewalls opposing ball handlers on defense with his incredible toughness and strength. I have no clue where he'll end up, but he's absolutely a college player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3406976"],"_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-6a062a8d324a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taylor is way better than I thought he was. The 5-foot-10 point guard is obviously undersized, but he's as solid as they come. He moves defenders easily with the ball in his hands because of his supreme handle, strength, and feel, and he makes great decisions in the paint. He's a lethal marksman from the mid range but also can finish at the rim and set up his teammates when the defense collapses. Taylor had a bafflingly low number of turnovers for a guy handling the ball against BABC's full-court, aggressive pressure. He's a stud.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaxson Edwards","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pope Francis High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"SECC All Stars HGSL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a062a8d3253f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time watching Edwards in person, and I was shocked by his ability to score from all three levels—he's WAY better than I thought. The 6-foot-6 wing moves very well for his size and has the skillset of a guard on the perimeter, so he can handle and shoot the ball quite well. He uses slow steps in the lane and plays at his own pace, so defenses can never speed him up or make him take poor shots. Some of the flashes Edwards shows makes me think he's a division 1 prospect, but he'll have to continue improving if he wants to get there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2465139"],"_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-6a062a8d32590"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wane looks like he's making some meaningful strides in his game. The 6-foot-6 wing/forward plays bigger than he is and is thus able to guard wings and bigs alike. He has long arms, he's a lot stronger than he looks, and his motor is very solid, so he makes enough plays to overcompensate for the size he's giving up to some guys. He looks way more comfortable on offense than I've seen him in the past—he's slowing down for finishes at the rim and his shot looks more compact—so he should be primed to have an excellent spring with NE Storm HGSL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->