NJBCA Jersey Live II: More of Friday's Biggest Standouts

One of the most anticipated times on the grassroots basketball calendar concluded last weekend with the June Scholastic Live Period, giving college coaches another opportunity to evaluate prospects in person— this time alongside their respective high school programs. NJBCA Jersey Live II at Montgomery High School brought together many of New Jersey's top high school players, delivering a weekend filled with high level competition and standout performances. From under the radar prospects elevating their recruitment to established names reinforcing their status among the state's elite, there was no shortage of talent on display. Here's another look at some of Friday's standout performers from Skillman, NJ.    Having built up every bit of the definition of a reputation as an exceptional sharpshooter, Jayce Rodriguez showcased so much of the value he provides as a potent and versatile shot maker— being equally as impactful and efficient as a spot up shooter just as he is as a movement shooter. Looking more and more comfortable and under control on the ball creating for himself against pressure, Rodriguez also showed some intriguing flashes of his ability to create his own shot and get to certain spots off the dribble.     Having firmly established himself as a lethal perimeter shooting threat during his sophomore season, Isaiah Thatcher did nothing but reaffirm that notion to open up things during the second scholastic live period— thriving as a dead eye spot up shooter from beyond the three point arc with not only glaring confidence but also dangerous shooting intangibles and impressive overall efficiency. Thatcher showed a lot of strong instincts that make him far more dangerous past his shooting percentages— aggression in hunting his shot and staying shot ready off the ball while also shooting the three ball with an extremely quick release and also showcasing the versatility to be effective in a variety of ways.     The opening day to the second scholastic live period saw Imaad Johnson be forced to shoulder a large scoring responsibility than he's typically used due to a number of his teammates being out due to injury(s). Stepping up and filling the void as the primary scoring option Friday afternoon, Johnson showcased what he'a capable of as scorer, particularly attacking driving angles off the bounce— putting pressure on the rim in transition, attacking out the triple threat from the perimeter, and attacking closeouts with quickness. Diversifying his scoring attack as the action wained, Johnson also mixed in some perimeter shooting off the catch.     Extremely valuable in what he provides as a primary ball handler Cam White once again proved to be a legitimate table setting point guard who makes high IQ decisions— doing a really good job of controlling the tempo deciphering between when to push the pace and when to slow down and get his teammates organized, generating paint touches at a really high rate and locating open shooters when he collapsed the defense. When scoring opportunities presented itself for himself, White finished with touch and craftiness around the rim. All while also being equally as impactful on the defensive end of the floor, playing with great anticipation to be disruptive at the point of attack and in the passing lanes.     At his best and most effective at this point as a perimeter shot maker off the ball, Jaylen Lewis once again put his confident and rather efficient shot making ability, with deep range accuracy, on full display to open the second scholastic live period. Featuring a smooth shooting release, the left hander really hunted his shot, taking advantage of late closeouts and weak contests not only as a spot up shooter but also navigating different screens as a movement shooter to convert on a number of open looks from beyond the three point line.

One of the most anticipated times on the grassroots basketball calendar concluded last weekend with the June Scholastic Live Period, giving college coaches another opportunity to evaluate prospects in person— this time alongside their respective high school programs. NJBCA Jersey Live II at Montgomery High School brought together many of New Jersey's top high school players, delivering a weekend filled with high level competition and standout performances. From under the radar prospects elevating their recruitment to established names reinforcing their status among the state's elite, there was no shortage of talent on display. Here's another look at some of Friday's standout performers from Skillman, NJ.