NEPSAC Showcase Standouts: Posts

The NEPSAC Showcase continues to be one of the standout events of the summer in New England.   We were on hand in June to see which prospects would leave their mark in front of the hundreds of coaches that came and went through the building over the course of the weekend.   Today, we'll take a look at some of the event's top forward, prospects who found a way to dominate games around the rim.   Below are five prospects that stood out at the showcase with their ability to operate out of the post.    Anwar, a forward out of Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, stood out with his ability to score it in a variety of ways, particularly around the rim. The 6'7" forward has a solid frame, shows terrific footwork in the paint, and does a nice job of finding soft spots as a roller out of screens. He makes plays with the ball in his hands, particularly when operating out of the high post. Defensively, he can really carve out space as a rebounder, does a nice job of calling out screens, and is capable of guarding on the perimeter in switches. He has the chance to be a major stock riser this winter and recently picked up an offer from Vermont.     Jarrett, a forward out of Suffield Academy in Connecticut, appeared, at times, to be the best big man in the building. He 6'9" with long arms, plays with a great motor, and has added strength over the last year. He bullies smaller defenders around the rim, showing the ability to finish with skill or power. He runs the floor well in transition, can attack in straight line drives, and has even shown the ability to knock down catch and shoot threes. Defensively, he's a plus rim protector that does a good job in ball screen defense and attacks the glass. With a strong winter, it wouldn't be surprising to see him garner scholarship attention.     Phillips, a forward out of the Pomfret School in Connecticut, was a new name for us coming out of the showcase. The 6'7" forward has a big frame, but moves incredibly well and possesses a nice feel for the game with the ball in his hands. He's a powerful finisher in the paint that can overwhelm smaller opponents and outwork bigger ones. He attacks closeouts off the bounce, scores with touch around the basket, and does a nice job of finding soft spots as a roller out of screens. Defensively, he moves his feet well, carves out space on the glass, and is vocal on the back line of defense.     Uzgiris, a forward out of the St. Luke's School in Connecticut, was not only one of the biggest prospects in attendance, but also one of the most improved. He looked much more agile, athletic, and mobile than the last time I saw him play and as such, was playing with more confidence on both ends of the floor. He sets solid screens, can score with either hand around the basket, and does a nice job of passing out of the paint when doubles come. Defensively, he does a nice job of protecting the basket in rotation and has become a more physical present on the glass. He recently announced his commitment to Brown.     Kandji, a forward out of CATS Academy in Massachusetts, is a massive presence in the paint. The 6'10" big has terrific length and a strong base, using both to his advantage in the post. He does a great job of timing up his shot blocking attemtps, detering opponents from scoring in the paint. He's improved his conditioning, which in turn has allowed him to play with more athleticism and harder for longer spurts of time. Offensively, he's a threat to score as a roller out of ball screens, can play with his back to the basket, and has really developed his secondary moves in the post. He's another prospect that scholarship level schools should be tracking.    Our NEPSAC Showcase Standouts series will continue later this week with a look at the prospects with potential.

The NEPSAC Showcase continues to be one of the standout events of the summer in New England.