Back To School Basketball Tournament Standouts

On Saturday, September 5th, I attended the Back To School basketball tournament in Roxbury, MA. I watch six teams compete in group play games.   Below are eight players who stood out.    Seals was one of the best defenders in the gym and really surprised me with his blend of size, strength, and coordination. The Brockton High School rising sophomore is only 5-foot-11, but he appears way larger because of his length and the way he uses his body. He has extremely good hands and instincts on the defensive end and probably had about 8 steals in the first game I watched—all of which seemed to come in different circumstances. He can guard backcourt players because of his agility and lateral quickness, but he can defend front court players because of his strength and hands. Offensively, Seals shows some impressive flashes as an ambidextrous finisher and closeout driver, but he needs to improve his touch and outside shooting ability. We'll see if he can get minutes for a rebuilding Brockton HS team this season.     Bien Aime is an intriguing long-term prospect who shows some flashes of awesome skill and feel. The 6-foot guard has incredible length and can handle the rock, so he gets into the paint consistently. Once he does so, he can finish with his right hand but also had a number of impressive rim reads to open shooters or dunker-spot hangers, all of which he made with good pace and feel. The outside shot didn't fall for him, but it looks comfortable and has good arc and rotation, so I probably just saw a bad day. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bien Aime eventually turn into a really productive player and potentially be a late bloomer for a rebuilding Brockton HS team.     Bronstein played harder than anyone in the entire gym. The 5-foot-8 guard was undersized and younger than most of the other players he played against, but he faught his behind off, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He slid his feet for 94 feet, turned defenders, and wasn't afraid to take chest-to-chest contact from far larger players. Offensively, he didn't overdribble, he made the simple extra pass, and he showcased some good touch from the mid-range and three. Bronstein is going to develop quite a bit physically over the next few years and could eventually be a really nice player for Barnstable High School.     Richmond was the best player in the gym and it wasn't close. The 6-foot-1 combo-guard showcased elite athleticism at the rim and was absolutely impossible to stop as a downhill attacker. He can handle the rock against pressure, he has a good first-step, and he has ridiculous hops and length at the rim. He dunked and finished tons of impressive shots around the paint and also flashed good passing instincts when he decided he wanted to get his teammates involved and the double teams started coming. I need to see Richmond play in a more structured environment, but the physical tools are out of this world and he's only a rising sophomore at Prospect Hill Academy. He should definitely develop into a college player, but an outside shot is the next step. Too early to predict what level he'll end up at, but he's absolutely a college prospect.     Wenyama is built like a brick wall and knows how to use his body—he was one of the tougher kids I saw today and played with an infectious energy and physicality. The 5-foot-10 wing takes contact ridiculously well and knows how to finish effectively with both hands. He doesn't take bad angles to the rim, and players just completely bounce off of him when they meet in the air. The rising sophomore can also knock down the three ball, is a willing and able passer, and loves using his physicality and strength to dominate the boards. Wenyama should be a meaningful player for Prospect Hill Academy this season and will do every single little thing his coach asks of him. He must play football—if he doesn't, he should.     Pinto is a skilled, high IQ guard who knows how to play within an offensive system. The 5-foot-10 CG has a good handle and can blow by defenders despite not having amazing speed or quickness. He has good change-of-speed and direction capabilities, and he has the rock on a string. The rising junior also shoots the ball quite well from the perimeter in both catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble situations, and he makes quick 0.5 decisions when the ball is swung to him. Pinto will need to improve his athleticism and quickness if he wants to play at the college level, but he has a couple years to do so.     Santos is an ultra-quick point guard who has a well-rounded offensive skillset and is a threat from everywhere on the court. The 5-foot-10 guard has a quick and accurate shot from three, and he's able to hit it off the dribble or without his feet set properly, which is an impressive skill. He can also finish in the paint at high speeds and will make the simple kickout pass when the defense collapses on him. Santos should be a meaningful player for Snowden International School this coming season.     Jones is a quick and shifty point guard with phenomenal conditioning level and physical tools. The 5-foot-10 PG has a never-ending motor and makes consistent plays on the defensive end as a result. Offensively, he can get to his spots in the mid range and rise up for jumpers, get all the way to the rim for acrobatic finishes, or set up his teammates for easy looks. The rising sophomore should be able to play minutes for Brookline HS this season, especially without fellow PG Haynes in the mix anymore and a need for someone to handle 94-foot pressure.

On Saturday, September 5th, I attended the Back To School basketball tournament in Roxbury, MA. I watch six teams compete in group play games.