Pitt Jamfest Preview: HGSL Prospects (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hoop Group Pitt Jamfest is one of the oldest and most popular live period events in grassroots basketball, and it's back this weekend! College coaches of all levels will flock to the Bridge City to watch some of the top independent teams in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The HGSL, which is Hoop Group's circuit, features some of the top teams from across the country, with an endless amount of prospects for all levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part one of some of the HGSL Prospects to keep an eye on from Pennsylvania teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1187956' first='Aasim' last='Burton'] | 6'2” PG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078678' first='East' last='Coast Power']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1919220,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Aasim-Burton-2024-1-e1681749014980-crop-734x482-1681749035.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Aasim-Burton-2024-1-e1681749014980-crop-734x482-1681749035.jpg?w=734" alt="" class="wp-image-1919220" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [program_tooltip program_id='2078678' first='East' last='Coast Power']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Flash,” as he's known by teammates and coaches, is the perfect point guard to lead this talented ECP team as he's a wizard with the ball in his hands and is a true floor general who controls the game and makes winning plays. He plays with great pace and he changes speeds well with good burst, he's able to score the ball from all three levels and create in isolation situations and he makes great reads and delivers pinpoint passes to make it easy for teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1812532' first='Jackson' last='Gaffney'] | 6'7” WG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078678' first='East' last='Coast Power']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1843379,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Jackson-Gaffney-Radnor-2023-crop-715x470-1678562324.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Jackson-Gaffney-Radnor-2023-crop-715x470-1678562324.png?w=714" alt="" class="wp-image-1843379" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1812532' first='Jackson' last='Gaffney'] (2023) from Radnor. </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaffney had a great senior season at Radnor and is likely looking to post grad as he's listed as a 2024 at Pittsburgh this weekend. He has a chance to be a full scholarship kid with another year as he has great size as a two guard that allows him to get his shot off, he's a driller from deep with a quick release and he shoots it at a very high clip and he attacks closeouts and can use his size to finish around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nyle Ralph-Bayer | 6'4” CG | [program_tooltip program_id='2078678' first='East' last='Coast Power']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1645813,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Nyle-Ralph-Bayer-2024.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Nyle-Ralph-Bayer-2024.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1645813" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ralph-Bayer may have the most upside on this talented ECP team, as he has both the measurables and the game that should turn the heads of division one coaches. At 6'4” he has great positional size as a guard and is a smooth athlete to go with it, he can really pat it and create space off the bounce and he's a knock down shooter from deep both off the catch and off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1990914' first='Dior' last='Kennedy'] | 6'3” CG | PA Coalition</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy is a well-rounded guard who can do a little bit of everything, and he's an aggressive two-way player who comes at you over and over again. He has a good handle and changes directions well to get in the lane, he's a strong finisher through contact in the paint and he can knock down shots from deep and he is unselfish and does the dirty work too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1281760' first='Isaac' last='Dye'] | 6'3” WG | PA Coalition</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dye is coming off a great junior season at State College Area where he was named First Team All Mid-Penn Conference, and he could be a breakout player at Pitt this weekend. He's a deadly shooter from deep who shot it at 47% from deep this high school season, he is a strong finisher when he gets downhill and can play through traffic and he is a good secondary ball handler who can handle pressure and create when he needs to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1867332' first='Duke' last='Cloran'] | 6'1” CG | PA Hoops Academy '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cloran is a young guard coming off a good sophomore season at Haverford School, and him playing 17U makes sense as he has a very mature game for his age. He's a highly skilled guard who handles pressure and doesn't get sped up, he shoots the ball well from deep and can get to spots in the midrange and he makes great reads and sets others up once he gets it going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Hynson | 6'4” CG | WeR1 HGSL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hynson is coming off a huge junior season where he led Salesanium to the Delaware state championship, and he recently received his first offer from Delaware State. The 6'4” lefty is a dynamic scoring guard who is shifty off the bounce and able to control his body to make shots when he's closely guarded, he can work off the ball where he can set his feet and make shots on the move and when he gets downhill he's explosive and has good body control to finish though contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Hinds | 6'4” WF | WeR1 HGSL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hinds was another part of that Salesanium team that won the state championship, and he's the perfect glue guy for a college that's looking for one. At 6'4” he's strong and athletic as he rebounds well and can finish above the rim, he can step out and make shots from deep when he's left open and he defends multiple positions and does the dirty work too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1188249' first='Kevin' last='McCarthy'] | 6'4” SG | Philly Revolution</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1453925,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Kevin-McCarthy-2024-II-crop-695x457-1652380582.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Kevin-McCarthy-2024-II-crop-695x457-1652380582.jpg?w=695" alt="" class="wp-image-1453925" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCarthy was one of the top scorers in all of Pennsylvania last year, as he had multiple 30 point games and already has broke the 1,000 point mark for his career. The Episcopal wing is a go-getter at the two guard spot as he can really shoot it from deep and doesn't need much space, he can handle in transition and run the pick-and-roll to get in the lane and finish and gets to the line a lot as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->