Spring Jamfest Standouts (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second live period was underway this past weekend, and Hoop Group put on another big event in their Spring Jamfest at Spooky Nook in Lancaster, PA. The event featured teams from all over the east coast and was chock full of talent for all levels, with college coaches from all over in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of some of the many standouts from the NY teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kesean Shillingford | 6'11” C | House We Built 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1948977,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Shillingford-Keasean.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Shillingford-Keasean.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1948977" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shillingford is perhaps the biggest prospect in the HGSL from a pure height stand point, and the way he's produced over the first two live periods has his stock rising and coaches following him. The 6'11” big man was fantastic when I watched him, as he owned the paint and finished everything within 10 feet. He showed good touch over both shoulders and used his big frame to get position and seal, he hit the glass for easy put backs and defensively he altered shots easily in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Blackburn | 6'4” WG | House We Built 17U '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackburn is a very intriguing prospect playing up in the HGSL 17U, and he had a couple of big time games to show he's one to watch for. At 6'4” he already has good size and a frame that should fill out, and he has a knack for scoring the basketball and making it look easy. He shot the ball very well from deep setting his feet quickly and showing good range, he attacked closeouts and hit the pull-up consistently and he got out in transition where he showed good finishing ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Izaiah Millan | 6'0” PG | Kips Bay Mustangs 17U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millan is the type of guard you love to have on your team and hate to play against, as he's a dog with a competitive chip and a lot of game to go along with it. He changes speeds well and touches the paint off the bounce where he can make plays for others, he's a three level scorer who can hit contested shots and defensively he guards the ball well the length of the floor. He was huge for Kips Bay and helped lead them to the 17U championship before falling in a close one to PA Coalition which had one of the best guard battles I had seen all weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1141998' first='Jireej' last='Cole'] | 6'6” F | Kips Bay Mustangs 17U '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole is an available 2023 who may be best suited taking a post grad season, as he has a lot of upside with another year with his budding skillset. The 6'6” hybrid forward is what we refer to as a “dude” in the industry, as he will physically overpower you and is very difficult to stop with just one defender. He's very strong in the paint and clears out space, he's bouncy as a rebounder and a finisher in the paint and he can step out on the perimeter where he can attack off the bounce too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2234125' first='Anderson' last='Diaz'] | 5'10” PG | Kips Bay Mustangs 17U ‘27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a time when there's a lot of kids who reclassify and play against younger players, Diaz is an eighth grader who played on one of the toughest 17U circuits in the country and not only played but impressed! The 5'10” lead guard has game well beyond his years as he plays with poise, toughness and can flat out get the job done. He's a big time shooter with effortless range and he wasn't afraid to let it fly from NBA range, he worked the pick-and-roll well and made good decisions and he didn't back down one bit on the defensive end either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->