Westtown Invitational: 2027 standouts (Sunday)

Westtown hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving tournament, featuring eight high-level prep programs from across the Northeast for three days of early season action. After taking in the championship Sunday slate, we'll continue coverage with a handful of 2027 prospects who impressed over the course of the day.    While it came in defeat following a thrilling comeback by Bridgeport Prep, Stewart's performance may have been the best of any that we saw on Sunday. The junior guard poured in an efficient 25 points from all over the floor, showcasing his budding two-way skillset in the process. Stewart got himself going with two early 3s while Westtown established a first-half lead, knocking in an additional pair during a double-figure fourth quarter scoring effort while the game got tight. He displayed his effortless bounce on multiple above-the-rim finishes while making his typical contributions in the floor game with his length and feel for the game. The Delaware native continues to trend upward with high-major recruitment potentially looming on the horizon.     A repeat junior by way of Rhode Island, Stearns continued a hot start to the year with an explosive 35-point outing in Great Barrington's thrilling win over Redemption Christian. With 26 first-half points before missing time in the third quarter with a banged-up ankle, he showed comfort from all three levels while staying consistently in attack mode. The Rhode Island native displayed smooth mechanics with a textbook high release while knocking in seven 3's and a handful of other midrange attempts. He complemented his shotmaking prowess with knifing downhill attacks into smooth finishes while showing budding athleticism in open space. It was a performance that served to announce Stearns as a clear scholarship-level prospect now that he's moved into the 2027 class.     With shooting being largely the most valuable skill in modern basketball, Bailey figures to be a hot commodity before much longer given his ability to convert in bunches at a high clip from beyond the arc. The eastern Maryland product established himself early on in Sunday's championship affair and never looked back on his way to 17 points on 5 3s and another jumper with a toe on the line. He displays textbook mechanics with a high-level shooter's mindset, leaving most in the gym surprised whenever a clean look doesn't drop through the bottom of the net. Bailey uses his strength, competitiveness, and budding athleticism to make an impact in the floor game as well. While a bit undersized for a primarily off-ball guard, Bailey's shooting prowess, tough-nosed approach, and pristine academic profile should lead to D1 recruitment before much longer.     Perhaps the key to Westtown's season will be the continued development of Udo at the point, and despite a buzzer-beating loss on Sunday, his performance should leave Moose coaches and fans alike optimistic for what's to come. Having gradually sprouted over the years from a pint-sized freshman who was thrown into the fire right away, Udo is a throwback-style floor general with his finger constantly on the pulse of the game. He was poised and healthily aggressive while handling Bridgeport's relentless fullcourt pressure, expertly picking his spots to attack before getting off the ball at the precise right moments to set up his shooters. We'd like to see him be slightly more aggressive in pursuit of his own offense at times, but Udo's prowess as a true lead guard with his developing physical tools make for a highly-intriguing recruit at various levels of D1.     A recent transfer from the Rhode Island public school ranks, Hazard looks to be acclimating nicely to the prep school scene if Sunday's outing was any indication. The rangy two-way guard was effective and efficient from a supporting role in the starting lineup. Hazard showed a clean and confident stroke while knocking down a trio of 3s on his way to a double-figure effort. He used his length and aggressive mindset to bother opposing guards defensively while also displaying intriguing ball skills at his size to work his way downhill as a scorer or playmaker for others. He'll have to work to add strength to his frame, but Hazard looks to be on a scholarship-level pace with his length, shotmaking, and two-way aggressiveness.     New to the scene in New England after moving up from Georgia for a repeat junior year, Scott made his presence felt when it mattered most on Sunday. The rugged lefty swing forward scored seven of his 10 points in the 4th quarter during a thrilling comeback, capping it off with a smooth Euro-step finish to his strong left hand to narrowly beat the final buzzer and secure a one-point championship victory. He showed his athleticism with a poster dunk that helped swing the momentum Bridgeport's way. A former football player who's now shifted focus fully to the hardwood, Scott figures to be on scholarship radars if he can continue refining his skillset to go with his power and athleticism.

Westtown hosted its annual pre-Thanksgiving tournament, featuring eight high-level prep programs from across the Northeast for three days of early season action. After taking in the championship Sunday slate, we'll continue coverage with a handful of 2027 prospects who impressed over the course of the day.