Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: 7 New Names On My Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, I attended the Hoop Group's New England Jam Fest at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, MA. I mostly took in games from the 17u and 16u divisions, but I watched a ton of teams and players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, it's impossible to see everyone, and I was only at one facility each day. There are LOTS of good basketball players out there!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-best-7-players-i-saw/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: Best 7 Players I Saw</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-studs-from-2028/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: 7 Studs From 2028</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-high-d3-prospects/">Hoop Group New England Jam Fest: 7 High D3 Prospects</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-studs-from-2027/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/05/hoop-group-new-england-jam-fest-7-studs-from-2027/">New England Jam Fest: 7 Studs from 2027</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that being said, below are 7 new names on my radar. This will conclude my coverage of Hoop Group New England Jam Fest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2711406"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a216253e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dalessio is really interesting player with a unique skillset. The 5-foot-11 guard handles the rock quite well and can get to his spots on the floor at will. Once he does, he has a knack for getting his shot off because he has super long arms and an extremely high release point. This allows the undersized guard to get his shot off against far bigger defenders, something typically difficult for guys his size. The Pope Francis junior also passes the ball well and is super unselfish, so he can fit into any offensive system. Dalessio's size will limit his high D3 hopes, but he should find a fit somewhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2890259"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a2162597"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I can't believe I hadn't seen Smalls play in person before last weekend, but I walked away feeling like he was one of the best true point guards I saw. The 6-foot junior has exceptional quickness and speed, a really tight handle, and a good mid range game, so he's a very difficult cover. Against BABC, he got into the paint at will and made great decisions for himself or his teammates consistently. Smalls needs to improve his outside shot, but he runs Valente Rocks' offense beautifully and is an awesome college prospect. Not sure where he'll end up, but scholarship schools should at least take a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2878931"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a21625c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rolle has a super intriguing and unique skillset. The 6-foot-3 wing has some heft to him, so he's able to guard and rebound with opposing bigs and forwards in the paint. Offensively, though, he moves extremely well for his size and and has a knack for finishing difficult layups in the paint—he made multiple layups that made no sense to me. Even with defenders draped over him all weekend, I saw him have a handful of and-ones to keep his squad in games. Rolle has a cerebral offensive game, and he's showing for Dream Team Elite what he can be for Avon Old Farms in his senior season coming up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2711421"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a21625ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Donovan is ultra quick and brings pace and composure to A Step Ahead's HGAL squad. The 5-foot-9 guard is obviously undersized, but he has a low center of gravity and a good handle, so he's able to breeze by defenders in the backcourt and handle pressure effectively. He's a real throwback point guard in the sense that he wants to get paint touches and kick outs rather than three-pointers or finishes at the hoop, but he can definitely score when he needs to. Donovan is in excellent condition and plays hard for the entire game, so he's an awesome guy to run your squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2203813"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a216260c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sappidi was one of the most fun players I watched this weekend. The 6-foot-2 guard has feel up the wazoo and makes smart plays left and right. He fits beautifully into any offensive system (and certainly GB Blue Devils') because of his ability to move without the ball and knock down threes, but he also has some on-ball chops and showcases great body control, ball-handling, and strength in the pick and roll. He can hit middy pull ups, he can finish at the rim, and he makes wonderful decisions consistently off of two feet. Sappidi is going to make a college coach very happy with his willingness and ability to play the right way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553762"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a216262f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stearns is electric. He has never-ending confidence and a knack for scoring the basketball. He gets major elevation on his shot and has a super high release point, so he can get off mid range looks or threes whenever he wants. He's also a relentless rim attacker who can finish athletically at the rim and with lots of contact. He can certainly take some questionable shots at times, but he's a tough shot maker and proves himself right pretty often. Stearns was awesome for Set The Pace HGSL this past weekend and should continue to have a productive spring with them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alex Trombley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Liverpool High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"HoopRoots HGSL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074a2162690"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Trombley was phenomenal this weekend. The 6-foot-2 guard was one of the better shooters I saw—he hit 9 threes against BABC—but he also does a ton of other things. He's a talented driver and has more athleticism than you think, but he's also an excellent passer who never holds the ball for too long or stalls the offense. He's extremely strong and as solid as they come. Trombley should definitely get some scholarship looks, but who knows these days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->