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<p>On Saturday, August 15th, I attended the National Hoops Foundation's Summer Showcase, which consisted of all star teams from the Summer Draft League, the Newkirk Draft League, and the 978ers League.</p>
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<p>Tons of talent was present in the gym, but the Newkirk Draft League stood out.</p>
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<p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/5-studs-from-newkirk-draft-league/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/5-studs-from-newkirk-draft-league/">5 Studs From Newkirk Draft League</a></p>
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<p>Below are seven players from the Summer Draft League and 978ERS League that shined on Saturday.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Sullivan gets better every single time I watch him play. The 6-foot-1 guard was one of the better shooters in the gym but also impressed me with his ability to get to the rim and finish acrobatically with contact. He looks stronger, more explosive, and quicker with his handle than I remember in the past, and he's not rattled by bigger and stronger players defending him on the ball. Sullivan understands how to play both with and without the basketball in his hands, and he should be one of the best players in the state this coming season for Andover, especially after a successful spring AAU season with the Mass Rivals. </p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Richard is a phenomenal athlete with great quick-burst ball-handling ability and really good elevation at the rim. The rising freshman is only 6-foot tall, but he has the ability to take contact in the air quite effectively and gets tons of height on his jump shot, which makes him difficult to contest especially as a smaller defender. Richard also has solid passing vision and never gets tired, so he's constantly attacking downhill in transition and is hard to stay in front of. He should be one of Brooks' key players this season and will get A LOT better from getting reps against NEPSAC competition.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Arache has the physical tools of a scholarship level guard, but he's only a rising sophomore. The 6-foot-5 combo-guard has good length, but he also moves quite fluidly and has awesome coordination for his size. He's stronger than he looks, and he has a really nice mid-range game that consists of jumpers, floaters, and good footwork in the paint. Arache continues to improve his outside shot, too, which could be a key swing skill in his eventual recruitment. He should be an important player for St. Paul's School this coming season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see scholarship coaches calling soon.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Ayual has big-time potential. The 6-foot-10 rising sophomore has incredible hands for his size and age—he consistently grabbed difficult rebounds with one hand and was able to catch passes in a number of circumstances, both low and high ones. He can finish around the basket effectively, and he sets crushing screens on that end as well. Defensively, he protects the rim despite not being an amazing vertical athlete, and he rebounds quite well because of his hands and length. Ayual is going to be playing in a crowded front-court at Tabor Academy this season, but I would be shocked if he doesn't get serious minutes with his combination of physical tools and skill.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Though Gardner didn't score the ball on Saturday as well as he sometimes does, the 6-foot-2 guard impressed me with his athletic tools and feel. He has a knack for turning the corner around defenders, even when it looks like there's no space or opportunity to get there. The rising freshman also has really solid touch in the paint and understands when and how to get to his floater/mid-range shot depending on how the defense is playing him. Gardner is going to get so much better as a result of playing at the NEPSAC level, and I think he'll look a look different towards the end of the year at Dexter Southfield.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Hightower continued to prove that he's a high-level scorer at Saturday's showcase. The 5-foot-10 guard has a really interesting-looking shot, but he made threes at a high level during his second game and looked quite consistent from the perimeter. As usual, he also showcased good touch in the lane with both hands and was able to get all the way to the rim and finish on a number of occasions. I was most impressed, though, with his willingness and ability to slide his feet and stay with guys for 94 feet. I still think Hightower has to majorly improve his shot-selection, but he can really score the basketball and should get minutes at BC High this season.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Jean-Philippe is the best point-of-attack defender in virtually every gym he enters, and Saturday was no different. The 5-foot-10 guard is as strong as any rising freshman PG you'll find, and he has the competitiveness and desire needed to sit in a stance and take pride for the entire game. He also impressed me with his ability to finish with both hands—even though he's left-hand dominant, he had an amazing right-handed finish with multiple contests. Jean-Philippe is going to really surprise people this season and will be one of the best underclassmen in the NEPSAC.</p>
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On Saturday, August 15th, I attended the National Hoops Foundation's Summer Showcase, which consisted of all star teams from the Summer Draft League, the Newkirk Draft League, and the 978ers League.
Tons of talent was present in the gym, but the Newkirk Draft League stood out.
Sullivan gets better every single time I watch him play. The 6-foot-1 guard was one of the better shooters in the gym but also impressed me with his ability to get to the rim and finish acrobatically with contact. He looks stronger, more explosive, and quicker with his handle than I remember in the past, and he's not rattled by bigger and stronger players defending him on the ball. Sullivan understands how to play both with and without the basketball in his hands, and he should be one of the best players in the state this coming season for Andover, especially after a successful spring AAU season with the Mass Rivals.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Richard is a phenomenal athlete with great quick-burst ball-handling ability and really good elevation at the rim. The rising freshman is only 6-foot tall, but he has the ability to take contact in the air quite effectively and gets tons of height on his jump shot, which makes him difficult to contest especially as a smaller defender. Richard also has solid passing vision and never gets tired, so he's constantly attacking downhill in transition and is hard to stay in front of. He should be one of Brooks' key players this season and will get A LOT better from getting reps against NEPSAC competition.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Arache has the physical tools of a scholarship level guard, but he's only a rising sophomore. The 6-foot-5 combo-guard has good length, but he also moves quite fluidly and has awesome coordination for his size. He's stronger than he looks,…
Ayual has big-time potential. The 6-foot-10 rising sophomore has incredible hands for his size and age—he consistently grabbed difficult rebounds with one hand and was able to catch passes in a number of circumstances, both low and high ones. He can finish around the basket effectively, and he sets crushing screens on that end as well. Defensively, he protects the rim despite not being an amazing vertical athlete, and he rebounds quite well because of his hands and length. Ayual is going to be playing in a crowded front-court at Tabor Academy this season, but I would be shocked if he doesn't get serious minutes with his combination of physical tools and skill.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Though Gardner didn't score the ball on Saturday as well as he sometimes does, the 6-foot-2 guard impressed me with his athletic tools and feel. He has a knack for turning the corner around defenders, even when it looks like…
Hightower continued to prove that he's a high-level scorer at Saturday's showcase. The 5-foot-10 guard has a really interesting-looking shot, but he made threes at a high level during his second game and looked quite consistent from the perimeter. As usual, he also showcased good touch in the lane with both hands and was able to get all the way to the rim and finish on a number of occasions. I was most impressed, though, with his willingness and ability to slide his feet and stay with guys for 94 feet. I still think Hightower has to majorly improve his shot-selection, but he can really score the basketball and should get minutes at BC High this season.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Jean-Philippe is the best point-of-attack defender in virtually every gym he enters, and Saturday was no different. The 5-foot-10 guard is as strong as any rising freshman PG you'll find, and he has the competitiveness and desire needed to sit…
