Summer Stock Risers: Additional Notable Recruiting Updates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the summer high school basketball calendar comes to an end, many prospects took advantage of the numerous opportunities to showcase their talents in front of college coaches at every level. The summer months are often a critical stretch in the recruiting process, and strong performances on the circuit helped generate new scholarship offers, increased interest, campus visits, and movement up recruiting boards. With the summer now nearing its conclusion, here's yet another look at some of the more notable recruiting developments from the past several months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2782185' first='Anthony' last='Blackmon'] | 6'0" '28 [player_tooltip player_id='3665515' first='PG' last=''] Shabazz/ PSA Cardinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A smart, tough and instinctive left handed point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2782185' first='Anthony' last='Blackmon'] consistently impacts the game on both ends of the floor, combining aggressive scoring, poised playmaking, and a physical defensive presence. Blackmon more often than not demonstrates a confident handle and impressive composure, allowing him to initiate the offense, control tempo, and keep his teammates organized, all while proving capable of creating offense in multiple ways— knocking down spot up perimeter shots while also using his strong, physical frame to attack closeouts and absorb contact on drives. Defensively, Blackmon embraces the challenge of setting the tone with his ball pressure consistently bothered opposing guards and generated turnovers. Blackmon plays with the type of competitiveness and winning mentality that impacts the game in more ways than one and has garnered attention of coaches the next level— receiving his first Division I scholarship offer from Wagner during the initial June Scholastic Live Period earlier this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2610671' first='Jalen' last='Mehu'] | 6'5" '27 W The Patrick School/ NY Wiz Kids</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few players on the 3SSB Circuit were as consistently productive as [player_tooltip player_id='2610671' first='Jalen' last='Mehu'] from a scoring standpoint this spring and summer. His combination of size, strength, physicality, and offensive versatility made him a difficult matchup, particularly when he was able to establish a downhill advantage, with a clear intent to pressure the rim, using his strong frame to absorb contact and finish through defenders. Mehu's scoring versatility was evident— particularly impressive in “rip-and-go” situations while also showing comfortability operating as a PnR initiator, consistently making decisive attacks against closeouts, and even in transition where he consistently played with his eyes toward the rim when initiating the break. He also showed encouraging flashes as a perimeter shooter, with his soft touch on intermediate pull ups gave him an effective counter when the paint was crowded. After an impressive spring and summer, Mehu has seen his recruitment peak up a little bit of steam— receiving interest from programs like Mississippi State, UCSD, Toledo, Maine, Rhode Island, Dartmouth, and Longwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2202022' first='Anthony' last='Mauro'] | 6'1" '27 [player_tooltip player_id='3665515' first='PG' last=''] College Achieve Asbury Park/ NYC Honor </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2202022' first='Anthony' last='Mauro'] has had as impressive a spring and summer, showcasing the combination of energy, confidence, and offensive versatility that makes him an effective guard at either backcourt spot. He plays with tremendous effort and has consistently made his presence felt during a number of standout performances. Mauro has been especially effective as a perimeter shooter, displaying a confident stroke and legitimate range as a spot up option. He complements his shooting ability with an aggressive downhill game, doing a good job attacking the paint, getting deep into the lane, and finishing through a variety of soft touch floaters and crafty finishes. He's also shown strong ball skills and good feel as a passer, creating advantages off the bounce and finding teammates on drive and kick opportunities, including open bigs inside. Following an impressive spring and summer, Mauro has continued to build on that momentum, adding scholarship offers from Boston, Yale, and Fairfield in recent weeks to close out the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3040515' first='Shriyans' last='Mallavarapu'] | 6'9" '28 F Montgomery/ NJ Shoreshots</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3040515' first='Shriyans' last='Mallavarapu'] continues to emerge as one of the more intriguing long term two way forwards in his class. A lengthy and wiry athlete with impressive mobility for his size, Mallavarapu showed extremely encouraging flashes of beginning to legitimately translate his physical tools into increasingly consistent production. With his offensive value came from his ability to impact the game in a number of different ways— finishing as a roller in a variety of PnR settings, converting on short corner opportunities while also being an active cutter, effective running the floor in transition and also showed encouraging progress as a driver. His spot up shooting provided additional value as a floor spacing option, while his work on the offensive glass created extra possessions. Mallavarapu's combination of length, mobility, and instincts allows him to make plays around the basket without needing to sacrifice positioning defensively— showing consistent activity in the paint, challenged shots with his length, and used his rangy arms to rebound outside of his immediate area. As his offensive skill set continues to catch up with his physical tools, Mallavarapu is showing more evidence that his long term projection could be that of a legitimate two way forward— reflective of the interest he's generated since the contact period opened up for the 2028 class, receiving interest from the likes of Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, and Kansas State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Austin Kołakowski | 6'0" '27 G Delbarton/ GB Blue Devils</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Known primarily for his dangerous outside shooting, [player_tooltip player_id='2568645' first='Austin' last='Kolakowski'] has take advantage of the summer to showcase plenty of his trademark perimeter shot making while also displaying an increasingly reliable dimension to his game. Across multiple showings, Kolakowski delivered his usual lethal spot up shooting from deep, but what stood out just as much was his continued growth as a creator. He showed greater comfort initiating offense as a ball handler, attacking driving angles off the bounce, getting into the paint, and finishing around the basket. The added ability to consistently create off the dribble gives Kolakowski another layer that complements his elite shooting and makes his offensive game increasingly difficult to contain. As interest at the next level begins to build for Kolakowski, he recently visited Division III Hamilton College, with several more visits likely to follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2683649' first='Mike' last='Simborski'] | 6'4" '28 W Montgomery/ NJ Shoreshots</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2683649' first='Mike' last='Simborski'] proved to be a seamless fit alongside his teammates, providing impactful two-way energy while establishing himself as a reliable off-ball scoring threat. He consistently showed a strong feel for playing without the basketball, understanding how to find open spaces and punish defensive breakdowns. Simborski was effective attacking closeouts, providing spot-up shooting value, sprinting to the corners and slots in transition, and finding passing windows within the half-court offense. He also demonstrated an ability to impact the game without needing frequent touches, particularly through his instincts as a cutter and his ability to create separation and scoring opportunities away from the ball. As a prospect expected to draw interest from numerous high-academic programs, Simborski has already begun attracting attention from schools such as Dartmouth and Yale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2786677' first='Marshall' last='Douglass'] | 6'6" '28 F Hun School/ NJ Shoreshots</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2786677' first='Marshall' last='Douglass'] proved to be a steady presence and meaningful production in the frontcourt, making a significant impact during his minutes on the floor. His combination of interior toughness, physicality, and feel for offensive positioning allowed him to consistently find productive opportunities around the basket. Douglass was particularly effective as an interior finisher, showcasing his versatility as a cutter within a variety of half-court actions, a back-to-the-basket scorer in the low post, and a recipient of dump-offs in the short corner from penetrating ball handlers. He remained active on the offensive glass to generate second-chance opportunities, did a good job attacking open driving angles, and demonstrated the ability to reject DHOs and turn the corner to get downhill. He also ran the rim hard in transition, creating additional scoring opportunities through his activity and willingness to sprint the floor. A prospect who's figured to be on the radar of a lot of high academic programs, Douglass has already begun to receive interest from the likes of Cornell and Columbia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->