Cam Hailey is an explosive scoring guard for Western Reserve Academy.

Hailey has real speed both from a standstill and in transition. Along with that speed, he has the ball on a string, consistently showcasing a plethora of dribble moves. Hailey isn’t shy when it comes to attacking the rim, often throwing himself at defenders to either finish through contact or to earn a trip to the free throw line. Hailey is an eager and capable pull up shooter from range, and he leverages that ability to open up driving lanes for himself. Hailey had the game-winning and one for Western Reserve Academy in their down-to-the-wire victory over Fork Union Military Academy Saturday night in front of a packed home crowd.

He hit the crucial bucket with under ten seconds to go to give WRA a tie before he went to the foul line to seal the game away. He paced WRA with 25 points with 11 coming in the 2nd half. Hailey added a pair of three pointers. He touches the paint at will and spends a lot of time at the foul line. 

Western Reserve Academy had a sluggish first half and then blew the doors off Winton Salem in the second half to cruise to a victory on their home court in EPL play. Hailey was impressive as the future UMASS Minuteman was getting downhill and playing off two feet. When Hailey plays off two feet it allows him to balance himself before going up for a layup and he can use pump fakes and pivots to get defenders jumping or leaning the wrong way to contest his shots. This also is where Hailey generates most of his free throws and he had a couple and-1 finishes on Friday.

One of the more talented lead guards in Ohio, Hailey simply produces on the offensive end of the court against top talent at a consistent basis. Checking a lot of boxes offensively, Hailey is quick, can make perimeter shots, sets the table and can get to the lane and finish with layups or floaters. Not going to blow you away by playing above the rim, Hailey is a savvy lead guard who recently had 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals last weekend for Western Reserve Academy in Elite Prep League action. Hailey will have a chance to play immediately for UMASS next winter.

Hailey was playing with a ton of confidence on Friday with a flurry of buckets in the first half to help put some big separation between his team and the opposition. A creative driver of the basketball, Hailey had some tough running finishes in the half court where he showed soft touch while attacking full speed downhill to the rim. A capable shot maker from the outside as well, Hailey can hurt you in a variety of ways. I expect Hailey to fight for minutes as a freshman with UMass next season.

A new name for myself to discover, Hailey played on the EYBL circuit for Expressions and recently took a visit to Umass, one of 10 schools to offer him so far. Hailey has some impressive wiggle with the ball in his hands and created offense almost every time he attacked. Definitely one of the more talented guards now playing in Ohio, Hailey will debut pretty high in our Prep Hoops Ohio rankings when they are updated this winter.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Hailey’s game, but he wasn’t known on the national stage until his point guard play led Expressions Elite to the final 4 of the Peach Jam this summer. The 5-foot-11 guard is obviously undersized — which is likely to blame for his lack of recruitment leading up to this summer — but his performances against other high major guards has culminated in a massive boost to his recruitment (he got an Arizona State offer this month). He’s one of the best point guards in New England and is going to RUN THE SHOW for a Worcester Academy team that’s looking to repeat as NEPSAC champions. More high major offers should come.

Hailey provided a spark with his scoring time and time again he found different ways to put points on the board. He is effective getting downhill on the attack and scoring around the cup. He was a threat to convert shots from behind the arc. Hailey has a nice feel for the game and breaks down the game well sharing the sugar with his teammates. He is adept to change speeds on the attack. Hailey is a prospect who should be a priory for low major programs in need of a slippery guard.

Hailey, a member of the 17U EYBL squad, is a dynamic lead guard out of Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. A crafty ball-handler that has elite floor vision, he’s really taken the reigns as a lead guard this spring. He’s quick in the open floor, shifty in tight spaces, and can get almost anywhere he wants off the bounce. On top of that, he has a high level finishing package in the paint and has turned himself into an efficient perimeter shooter. Defensively, he moves his feet really well on the perimeter, does a nice job of walling off drivers, and shows quick hands that generate plenty of steals.

Hailey is so cerebral at the point guard position. Even when getting hounded for 94 feet, he takes his time to get to his spots on the floor and elevates for mid-range jumpers and floaters in the paint. His change of direction and change of speed moves are incredible; he had a lefty drive and finish that was probably the most impressive play of the game. He can also succeed as an off-ball shooter. Hailey and Jenkins are already the best backcourt in the region, and they have another year ahead of them – and, given both of their intensity levels, I bet they’ll come back even better.