Nico Esposito, for quite some time now, has long carried the profile of a reliable perimeter knockdown option, and he validated that once again this weekend. Excelling in a role centered around particularly off ball movement and spot up shooting opportunities, Esposito was highly efficient percentage wise in showcasing his ability to consistently stretch the floor— demonstrating repeatable and compact shooting mechanics that feature a very soft outside touch and a smooth and high release that make him a consistent threat from three point range that defenses must always account for.

Esposito was a frequent threat from the three point line connecting early and often in the game I evaluated of him. He had a few assists and found others in a timely fashion. He is seeing a ton of traction at the division two level.

Nico Esposito has built up quite a bit a reputation of being a legitimate knockdown threat from the perimeter and he did nothing but reaffirm that status in this weekend’s action. Excelling in a role that highlights potent off ball shot making, Esposito shot the lid off the basket and demonstrated his consistent ability to be a dangerous threat from three point range, particularly with his soft outside shooting touch paired with a very quick and high shooting release.

The class of 2026 wing received an offer from Division II Queens College following a standout performance this past weekend at Hoop Group’s New Jersey Warm Up.

Among the biggest risers in the entire rankings update, Esposito jumped nearly 100 spots into the top 50. A post-grad via Hoboken (NJ), Esposito has been a consistent focal point for a balanced Phelps prep team that’s competed with some of the better prep programs in the Mid Atlantic so far this winter. Coming off a nine-inch growth spurt in the span of a year, Esposito brings a simple recipe from a prospect standpoint in the form of size and shooting. Now blessed with standout size for the wing, he’s proven to be a knockdown threat from beyond the arc with the ability to thrive in a clearly translatable off-ball role offensively. He brings some auxiliary scoring punch in flashes along with using his length to help crash the glass and defend bigger players on the other end. Esposito recently received his first offer from D2 Molloy and should be a hot name for scholarship-level schools looking for shooting help late in the cycle.

Esposito could serve as a poster child for what prep school is designed for, as the swingman is coming off a nine-inch growth spurt in a year’s time that has him looking every bit a bona-fide scholarship prospect as a post-grad after a nondescript high school career at powerhouse Bergen Catholic (NJ). With his newfound size on the perimeter, he’s established himself as one of the more prolific and reliable shooters in the region. He knocked down four 3s on Sunday en route to 16 points (13 in a dominant first half showing by the Lions), showcasing a quick release and polished footwork getting himself square while running off screens. The swingman moves better than expected for someone still adjusting to their frame and shows some natural craft when attacking closeouts off the bounce while also displaying nice toughness and court instincts to help out on the glass with his length. With recruitment spanning across all three levels given his unorthodox trajectory, Esposito is clearly trending up with a clear chance to find a home as a D1 shooting specialist at some point.

A dangerous threat from three point range, Nico Esposito had an impressive live period that saw him consistently knock down outside shots. Seen consistently hunting his shot, Esposito showcased his smooth shooting stroke both off the catch and off the move, coming off different types of screens and pin downs in the flow of Marston Elite’s offense.

This former Hoboken HS standout averaged 11.5 points per game and scored a season high 21 points against Memorial. During his senior season Esposito posted six games where he recorded 17 or more points. Esposito is a hybrid guard-forward prospect with a smooth shooting stroke that is accurate from the elbows, mid-range, and baseline. He also is an agile prospect and owns good rim-to-rim speed as well as solid finishing skills. Thus, Esposito can produce points in the open court too. Esposito will now take his talents to Phelps School for a post graduate season.