Derek follows up with a Quentin Tarantino

Derek Malloy presents...
'RI Halloween Hoopfest 2011: New England's Finest' 

New Video from BALLAS TV

 '15 yr old Curtis Cobb is Mike Carter-Williams 2? torches Halloween Round Robin'

BallasTV.COM

Kaleb Tarczewski commits to Arizona

Kaleb Tarczewski decided between Arizona and Kansas

Sean Miller on fire out in Tucson

- As first reported by Adam Finkelstein, earlier today, St Marks and New England Playaz 7'0 center Kaleb 'Zeus' Tarczewski commited to the University of Arizona.  Before today, Sean Miller already had assembled a monster 2012 recruiting class with the California All-American trio of small forward Grant Jerret, combo guard Gabe York, and power forward Brandon Ashley.  But adding one of the top centers in the country in Tarczewski pushes this recruiting class over the top up to Dragon Status.  As for Sean Miller's accomplishments as a recruiter, Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports tweeted, "Miller beat out nation's top recruiter, John Calipari, for Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley. Also beat North Carolina and Kansas for Kaleb."

Tilton School Preview

 Tilton looks to go back2back in NEPSAC Class AA

- The quintet of Georges Niang, Dominique Bull, Wayne Selden, Goodluck Okonoboh, and Nerlens Noel gives the Tilton Rams a Ferrari starting 5 & makes them a favorite to repeat as NEPSAC Class AA Champs.  Let's throw on the binoculars & take a look from the perch.

Frontline- With Nerlens Noel, Georges Niang and Goodluck Okonoboh, Tilton has one of America's top front-lines as Niang may very well be the most efficient offensive player in the nation while the duo of Nerlens and Goodluck is without a doubt the country's best basket-protecting pair.  It will be interesting see Niang play the 3 when this trio is on the floor together.  His blossoming perimeter skills and game certainly give him the ability to play out there..Think about a 3-man trying to cover Georges..down screen for Nerlens or Goodluck, dump-down to Georges, ATM...Providing depth in the front-court will be rugged 6'6 senior PF Mike Swanson of Londonberry, NH.

Wings - Wayne Selden has stretched out to about 6'6 and will be taking off from an airport near you begining two weeks from Friday...Also roaming the countryside will be recent Dartmouth-commit Kevin Crescenzi, a 6'4 post-grad from Singer Island, Florida who will spend the cold winter hoops season method-acting as a long-range sniper.

Guards - Recent Missouri-commit Dominique Bull could be the key for Marcus O'Neil's Tilton ball-club as, even though he is not a true point, he is likely to see a significant portion of the ball-handling chores.  Another key player will be post-grad Caleb Uni, a 5'10 point guard from Winchester, Mass who will get the chance to show what he can do behind the wheel of a luxury ride..Also in the Tilton back-court-mix will be talented 6'3 combo-guard Brandon Bibbz '13 out of Newport News, Virginia and 6'2 guard Ben King '13 from Williston, Vermont.

RI Hawks 16u Round Robin Report

Bobby Ahearn: 14 points and 14 boards against the Hawks

 BABC takes RI Triple H 16u Red-Eye Round-Robin

- On Saturday night, the 16s of the RI Hawks, BABC and the New England Playaz tangled in a three-team round-robin down at the RI Hawks Halloween Hoopfest at West Warwick High School in Rhode Island.  All three games were tightly contested affairs, with the three games being decided by a total of nine points.  BABC went 2-0 on the day, holding on against a furious rally in the final minutes to clip the Playaz by a score of 55-52.  Against the Hawks team that defeated them last weekend in Mansfield, BABC pulled out a tough 48-43 win against the hard-nosed Hawks...In the game between the Playaz and the Hawks, the Playaz pulled out a dramatic 61-60 nail-biter...Despite the highly miserable drive home, it was quite an entertaining night of hoops. 

Player Standouts

- Since last spring, Bobby Ahearn has gone through a physical transformation, growing several inches to reach a height of 6'6 plus while thinning out and toning up in the process.  He also has long arms and we'd be interested in a wing-span check.  Anyway, the result of this physical transformation is that Ahearn looks longer, faster, and more athletic.  Last night, he consistently scored and rebounded the ball competing in the paint against the likes of Jared Reuter, Jacquil Taylor, Alec Brennan, and others.  Against the Hawks, Ahearn scored 29% of BABC's 48 points and also snared 14 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive...Ahearn's added length and athleticism have also significantly increased his value defensively: last night, he looked fluid and agile rotating on the press and he also challenged and disrupted shots at a much higher volume than we've previously seen from him.  When you add his new physical attributes to an already savvy & efficient game, Bobby Ahearn just hit The Hunt for Red October Radar.

- Curtis Cobb made shots all night, lethally firing away from trey-ball-land while also attacking the basket from the wing.  In the BABC win over the NE Playaz, Cobb stepped up with a big game, dropping 24 points while also gathering 4 assists and 4 steals.  Also apparent with Cobb is how much he has improved his guard skills over the past four or five months.  Last night, he handled the ball well against pressure, showing a tightened handle and the ability to consistently make smart decisions with the basketball.

- Put Jarred Reuter in any game and here's what he's gonna do.  He is going to eat space in the paint and rebound hard on both ends of the floor.  He'll start the break with quick and often attacking outlet passes.  Offensively, he'll set monster screens and score the ball consistently from the post or finish efficiently off the catch with his soft-touch.  He'll also use his court vision and IQ to make the right pass out of the post double or feed his fellow big the high-low.

- After seeing him consistently over the course of the fall, it is safe to say the Henry Bolton is the real deal.  He has a big-time combination of body, speed, and athleticism and his skills, confidence and understanding of the game are developing at a rapid rate.  When you add in Bolton's reputation for having a splendid work-ethic, and you have a prospect with an upside worth talkin' about.  If he continues to progress at the same rate as he has the past few months, there's no telling how high Bolton could take his game. 

@HoopRootz 'Roster' Tweets

"RI Hawks out there with Jackson Donahue, Henry Bolton, Kealan Ives, Alec Brennan, Edson Dascy with Josh Sharma, Jerrelle Washington, Brandon Eckles and a few more off the bench"

"NE Playaz with Falzon, Reuter, spellman, kahari, jacquil taylor, mukasa, jashanti allen, colin mcmanus, and Ian Sistare"

"BABC w/Jonathan Joseph, Jalen Adams, Curtis Cobb, Bonzie Colson, Bobby Ahearn, Tyree Robinson, Earl Stephen, & Gerard Adams"

BABC, Playaz & Hawks set to throw down

Masks optional tomorrow

Costume Uniform Weekend

- The RI Hawks Halloween Tournament is on the docket for the weekend and the 16u Gold Pool will be the feature attraction as the Hawks, the New England Playaz, and BABC will play a round-robin on Saturday at West Warwick HS in Rhody. Should be very interesting...

Saturday, Oct 29 @ West Warwick High School, RI

3:45 NE Playaz vs RI Hawks

6:00 NE Playaz vs BABC

7:30 RI Hawks vs BABC

Dominique Bull commits to Missouri

Bull Stayin' Black & Gold

- Earlier today, Tilton School and BABC guard Dominique Bull of Worcester, Mass ended his recruitment by committing to the University of Missouri, where he'll play in the Big 12 for Mizzou head coach Frank Haith.  One interesting side-note is that Bull and teammate Georges Niang will make Iowa State/Mizzou a game to watch in New England during the following American Presidential Term.

New Hampton Preview

 
Peter Fraa..Hampton Comes Comes Alive

- Up at the New Hampton School, head coach Pete Hutchins has an explosive roster which should make the Huskies one of the top squads in New England. Let's pull the parachute and enjoy the view.

Point:  Running the show for the Huskies will be one of New England's top few floor-generals in Olivier Hanlan, a sleek long and strong shot-caller from Quebec who committed to Boston College earlier this week...Also takings turns behind the wheel will be Evan Manning '12, a shot-making high-IQ combo-guard from Lawrence, Kansas who will see time at both guard spots. Evan is the son of current Kansas assistant coach and former NBA All-Star Danny Manning.

2-Guard: Playing alongside Hanlan and Manning in the back-court will be one-half of America's top sophomore-duo in Jared Terrell, a rocket-fuel scorer from Weymouth, Massachusetts who has exploded in 2011...In addition to JT, Aaron Hendricks is a facilitating shooter from Del Oro, California who will also spend time riding shotgun.

Frontline:  The versatility of his forwards could be Hutchins's ace-in-the-hole on the diamond slopes...Zach Auguste '12 is a 6'10 Notre Dame-bound gazelle who has improved dramatically over the past 18-months and seems to still be going through his development-spurt prime...Next to Auguste is the other half of that top 2014 duo: Noah Vonleh is set to take his game to the NEPSAC, the premier scholastic league in Los Estados Unidos...When you throw in Mike Auger, New Hampton also has America's premier trio in the Class of 2014. Standing 6'5 with a 6'9 wing-span and a strong frame, Auger is a locomotive forward who battles in the paint, runs the floor like a war-horse, and finishes emphatically above the rim...Another wing-span blink belongs to freshman Jeremy Miller, a contribute-right-away stretch-4 who yawns out to 7'3 while standing 6'9 and a hay...In the middle for Hutchins will be rugged 6'7 wide-body Barrington Alston '12, a long-armed Towson commit from Delaware who brings a landlord-style approach to the lane...A second big-bodied player who'll be an important rotation piece is Lew Evans '12, a 6'8 forward from Utah who plays with physicality and can shoot the mid-range shot.

Tevin Falzon commits to Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart-Bound

D1 Boat-Rides Continue

- You can throw another piece of candy into the Native-New England Scholarship Pinata as former Newton North and current Winchendon forward Tevin Falzon has committed to play in the Northeast Conference at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Congratulations to one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

How Bad Do You Want It?

Tremendous Stuff

October Dusk Notebook

Olivier Hanlan: Boston College-bound

October Dusk Notebook

- Last night, as first reported by Adam Finkelstein, New Hampton point guard Olivier Hanlan committed to Boston College.  Hanlan is a native of Canada and ran with the Albany City Rocks on the AAU circuit.  This is a huge get for BC as Hanlan is a guy who is playing at a very high level right now and has a vaulted-ceiling going forward.  This could also be the recruit that opens up the doors of New England for BC head coach Steve Donahue? We shall see...

- Olivier Hanlan wasn't the only name which came off the board last night on the western shores of Winnipesaukee.  In addition, down the road from New Hampton at the Tilton School, sharp-shooter Kevin Crescenzi of Florida committed to Dartmouth.

- Also last night, former West Roxbury guard Roger Paul arrived at Notre Dame Prep, where he is now officially a post-grad student. Paul gives ND Prep head coach Ryan Hurd yet another dangerous back-court player to go along with Sam Cassell Jr, Myles Davis, Adonis Filer, and Jamie Holder.

- Last weekend, Team LOX traveled down to Connecticut and went 3-0 to take the 18u Chip at the Under Armour Grassroots Challenge, hosted by Elite Sports Events.  Puttin' in work for LOX were Zach Gattereau, Will March, Omar Orriols, Pat Santos, and Jonathan Perez, along with the New York city duo of Paris Canty and Arthur Lowe.

Northfield Mount Hermon Preview

Hoggers: Rock-Solid Ready

- With their size, depth, discipline, and talent, Northfield Mount Hermon will be one of the toughest clubs in New England this season.  Let's throw the Spaceship into cruise-control for a few minutes to take a look at John Carroll's ball-club heading into the coming winter.

Point: Last season, the point guard spot for NMH was manned by a high-major talent in current Seton Hall freshman Aaron Cosby.  This year, the torch will be passed to Spike Albrecht '12, a natural-born floor-general from the Hoosier State who plays with great pace and can shoot the heck out of it from deep.  He is being recruited by MAC schools, Vermont, and others, "Guys love being on Spike's team," said Carroll...The other true point guard on the roster will be freshman Jashanti Allen, a spark-plug New Yorker who plays with poise beyond his years and should come in and contribute right away.

- Guards/Wings: Pittsburgh native Anthony Dallier '13 is an old-school player who is an efficiency specialist on the perimeter. At 6'6, he has the ability to play the 1, 2, and 3 and with his poise and wits in the pocket, Dallier is likely to be the guy that makes this squad tick.  Another talented perimeter play is 6'4 post-grad Ryan Oliver, a stealth wing-scorer who has terrific range on his jumper and is very clever off the bounce. From Inglewood, California, Oliver missed all of his senior year at Loyola HS with a knee injury.  He will really surprise folks and is being recruited by California schools, A-10 schools, plus Hartford, Portland, Manhattan, and others...Another back-court player is combo-guard Sam Donahue, a crafty operator who can handle the rock and snipe from deep with the best of them...Lock-down defensive specialist Victor Udoji '13 will also be in the mix on the wing.

Forwards: In Dekeeba Battee '13, Tommy Carpenter '12 and Skyler White '13, John Carroll has three big bodies capable of playing both inside and out.  Battee is an athletic 6'8 left-hander from Down Under with a versatile skill-set and a big upside.  Carpenter is a 6'7 glue-forward from North Carolina who is committed to play in the Ivy League at Dartmouth.  And White is a 6'7 wide-body with a dangerous offensive package and the propensity to mix it up in the paint. He can straight fill-it-up from deep and has no conscience.

Down-Low: In terms of true bigs, NMH has quality depth with the physically strong quartet of Evan Cummins '12, Ethan O'Day '12, Lucas Van Nes '12, and Peter Miller '13.  Cummins is a 6'8 Harvard-bound forward from Westborough, Mass, who we expect to have a huge year.  There are not too many guys out there who work harder than Cummins to get better.  One of those guys is his teammate Ethan O'Day, a Connecticut native committed to Vermont who has improved immensely in the last year and should continue to do so.  In back of Cummins and O'Day, Van Nes is a 6'10 Englishman who visited U. Maine last weekend.  And Miller is a 6'9 Winchesterian-talent who keeps getting better after his his breakout summer with the Middlesex Magic.  He holds Ivy & Patriot League offers heading into his junior campaign and should continue to stack.

Brewster Academy Preview

Brewster: Locked & Loaded

- During the live-recruiting period this fall, swarms of coaches from high-major basketball programs descended upon Wolfeboro, New Hampshire like greatest-generation grandparents to Sarasota.  Among the many to visit the Brewster Academy campus were Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, John Calipari, and Billy Donovan.  Why?  Because Brewster head coach Jason Smith has a reality-show type roster of big time prospects that make Brewster the clear-cut NEPSAC Class AAA favorite heading into the season.  Let's take a look.

Back-Court:  For the last few years, Brewster's had a stud floor-general in current Kansas frosh Nadiir Tharpe.  This year, the FG mantle will be passed to Xavier-bound Semaj Christon '12, a fighter-pilot out of Cincinnati who has electric ability with the ball in his hands...Hard-nosed guard Joe Bramanti '12 will also likely see time quarterbacking the club and in addition, Richard O'Brien is a high-IQ junior guard who will add depth at the one-spot...Also providing back-court depth will be Cameron Jones '14 out of New York and
Rudolph Arnicans '13 from Latvia.

Wing Guards:  The 2-guard spot will be manned by a highly-talented player in Florida State-bound Aaron Thomas '12, a big-time athletic wing-scorer out of Cincinnati who goes hard to the rack...Along with Thomas, Gilbert McGregor '12 is a 6'4 guard out of New Orleans who has a reputation as a cohesive, rock-solid player and a big-time student.

Forwards - It's here that things get a little messy...It's thoroughbred city...Let's start with the highly-touted TJ Warren '12, an old-school scoring machine out of Durham, North Carolina with a young-Mark Aguirre-style game.  Warren is a true small forward and is down to a final four of Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, and North Carolina State...Then there's former St Johns-commit Jakarr Sampson '12, a 6'7 posterization specialist from Akron with freakish athletic ability from the wing...Next is the left handed versatility-monster Deonte Burton '13, a native of Milwaukee who does it all and is committed to Marquette.  D-Burton has the ability to play four positions both offensively and defensively...Another underclassmen is 6'6 forward John Edwards '13, a North Carolina native who holds Big South scholarship offers.

Down-Low:  In Mitch McGary '12 and Jalen Reynolds '12, Brewster holds perhaps the best big-man duo in America.  An Indiana native, McGary is America's best post-player in the class of '12 who has realistic lottery pick potential.  His official final six schools are Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, Michigan...Hailing from Detroit, Jalen Reynolds is a Xavier-bound, highly-athletic long big who is just beginning to come into his own.  After seeing him play for the first time last month, Jeff Goodman, senior basketball writer for CBS Sports, tweeted, "Just got my first look at Xavier commit Jalen Reynolds. Kid is a clear-cut Top 50 player. Just got the better of @MitchMcGary33 in workout."

BSM Fall Throwdown Report

Jackson Donahue dropped in 24 against BABC Sophs

 Bay State Magic Fall Tournament

Freshmen - The BABC Frosh went 3-0 on the weekend, taking down the 15u Chip behind the impressive young trio of Jordan Scurry, Bruce Brown, and Terrence Mann...You will hear these names mucho going forward.  Also impressive for BABC was efficient big man John Witowski, a cerebral player who knows how to start the break, finishes with both hands around the basket, and can step out and shoot the ball with range.  When you throw in Marcel Pettway, Tyree Robinson, Brendan Hill and a few other potential wild-cards, you've got a the makings of a loaded roster next spring.

Sophomores - The stock of the RI Hawks 16s continues to rise as they went 3-0 on the weekend to take the 16u Chip.  Their pivotal victory came on Saturday afternoon, when they earned an impressive 67-63 upset-win over the BABC 16s.  Leading the way for the Hawks was combo guard Jackson Donahue, a big-game player who knocked in six threes on his way to 24 points.  Henry Bolton added 17 and, along with Kealan Ives, did a terrific job of handling the ball against the BABC fever-pitch defensive pressure.  On the interior, the combination of Edson Dascy, Dexter Thompson, and Steve Roach did a nice job defensively and on the glass for coach Jay Elliot.

Juniors/Seniors - In the 17u/18u division, the Middlesex Magic went 2-0 in pool play before defeating BABC 71-67 in the final to take down the BSM Fall Throwdown Chip.  In the final, Mike Crotty's club was led by the efforts of Mike Thorpe, Kyle Reardon, Jesse Pagliuca, and Mark Murphy.  Thorpe finished with 14 points and was instrumental throughout the game in breaking the BABC full-court press.  Reardon stacked up with 18 dollars and 14 boards.  Jesse Pagliuca was consistent throughout to come away with 16 points.  And Mark Murphy came off the bench to drill four treys on his way to 14 points. Also chipping in to the victory was the tenacious back-court effort of Michael Corcoran and the aggressive interior play of the King Philip duo of Tykei Hallman and John Mullane.

Stay tuned later today for the BSM Fall Throwdown Notebook

Anthony Barry commits to Merrimack

Merrimack-bound Anthony Barry

Milford Native Barry earns full-boat

- Earlier today, Brooks School swing-man Anthony Barry committed to Merrimack College, accepting a full athletic scholarship to play for Coach Bert Hammel in the NE-10.  After having him for three years in his late father's and now his Middlesex Magic AAU Program, Mike Crotty Jr said the following in regard to Barry's commitment, "This is a great situation for Anthony...his strength, length, and athleticism will allow him to be a lock down defender for the Warriors and his scoring ability will really translate well in the NE-10."  Crotty continued, "Since we've had him, his maturity and development as a player have been remarkable, & Anthony is one of the hardest working people I have had the chance to coach.  Off the court he is a fantastic person who I'm thrilled to have had the chance to work with.  I am very proud of Anthony & excited for his very future."

Congratulations to Barry and chalk up another scholly for Native NE.

Derek and Jalen

- Just got home from one of the most-boring weddings in the history of human civilization...on no sleep.  Completely exhausted, but had to be the first to post Derek's new video, then to sleep before reports and articles all day tomorrow. Oh hold up, Ant Barry story first b4 bed.

Scholastic Previews

28 Days Later

 - With only 28 days until the start of the scholastic basketball season in New England, the Spaceship is set to embark on a journey around New England in which will preview as many ball clubs as possible.  Since the high school season begins a good three weeks after the preps, we'll begin with the three-meal-kitchen schools.  Also, over the next few days, look for reports on the action taking place at this weekend's Bay State Magic Fall Tournament at the Mansfield Sportsplex.

Derek Malloy drops 'BABC Fall Edition'

Derek Malloy spins one from last weekend's RI Breakers Tournament.  Featuring Jonathan Joseph, Tyree Robinson, Curtis Cobb & more...

Twitter's @Mr_UpperClass drops 1st video

Jalen Adams

Adams, Baldwin & Sultan

- Earlier today, @Mr_UpperClass dropped a video of highlights from last weekend's Rivals Fall Tournament at Woburn High School. The video features the Rivals trio of Jalen Adams, Chris Baldwin, and Sultan Olesekun.  Take a look..

New Chris Thomas Video

Chris Thomas: Best guard out of Denver since Chauncy Billups

HoopMixTape.com drops new video of South Kent's Chris Thomas

BST Hoops Player Evaluations

BST releases Player Evaluations

Team-1                                               

Garet Beal (Team:ME)-Event-MVP 6’-6”  200pds,  Pos. 2-3   Class: 2013    School:  Jonesport-Beals...A great young man, who has a tremendous basketball IQ, Mr. Beal continues to impress and prove why he is one of the top prospects in the New England class of 2013.  Garet a true junior still has potential to fill, and has the work ethic to make that happen. Garet has a complete offensive skill set, he is able to knockdown shots from distance, as well as bring defenders on the block and either finish or distribute for others. On defense he has the uncanny ability to anticipate, jump lanes and create turnovers, doing this numerous times in the semi-finals and finals, leading his team to the 2011 Championship.  We look forward to watching Garet continue in his development. 

Harry Rafferty (Team:ME) 6’-0”   180pds,   Pos. 1-2   Class: 2012  School: Berwick Academy...Mr. Raffery Continued his explosion onto the recruiting scene, a relative unknown a year ago, Harry continues to prove he is a legitimate collegiate prospect.  This weekend Harry displayed his lethal knockdown shot, as he collected buckets in bunches, also displayed improved ball skills, as Harry often handled the rock for Team Maine, down the stretch of games, against constant defensive pressure from quicker more athletic guards.                       

Colin Richey (Team:W-MA) 6’-0”  175pds,  Pos. 1-2   Class: 2013    School: Whitinsville Christian...Colin showed a tremendous feel for the game, showing great lead guard skills, along with the ability to score points, weather knocking down consistent jump shots or hitting mid range pulls up.  Colin has already been receiving college interest, that will only continue as Colin continues to work and develop.                           

Elijah Okabare (Team:Boston/Metro-MA)  6’-7”  220pds, Pos. 4-5  Class: 2012...A solid big, Elijah showed a nice feel for the game, and displaying some descent footwork on the post. Elijah impacted games mostly by rebounding, always putting himself in position to get easy put backs or defensive rebounds to start the break.  Also runs the floor well, an improved motor would serve Elijah very well.  

               

Macam Bak (Team:Boston/Metro-MA)  6’-10”  220pds.  Pos. 4-5   Class:2012...When you speak of upside, Mr. Bak is surely one that should be mentioned, far n away had the most upside of all 70 prospects in attendance.  Macam is 6’10” with a wing span that probably stretches out to about 7’7”, displayed some nice footwork, with a nice feel for the game, making quick reads of the defense and making a move based on that read, also showed a very smooth, feathery touch out to 22 ft.  Continued work on learning post seals, along with being more consistent attacking the basket with conviction and this young man, could skyrocket. Macam generated a ton of interest from both prep/college coaches, that will only continue as he continues to develop.                  

Aary Bibbens (Team:Vermont) 6’-3”  180pds.    Pos. 2-3   Class:2013  School: Mount Anthony Union...UNDERRATED!!! Every once in a while, even in today’s day and age of exposure showcases, and internet availability a kid can slip through the cracks, count Mr. Bibbens as one of them.  Probably the best collegiate prospect in VT, Aary is NO where to be found on any rankings,  well that should start to change as a lot of coaches took notice this weekend, gaining much interest from  D-2  schools, as well as some prep schools.  Aary is a strong athletic guard, who finishes well at the basket and can crash the boards with the trees, can also stroke it consistently out to about 18 ft and has a real nice feel for the game. More importantly he is a winner, wants to work and do what it takes for his team to win.  With still a lot of upside/potential to be filled this young man, could really explode over the next year.                  

Donnovan Hastings (Toronto) 6’5”  185pds.   Pos. 3-4    Class: 2013  School: Notre Dame Catholic...Another young man who showed he has a ton of potential and coaches took notice.  Donnovan is a long athletic 3-4, who runs the floor like a deer, has a great motor and loves to attack the rim weather off rebounds or off the dribble. He can step out and stroke it as well, out to about 15ft. More of a face up  4 right now, with continued work on ball skills and on the ball decision making, Donnovan would project as more of a 3 at the next level.  We look forward to following Mr. Hastings as he continues his development, and hopefully maximizes his upside.         

Javon Williams (Team:NH-Seniors) 6’-0”  180pds.  Pos. 2-3   Class: 2012   School: Nashua North...A great young man, who has undeniable athleticism he is considered undersized for a next level 2-3, however Mr. Williams posses a college ready body, with the strength and athleticism to be a great 2-3 at the D-2 level.  Javon put on a display all weekend with his ability to attack the basket off the dribble, and finish over or under bigs, can also stroke it as well.  A focus on a more consistent jump shot along with improved off the ball decision making and Javon will improve greatly.  Both college and prep coaches took notice of Javon’s abilities with continued improvement and he will have some great opportunities.           

Team-2

Levi Barnes (Team Maine) 6’-2” 175pds.  Pos. 2 Class:2012   School: Skowegan School...A very young, very athletic two guard that attacks the rim with conviction, Levi proved himself to be one the premier prospects for the next level. Possessing a great basketball IQ Mr. Barnes is always in the right place at the right time. Defensively Levi has a good understanding of one/one situational defense as well as team defensive concepts. If Levi continues to work on his on the ball and off the ball skills, along with increasing his motor, he could take his game to the next level.

Ryan Gauthier (NH-Seniors) 6’-1” 180pds.  Pos. 1-2  Class:2012   School: Nashua North...Gauthier is a dynamic floor general, who when focused can really pick apart the opposing defense with his explosive attack the paint dribble. This weekend Ryan often made good decisions with the fall putting his teammates in a great position to score.  Ryan also has the ability to put up points, has a nice stroke out to three point land, but can and will succeed with the mid-range game.  On defense Ryan has the ability to turn his man, often making it difficult for them to make passes and/or score.                         

Riyad Asad (Team W-MA) 6’-3”  175pds.  Pos. 2  Class: 2013   School: West Springfield School...A quick, strong two guard, Riyad has shown the ability to both attack the rim and knock down shots in bunches.  Mr. Asad can impact the game from many angles, including defensively when he remains active.  A focus on a more consistent motor and off the ball skills and Riyad, could really bring his recruitment to the next level.

Jovan Leamy (Toronto) 6’-3” 190pds.  Pos. 2  Class: 2013...Jovan is a very strong two guard, who has a real nice feel for the game, he moves well off the ball, displaying the ability to be in the right spots at the right time.  Jovan attacks the rim with body control often finishing through contact for and 1 finishes.  Leamy can also stretch defenses with his ability to knock down shots, especially in crunch time, where Javon often down the home stretch of games demanded the ball, making a play to put his team in the best position to win. Defensively he has a good understanding of one/one defense as well as the team defense concept, helping when needed.  Jovan is currently looking to attend a prep school here in the US.

Kamahl Walker (NH-Seniors) 6’-0”  175pds.  Pos. 1-2  Class: 2012  School: Portsmouth School...Kamahl has improved leaps and bounds over the last year, to his credit he has put in a ton of work and it is really coming to the surface.  A quick aggressive lead guard, who can also stretch defenses with his ability to consistently knockdown the three ball.  This weekend Mr. Walker showed the ability to adapt to situations, sliding to the two spot, to accommodate his teams needs, in doing so he displayed the ability to be successful at that position, knocking down shots, and attacking the rim for finishes or making a nice read to set up a teammate.  A young senior, Kamahl is really starting to come into his body, combine that with his tremendous work ethic and there is no doubt he will be showcasing a college uniform in the future.

Chad Copeland (Team-VT)  6’6” 200pds.  Pos. 4-3  Class: 2012  School: Twinfield School...A very fundamentally sound forward, Chad is a great college prospect, who still has a ton of upside. Displaying a very adept skill set, that you would like to see in a lot of players, Chad is very good on and off the ball, can score from the post or from the perimeter, making him a tough guard. The one thing Chad must improve on to make an impact at the next level is strength, if Mr. Copeland can improve his strength he will without doubt make a big impact on the college level.

Tom Nason (NH-UG)  6’- 10”  230pds.  Pos. 5  Class: 2013  School: Berwick Academy...If we had to make a list of young men with the greatest upside, Mr.Nason just might be #2 on the that list, right behind another big (Macam Bak), coming off from his first real summer of workouts with Integrity Hoops, Tom has improved leaps and bounds in a very short amount of time and with his work ethic, that will only continue.  Tom is very long and showed the beginning fundamental skill set that will set him aside moving forward. A continued focus on strength and a 12 to 15 ft. shot and Tom will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.  On defense Tom showed the ability to block/ alter shots, without excessive foul trouble, with continued work he will only become more imposing to offenses.  We look forward to watching Tom’s development as he fills into his body.

Mike McDevitt (Team-Maine) 6’-6”  190pds.  Pos. 4-5  Class: 2014  School:  Greely School...Mike is a young big, who the few times we have seen him, just keeps getting better, as he becomes more and more comfortable with the speed and strength of the game.  This weekend Mike opposed a lot of older bigs and more than held his own, weather finishing nice post moves or snagging rebounds.  Mike displayed a nice array of footwork both offensively and defensively, couple that with his ability to step away from the basket and knockdown the 12-15 jumper and the future looks very bright. Continued work on over-all skill set and body strength and Mike will continue to climb the class of 2014 rankings.

CJ Iozza (NH-UG) 6’-3” 185pds.  Pos. 2-3  Class: 2014  School: Proctor Academy...We have had the opportunity to work with CJ often and as he fills into his rapidly developing body, he just keeps getting more and more dangerous for opposing defenses and offenses.  CJ has the innate ability to feel the game out, not rush things and make great decisions on and off the ball. Mr. Iozza has a very smooth catch and release jumper that is sniper like on the release, making it tough for defenders to stop.  Continued work on ball skills and body strength and CJ will continue to fulfill his great potential. CJ is a tremendous young man, who understands what it takes to be successful, we look forward to watching him mature and becoming a legit college prospect.

Team-3

Tanner Hyland (Team-Maine) 6’-2”  170pds.  Pos. 1  Class: 2013  School: South Portland School...Tanner comes from a basketball family and it shows each and every time he steps on the court. A true lead guard, who has a throwback style, Tanner has a solid on the ball skill set and understanding for creating space with his dribble to ward off quicker defenders. Tanner often makes the proper decision with the ball, putting his team in position to succeed. Like his brother(Keegan) he can also knock down the three ball, displaying a quick release, knocking down shots in bunches when he gets in rhythm. A focus on upper body strength, and overall skill development and Mr. Hyland will continue to fill into his upside.

Ian Sistare (NH-UG)  6’-2”   175pds.  Pos. 2   class: 2015    School: Trinity School...A true freshman, Mr. Sistare was the youngest participant in the Northeast Exposure Showcase and again showed why he is one of the premier players in the New England class of 2015.  Ian is a natural two guard who also possess the skills to play the PG spot if needed.  With the ability to stretch defenses with his quick release jumper, Ian is an instant threat on the floor.  Ian also has the inept ability to see the floor very well, often seeing plays develop much quicker than most, allowing him to dictate the play.  The one thing that really separates Ian from his peers is his strength, he is able to compete physically with older kids, add that with his on the ball and off the ball skill set and you have a recipe for success.  A focus on one/one defensive development and along with continued work on overall ball skills and Ian will continue to climb that recruiting ladder.  With Ian’s work ethic, there is a high probability of success.

Jonathan Wallace (Toronto) 6’-0”  175pds.  Pos. 2   Class: 2013   School: Ascension of Our Lord School...Mr. Wallace is another in a long list of athletic guards from Toronto, the thing that separates him is his ability to score in bunches, the best natural scorer on Team Toronto Jonathan can knockdown the deep ball consistently but also contains the quickness and strength to attack the basket with conviction. A bit undersized for a college level two, if Jonathan focuses on ball skills and decision making to become an effective combo guard he will without doubt become a desired collegiate prospect.  We enjoyed watching Mr. Wallace compete this weekend as he competes with a ton of energy and we look forward to his progression over the next year.

Trevor Glassman (NH-UG) 6’-0” 190pds.   Pos. 1-2   Class: 2012    School: Bedford School...Mr. Glassman put on his hard hat about a year ago and went to work as he sensed his high school career coming to a close, he wanted to ensure he will continue on at the next level.  Trevor has worked very hard over the last year making himself a complete, stronger player and displayed his more confident skill set this weekend, as he knocked down 3 balls from about 24ft consistently all weekend.  Also showing a stronger frame, Trevor was able to compete against bigger prospects finishing through contact weather finishing at the basket or completing an off the dribble move without being knocked off balance.   It was great to see Trevors hard work pay off, we look forward to seeing his progression as he continues his journey to success.  

Jacob Bushee (Team-Vermont) 6’-5”  200pds.  Pos. 4   Class: 2012...A relative unknown coming into this weekend, we really like what we saw of Jacob. A fierce competitor who displayed a solid skill set on and off the ball.  Jacob did a nice job creating space in the post to operate, both offensively and for rebounding, also displayed an overall nice basketball IQ being in the proper spots at the appropriate times.  Jacob will be a nice addition to a college team, doing all the right things efficiently.

Marcus Swedberg (Team-NH-Seniors) 6’-9”  210pds.   Pos. 4  Class: 2012    school...A highly skilled big, who has the versatility to step away from the basket and produce, can stroke it out to about 15/17 ft. consistently.  Has a high basketball IQ, and nice feel for the game.  With extra focus on bringing up the RPM’s on his motor along with continued ball skills and Mr. Swedberg will be a very attractive collegiate prospect.  Proving the type of young man that Marcus is we have no doubt he will conintue to progress at rapid rate.

Andrew Cartwright (Team-Maine) 6’-6”  200pds.  Pos. 4-3    Class: 2014    School: Nokomis School...We have had the fortune of seeing Andrew a few times and we really like what we see, he is on the cusp of really breaking out.  A big long, athletic 3-4 who is agile enough to progress very quickly, upside defines this young man.  Andrew showed some tremendous flashes this weekend of what is to come, he projects as more of a face up four and maybe even a 3 if he continues develop his ball/footwork skills.  A continued focus on strength/agility and ball skills, along with an increased motor and Andrew could really breakout on the regional recruiting scene.

Roger Paul (Boston-MA) 6’3 - 180pds.  SG - Class: 2012   West Roxbury HS

Boston is known for attacking guards, Roger falls right in line with that assessment.  Roger likes to attack the rim with conviction, sometimes to a fault, as he gets tunnel vision at times.  He showed signs of being a solid threat from distance, if he focuses on learning how to move off the ball, he could become a nightmare for opposing defenses. 

Dimitry Coronel commits + Notebook

Maine-bound Dimitry Coronel

Mid-October Notebook

- Earlier tonight via his Facebook page, Tabor Academy and Metro Boston wing Dimitry Coronel committed to the University of Maine.  That's a D1-Ride for the Boston-native and former East Boston Jet.

- According to Adam Finkelstein of the New England Recruiting Report, Kimball Union Academy and Metro Boston power forward Jesse Chuku has committed to Lehigh, while Hotchkiss guard Clyde Smith committed to TCU at the end of his official visit this weekend.

- BABC Prospect Camp went down this weekend down in Warwick, RI and there was plenty of talent in the house.  Stay tuned for the HoopRootz BABC Prospect Camp Report later this week.

- Dozens of New England ballplayers attended Midnight Madness events on college campuses last weekend.  Most interesting had to be Nerlens Noel and Goodluck Okonoboh to Syracuse only two months after the pair attended the Orangemen Elite Camp in August.

BST Hoops NE Exposure Showcase

Javon Williams impressed at the BST Showcase

BST Hoops 
New England Exposure Showcase 

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAMS

Team-1                                                 

Harry Rafferty(ME)                            

Colin Richey(W-MA)                           

Garet Beal(ME)-MVP                         

Elijah Okabare(Boston-MA)                 

Macam Bak(Boston-MA)                       

Aary Bibbens(Vermont)                      

Donnovan Hastings(Toronto)          

Javon Williams(NH-Seniors)                

Team-2

Ryan Gauthier(NH-Seniors)                         

Riyad Asad(W-MA)

Jovan Leamy(Toronto)

Kamahl Walker(NH-Seniors)

Chad Copeland(VT) 

Tom Nason(NH-UG)  

Mike McDevitt(Maine)

CJ Iozza(NH-UG)

Team-3

Tanner Hyland(Maine)

Ian Sistare(NH-UG)

Jonathan Wallace(Toronto)

Trevor Glassman(NH-UG)   

Jacob Bushee(Vermont)

Marcus Swedberg(NH-S)

Andrew Cartwright(Maine)

Roger Paul(Boston-MA)

Amir Garrett set to go for Bridgton

Amir Garrett: ESPN #99 in 2011

Bridgton Academy high-flyer Amir Garrett

- It remains to be seen whether Amir Garrett will be playing at St Johns for the Spring Semester, but regardless, it looks like he will be in uniform for Bridgton Academy when the season starts in November.