New England Elite 75 Invitational Preview

Looking Ahead to the New England Elite 75 Invitational

by Phil Kasiecki

The second annual New England Elite 75 Invitational, organized by Adam Finkelstein of New England Recruiting Report and Hoop Scoop and Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com, is right around the corner. On August 15, many of the top high school prospects in New England will gather at Boston University for a day of basketball. Last year’s inaugural event was a big success, with several players having a breakout day that proved to be a springboard for a nice season.

Two notable players who starred last year, Rhode Island commits Stevie Mejia (5′8″ Sr. PG, Hyde Park (MA) Lawrence Academy) and John Hegarty (6′11″ Sr. C, Winchendon (MA) School), will be there again this year. For each, their play at this event was just the beginning of a steady rise, with Mejia going on to play in the Rbk U Camp last month in Philadelphia.

While Mejia and Hegarty are the most notable returnees in the class of 2008, the best prospect may be the one who recently came back home. 6′7″ power forward Troy Gillenwater spent several years in California, most recently at Stoneridge Prep, but will now prep closer to his Boston home. Reportedly, Notre Dame Prep was his destination, but that may be up in the air with the recent departure of Bill Barton for an assistant coaching job at Duquesne.

A pair of Atlantic 10 commits from the state of Connecticut are also among the top rising seniors who will be there. UMass commit David Gibbs (6′4″ SG, West Simsbury (CT) Masters Prep) and AAU teammate Chris Prescott (6′1″ PG, West Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) headline the group. B.J. Monteiro (6′5″ SG-SF Waterbury (CT) Crosby HS), who played well at the Rbk U camp in July, will also represent Connecticut, as will improving wing Stanford Dulaire (6′5″ SF, Hartford (CT) Watkinson School) and big man Greg Mangano (6′10″ PF-C, West Haven (CT) Notre Dame HS), who likes to play facing the basket.

Also among the rising seniors are a few who have played well in recent months. Raheem Singleton (5′11″ PG, Boston (MA) Notre Dame Prep) has opened some eyes with his play in the last couple of months, while Mike Myers-Keitt (6′6″ SF, Fairfield (CT) Marianapolis Prep) played well in the latter part of the spring, and another emerging prospect is Connecticut guard Shane Gibson (6′2″ SG, Danielson (CT) Killingly HS), an AAU teammate of Myers’ who has shot the ball well and scores plenty of points.

Nationally, the class of 2009 looks to have more depth than the class of 2008, and that’s also true in New England. It is highlighted by a pair of Connecticut commits, Alex Oriakhi (6′8″ PF) and Jamal Coombs (6′6″ SF), both of whom will attend Tilton (NH) School this year after attending Winchendon last year. The star potential doesn’t stop there, as Erik Murphy (6′8″ PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School), Tyrone Gardner (6′0″ PG, Hartford (CT) Weaver HS), Tevin Baskin (6′7″ SF-PF, Stamford (CT) Trinity Catholic HS) and Kyle Casey (6′6″ SF, Chestnut Hill (MA) Brimmer & May) are among those who will be present. Gardner led his Connecticut Select team to the 16-under national championship last month, while Baskin competed in the NBA Player’s Association Top 100 Camp in June.

Like the class ahead of them, the class of 2009 will be represented by several who have played well in recent months. Big men Dartaye Ruffin (6′8″ PF, Worcester (MA) Academy), Jordan Williams (6′7″ PF, Torrington (CT) High) and Ben Crenca (6′9″ PF, Exeter (RI) Worcester Academy) lead the way, while Rhode Island guards Nyheem Sanders (6′2″ PG-SG, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s School) and Corey Wright Jr. (5′10″ PG, Pawtucket (RI) St. Raphael’s HS) played good basketball late in the spring and into July as well. The top prospect in Vermont, Candon Rusin (6′3″ SG, Wilmington (VT) Twin Valley HS), will also be present.

For good measure, attendees from this class will include a few players who have flown under the radar even by New England standards, namely Matt Labove (6′9″ PF, Shrewsbury (MA) St. John’s HS), Peter Kaasila (6′8″ PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School) and Evan Smotrycz (6′7″ SF, Reading (MA) Memorial HS).

The class of 2010 has some real potential at the top that will be in action. It is a guard-heavy group, led by Nadir Tharpe (5′11″ PG, Worcester (MA) St. Peter Marian HS), Josh Turner (6′5″ SG, Waterbury (CT) Sacred Heart HS), Rodney Beldo (5′10″ PG, Scituate (MA) High) and Mike Rivera (5′11″ PG, Thompson (CT) Marianapolis Prep). This mirrors the class nationally, as a number of point guards were impressive this spring and the class shapes up as possibly having the next big wave of point guards. The most notable frontcourt player is Nate Lubick (6′8″ SF-PF Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School), who has shown plenty of potential thus far.

Headlining the class of 2011 is a reclassified freshman, Joe Sharkey (6′2″ PG-SG, Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon). Sharkey showed some promise at the event last year and at times during the spring.

Topping off the day will be a series of games featuring top participants against New England-based players who have moved on to the college ranks and beyond. They include professionals Matt Bonner, Donny Marshall and T.J. Sorrentine, as well as current college players like UConn junior Jeff Adrien, Providence junior Jonathan Kale, Vermont junior Mike Trimboli, and a triumvirate of current Rhode Island players in junior Jimmy Baron (whose younger brother Billy is among the event participants) and sophomores Lamonte Ulmer and Keith Cothran.

Last year’s event was a success, and this year’s looks to be better. We will be covering it at Boston University, telling you about the top prospects in New England.