The Times Are A-Changing in NEPSAC

(Updated: August 6, 2010, 8:00 PM ET)

For some time, discussion of a realignment within the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) had been ongoing but not led to it happening. Back in the fall of 2009, it was a matter of discussion again and seemed like it was en route to one day becoming reality, with some changes possible for the recently concluded basketball season. Those changes didn’t happen at that time, but the discussion continued. Some NEPSAC coaches and athletic directors thought it may happen sooner rather than later, while others felt it might never happen because it’s long been discussed but never turned into reality.

Finally, within the past couple of months, a realignment has come to pass, and NEPSAC will look a little different starting in 2010-11.

Previously, NEPSAC had four classes of competition, with Class A being the most competitive in part because those schools had more post-graduate players. Class B schools were limited to four such players and Classes C and D could not take any, although they could have a fifth-year player who repeated an earlier grade. There are also a number of leagues within it that operate independently of the class structure, such as the Lakes Region (a number of New Hampshire schools plus Vermont Academy) and ISL (a number of Class C schools).

The new NEPSAC will have two main divisions, then a group of four divisions that are done strictly by the number of boys enrolled in the school. The leagues will stay in place and operate as they have before, and will have a minor effect on scheduling.

First up is the AAA Division, which is basically the old Class A minus Phillips Exeter Academy and Worcester Academy. It is now an eight-school grouping and is a very competitive landscape as all of the schools have had their share of success recently. There are no slouches in this group. They may schedule up to 34 games including tournaments, and they are a special class in that they may start workouts and practice earlier than others. The scheduling limit does not include the NEPSAC Tournament games.

Overall, life changes very little for these schools at the end of the day.

The AA Division has 17 schools, including Worcester Academy and many old Class B schools like St. Andrew’s and three-time reigning champion Tilton. It will also include recent Class C powerhouses Lawrence Academy and St. Mark’s, who dominated Class C in recent years to the point where most would expect it to be a race for third place behind them. Two other noteworthy additions are Boston Trinity Academy, which had been a Class D powerhouse with back-to-back titles, and Christian Heritage, which was also in Class D. There is a wide range of enrollment numbers at these schools, ranging from the Hotchkiss School with nearly 300 boys down to Brimmer & May (61) and the Masters School in Simsbury, CT with 55. (Note that there is also a Masters in New York.) These schools may schedule up to 30 games including tournaments, and as with the AAA Division NEPSAC Tournament games do not count toward this limit.

Documentation obtained by Hoopville that outlined the changes originally showed 15 schools in the AA Division. But multiple NEPSAC sources said that was a mistake and the number is 17, with Cushing Academy and Christian Heritage being noted as not being in the AA Division originally.

After that is the Enrollment Division, four divisions A through D that go strictly by boys enrollment at the school. The A Division, whose schools have a boys enrollment of 240 and up, is headlined by academic powerhouses Phillips Andover and Phillps Exeter as the only schools with boys enrollments of over 500, while emerging schools in basketball like Choate Rosemary Hall and Milton Academy are also in the mix.

The B Division, whose schools have a boys enrollment of 170-239, features Suffield Academy, Governors Academy, Kingswood-Oxford, Cheshire Academy, Brooks School, Beaver Country Day and Rivers School. The C Division, with boys enrollments of 101-169, includes Noble & Greenough, Hamden Hall, Pingree, Providence Country Day, Lexington Christian and the Hyde School in Connecticut (there is also a Hyde School in Maine, which is in the D Division). The D Division has schools with boys enrollments below 100, starting with the Bancroft School at 95 down to the Waldorf School with 15.

Schools in the A-D divisions may play a total of 25 games including tournaments. They may play six games against schools in the AAA or AA, but may appeal to play more if geography is an issue and creates a hardship, usually a budgetary one. Also not included in that limit will be games against a league opponent. For example, when ISL members Rivers and St. Mark’s play, the game will not count against Rivers’ limit of games against AAA or AA schools.

In the past, scheduling was a big reason why some schools would move up in the class system. Brimmer & May ran into trouble getting games two years in a row and moved up from Class D to Class B within two years. Now, scheduling may be an issue this year as concerns tournaments, as many schedules were already well set before the realignment was announced and changes may be difficult to make for 2010-11. Tournament committees will take this into account in the event that geography and other factors may limit a school’s ability to play the majority of its games within its division. Each class within the Enrollment Division will have a championship, meaning there will be six championships in boys basketball.

If a school wants to move from the Enrollment Division, they can only move to the AA Division. They cannot change classes from within the Enrollment Division unless they enroll more boys, which could happen but may not be likely in the foreseeable future given the uncertain economy.

St. Andrew’s head coach and athletic director Mike Hart, who is the President of the Boys Basketball Coaches Association, said most coaches were okay with the new structure although not everyone was in love with it. Schools may appeal the decision as it affects them, and any appeals will be considered when the NEPSAC Executive Board meets on October 18. From what Hart said, if there are any appeals they are likely to be very small in number.

Talent Hits Hoop Group Home for Summer Classic

NEPTUNE, N.J. – The next stop in the July recruiting period was a trip down the east coast to Hoop Group Headquarters for a day of action at the Summer Classic. A solid event, it does not have pool play as games are in playoff format right from the beginning. This year, it featured just one bracket that included some 16-under teams playing up. A couple of those teams did well, winning at least one game and being a tough out later.

Here is a look at some of the players we saw compete here.

Ryan Arcidiacono (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Langhorne (PA) Neshaminy HS) Although he struggled for a stretch in a game his team lost, on the day here he showed a lot of why he broke out this spring. He showed a solid passing ability that he doesn’t get enough credit for, including driving and dishing. That doesn’t get much notice because he can really light it up, and he showed it here with shots like a mid-range fade-away off the dribble, three-point shots that were behind where an NBA line would be and some tough play near the basket. He scored 21 points in a losing effort, heating up in the second half as he tried to carry his team back into the game.

Anthony Avery (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Chicago (IL) St. Rita’s HS) A plus athlete with a little length, it’s not clear which position he projects to play yet as he’s a baby physically and doesn’t have a well-defined game yet. He went for 10 points in a losing effort and showed himself to be worth keeping an eye on.

D’Angelo Boyce (6’0″ Sr. PG-SG, Annandale (VA) High) Lefty guard showed a nice touch shooting the ball, especially in his team’s first game as he knocked down four three-pointers en route to 16 points. He showed good range with those shots and knocked down a long two-point shot as well. His size dictates that he’s more of a point guard, but at a low Division I level someone might take him to play off the ball.

Jarell Briggs (6’1″ Sr. SG, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) Very athletic guard projects as an undersized shooting guard, and looks like more of a scorer than a shooter. He has a good body and used it well, scoring even while fouled on the play, going for 15 points in an early win for his team.

Devonte Chance (5’9″ Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) Electric HS) Though his size dictates that he plays the point, he didn’t show as much in play-making as he did in scoring, going for 30 points in two wins. His body’s not there yet, though that didn’t stop him from driving and finishing, while he also showed a touch from long range.

Reginald Charles (6’3″ Sr. SG, Philadelphia (PA) Father Judge HS) Nice wing had a good couple of games to help his team win. He was dangerous in transition, getting out often and one time finishing with a nice spin move, and he didn’t just finish. He has a mature body and drove often, dishing off if he had a teammate open and also finishing with contact. While he did knock down a couple of jumpers, shooting doesn’t look to be his forte.

Erik Copes (6’8″ Sr. PF, Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter School) Well-built post player got up and down the floor okay but may be right on the project/prospect line. He didn’t do a lot on the offensive end, traveling inside a few times when he got the ball.

Arthur Edwards (6’5″ Sr. SF, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) Athletic wing got better as the day went along, as he wasn’t a big factor early but made an impact later. He looks like he thrives when the game is played at a faster pace, as he got out in transition and finished a few times, including once with a nice dunk. He also showed the ability to finish in traffic, and his body isn’t there yet although he’s not a baby physically. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Jonathan Gantt (6’9″ Sr. PF, Alexandria (VA) Thomas A. Edison HS) Big man has good size but a body that isn’t all good weight, so improving his conditioning would help. This was evident in that he seemed to be a step slow getting up the floor, which didn’t help him on a team with a lot of athletes on the perimeter.

Lionel Gomis (6’8″ Sr. PF, Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy) There’s been some progress in his game from early in his high school days, and he has to continue that as there’s plenty of room for improvement. He has a good body and his motor is good, but he also showed some bad body language after a turnover and doesn’t show a great feel for the game. The latter is understandable to a degree since he hasn’t been playing the game for long. Although it’s not as important as it would be if he were a wing, his ball skills aren’t very good, either. Mid-major prospect.

Savon Goodman (6’5″ Jr. SF, Bryn Athyn (PA) Academy of the New Church) Athletic wing looks like a nice prospect as his body’s not there yet. He did a nice job of selling a pump fake and using it to drive, looking more like a scorer than a shooter, and on one play he made a nice long lead pass on the fast break.

Sean Grennan (6’1″ Sr. PG, Toms River (NJ) Monsignor Donovan HS) A gunner at times, he handled the ball and generally ran the team but also called his own number often. That’s not entirely bad since he has some good scoring tools that he showed, like a couple of runners including one where he got fouled as he hit it and some good range on his jump shot. He’s not very physically gifted and did get called for an offensive foul for using his arm too much on one play.

Jamir Hanner (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Philadelphia (PA) NIA Prep) Athletic forward didn’t play a big role in his team’s wins but showed some potential along the way. His body’s not there yet and his ball skills need some work, but he scored on a jump hook and also sliced through some gaps in the defense to score close to the basket. With added strength and better ball skills, he should certainly get even better at scoring near the basket.

Maurice Harkless (6’7″ Sr. SF, Queens (NY) South Kent School) His offensive ability is well-known, but the big news here is that he was hitting shots and that included from long range. As is often the case, he finished well in close, but in going for 13 points in an easy win he made a couple of three-point shots, and if he does more of that he’ll be very dangerous. High-major prospect.

Tony Hicks (6’1″ Jr. SG, Chicago (IL) St. Rita’s HS) Although he’s undersized for his position, his long range stroke caught our eye as he knocked down four three-pointers en route to 21 points against a very good New York Panthers team. He didn’t show much else, but there’s always a place for someone who can shoot it the way he did here.

Jabarie Hinds (6’0″ Sr. PG, Mount Vernon (NY) High) Lefty guard has a good body and has a solid reputation, and while he looked good we expected better. He’s a leader on a team with a lot of guards, running the show well and getting some baskets, one coming on a nice baseline drive that he finished with a tough reverse layup in avoiding a shot-blocker.

Kelechi Ibe (6’8″ Jr. PF, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) Although his minutes were a bit limited in our observation, there are some things to like about him as a prospect. Namely, he appears to have a good enough motor to develop as an inside player, and he rebounded well. On one rebound, he snapped off a nice outlet pass for a layup at the other end, and he ran the floor as well.

Amile Jefferson (6’7″ Jr. PF, Wynnewood (PA) Friends Central School) Lanky post player is a plus athlete, which helps him especially since he needs to add strength. He had a nice 24-point outing in a win for his team, showing a turnaround jumper in his arsenal along with some other close baskets.

Brendan Kilpatrick (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Malvern (PA) Prep) A solid complementary player, he has a good body and did several things to help his team. He played inside a fair amount, where he got some rebounds, and also showed the ability to finish with the left hand on the post. In addition, he stepped out to knock down a three-point shot, which would seem to fit more with what he projects as his size dictates that he plays one of the wing positions at the next level.

Chris Martin (6’0″ Sr. SG, Washington (DC) St. John’s Catholic HS) This well-built guard can be summed up quite simply with three words: he can shoot. His jump shot was on display here and not just from long range, as he scored 32 points in two games, hitting four three-pointers in one of them. He’s not lacking athleticism, though that won’t leap out at you, and isn’t bad as a ball-handler, but he’s sure to be recruited first and foremost for his excellent stroke. The unfortunate thing is that at an even 6′, he projects as a point guard if he were to play at the highest level unless he plays alongside a big point guard. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

Anthony Mayo (6’8″ Sr. PF, Philadelphia (PA) school TBD) Although he’s a presence inside and has some mobility, one gets the feeling he’s a better player than he showed. He wasn’t bad, but more was expected. His post moves aren’t bad and he finished the break a few times from running the floor, which he does well. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

DeShon Minnis (6’3″ Sr. SG, Philadelphia (PA) Atlantic Christian School) Aggressive guard was constantly attacking the hoop, getting inside often for chances near the basket. He scored mostly with slashes, using his above-average quickness and then finishing well and occasionally passing on the move. Although shooting isn’t his forte, he did knock down a jumper from mid-range off the dribble, which is something that can be there for him when he’s getting to the basket like he was at times here.

Charlie Monaghan (6’6″ Sr. SF, Richland (NJ) St. Augustine’s Prep) He’s not going to jump out at you in any way, but he’s a reasonably skilled forward who can face the basket and do a few things, although none very well. He has decent skills and reached double figures in a loss for his team, while showing he can handle and pass a little, suggesting he could play like a face-up power forward at the offensive end. He’s not very physically gifted, as he’s about an average athlete and has a mature body.

Javon Moore (6’2″ Sr. SG, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) A guard with a good motor that was constantly going, he has a good frame and mature body. He finished the break and also showed a little touch shooting the ball, though that doesn’t appear to be his forte, and went for 13 points in a win for his team.

Nehimias Moriollo (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s) In his team’s second game, he put on quite a shooting display in the first half as he hit several from downtown. He’s thin and just a plus athlete, but he shot the ball well from a few different places behind the arc and that will get him plenty of interest at the next level.

Chris Ortiz (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Middle Village (NY) Christ the King HS) A plus athlete, this wing can easily fly under the radar on his guard-oriented team but had a nice showing. He didn’t put up big points, but showed a touch out to long range and also finished while fouled on one play, and he got out in transition a fair amount. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Tyheem Perrin (6’4″ Sr. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter School) Active wing was around the ball often at both ends of the floor and plays a little bigger. He got some offensive boards and showed some decent ball skills that could use some upgrading, while also showing a little touch shooting the ball from mid-range. A good complementary player, he could help a team with his nose for the ball and a little improvement from a skill standpoint.

Justin Sears (6’7″ Jr. SF, Plainfield (NJ) High) Athletic wing is a “potential” player right now, more so than a number of his teammates who look to be similar players. His body has a ways to go and his ball skills are shaky, but there’s good reason to keep an eye on how he develops.

Jeffrey Short (6’3″ Sr. SG, South Kent (CT) School) He continued to play well of late, as he shot the ball well and found other ways to score. While he’s more of a complementary player, he’s a good one as he plays that role well.

Ameen Tanksley (6’5″ Sr. SF, Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter School) Athletic wing has a good body and did a nice job of not trying to do too much. The lefty shot the ball well from long range, hitting four three-pointers en route to 14 points in one win, and later did a nice job of selling a pump fake and finishing the resulting drive.

Brandon Taylor (6’7″ Jr. SF, Hamilton (NJ) Trenton Catholic HS) There are some things to like about this wing, who has a good body and shot the ball well from deep. He hit four three-pointers en route to 14 points in an opening round win for his team. On the down side, he needs to play stronger as he lost the ball to a smaller player and that shouldn’t happen since he has good size for his position.

Shaquille Thomas (6’6″ Sr. SF, Newark (NJ) NIA Prep) Long and very athletic, his body has a ways to go and that holds him back to a degree. He lacks strength right now, but with more of it there’s some potential as he got a couple of dunks and isn’t entirely lacking in the skill department. On a stacked team, he got a little overshadowed since his game isn’t as mature as that of some of his teammates. High-major minus/high-major prospect.

Travis Trimm (6’0″ Sr. PG, Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy) One of a number of guards on his team, he didn’t make a big impact but had a highlight. Late in the first half of a game, he took the ball coast to coast, blowing by everyone for a buzzer-beating layup.

Jordan Wejnert (6’6″ Sr. SF, Worcester (MA) Academy) Active wing looks like a player who won’t put up big numbers but is able to impact the game by being in the play often. He has a fairly mature body but a slight frame, got a hand on a lot of balls and scored in the flow of the offense, one time making a nice cut to the basket. For good measure, he also found a cutter for a layup another time.

Other players who caught our attention:

Taylor Abt (6’8″ Sr. PF, Washington (DC) Georgetown Prep)

Octavious Booker (6’7″ Sr. PF, Philadelphia (PA) Freire Charter School)

Neville Fincher (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Teaneck (NJ) High)

Jerome Frink (6’6″ Jr. SF, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s)

Sterling Gibbs (6’2″ Sr. PG, West Orange (NJ) Seton Hall Prep)

Arron Goodman (6’5″ Jr. SF, Council Rock (PA) North HS)

Zaid Hearst (6’3″ Sr. SG, Silver Spring (MD) Salisbury Prep)

Darren Hilliard (6’4″ Sr. SF, Bethlehem (PA) Liberty HS)

Durand Johnson (6’7″ Sr. SF, Baltimore (MD) Notre Dame Prep)

John Johnson (6’0″ Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA) Girard College HS)

Anthony Livingston (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Washington (DC) KIMA HS)

Benjamin Mingledough (6’4″ Sr. SF, Radnor (PA) Lee Academy)

Luke Piotrowski (610″ Sr. PF-C, Egg Harbor Township (NJ) Atlantic Christian School)

Matthew Porter (6’3″ Sr. SG, Plainfield (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)

Lance Rivera (6’1″ Sr. SG, North Plainfield (NJ) High)

Donte Thomas (6’2″ Sr. SG, Washington (DC) Notre Dame Prep)

First Eight Opens Three-Day Stretch in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A three-day stretch with a lot of basketball in Springfield began with the First Eight on Saturday at the MassMutual Center. The event was held away from the main arena, with a nice setup of four courts right near one another, which made it easy for the college coaches and media to watch any game they needed to during the day. It was a busy day with nearby streets closed off due to a jazz event taking place, and it was not far from the Hall of Fame.

Here is a look at some of the players we saw compete on Saturday.

Khem Birch (Jr. PF, Pierrefonds (Que.) Notre Dame Prep) The long post player has had a busy stretch since about the middle of June, but looked no worse for wear as he was constantly hustling to make plays. He used his length often to block shots and deflect balls and showed flashes of offensive ability that included a long baseline jumper en route to 16 points in a losing effort.

Jaylen Bond (6’6″ Sr. SF, Lafayette Hill (PA) Plymouth Whitemarsh HS) A year ago, he looked like the ultimate tease most of the time – a good body and some athleticism but very little real production. That wasn’t the case here, however, as he looks more athletic, attacked in transition, drove to score, and most of all showed a good motor as he competed the entire time. He looked quick off his feet and got a couple of stickbacks, going for 22 points in one game. High-major minus prospect has committed to Pittsburgh.

Rohan Brown (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, Manchester (CT) East Catholic HS) He continued to show an improving wing game here, though he was quiet overall in a losing effort. He scored from mid-range off the dribble and from just inside the three-point line, all of which go nicely with his ability to work near the basket.

Galal Cancer (6’2″ Sr. PG, Albany (NY) Christian Brothers Academy) Nice floor leader surely opened some eyes with his play here, as he played well at both ends of the floor. He’s not a jet, but he got to the basket all day by finding gaps and passed on the move very well and scored on some of his drives, using the left (off) hand a couple of times. He also defended well, and while his body isn’t there yet he has good size for his position. Mid-major prospect.

Ousmane Drame (6’8″ Sr. PF, Roxbury (MA) Marianapolis Prep) Lanky lefty continued to show some progress on his post offense against a good team. He went for 11 points in a tough loss, scoring inside and knocking in a three-point shot, though the latter is not his forte, and he also had a decent game on the glass.

Chris Gayot (5’11″ Sr. PG, Far Rockaway (NY) Cardozo HS) Though he doesn’t pass the “look” test, he’s not lacking in athleticism or ability to help a team win. He’s effective and can finish when he gets to the basket, scoring in flow but generally not looking for his offense.

Malcolm Gilbert (6’11″ Sr. C, New Castle (DE) Academy of the New Church School) While he can be a great defensive presence despite his body still needing to mature, it’s no accident that he doesn’t score much. While he can block shots and rebound, he doesn’t show much of a feel for the game and missed a few point-blank shots here. Until he shows some improvement offensively, a team will basically be playing four-on-five at the offensive end with him on the floor. High-major minus prospect.

Tyler Harris (6’8″ Sr. SF, Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West HS) The lanky lefty’s shooting ability wasn’t in question before this day, and he didn’t change that. But he did show a little in-between game, which he’ll need to keep developing as he gets stronger, which is the biggest knock on him now. He has the frame to carry more good weight, so once nature takes its course his body should fill out well. High-major prospect.

Scott King (6’8″ Sr. PF, Derry (NH) Holderness Academy) After a solid showing a day earlier, he picked up right where he left off as he scored 17 points with three three-pointers in his team’s win over the Long Island Lightning. He has a slight frame but a solid game, as he scored often from mid-range both off the catch and the dribble. What he’s shown is that he’s a solidly skilled power forward who can face the basket and shoot, which will get him some good looks at the Division I level.

Jordan Laguerre (6’2″ Sr. SG, Manchester (NH) New Hampton Prep) Although the lefty guard had some good help, he was the prime reason his team pulled off a nice win over the Long Island Lightning on Saturday. He knocked down several three-pointers early on, and that opened up other opportunities for him and a couple of teammates who played well as the recent UMass commit scored 24 points in the win.

Ricardo Ledo (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Providence (RI) South Kent School) The talent he has is undeniable, but as much as ever, it was clear here that intangibles are going to make all the difference in whether or not he harnesses that potential. He has to get mentally tougher than he currently is, as his body language was not good when his team was behind and trying to get back in the game. That can overshadow his abilities, which he showed with his great body control and ability to slice through gaps when the jumpers aren’t falling, and he scored 30 points in two games.

Gabas Maldunas (6’8″ Sr. PF, East Falmouth (MA) Holderness Academy) He continued to show what he showed all week, which is that he’s solid and has a good feel for the game even though he won’t stand out and really doesn’t pass the “look” test. While more athletic small forwards can get by him, he defends inside reasonably well and showed good offensive skills like a jump hook and some range on his jumper while being able to finish while fouled.

Devon McMillan (6’1″ Sr. SG, Newburgh (NY) South Kent School) Athletic guard is a little undersized for the off-guard spot but showed a decent scoring touch. He went for double digits in both games, hitting mid-range jumpers off the dribble going to his right a couple of times as his main way of getting on the board.

DaShawn Murphy (6’2″ Sr. SG, Hamden (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall) In his team’s comeback win to end the day, he got hot from deep in the second half after doing little in the first half, scoring almost all of his 13 points in the latter frame. He shot off the catch a few times and off the dribble as well.

John Papale (6’3″ So. SG, Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall) Although he didn’t stand out as the youngest player on his team, his shooting range certainly grabbed the attention of onlookers. He made a couple of shots from several feet behind the three-point line with his good stroke.

Ryan Romich (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Groton (MA) Vermont Academy) What continues to emerge is that he has really found himself as a player. Specifically, he plays very well within the team concept and does a lot of little things, like get stickbacks and loose balls, sometimes running the floor for it. Mid-major prospect.

Daouda Samouro (6’9″ Sr. PF, Centereach (NY) Our Savior New American School) Lanky post player is quite raw but appears to be a little more prospect than project. He knocked down a three-point shot, but that’s far from his forte as he generally worked inside. There, he finished while getting fouled one time, but far more often he got the ball punched out due to a lack of strength and ball toughness.

Jermaine Sanders (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, New York (NY) Rice HS) Well-built wing has been coming on of late and continued it here, starting off with a big 33-point outing. But more important than that number is that he was the big reason his team rallied from being down 14 at halftime to win, as he turned it up in the second half and especially with his shooting. Of late, he has shot the ball very well, and if he keeps that up it may overshadow the fact that he’s just a plus athlete and isn’t going to get another physical boost as he has a mature body. High-major minus/high-major prospect.

Jerel Scott (6’5″ Sr. SF, Albany (NY) Bishop Maginn HS) We love the way he simply competes on the floor, as his game has some junkyard dog in it. While he is athletic, it’s not the most salient feature of his game, as he rebounds very well for the small forward spot, can hit shots out to three-point range and showed he can score in transition as well, going for 22 points in one game. High-major minus prospect.

Chris Sherwood (6’3″ Sr. SF, Sharon (MA) Brimmer & May School) Very athletic wing is already known for his ability to slash, but here he knocked down a couple of shots from long range en route to 12 points in a win for his team. If he can continue that improvement, his recruitment will go up since that is the missing link to his game.

Imoh Silas (6’8″ Sr. PF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness Academy) His play here was a continuation of what he showed all week. He continued to make plays at the defensive end, as he went after the ball and got blocks, deflections and rebounds, and while he didn’t do much on offense here there was one nice play where he found a cutter for a layup. High-major-minus prospect.

Tylon Smith, Jr. (6’2″ Sr. SG, Manchester (CT) Kingswood Oxford HS) Already known for his ability to score, mainly using his strength, he showed he’s hardly a one-dimensional offensive player. He led the fast break a few times, but more importantly knocked down some shots from long range, which was previously an unknown quantity as he almost always looks to drive. He also come up with some clutch field goals and rebounds late in a 21-point effort that his team won.

Jules Tavares (6’2″ Jr. SG, Wareham (MA) Wilbraham & Monson) He had to play the point often for his team here, and while he’s generally an unselfish player when off the ball that didn’t quite seem to translate to being on the ball here. He too often settled for jumpers instead of attacking, in which he likely would have found teammates later as he often has before. His jumpers went down a little more later on in the day, and he was fine defensively as he’s become one of the better defenders in the region in recent months.

Naadir Tharpe (6’0″ Sr. PG, Worcester (MA) Brewster Academy) His body is developing and he was solid in transition here, finishing in traffic when he wasn’t leading the break. He also used ball fakes well and continued to show an improved ability to score in addition to setting up teammates. High-major prospect.

Josh Turner (6’5″ Sr. SG, Waterbury (CT) South Carolina Prep) He seems to have settled into the idea that he’s not a point guard, which for a time some thought he could be and he seemed to think so as well. With that, he’s now showing that he can really score, and he reinforced that here as he hit several three-point shots, some mid-range jumpers off the dribble and let his shooting open up chances to drive for layups. He’s not the most athletic, but he’s not lacking there, either, and he’s got the tools to be a nice mid-major prospect.

Freddie Wilson (6’2″ Sr. SG, New Haven (CT) Hillhouse HS) He was the hero of the last game of the day, knocking in three free throws with no time left to give his team a great comeback win. But that salvaged the day more than anything else, as too often he tried to do too much. He’s athletic and very capable, one time turning a steal into a layup, but didn’t give his best showing here.

Other players who caught our attention:

Kareem Canty (6’0″ Sr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS)

Kris Dunn (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Oakdale (CT) New London HS)

Sheldon Hagigal (6’2″ Sr. SG, Westbury (NY) High)

Jimmy Hall (6’8″ Jr. PF, Brooklyn (NY) St. Anthony’s)

Chris Hooper (6’5″ Sr. SF, Bronx (NY) Satellite Academy)

Max Hooper (6’6″ Sr. SG, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy)

Jamal James (6’8″ Sr. PF, Queens (NY) Brooklyn College Academy)

Derek Millinghaus (5’10″ Sr. PG, Schenectady (NY) High)

Local Talent Competes at New England Elite 75

BOSTON – The New England Elite 75 brought together some of the best talent in the region on Friday. A good number of players who had been under the radar had good days, all coming after a morning game that saw BABC blow out a national team from Ireland by a score of 88-37.

In BABC’s win, the star was unquestionably Jaylen Brantley (5’8″ Jr. PG, Springfield (MA) Central HS), who had 32 points with 10 three-pointers. It seemed like he couldn’t miss, although it happened quietly as he didn’t exactly hit them in bunches – rather, it was a steady diet when he had a decent look. But he wasn’t just a shot-maker on this day, as he was finding teammates often as well and reinforcing that he’s a point guard who can shoot.

He had good help inside with Egi Gjikondi (6’8″ So. PF, Malden (MA) Cushing Academy), who continues to emerge as more than just someone who puts up points. He’s certainly improved how he scores, as he’s more effective hitting mid-range jumpers, but most of all he’s become a much better rebounder and overall defensive presence. He’s put a good deal of weight on since arriving at Cushing Academy last fall, and he’s using it well.

The best prospect to take the floor all day was Nerlens Noel (6’9″ So. PF-C, Everett (MA) Tilton School). His length was apparent all game long, but the biggest thing was the continued offensive improvement as he scored against double teams and was constantly demanding the ball, something he didn’t do a year ago. The improvement he has made in the past year is comparable to that of Andre Drummond from two years ago to last summer, as he’s made a huge jump.

Georges Niang (6’7″ Jr. PF, Methuen (MA) Tilton School) continued to do what he did all spring. He got offensive boards and stickbacks, but didn’t stop there as he got some deflections and steals in the back of the press, and ran the floor to finish the break a couple of times.

Now, a look at some of the prospects we saw in the afternoon.

Tavon Allen (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (CT) Worcester Academy) He didn’t match his play from earlier in the week, but he scored on a variety of driving field goals that included a nice pump fake and drive while also making a nice pass into the low block.

Zach Auguste (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Marlborough (MA) New Hampton Prep) Although his lack of strength was evident in his attempts to finish near the basket, there was a lot to like about his play. He showed an improving touch shooting the ball, which he must continue, and he’s far from done filling out. He must improve at the defensive end, between rebounding better and staying out of foul trouble. Near the end of the day, he fell on his right wrist but seemed to be all right.

Daniel Brooks (6’2″ Sr. SG, Dorchester (MA) Kimball Union Academy) Although he had a good but not great day, it was nice to see him use his left hand with enough frequency that it’s clear he looks more comfortable with it. For the most part, he didn’t show anything else different and looked like he often has, not standing out but having his moments.

Ousmane Drame (6’8″ Sr. PF-C, Roxbury (MA) Marianapolis Prep) The lanky lefty is still tough to figure out, but he’s showing progress overall. His post moves continue to look better and he seems to have less moments where one has to remember that he hasn’t been playing the game for very long.

Kris Dunn (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Oakdale (CT) New London HS) Physically gifted, he has a lot of potential waiting to be tapped. He’s quick and athletic enough to one day play both guard spots, and he showed he can score and pass well enough for those positions as well.

Zaid Hearst (6’3″ Sr. SG, Silver Spring (MD) Salisbury Prep) In limited viewing early on, he caught our eye, but he was hard to miss in his last game. There, he was active and scored on a variety of jump shots from mid-range and long range, including a nice fade-away from mid-range.

Kaleb Joseph (6’1″ So. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS) His good play of late continued here, as he continued to show his ability to score while his passing ability is well-known. He knocked down jumpers and on one play drove through a gap in the defense and finished with a nice floater.

Scott King (6’8″ Sr. PF, Derry (NH) Holderness Academy) A thin post player, he lacks strength but has a lot of good things going for him. He shot the ball very well from mid-range in stations, then continued that when the games started and showed a little more range. If he adds some strength, a low Division I team that takes a chance on him might be very happy in the end.

Jordan Laguerre (6’2″ Sr. SG, Manchester (NH) New Hampton Prep) After winning the MVP in his division at Hoop Mountain Super Week II, the recent UMass commit had a good day here. He shot it well, which is a key to his game as he’s tended to be streaky, and the highlight was a dunk off a rebound.

Gabas Maldunas (6’8″ Sr. PF, East Falmouth (MA) Holderness Academy) He showed here what he showed the previous few days a little south of town at Hoop Mountain Super Week II. Namely, he showed solid fundamentals and a good feel for the game, including a drive and lefty scoop shot, a little touch shooting it and a stickback as he was around the ball a good deal.

Mike Mallory (5’11″ Jr. PG, Waterbury (CT) Holy Cross HS) One of the breakout players of the day, he’s a baby physically but impressed at the offensive end. The biggest area was his shooting, as he shot well and not just in a streaky sense as he was making shots all day and is a plus athlete as well.

Gerald McClease (6’3″ Sr. SG, New Haven (CT) Wilbur Cross HS) We got a little look at him earlier in the week, and here he showed some good offensive ability just like earlier in the week. He’s not a great athlete and his body’s not there yet, but he showed he can drive and score a couple of times while also knocking down some shots from long range.

Brian Patterson (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, New Haven (CT) Hillhouse HS) Earlier in the week, he had some good moments at Hoop Mountain Super Week II, and looked better here. A baby physically, he’s athletic and showed a touch shooting the ball, including a nice turnaround jumper that he banked in. His ball skills aren’t there yet, but they’re not entirely lacking so it’s certainly possible he can improve them enough for the wing.

Brandon Sherrod (6’6″ Sr. PF, Bridgeport (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall) This beefy post player might have had as good a day as anyone here. A load inside, he’s very mobile and strong and ran the floor well for dunks in transition in addition to scoring on post moves.

Imoh Silas (6’8″ Sr. PF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness Academy) As he has continued to do of late, this post player was a defensive presence and owned the boards for much of the day. He blocked shots, played solid position defense, and showed some improved offensive ability between his post moves and using his left (off) hand to finish.

Tarik Smith (6’0″ Jr. PG, Bronx (NY) St. Paul’s School) Talented guard has some quickness and can get through defenses. Making him a tougher guard is what he showed here, knocking down a few jump shots and in one game hitting a runner at the buzzer.

Kyle Umemba (6’4″ Sr. SF, Chelsea (MA) BB&N School) Athletic wing finished the day well, dunking home a missed free throw and finishing another play with the left hand while off balance. He also drove to the basket and drew fouls several times.

Players, Coaches, Officials Feel the Heat at Hamilton Park

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The mercury hit triple digits for the second straight day. This past Wednesday at the Hamilton Park Summer League, the evening start saw temperatures in a more “manageable” ninety degree range.

Newark Tech 43, Bayonne 30

In the opener of the two-game officiating assignment, Newark Tech defeated Bayonne. A week ago I had Newark Tech and the coaches weren’t too thrilled following their narrow loss to Hudson Catholic. Tonight, officials and coaches got off on a cordial start. That tone stayed the same as Tech dominated.

A big difference from the taller Newark Tech team was the second half. Despite the height advantage Tech largely relied on a three-point diet the second half against Hudson. A three-point “diet” often translates to slim pickings at the foul line. Against Bayonne, they still shot the three but made a more concerted effort to attack the basket and keep penetrating those final 16 minutes. Jarel Hall played a good floor game and scored nine for a balanced Newark Tech attack.

The Best for Last

The next of the four games on tap was the game of the night, which saw Dickinson of Jersey City erase a 12-point deficit to defeat Paramus Catholic 45-40. The Rams trailed by a dozen entering the fourth quarter. Their first two possessions saw them knock down a trey. In one minute the deficit is sliced in half. Suddenly we had a game.

Given a new-found momentum, Dickinson closed strong and negated Paramus’ size by taking advantage of transition opportunities in the open floor. The Rams went on to post an impressive win over last year’s Bergen County Champions.

I worked the last two games of the night on the officiating end with a former college coach. Del Harrison, who coached at Felician College (Rutherford, NJ) is in his first year wearing the stripes. A former player at Jersey City State (now NJC) Harrison definitely knows the game and astutely applies the principles assimilated through his playing and coaching days. He does confess to a change of heart admitting, “I was tough on officials as a coach. Now I see things a lot differently.” Not a surprise at all as the view is quite different behind the whistle as opposed to being on the bench.

Notes

• There is no press room at Hamilton Park, but the Hamilton Inn down the block serves a dual purpose of a post-game respite (sticking to ginger ale as I must drive home) plus a location to write my column. And yes, it is air conditioned.

• During a halftime break of PC-Dickinson ran into officiating friend Dennis Nuber. Dennis lives across the street and takes in the action when he’s not running up and down the court. I told him the night before we worked the Phillipine League in a blistering Hudson Catholic gym. That gym was the high school home of Mike O’Koren and Jim Spanarkel, but tradition aside has no AC. Dennis played high school ball at St. Michael’s, a school around the block from Hamilton Park’s court, and unfortunately, like many in Hudson County who saw the same sad fate, is no longer in operation.

  “We played Hudson with Spanarkel and O’Koren,” Dennis recalled. “We held the ball and trailed around 12-8 at the half. Their coach (the late Joe ‘Rocky’ Pope) was upset because there were college scouts in attendance, but our coach said ‘Should we run with you and lose by 30?’” St. Michael’s still held the ball and lost by about a dozen. O’Koren starred at North Carolina while Spanarkel did the same at Duke. Both went on to enjoy respectable NBA careers. Dennis? Besides officiating he is one of the city’s “finest” as a Jersey City fire fighter.

• Hamilton Park was closed last year and the league moved a few blocks North. Mow reopened there is a new surface. Gone is the asphalt and replacing it is a synthetic surface that looks like it was assembled with Lego blocks. It’s good on the legs but players diving for loose balls are susceptible to cuts.

  The floor is done in the maroon and gold colors of St. Anthony’s. Not solely due the friar’s outstanding basketball tradition, though that didn‘t hurt. St. Anthony’s is the closest high school to Hamilton Park, roughly thee blocks away.

• Dickinson head coach Sean Drennan let his assistant run the club while he took action from the “Jack Nicholson” seats opposite the team benches. Drennan is one of the few prep coaches with college experience. He assisted Chuck McBreen at Ramapo before taking over at Kean University for a year prior to heading to Jersey City.

• Among those in attendance were a few administrators of the Phillipine League we worked the night before. Passionate fans who love the game at all levels, that small group remarked how much “cooler” it was in high eighties temperature as opposed to the triple-digit inferno at Hudson the night before. Cooler, yes, but it was all relative.

2010 Hoop Mountain Super Week II Recap

EASTON, Mass. – The busy month of July begins largely with individual player camps, and for us that started at Stonehill College with Hoop Mountain Super Week II. A pretty good group of players were present, and the evening games on a couple of evenings allowed for a good look at some players. We take a look at some of them below.

Tavon Allen (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (CT) Worcester Academy) He had a very good spring, and it looks like he’s picking up right where he left off. An all-star selection here, he got many buzzing on Wednesday with a dunk he threw down, but he did much more than that, notably a variety of runners that included one from a very tough angle. High-major minus prospect.

Brandyn Benson (5’11″ Sr. PG, Hamden (CT) Career HS) This point guard played strong, which gives him a chance in light of his size although his body isn’t there yet. He drove and finished while getting fouled, later knocked down a three-pointer and overall played well in a couple of games.

Rohan Brown (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, Hartford (CT) East Catholic HS) A plus athlete, he’s shown over the spring that he can get things done near the basket, and he did some of the same here as he rebounded at both ends and got a couple of stickbacks along the way. But he also showed better ball skills and even knocked down a three-pointer, generally showing more wing ability than he did before. If he can continue to do that, it’s not inconceivable that a low Division I program might take a chance on him.

Dennis Clifford (6’11″ Sr. C, Bridgewater (MA) Milton Academy) As often happens at events like this, the BC commit didn’t get the ball nearly enough to be effective at the offensive end. He did show his touch shooting the ball, while working relentlessly to get some post position but not getting the ball there often.

Kris Dunn (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Oakdale (CT) New London HS) Thought to be one of the next stars in his travel program, he has some clear physical gifts that were on display. He’s plenty athletic, was able to drive and dish on the break, and even showed some range with his jump shot.

Jared Fay (6’3″ Sr. SG, Lynn (MA) Brimmer & May School) Long known for his shooting, the big thing he showed here is that he’s continued to improve his game off the dribble. Since he’s not very athletic, he’s not going to impress many with that aspect of his game, but it’s clear he’s worked hard on being more than just a shooter and finishing near the basket. A very good student, he’ll likely end up at a solid academic Division II school.

Kuran Iverson (6’9″ So. SF-PF, Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) Simply put, he was the best player in the camp, which isn’t too surprising considering he was the most talented by a good margin. But on Tuesday night, he played like it, as he scored on a turnaround jumper, later scored on a wide variety of drives and transition plays in addition to a few stickbacks, and once he did that some jumpers fell. He also showed that he can own the boards when he wants to and can block some shots coming from the weak side.

Cedric Kuakamensah (6’7″ Sr. PF, Worcester (MA) North HS) A post player with a good frame and mature body, he’s always had a good motor and was productive here. He got his share of rebounds, in part from being active, and showed a few nice things at the offensive end like a mid-range jumper off the catch and a very nice pass to a cutter later on for an assist.

Gabas Maldunas (6’8″ Sr. PF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness Academy) An unknown prior to this camp, he won’t be off the radar of many college coaches for long if his play here is any indication. He has some physical maturity but certainly isn’t there yet, and is a little more athletic than he might look. Solid fundamentally, he defended well on the post, rebounded and was often around the ball, and at the offensive end was just solid as he moved well without the ball and did well to help his team in an unspectacular fashion.

Samir McDaniels (6’3″ Sr. SG, Roxbury (MA) New Mission School) He won’t jump out at you with physical gifts or great skills in any one area, but he has an uncanny knack for making plays and being around the ball, which happened here. He scored while fouled a few times, got offensive boards, stole an inbound pass and scored, drove and found teammates, and took lots of contact. In short, he showed the feel for the game and toughness that make him so effective, and it’s possible a low Division I program may take a chance on him.

DaShawn Murphy (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Wallingford (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall) A wing with a good body, his play didn’t leap out at you but you couldn’t watch his team and not realize he was a factor. He finished near the basket and knocked down a long range shot along the way, generally scoring in flow.

Ike Ngwudo (6’5″ So. SF-PF, Baldwin (NY) Milton Academy) Promising young forward is a baby physically and it showed, as there were some plays showing that he needs to get stronger. But there’s a lot to like, as he hit a nice mid-range jumper off the dribble and looks like he could be a combo forward if he grows more.

Ryan Romich (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, West Groton (MA) Vermont Academy) An all-star selection, this solid system player had a nice all-around showing. He scored in several ways, which he’s always been capable of doing, including a couple of times when he backed a smaller defender down for a close basket.

Imoh Silas (6’8″ Sr. PF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness Academy) With his play here, he continued to emerge as an excellent defensive post player as he blocked shots and rebounded often in addition to contesting any chances near the basket or against his man. The offense still needs work, but the way he’s defending alone should get him some good looks as a high-major minus/mid-major plus prospect.

Tarik Smith (6’0″ Jr. PG, Bronx (NY) St. Paul’s School) It was a good couple of nights for this point guard, as he showed that he has some quickness and can explode past his man in the open floor. He showed a little range on his jump shot and also turned a steal into a layup another time.

Jacquil Taylor (6’8″ So. PF, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin School) He still has a good ways to go, but there were some things to like here. His body is maturing some, but most importantly, he was more aggressive on offense, though he still tries to score on the post by doing too much in one motion, and he also made some better outlet passes off defensive rebounds.

New Season at Hamilton Park Under Way

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Hamilton Park Summer League started its new season the final Monday evening in June. It is an outdoor league, but if the weatherman dictates, the games will be moved inside.

League commissioner and officiating coordinator – the circuit’s “David Stern” – Pat Devaney made the call with showers in the forecast so on opening night we were inside at Hudson Catholic High School.

In January 2008 officiating called for a doubleheader at Hudson the first week of January. The mercury outside barely hit twenty and in the gym it was a bit chilly. I remarked to the scorer, in lighter tone, the low thermostat was in keeping with catholic school tradition. then I noticed the scorer was a Christian Brother affiliated with the school. After the proverbial foot in mouth, suffice to say we had two good games.

On Hamilton’s opening night at Hudson it may have been payback time for yours truly. The temperature outside was over 90. Hudson, with no fans or windows to open had to have a reading flirting with 100 degrees. You know it’s hot when the trusty league score keeper, Regina, is hitting the water cooler during each time out. Four games were on tap but thankfully on the officiating end we had the last two. My partner is a college official, Greg Ebben, who found out about the league ironically, through an article by yours truly. After reaching out to Devaney, Ebben was on board and a welcomed addition.

The early game, in a battle of Jersey City schools, saw Snyder defeat Lincoln. I caught the last half of game two, a competitive battle where St. Mary’s (JC) defeated East Orange. Now it was off to work.

Hudson Catholic 39, Newark Tech 36

The size of Tech is a factor. Hudson is moving the ball well, mixing the attack from the perimeter and occasionally attacking the basket. Tech leads at the half. Taking a break before starting the second half Darren Savino says, “Ray they don’t pay you guys enough.” The remark is made in reference to the heat and the fact the stands have a few “experts” willing to share their misguided opinion on virtually every call or no call.

Tech appears to be in control heading into the fourth quarter. The final eight minutes, they go into a scoring drought, and Hudson pulls ahead and seals the contest from the charity stripe. Eric Anderson of Tech led all scorers with 20 points. On the other side, Travis Flagg was a major difference for the Hawks, hitting a three down the stretch and icing the game from the line.

Following the game the Tech coach was none too happy complaining his team didn’t get to the line the second half. “We didn’t pay four hundred dollars to play here and not shoot a free throw,” he repeatedly said. We discussed the situation briefly and noted before his team went into a late game fouling mode, Hudson actually had more team fouls. Maybe Darren is right.

The final game of the night saw East Orange rout Bergenfield. It was a contest for a half, before the final 16 minutes saw the speed, transition and size of East Orange break this one open. Bergenfield plays in a league in Northern New Jersey. The coach admits the style is much different from what he faces at Hamilton. Each year he brings his kids down to “toughen them up” and expose them to a higher level of intensity than what they face each winter. And his kids compete, adapt and in the process get a few wins on their own behalf. In all it is a situation the coach feels is beneficial and teaches is team the commitment you need to excel.

FINISHING: Savino, who was on Fred Hill’s Rutgers staff, said he was close to accepting a similar position at FDU. He also noted former Rutgers aide Craig Carter went to Siena, Dennis Gregory, formerly of the Hoop Group was still unsettled and Jim Carr was retained by new Rutgers mentor Mike Rice.

Nick Mariniello is beginning his second year at Hudson. Mariniello had a great run at Bloomfield Tech, took a year off and then came on board last season at Hudson. I spoke with Mariniello during a grade school tournament at Hudson back last November. He said taking a year off was partially due to his father’s ill health. That situation has improved and after a year on the sideline going to games and seeing some of his former Bloomfield Tech players in action, such as St. Peter’s Wesley Jenkins and Da’Sean Butler of West Virginia, the urge to get back on the sideline was too enticing to resist.

Mariniello’s assistant who ran the team is Steve Ricciardi, who did a great job at High Tech High School in nearby North Bergen. Unfortunately, or it should be tragically, High Tech and Jersey City’s County Prep had their entire athletic department and sports eliminated due to budget cuts. Once again, well-deserving and needy youth get the short end of the politician’s deals.

2010 Spring Recap

Another spring full of basketball has come to a close, and with it, a few things have happened. Some players have proven once again that they are among the best, while some showed they are well on their way to being good players. Unfortunately, some also didn’t play as well as expected or as well as they played before.

One interesting thing that is much like last year is the difference between rising seniors and underclassmen. A year ago, we noted that there appeared to be a relative wealth of talent in the younger classes compared to the class of 2010. Now, that appears to be the case relative to the class of 2011, aided by a variety of players who re-classified back a year and the best New Englander in the class of 2010 (Shabazz Napier) re-classifying back into 2010 and heading to Connecticut for next season.

As was the case last year, this is a look back at players in several different categories largely from around southern New England since that’s where most of the players I observed enough to have a feel for are from. There will be a little from outside of the region as well. Note that players’ class year is listed as the school year they just completed; after this, they will be listed with the class year they are entering in the fall.

Simply the Best

Andre Drummond (6’10″ So. PF-C, Middletown (CT) St. Thomas More) After a school season where he wasn’t the same player thanks in part to a September injury, he steadily improved during the spring to where he looked more and more like the player he was last summer. While he’s not quite at that level, he’s back to looking like one of the best players in the class of 2012 and was a big reason Connecticut Basketball Club had a great spring.

Ricardo Ledo (6’6″ So. SG-SF, Providence (RI) St. Andrew’s School) He wasn’t as good as last spring, but Ledo was again one of the best during these months as he shot the ball well from deep and is starting to harness some of the potential he showed a year ago. He’ll attend South Kent next year, which will be important because he’ll have to be a better teammate than he has been thus far.

Nerlens Noel (6’9″ So. C, Everett (MA) High) Although he basically played on one leg all spring, this long big man was dominant often and also showed nice improvement offensively. Whereas he would knock down the occasional mid-range jumper a year ago, he’s now more aggressive and has shown some signs of post scoring ability. Just imagine what he’ll do when he’s fully healthy. Next year, he will attend the Tilton School and repeat his sophomore year.

Naadir Tharpe (6’0″ Jr. PG, Worcester (MA) Brewster Academy) His play this spring was basically a continuation of what he showed during the school season. It was already clear that he could run a team, but he continued to show improvement as a scoring threat, so he’s harder to guard because defenses can’t back off him like they’re playing four on five. He backed off a commitment to Providence and has no shortage of potential suitors as July beckons.

You Know What You’re Getting

Anthony Barry (6’2″ Jr. SG-SF, Milford (MA) High) Effort is never a question with this athletic wing, and he’ll also defend every possession. The only knock is his lack of skills, although he has shown some improvement but still has a ways to go. He will repeat his junior year next year at the Brooks School, and that should only help.

Phil Gaetano (5’11″ Sr. PG, Wallingford (CT) Sheehan HS) With him, you’re getting an unselfish point guard who makes others better. He may not be very physically gifted, but there’s something to be said for how he makes everything easier for his team. A post-graduate year at Choate Rosemary Hall is in the future for this excellent student.

Derrick Gordon (6’4″ Jr. SG, Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick’s HS) Simply put, Gordon does things that win games, and it was evident as his team won a couple of tournaments this spring. He was the MVP in the 17-Under at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, and the thing about his game is that he simply finds a way to score as he’s not a great shooter, not a great athlete or an overpowering physical specimen. He simply knows how to play and win.

Imoh Silas (6’8″ Jr. PF, Plymouth (NH) Holderness Academy) Progress has come at the offensive end, although he’s still a little mechanical with the ball inside. But Silas still has a good motor and has really become a defensive enforcer inside, and that alone will get him interest at the mid-major level and perhaps a little beyond.

Good Improvement

Tavon Allen (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (CT) Hillhouse HS) There weren’t many who had a better spring in New England than this lanky wing, who will do a post-graduate year at Worcester Academy next year. He’s ambidextrous, often shooting jumpers with his left hand and runners off the dribble with his right, and he made those shots quite consistently this spring. With that, he’s coming out from under the radar and a borderline Atlantic 10/Big East prospect.

Dominique Bull (6’3″ So. SG, Worcester (MA) Cushing Academy) He’s been on the radar for so long now, it can be easy to not have a sense of his progress. This spring, he got his body in better shape and looked more athletic, and he got noticeably better at all of the non-scoring aspects of his game.

Kareem Canty (6’0″ Jr. PG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) One of the big reasons the Long Island Lightning had the kind of spring they did was his emergence. He led them to the Hall of Fame title in May in Springfield, then had a large hand in their championship at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, out-playing the more highly-touted Shane Larkin in an early playoff game.

Dennis Clifford (6’11″ Jr. C, Bridgewater (MA) Milton Academy) In the last year, this big man has come a long way. He always had some skills, although a back-to-the-basket game was a little lacking, and the biggest thing was that nature had to take its course physically. Now a stronger post player, he’s more aggressive and looks like a different player. He’s also still on a good upswing as the summer nears.

Kaleb Tarczewski (6’11″ So. C, Claremont (NH) St. Mark’s School) There was a lot to like about him beforehand, and he’s a very similar player. The post scoring ability and the physical play are still very much there, but the big difference is he’s more polished, especially defensively. A year ago, he got in his share of foul trouble, but he’s largely avoided that this spring.

Vince Van Nes (6’11″ Jr. C, Dorset (England) Northfield Mount Hermon) Back in the fall, it wasn’t clear he would be much of a factor on his deep school team. This spring, he’s become very much a factor, showing the skills he has and also becoming more physical and thus a factor defensively as well as offensively. That will make him one to keep an eye on this summer.

The Jury is Out

Zach Auguste (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Marlboro (MA) High) He had his growth spurt, and showed signs of progress all along. While he dominated at times with his school team this year, at other times he got into foul trouble. At the moment he seems a bit in between positions, although the potential is there. This summer will give some indication of whether or not he’ll fulfill the potential one would expect of someone who had a sudden growth spurt. In the fall, he will be at New Hampton Prep, repeating his junior year.

Lutheurson Bonheur (6’0″ Jr. PG, Dorchester (MA) Boston Trinity Academy) There’s always been a lot to like about him, especially his toughness and ability to handle a press. He’s even shown some pretty good athleticism. But his jumper hasn’t improved, limiting his scoring ability, and as such he has plateaued a bit.

Akosa Maduegbunam (6’3″ So. SG, Charlestown (MA) High) There’s no question the potential is there, and he’s shown it at times with a couple of big scoring games. He can shoot, which will grab the interest of college coaches. But the consistency has been severely lacking, which isn’t entirely surprising but can be a bit maddening when knowing what he is capable of.

Quietly Solid

Pat Connaughton (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Arlington (MA) St. John’s Prep) He doesn’t get a lot of publicity, but he can flat-out play the game and is capable of filling a stat sheet. Although he can put up a lot of points, he’s far from selfish and has shown he can win games.

Shaquille Jones (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Providence (RI) Hope HS) In some respects, he’s the quintessential BABC player right now in that he plays very well within the team concept and by himself might not stand out at first. He’s an above-average athlete, isn’t spectacular and doesn’t have one thing he does that he hangs his hat on, but he does a lot of things well and shines on his team.

Georges Niang (6’7″ So. PF, Methuen (MA) Tilton School) The reason he has emerged is simple: he knows what he is. He finds the ball at both ends and puts up good scoring and rebounding numbers as a result. Add in an improved touch from mid-range when he gets shots, and he’s looking like a better prospect, especially if he can continue to improve his conditioning.

Jules Tavares (6’2″ Jr. SG, Wareham (MA) High) This spring, he emerged as one of the better defenders in the region, as he often guarded the opponent’s best perimeter player and had his share of success. His offense is still improving as well and he’s the same unselfish player he was, and he’ll try to continue the improvement next year at Wilbraham & Monson.

Leaving Something to be Desired

Michael Carter-Williams (6’3″ Jr. SG, Hamilton (MA) St. Andrew’s School) While he has improved his in-between game and handles the ball better, it appears that he’s done that at the expense of his shooting, which was what first got him noticed. Lately, he hasn’t shot the ball as well as he once did, although he’s had a few good games. If he can regain a consistent touch to go with his other improvements, he’ll look like a nice get for Syracuse, where he committed.

Trey Jones (5’9″ Jr. PG, Mattapan (MA) Reading Memorial HS) This spring was to be his chance to break out from under the radar, playing with a new team. Unfortunately, it didn’t go quite so well, as he wasn’t the pass-first point guard he needs to be, forced up shots and has a shot release that at his size will lead to jumpers getting swatted by good defenders.

Chris Sherwood (6’3″ Jr. SG-SF, Sharon (MA) Brimmer & May School) A year ago, he had a big spring and came a long way. That, and the fact that he’s a great kid, makes it tough to put him here. But this time around, it wasn’t nearly as good, as he had his moments but didn’t have same kind of progress.

Future Stars

Kuran Iverson (6’8″ Fr. SF-PF, Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) When he figures out the game, he’s going to be a special player. The tools are already there for it to happen: athleticism, scoring off the dribble, long range shooting, and he can own the boards when he wants to. Right now, though, he doesn’t know the game yet, so he tends to settle for jumpers too often, but once he figures that out he’ll be tough to stop.

Kaleb Joseph (6’1″ Fr. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS) Still a baby physically, he’s almost too unselfish at times, especially when he’s making shots like he was at a recent tournament. His passing ability along with his physical gifts make him a solid prospect, but if he develops a consistent jump shot – and he’s a very coachable kid so there’s reason to believe he will – he’ll be very tough to guard.

Jeremy Miller (6’8″ Fr. C, Milton (MA) High) The young big man has a lot of length he will bring to Milton High in the fall, and right now he can use it to block shots and clean up the glass. The biggest thing he’ll need to do to harness the potential he’s shown is get the motor going consistently, as he doesn’t seem to have a great one but can dominate defensively when he wants to.

Ike Ngwudo (6’5″ Fr. SF-PF, Milton (MA) Academy) An intriguing prospect, right now he looks like a combo forward, but he could become much more. If he grows, he could play both spots, but he’s athletic and has some length, along with some decent ball skills, to make one think he could one day be a good small forward.