One team that won a pair of games early in Amherst was the BC Eagles, who have a couple of notable wing prospects.  Calvin Crawford (6’8″ Sr. SF, Montgomery (NY) Valley Central HS) appears to have the higher ceiling, and he looked better here than in limited viewing last month as he had transition finishes and stickbacks.  Teammate Travis Cook (6’4″ Jr. SF, Middletown (NY) High) is a baby physically with some length, which he used to poke the ball away a couple of times.  While slight, he’s athletic and is worth keeping an eye on.

Mass Rivals also won two early games, paced by the likes of Kyle Padmore (6’2″ So. SG, Milton (MA) High), Karlens Joas (6’3″ So. SF, Malden (MA) Catholic HS) and Rohan Shukla (6’3″ So. SG, West Roxbury (MA) Roxbury Latin School).  Padmore is an athletic guard whose body has a ways to go and has some ball skills.  He got by and around his man, got a stickback another time and also drew a loose ball foul with a good box-out another time.  Padmore will transfer to Beaver Country Day School next year and re-classify into the class of 2016.  Joas has a good frame and some length, and showed a hint of the potential he has if he can further develop his ball skills.  Shukla is a plus athlete who showed a touch shooting the ball from long range and made some good passes in transition.

Connecticut Basketball Club barely broke a sweat in their first game.  Big man Paschal Chukwu (7’0″ Jr. C, Westport (CT) Fairfield Prep) was solid in limited minutes, playing assertively inside.  His body is developing and he used his length to alter a number of shots, and he showed some good ability to post up inside.  Eric Rankin (6’3″ Jr. PG-SG, Stratford (CT) High) was also impressive, as he drove often and aggressively and has a ways to go physically.  He’s quick and handled the ball well, so he may be a late bloomer.

One other player worth noting was Ted Murphy (6’7″ Jr. PF, Greenwich (CT) Brunswick HS), who has a good frame and mature body.  He ran the floor and was a presence inside, and while he’s not going to score a lot of points or excite you with athleticism, he battled and is also an excellent student.

After a few games, it was time to head east to Mass Premier Courts for late games in the Massachusetts AAU Final Four.  It started with the 11^th grade semifinals, then the 10^th and 11^th grade championship games followed it.

The 10^th grade championship was business as usual in the outcome but not quite in how it happened.  BABC beat Metro Boston 62-44 for yet another state title, but the champs started out shaky as Metro Boston ran out to an 8-2 lead and BABC players didn’t look like they wanted to be out there.  They responded by scoring the next 12 points, led 33-24 at the half, and while they never fully broke the game open in the second half you never had the sense that under-manned Metro Boston had a comeback run in them.

The one BABC player who competed from start to finish was Terance Mann (6’5″ So. SF, Lowell (MA) Tilton School).  While others seemed tentative early on, Mann tried to make plays to get them untracked, forcing the action more than normal as he often lets the game come to him.  Very athletic and with a body that still has a ways to go, his skill set doesn’t have any one thing that stands out but a lot of things that he can do.

Bobby Martin Jr. (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Waltham (MA) Noble & Greenough School) had his moments but left you feeling like he has better basketball in him.  Blessed with a good frame and skill set, he has all the tools but can be a little too laid back on the court to fully harness them.  There was one play where he backed his man down and scored easily under the basket, and you get the feeling he should have done that all night long – but he did not.

Tyree Robinson (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Fall River (MA) Notre Dame Prep) is a very demonstrative player after he makes a play, and he led the team with 15 points and eight rebounds in the title game.  How his game translates to the next level right now is uncertain, as his size dictates he play shooting guard but his game is more like that of a small forward.

Bruce Brown (6’2″ So. SG, Boston (MA) Wakefield HS) didn’t play his best game, as he got to the basket but wasn’t the factor he can be and has been.  Next year, he will attend Vermont Academy and re-classify into the class of 2016.  Celio Araujo (5’10″ So. PG, Boston (MA) Genesis Academy) gave them solid, unspectacular leadership at the point guard spot.

Metro Boston isn’t without a couple of prospects to keep an eye on.  Jason Jones (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Dorchester (MA) Brighton HS) is athletic and has a good frame along with a body that’s not ready yet.  James Foye (6’1″ Fr. SG, Hamilton (MA) Hamilton-Wenham HS) has a long way to go physically but can shoot from long range.  Next year he will continue to develop at Phillips Exeter Academy.  Hilal Dahleh (6’1″ So. SG, Cambridge (MA) Belmont Hill School) also showed some promise along the way.

Next up was the 11^th grade final, another that saw one team start fast as Middlesex Magic scored the game’s first 10 points and led 16-2 before the Boston Warriors ever got untracked, and they still led 37-21 at the half.  But the Warriors came right back in the second, gradually whittling down the lead before tying it at 57 and later taking the lead with just over two minutes to go.  Middlesex Magic made the plays late to hold on for a 66-65 win, their second dramatic win of the evening.

Middlesex Magic has an array of guards to go with a couple of forwards who have the most upside.  Isaiah Robinson (6’4″ Jr. SF, Salisbury (CT) School) is a plus athlete who used his relatively mature body to finish, and while he showed some shooting ability he has some work to do with the skill set as he doesn’t have great ball skills or the best game off the bounce.  Obianuli Obiora (6’8″ Jr. PF, Hyde Park (MA) Brookline HS) is their best prospect, as he has a good frame but needs to get stronger.  A plus athlete, he’s quick off his feet, active on the glass, bouncy inside when he takes contact and showed a hint of post moves to score.  He also went up too strong a couple of times, something he can improve upon with more experience.

Not to be outdone, the Warriors have a few prospects to watch of their own.  Asante Sandiford (Jr. SG-SF, Boston (MA) City On a Hill School) is very athletic and was in a lot of plays at both ends.  Shaquan Murray (6’1″ Jr. SG, Boston (MA) New Mission School) is similar to Sandiford and can score on drives.  Christian Morneweck (Jr. SF-PF, Burlington (MA) High) has a good frame and plays well off his more athletic teammates, though not lacking in athleticism himself.  He was able to use his left (off) hand to finish, drove through contact and finished another time and has range out to the three-point line on his jumper.

Middlesex Magic’s win in the title game is, among other things, a story in overcoming adversity.  This group isn’t as talented and doesn’t have the chemistry that last year’s team had right away. As mentioned earlier, they also lost the lead after jumping out to a big edge.  In addition, at one point in the final Mike Crotty, Jr. chewed out promising shooter Alex Hilger (6’2″ Jr. SG, Natick (MA) High) after Hilger’s response to something.  But rather than go in the tank, Hilger showed a great deal of mental toughness as he responded late in the game when it mattered most, as he was in just about every big play they made.

Middlesex Magic had not won a state championship before last year.  Now Crotty’s program has won the last two in this age group, first with perhaps the best team he has put together last year and now with one that had a little more work to do at the beginning of the spring than last year’s group.  The end result is the same, and along with the high quality of the young men in the program, it is also proof that he is carrying on what his late father started with even more success.

It’s fair to say that a terrific crop of underclassmen competed in the event, including some who are more “potential” players right now, so there’s reason to like what’s in the future.

Sacar Amin (6’4″ So. SF, Brooklyn Park (MN) Delasalle HS) A fine complementary player on a team with a few good upperclassmen, he’s athletic and his body shows some physical maturity. He showed some quickness with a couple of drives and looks like more of a “potential” player right now.

Jalen Brunson (6’2″ So. PG, Lincolnshire (IL) Stevenson HS) Lefty floor leader was a big part of his team pulling out an overtime win, and not just because he came up big late in the game. He took a charge, drove and finished, hit from long range and later got a big rebound of his own miss. He has a good body and was just what you need from a floor leader in a tight game.

Michael Buckland (6’4″ Fr. SF, High Point (NC) Weslyan HS) He has the look of a nice open-floor player, as he was in the passing lane often for steals and got baskets in transition. He has a good frame and got near the basket for stickbacks as well, and as the skills catch up to his body he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.

Noah Dickerson (6’8″ So. PF, Atlanta (GA) North Atlanta HS) While many frontcourt underclassmen who are highly-regarded tend to play above the rim, this bulky post player is a decidedly below-the-rim assassin. He has a good frame but isn’t carrying all good weight, will back down more athletic players, and he’s deceptively quick moving inside and has a good free throw stroke.

Chris Egi (6’9″ So. PF, Markham (Ont.) St. Andrew’s HS) A very active forward, he was relentless in a big game with 23 points on 9-11 shooting and nine rebounds as his team won convincingly. While he has a relatively mature body, there’s still some upside, and he battled inside to get rebounds, especially on the offensive end. The lefty is athletic for the power forward spot and drew several fouls.

Jesse Govan (6’10″ So. PF-C, Queens (NY) St. Mary’s HS) Lefty big man has a good frame and really took over for a stretch in the second half of a tough loss for his team. Besides his post scoring that he showed, he hit from about the foul line and was able to go right back up after getting a loose ball, showing he’s quick off his feet. There’s a lot to like about his potential given the offensive abilities he shows right now.

Skal Labissiere (6’11″ So. PF-C, Memphis (TN) Evangelical Christian School) There might not be an underclassman with as much potential as this big man. He’s long and has a slight frame, and his body has a ways to go, but there’s a lot to like from a skill standpoint. He used his length well on the glass, kept the ball up high to take advantage of his length, used the left (off) hand to finish, showed a nice touch shooting the ball up to about 10 feet, and as he gets stronger he should be even more effective scoring on the post.

Dedric Lawson (6’8″ Fr. SF, Memphis (TN) Hamilton HS) Few players at this event ooze potential like he does. He’s long and his body has a ways to go, especially since he looks like he might have had a recent growth spurt as he’s not very athletic but has some guard skills at his size. He showed some ball skills and made a couple of nice passes to go with hitting from long range. If his body catches up and he improves the athleticism, we’re talking about a big-time prospect down the road.

Keelon Lawson, Jr. (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Hamilton HS) A lanky forward whose body has a little to go, he’s athletic and showed a good motor, finding several ways to score and being a constant factor for his team. Whether it was a jump hook, a mid-range jumper off the bounce, a short jumper or a layup while getting fouled, he was able to score, and he also got his share of rebounds as well.

Matt McQuaid (6’5″ So. SG, Duncanville (TX) High) A solid wing player, he’s a plus athlete who plays bigger and can shoot. He rebounded well for the wing in an early game, showed range out to the three-point line on his jumper and played off his team’s two inside stars very well.

Dillon Mitchell (5’9″ Fr. PG, Memphis (TN) White Station HS) A baby-faced point guard, his body has a ways to go and he did a lot to help his team to a playoff win with 15 points, including three three-pointers. He also finished the break and ran the show.

Luis Montero (6’8″ So. SF, New York (NY) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) An athletic wing with a body that has a long way to go, he could be a point forward down the road with his ball skills. He can handle the ball and showed nice passing ability, including a nice lob over a defender, is very good in transition and can be effective with his jumper not falling. Like a lot of talented young players, defense doesn’t appear to be his forte, and included was a bad reach-in foul late in the game.

Malik Newman (6’4″ So. SG, Jackson (MS) Callaway HS) An athletic guard with a good frame, he showed good potential, especially if he learns the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. His body isn’t there yet, but he drove at times and hit some tough shots en route to 25 points on 8-18 shooting in one game. He forced some tough shots but also hit some, including a tough runner with 2.4 seconds left to win the game for his team.

Jalen Sanders (6’0″ Fr. PG, Salisbury (NC) North Rowan HS) Scoring guard had a big second half, scoring 15 of his 21 points, in one game over the weekend. He has a good frame and some physical maturity, while showing that he could score and shoot from long range. At his size, some playmaking will help.

Isaiah Stokes (6’7″ Fr. PF, Memphis (TN) Central HS) Right now, he overpowers less mature players inside with his body, though he’s not carrying all good weight. He has a good frame and uses the body well, and he finished close to the basket en route to 14 points in a playoff win for his team.

Elijah Thomas (6’9″ So. PF, Dallas (TX) Prime Prep Academy) In a blowout win for his team early on, he was hitting turnaround jump hooks all night long as the lefty used his body well to dominate inside. He battled, ran the floor and has a college-ready body already.

Allonzo Trier (6’3″ So. SG, Tulsa (OK) Noah HS) One of a few underclassmen on his team to keep an eye on, he was active and found a few ways to score in a blowout loss. He has a good frame, so as he matures he should finish even better and be a more effective driver, both of which he showed the ability to do here, and he has some range on the jumper.

Khalea Turner (6’9″ Fr. PF, Marrero (LA) John Curtis HS) A post player with a good frame and a relatively mature body for his age, he’s an intriguing prospect because of the skills he showed hints of. He ran the floor well and showed good ball skills for his size and age in a reserve role for his stacked team, and on one play got a nice stickback while getting fouled.

Other players who caught our attention:

Tyrell Adams (5’11″ Fr. PG, Roanoke (VA) William Fleming HS)
Braxton Beverly (5’10″ Fr. PG, Rucco (KY) Perry Central HS)
Bennie Boatright (6’6″ So. SF, Mission Hills (CA) Bishop Alemany HS)
Terrance Ferguson (6’5″ Fr. SG-SF, Dallas (TX) Prime Prep Academy)
Jarvis Johnson (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Brooklyn Park (MN) Delasalle HS)
Darion King (6’6″ So. PF, Racine (WI) Case HS)
Chad Lott (6’3″ So. SG, Shreveport (LA) Byrd HS)
Thon Maker (7’0″ Fr. C, Martinsville (VA) Carlisle HS)
Shake Milton (6’3″ So. SG, Owasso (OK) High)
Luis Santos (6’8″ Jr. PF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS)
Raymond Spalding (6’9″ Fr. SF-PF, Louisville (KY) Trinity HS)

In addition to EYBL, younger teams competed in a tournament format, many of them younger teams in the same programs with EYBL entries. The schedule allowed for a look at a couple of those teams, and some player notes from them are included here.

We will look back at some of the players who stood out on the weekend in two parts. This one looks at players from the class of 2014, while coming up later will be a look at players from the classes of 2015 and 2016.

Cliff Alexander (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Chicago (IL) Curie HS) Post player has a great college-ready body but was quiet for much an overtime win. Then after showing hints of his scoring post moves and shot-blocking, he came alive with two post moves for dunks late in overtime that won the game for his team. Big-time prospect.

Joel Berry (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Apopka (FL) Lake Highland Prep) The North Carolina commit has been on the radar for a while and remains a good shot-maker, especially from long range. He has a good frame and his body is developing, and he showed again here that he hasn’t lost his touch, including from long range.

Zach Brown (6’7″ Jr. SF, Spring (TX) South Kent School) Developing wing played a solid game to start the last day, getting some steals off double teams at the defensive end and being a factor in transition. His body is still developing, but he has some length and appears to have a better feel for the game. A little after the event, he committed to Wichita State and will be a solid addition to the Shockers.

Gary Clark (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Clayton (NC) High) Although he’s quite athletic, he didn’t always show it here, which can hide what he’s capable of. He ha a good frame and is relatively mature physically, and while he finished while getting fouled he looked a bit limited offensively.

Marvin Clark, Jr. (6’6″ Jr. SF, Kansas City (MO) Sunrise Christian Academy) Although he’s not very athletic, the lefty has a good frame and a mature body that he uses well. He showed the ability to rebound from the wing and hit from long range en route to 17 points and six rebounds in a losing effort.

Justin Coleman (5’10″ Jr. PG, Birmingham (AL) Wenonah HS) In a blowout win for his team, he ran the show very well and got his offense with 14 points and six assists. He has a good frame and showed the ability to hit from long range, and the offense generally ran very well when he was on the floor. His lack of size may scare some teams away, but his game won’t.

Jordan Cornish (6’5″ Jr. SF, Slidell (LA) Brother Martin HS) Well-built guard is athletic and showed some good offensive tools, although he also got out of control for a charge early in one game. He showed range out to the three-point line on his jumper, while spinning to finish a break on one player and later showing the ability to slice through the defense for a layup. He was a bright spot in a game his team lost convincingly.

Angel Delgado (6’8″ Jr. PF, Troy (NY) Redemption Christian Academy) An active presence, he has a good frame and did his work mainly playing off teammates inside, from running the floor to finish the break to sticking back his own miss, although he did show a good jump hook one time.

Trey Foster (5’11″ Jr. PG, Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte HS) He battled all game in a loss for his team, but his lack of size and athleticism hampered him often. A bit shot-happy for the point, he has some range on his shot but didn’t hit a high percentage of the ones he took. On the bright side, he used his body well and drew several fouls.

Jakeenan Gant (6’9″ Jr. PF, Springfield (GA) Effingham HS) Athletic forward is long and a bit rough around the edges, seemingly making his mark mostly by being in the right place. He had a couple of stickbacks, including one from a few feet away from the basket, and is more of a “potential” player at this point.

Leon Gilmore (6’7″ Jr. SF, Fresno (TX) Manvel HS) It’s easy for him to get overshadowed on his talented and deep team, but he has a good frame and is a baby physically so he’s one to watch from a potential standpoint. The lefty scored on a driving layup and from long range en route to 14 points and eight rebounds in a support role in an early game.

Michael Gilmore (6’9″ Jr. PF, Tallahassee (FL) Rickards HS) A long post player, he’s lanky and rough around the edges but seems to have some potential. He drove but missed a dunk on one play, but he made a mid-range shot off the dribble and has the physical upside to get better.

Ahmed Hill (6’5″ Jr. SF, Augusta (GA) Aquinas HS) Athletic wing had a few good moments in a blowout loss for his team, enough to make you want to see more. His body isn’t there yet, but he showed range out to the three-point line on his jumper and made one play that stood out – hanging and hitting a short jumper with a late release while getting fouled.

Justin Jackson (6’8″ Jr. SF, Tomball (TX) HCYA) He had a superb game early on, going for 21 points on 9-10 shooting largely in the second half. His body is maturing and isn’t done there, and the skill package that includes a drive and dish, a nice touch on a runner in the lane and range on the jump shot is terrific. Big-time prospect has committed to North Carolina.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5’9″ Jr. PG, Los Angeles (CA) Loyola HS) He’s short in stature, has a slight frame and and isn’t the quickest guard although he’s not lacking in that department. Yet he finds ways to be effective, as he drives often and finds a way to make something happen in the lane, and he also grabbed nine rebounds against a team with a good deal of size.

Torry Johnson (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Morgan Park HS) A long wing with a slight frame, he plays stronger than he looks, evidenced in part by how he finished while getting fouled a couple of times. He’s a baby physically, so there’s some upside here.

Tyus Jones (6’2″ Jr. PG, Apple Valley (MN) High) An elite floor leader, he has a great combination of being able to score and get teammates going, as he made several nice passes before he started scoring. He also dealt with being face-guarded at times, as he was able to get open to get the ball and make plays, and while not jet-quick he can get by his man to make something happen. Big-time prospect.

Nate Mason (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Decatur (GA) Shiloh HS) Though several on his team have big reputations, he was constantly in plays and showed good offensive skills. Relatively mature physically and with a slight frame, he was able to find a gap and finish, scored on a mid-range pull-up and from long range and showed that he can play the point.

Terry Maston (6’9″ Jr. PF, Desoto (TX) High) While his inside bookend gets a lot of attention, he’s pretty solid in his own right as he has a good frame and is a plus athlete. He finished well, including with contact and where he had to be more ball tough than his man, and also rebounded well in a blowout win for his team.

Shelton Mitchell (6’3″ Jr. SG, Waxhaw (NC) Cuthbertson HS) He helped push the pace for his team in an early game. Very left-handed, he scored on the move and showed decent ball handling ability for the shooting guard position.

Kelly Oubre (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Richmond (TX) Bush HS) A constant force for his team, the lefty was around the ball often between nine rebounds and five assists to go along with handling the ball quite a bit. The lefty has a good body and can do a lot of things, although he seems to turn his body a little to the right when releasing a jumper.

Keon Peoples (6’0″ Jr. PG, Memphis (TN) Ridgeway HS) An old man of sorts on a team with a lot of high-caliber young talent, he was a solid glue guy and has some potential of his own as he has above-average quickness and his body isn’t there yet. He finished well in traffic and showed some range on his jumper while running the show for his team.

Marial Shayak (6’7″ Jr. SF, Ottawa (Ont.) Blair Academy) Though overshadowed on his team, this athletic wing showed some decent ball skills and the ability to finish with his left (off) hand. He has a good body that can mature more, and was a factor in transition at times.

Edmond Sumner (6’4″ Jr. SG, Detroit (MI) Country Day School) He might not pass the “look” test at first, but watch him play and you come away liking what you see. He plays stronger than he looks, can hit jumpers enough to be respected although he doesn’t get much lift on his shot and was in a lot of plays. Athletically, he’s not lacking and he also finished in traffic a couple of times.

Iziahiah Sweeney (6’3″ Jr. SG, Compton (CA) High) A very athletic wing, he is mostly upside at this point as his skill package won’t wow you and he has a slight frame. He’s very quick end-to-end and can get to the hoop often, and he’s a good enough leaper to rise up over a defender to hit from mid-range.

Idris Taqqee (6’5″ Jr. SF, Stone Mountain (GA) Cushing Academy) On a team with a few big names, he did the best thing he could do in a blowout win: be the glue guy. He’s always been fundamentally sound, and here he scored in transition and was a solid complement to the top players, further demonstrating that he plays well within the team concept. Mid-major prospect.

Jared Terrell (6’3″ Jr. SG, Weymouth (MA) Brewster Academy) He played one of the most complete games he ever has in a blowout win for his team. There hasn’t been any doubts about the physical gifts – he’s well-built and very athletic – or the skill package, as he can be a little streaky but will hit jumpers and can handle reasonably well. But he has tended to play very well in spurts and disappear the rest of the game, and that didn’t happen here, where he was constantly attacking and looked every bit the high-major prospect that he’s built a reputation for.

Reid Travis (6’7″ Jr. PF, Minneapolis (MN) Delasalle HS) A solid complementary player on his team, he looked a little shot-happy away from the post but isn’t lacking skills for facing the basket. In fact, he showed a pretty high skill level, is a plus athlete with a good body, and finished while getting fouled and showed a little range away from the basket although that’s not his forte.

Tyler Ulis (5’8″ Jr. PG, Matteson (IL) Marian Catholic HS) Though small, he’s a solid player and fits right in with his teammates in how he plays. He can be an absolute pest on the ball defensively and one time got a steal and layup, finds ways to finish including while fouled and hit from mid-range off the dribble.

Marcus Wallace (5’8″ Jr. PG, Little Rock (AR) Pulaski Academy) If he were several inches taller, we might be talking about a solid high-major shooter here. As it is, he showed a touch from long range but projects as a point guard due to his lack of size, and since he has some speed with the ball it’s possible he could develop into that. However, his good shooting touch might be wasted playing on the ball.

Paul White (6’9″ Jr. PF, Chicago (IL) Whitney Young HS) If you know the game, you appreciate a player like him as he’s not going to leap out at you right away. Mostly a complementary player, he was constantly in plays and battled at both ends, getting rebounds and being a factor all over the offensive end with a fine skill package. Included in his offensive effort was a big jumper to tie the game late, and he also got to the foul line several times.

Mike Williams (6’1″ Jr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS) Simply put, he’s wired to score and showed it here, including in the clutch when he hit a big off-balance three-pointer. That’s not quite his forte, as he’s more of a scorer than a shooter as he gets to the hoop often and knows how to finish.

Isaiah Wilkins (6’7″ Jr. SF, Norcross (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian HS) He won’t leap out at you skill-wise right now, but there’s a good deal of upside as he’s athletic and his body has a ways to go. In a blowout win for his team, he was around the ball often and finished when he got chances close to the basket.

Kevin Zabo (6’2″ Jr. PG-SG, Gatineau (Que.) Brewster Academy) If one game that his team cruised to victory in is any indication, he’s now on his way to fulfilling the potential he’s long been tagged with. His body is developing and he remains a pass-first guard, but he drove very effectively and finished well all night to the point where you might have thought he scored more than the 11 points he had. He got to the basket in a few different ways, and he’s also a high-character young man as well.

Other players who stood out or caught our attention:

Ike Agusi (5’11″ Jr. PG, Dallas (TX) WT White HS)
Mamadou Amare (7’0″ So. C, Tulsa (OK) SOYA Academy)
Eugene Artison (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Seattle (WA) Franklin HS)
Nathan Bain, Jr. (6’6″ Jr. SF, Wichita (KS) Sunrise Christian Academy)
Kahari Beaufort (6’3″ Jr. SG, East Hartford (CT) High)
Tyrell Bellot-Green (6’7″ Jr. Sf, Mississauga (Ont.) St. Benedict’s)
Devin Booker (6’5″ Jr. SG, Moss Point (AL) High)
Mikal Bridges (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Malvern (PA) Great Valley HS)
Cane Broome (6’2″ Jr. PG-SG, East Hartford (CT) St. Thomas More)
Khadeen Carrington (6’3″ Jr. SG, Brooklyn (NY) Bishop Loughlin HS)
Eric Carter (6’9″ Jr. PF, Jackson (NJ) Memorial HS)
Zylan Cheatham (6’7″ Jr. PF, Phoenix (AZ) Westwind Prep)
Phil Cofer (6’8″ Jr. PF, Fayetteville (GA) Whitewater HS)
Larry Dennis (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Wichita (KS) Life Christian School)
Malcolm Duvivier (6’2″ Jr. SG, Toronto (Ont.) St. Michael’s HS)
Dwayne Foreman (6’8″ Jr. SF, Woodstock (VA) Massanutten Military Academy)
Elijah Foster (6’7″ Jr. PF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS)
Nana Foulland (6’10″ Jr. C, Reading (PA) Berks Central Catholic)
Jeffery Garrett, Jr. (6’6″ Jr. SF, Gadsden (AL) City HS)
Rokas Gustys (6’9″ Jr. PF, Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy)
Austin Harris (6’4″ Jr. SG, Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte HS)
Aaron Holiday (6’2″ Jr. SG, Calabasas (CA) Campbell Hall HS)
Tadric Jackson (6’2″ Jr. SG, Ashburn (GA) Tift County HS)
Marcus Johnson (5’11″ Jr. SG, Charlotte (NC) Evelyn Mack HS)
Robert Johnson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Richmond (VA) Benedictine HS)
Chris Kendrix (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Springfield (MO) Willard HS)
Khadeem Lattin (6’9″ Jr. PF, Houston (TX) Redemption Christian)
Kendrick Lee (5’9″ Jr. PG, Clarksville (AR) High)
Markell Lodge (6’8″ Jr. PF, Raleigh (NC) Christian Faith HS)
Rob Marberry (6’7″ Jr. PF, Nashville (TN) Franklin Road Academy)
Josh Martin (6’8″ Jr. PF, Bothell (WA) High)
Devin Mitchell (6’3″ Jr. SG, Lawrenceville (GA) Collins Hill HS)
Emmanuel Mudiay (6’5″ Jr. SG, Dallas (TX) Prime Prep Academy)
Lourawls Nairn, Jr. (5’10″ Jr. PG, Wichita (KS) Sunrise Christian Academy)
JaQuan Newton (6’3″ Sr. SG, Philadelphia (PA) St. John Neumann-Goretti)
Steven Parker (6’2″ Jr. SG, Tulsa (OK) Jenks HS)
Julian Richardson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Woodland Hills (CA) El Camino HS)
Davell Ruby (6’4″ Jr. SG, Memphis (TN) White Station HS)
D’Angelo Russell (6’4″ Jr. SG, Louisville (KY) Montverde Academy)
Ramses Sandifer (6’9″ Jr. PF, Accola (MS) Greenville HS)
Dahron Scott (6’8″ Jr. PF, Grand Rapids (MI) Christian School)
Ed Simpson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Ocean Springs (MS) St. Martin HS)
Donte Thomas (6’6″ Jr. SF, Calumet City (IL) Thornwood HS)
Jeff Thomas (6’5″ Jr. SF, Norwalk (OH) High)
Tony Toplyn (6’7″ Jr. SF, Sicklerville (NJ) St. John Neumann-Goretti)
Rashad Vaughn (6’6″ Jr. SF, Golden Valley (MN) Cooper HS)
Tyler Wideman (6’8″ Jr. PF, St. John (IN) Lake Central HS)
Marquel Willis (6’5″ Jr. SF, Orlando (FL) Oakridge HS)
Justise Winslow (6’6″ Jr. PG-SG, Houston (TX) St. John’s HS)

Because of NCAA rules regarding the number of games a team may play in a sanctioned event, there was no true champion in the 17-under age group. The two teams left standing in the Platinum bracket were Connecticut Basketball Club and the New Jersey Pirates. A few teams bounced back from an early loss to play to the end in consolation brackets, such as another CBC team, Maine Athletic Club, NYC Jaguars, Rhode Island Hawks and Riverside Hawks.

Here’s a look at some players who stood out on Sunday.

Isaiah Bess (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Lagrange (ME) Penquis Valley HS) This athletic wing impressed last July and looks to be continuing, as he still has plenty of upside and seems to be only scratching the surface of what he can become. He has a good frame and fought for the ball inside at times, while offensively showing a touch from long range although he was a bit streaky on the day.

Paschal Chukwu (7’0″ Jr. C, Westport (CT) Fairfield Prep) The big man’s body is maturing and so is his game, although there are some areas for concern. At times you get the sense that the game could move too fast for him at the next level, but he’s a solid shot-blocker inside and the offense is showing little signs of progress in addition to running the floor for the occasional dunk.

Dustin Cole (5’10″ Jr. PG, Standish (ME) Bonny Eagle HS) A small point guard with a slight frame, he makes his mark as much with his long range shooting as anything, although he battles and plays well within the pace his team tries to play. He went for 23 points in a late game on Sunday, and later had a nice shot from the top of the key with a man right on him.

Calvin Crawford (6’8″ Sr. SF, Montgomery (NY) Valley Central HS) A year ago, he was a very intriguing prospect at this event given his length and offensive skills. The length and good frame are both still there, but the skill package doesn’t appear to have changed much. Since he played in 16-under last year, he’s a young senior, so one could imagine prep school being in his future.

Gerrel Irvin (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Bay Shore (NY) High) A team still looking for a forward to add for next season might want to give him a look based on his play in a late game. Looking like more of a power forward, he has a good body and is a plus athlete for the position and played a solid all-around game, scoring 11 points and showing a touch from mid-range.

Kealen Ives (5’9″ Jr. PG, Providence (RI) Classical HS) A baby physically, he ran the point for his team but partly made his mark with his three-point shooting. He hit several from long range to key a victory for his team late on Sunday while getting others going as the floor general.

Grant Mackay (6’7″ Sr. PF, Princeton (NJ) Hun School) Fundamentally sound, he impressed with his skill set and feel for the game. His body can still mature more and he has a good frame, and offensively he’s not lacking athleticism and a couple of times did a nice job of facing the basket and making passes to backdoor cutters for layups.

Michael McDevitt (6’8″ Jr. PF-C, Cumberland (ME) Greely HS) A post player with a good frame and a body that can still mature, he didn’t get a lot of good offensive chances, so he’s something of an unknown at that end of the floor. He was a presence for his team inside and helped them make a run in a consolation bracket.

Ian Sistare (6’3″ Fr. SG, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon) Still a baby physically, his shooting will get him attention as it’s the main thing he does and he does it well. Here he did so a few times from the corner in helping his team make a run on Sunday.

Jack Simonds (6’3″ So. SG, Falmouth (ME) High) A lefty wing with a good frame, he’s been on the radar for a while now and appears to be getting into form as primarily a shooter. He scored all nine of his points in one game on three-pointers off the catch, but he’s also shown he can do a little more.

Eric Stafford (6’5″ Jr. SF, Pitman (NJ) High) A nice wing prospect, he has a thin upper body and clearly needs to gain strength. If he does that, he has a chance given what appears to be a good skill package, although he also forced up a couple of bad shots on the day.

Dominique Uhl (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Lavalette (NJ) Point Pleasant Beach HS) One of the more intriguing prospects here, he has a good frame and a thin upper body right now but good size for some of the skills he showed. He showed some ball skills and a little touch from long range, and might be a combo forward down the road.

A trip to Connecticut was on tap for Sunday, so here’s a look at some players who stood out during pool play on Saturday in New Jersey, as well as a few worth checking out again later.

Levan Alston (6’3″ So. SG, Philadelphia (PA) Haverford School) This long and athletic guard wasn’t a big factor in his team’s first game of the day, but was very good in the second. He has a slight frame and his body has a ways to go, and with the success he had in his team’s press you can imagine him fitting in well on a fast-paced team. While he showed the ability to finish with contact, he really came alive with his shooting touch in the second game en route to 17 points.

Tyus Battle (6’5″ Fr. SF, Edison (NJ) Gill St. Bernard HS) There has been some buzz about this young man, and understandably so. The verdict from a couple of games here is that there’s certainly talent and potential, but plenty of room to improve. Very athletic and with a good frame, his body has a ways to go and so does his feel for the game, which doesn’t always develop so fast anyway. He has some good ball skills and range out to the three-point line on his jumper, the latter evident on a long jumper he swished off-balance. At times the decisions he made with the ball left something to be desired, but at this stage of the game that’s not a deal-breaker. There is a lot of potential here.

Christopher Clarke (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Virginia Beach (VA) Cape Henry Collegiate HS) There might not have been a better player seen on Saturday, largely because he has a motor that never stops running. He’s long and has a slight frame, but never stops competing and was very active, seemingly in most plays. He has quick reactions and good ball skills, and was dangerous in transition as he did a lot of scoring (14 and 20 points in his two games) there. Jump shooting isn’t his game, and the lack of jumpers could be good (he knows that’s not his forte) and bad (he may not be very good at it right now).

Nick Garth (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Houston (TX) Cy Lakes HS) In his team’s first game, he shined with his good shooting touch as he went for 21 points with four three-pointers. But he also showed some limitations, as he tried to play a little too fast at times and didn’t show quite as good a game off the bounce. On the plus side, he was around the ball often, so he does more than shoot and there’s reason to believe he’ll improve off the bounce offensively.

Temple Gibbs (6’2″ Fr. PG, Scotch Plains (NJ) Seton Hall Prep) The younger brother of Ashton and Sterling, he’s in the same mold as his brothers and many other Seton Hall Prep players. Namely, he isn’t going to wow you with anything, but he is very cerebral and his intangibles are off the charts. He has a good frame and is very good with the ball, took a charge on defense, scored on some drives including while fouled, and from every angle looks like a winner. His 21 points led his team to a victory over an older team on Saturday.

Juwan Gooding (6’0″ So. PG, Milton (MA) New Mission School) For a while, he showed some really good progress, as he was running the show very well and looking more and more like a floor leader as he found teammates often on his drives. But later, he reverted to his old form of forcing up shots when facing defenders on drives, and his body language left something to be desired. He scored 21 points, hitting from long range and on one play showing a nice hesitation, and got into the lane often, so there’s plenty to like, but also some areas of concern.

Malik Gray (6’7″ So. SF, Newport News (VA) Caoe Henry Collegiate HS) A nice complement to Clarke on the Boo Williams team, he has a good frame and body that he used well. Not the most athletic wing, he scored in double digits in both of his team’s pool games, mostly on drives as he finished well when he got near the basket.

Lamarr Kimble (6’0″ So. PG, Philadelphia (PA) St. John Neumann-Goretti) At first glance, he doesn’t pass the “look” test for a point guard, but he was very effective all day. More athletic than he looks, he has a good frame and mature body and was very good at eluding contact in addition to protecting the ball well and being able to score. While he was most effective scoring in close, including one play where he put it up high off the glass over a big man, he also showed a touch shooting the ball, including three three-pointers en route to 24 points in his team’s second game of the day.

DeAndre Noble (6’2″ Sr. SG, Newark (NJ) Peddie School) Any team looking to add a player late for next season could do worse than adding this well-built guard. The lefty has a mature body and went for 31 points in one game on Saturday to help his team win convincingly.

Mohammed Touray (6’3″ So. SG, Bronx (NY) Wings Academy) A baby physically, he looks to be a gunner but one who could be pretty good if he improves shot selection. At first, he put up several shots from the corner, not hitting at all, but then he got going and even hit a nice runner in a 21-point outing.

Other players who caught our attention:

Cary Angeline (6’7″ Fr. PF, Chester Springs (PA) Downington East HS)
Jermaine Bishop (6’1″ So. PG, South Ozone Park (NY) Holy Cross HS)
Thomas Bryant (6’9″ So. PF, Rochester (NY) Bishop Kearney HS)
Vaughn Covington (5’10″ Fr. PG, Sicklerville (NJ) St. John Neumann-Goretti)
Jordan Hunter (5’10″ So. PG, Beaumont (TX) Ozen HS)
Najja Hunter (6’5″ Fr. SF, Montclair (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Justin Jenifer (5’10″ So. PG, Gwyn Oak (MD) Millford Mills HS)
Vaughn Jenkins (6’3″ So. SG, Wilmington (DE) Kennent Square HS)
Freanziel Reyes (6’9″ So. C, Lawrence (MA) High)
William Robinson, Jr. (6’3″ So. SG, Baltimore (MD) Digital Harbor HS)
Scott Spencer (6’6″ So. SF, Suffolk (VA) Nansemond River HS)

The program held one of its college nights recently to allow a look at who will suit up for them. More will be coming in between their weekend tournament play.

Without question, the best player on the evening was Matt Prokop (6’4″ Jr. Weston (MA) PF, Rivers School). A fundamentally sound face-up power forward, Prokop has a mature body and good skill set that was on full display. He made a number of three-pointers, getting better as the night went on, and overpowered others inside, at times stealing the ball from someone under the hoop when he wasn’t out-muscling them for offensive boards and stickbacks. An excellent student, he also showed some leadership qualities.

Andrew Kaufmann (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Weston (MA) Rivers School) didn’t have his best night as he was a non-factor for a lot of the evening, but he’s a good prospect. His body is still maturing and he has the tools to be a good stretch power forward, and is also an excellent student.

Greg Breen (6’6″ Sr. PF, Andover (NH) Proctor Academy) will join them in the frontcourt. Breen isn’t very athletic but has a mature body and should play off Kaufmann and/or Prokop.

On the perimeter, the biggest name is Taris Wilson (6’3″ Jr. SG, Charlestown (MA) High), who had an off night as he basically sleepwalked through a lot of the evening. Wilson is well-built and athletic, and he’s shown good potential at times in his career at the offensive end, so this night is a bit of an aberration.

The “potential” player in the program is David Labossiere (6’1″ Jr. SG, Stoneham (MA) High), who is a classic example of an athlete who doesn’t know the game. He needs to gain strength, which should come in time, but the physical upside is there once he learns the game. Next year, he will repeat his junior year at the Brimmer and May School, where he will get some good coaching.

Voshon Holmes (5’10″ Jr. PG-SG, Chelmsford (MA) High) had perhaps the most productive evening of any guard. While not the most athletic guard, he can drive to score, something he should get better at as his body matures since he has a good frame. He was best shooting the ball from long range on the evening, acquitting himself well in that category. As for the next level, he’s really a very undersized shooting guard, so continuing to shoot well while getting better at other aspects of the game will be crucial for him.

Nick Cross (6’2″ Sr. SF, Beverly (MA) High) had his moments on the evening, including a brief stretch where he took over that included a nice block from behind after a player got past him. His body isn’t there yet and he’s capable of operating well from the perimeter as a complementary player.

Khalil Newson (6’0″ Jr. SG, Dorchester (MA) High) will be in the mix as well, as he has some potential but also some work to put in. He has a good upper body but struggled to finish near the basket, though he did show a little range on his jumper. The only sophomore in the program is another Boston city guard, Stanley Davis (5’10″ So. PG, Boston (MA) English HS), a two-year starter for his school team. Davis is still recovering from a dislocated right ankle he suffered during the season and was limited all evening, but he’s improved nicely in the past year.

Jordan Brydie (6’4″ Jr. SG, Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s School) and Kyle Lentini (6’4″ Jr. SG, South Hamilton (MA) Pingree School) are also in the program but could not make it that evening. Brydie has shown good potential up to this point on the wing, and this is the time he needs to do it consistently. Lentini is a solid glue guy, as his best asset is that he plays well within the team concept and can get assists just as easily as he can score.

Team Boston Elite won’t have the busiest month of April with just two tournaments on the docket, but once May comes they will have an active schedule. They won’t have to go far, as they will be in the Hoop Mountain Invitational and Providence Jam Fest, and close out the spring with the Hoopville Spring Finale, with a trip north of the border mixed in as well for the Montreal United Invitational and the New York area for a tournament run by the Long Island Lightning. In July, their longest trip is to Reading, Pennsylvania for a Hoop Group event, sandwiched in between the Hall of Fame National Tournament and another Hoop Group tournament in New York.

No one currently in the program will likely make anyone forget Napier, or even Singleton, who recently played at Maine. They won’t make a big splash in the program’s return. But if they put in the work the coaching staff will demand, they might win some games they probably shouldn’t along the way since there is some talent on the perimeter as a starting point.

For the fifth season in a row, I covered over 100 games in 2012-13.  This time around, I passed the mark of 118 a year earlier, so it was a busy year to say the least.  In addition, I got to see a lot of teams along the way, even though there were plenty of repeats as would be expected.  There were also a lot of great games among them, so picking a top ten list was a little more challenging for a good reason.  Of the 120 games I covered, 11 went to overtime, with two going to double overtime.

To pull this off, there’s a little bit of good fortune that has to happen.  There’s winter weather, conflicting schedules influenced more and more by television and a host of other things that can be thrown out way.  There were a couple of examples of how well things worked out this year even amidst the curve balls that were thrown.

One is that before the calendar turned over to 2013, I had covered at least one game of all 21 Division I programs in New England.  By December 7, I had seen all except Dartmouth.  As such, I had a feel for every program in the region before long.  It was an interesting year to say the least – as a whole, the region was a little down, but there were plenty of good stories and reason to believe better times are ahead for many of them.  In addition, schedules worked out well enough that on two Saturdays, I covered three games.  Getting one day where that happens is rare, but two in the same season might never happen.

With all of that out of the way, here’s a look back the games I covered in the 2012-13 season, followed by the top ten games I covered.

November 9, 2012
(1) Northeastern 65, Boston University 64
As was the case last year, a dramatic finish between two cross-town rivals begins the season as Demetrius Pollard’s three-pointer from the top of the key with less than a second to go made him an unlikely hero.  Northeastern showed some good things amidst the concerning things, while a confident Boston University team needed to rebound from a tough loss.

November 10, 2012 (Connecticut 6 Classic)
(2) Quinnipiac 65, Hartford 61
Hartford did just about all they could to win this game, limiting Quinnipiac’s chances inside and holding their own on the glass for a while.  The young Hawks were sure to have some growing pains this season, while the Bobcats followed a formula for victory but had some concerns offensively.

(3) Sacred Heart 85, Yale 82 (OT)
A devastating loss for Yale as the Bulldogs had a 24-point lead in the second half and lost in overtime.  It made clear what Yale would have to do to succeed this season.

(4) Fairfield 64, Central Connecticut 63 (OT)
An overtime battle between two teams having to replace stars who graduated was won by Fairfield, who would go as far as their freshmen would take them.  Central Connecticut had a team full of players with new roles and acquitted themselves well in light of that and this being the season opener.

November 11, 2012
(5) Boston College 84, Florida International 70
The Eagles were still young but looked like a team that was primed to make a leap, especially sophomore Ryan Anderson as he had a huge game with 29 points and 17 rebounds.  Florida International left Boston with concerns about depth and rebounding but also a show of potential.

November 12, 2012
(6) Providence 81, Bryant 49
The Friars were short-handed but matched up well with Bryant, and thus were able to blitz the Bulldogs.  Bryant was heading into a part of the schedule that had some winnable games, so how they responded was going to be a barometer for their season.

November 14, 2012
(7) Holy Cross 57, Maine 54
The host Crusaders managed to hang on as Maine struggled to make shots, especially super sophomore Justin Edwards.  The Black Bears were optimistic that the early offensive struggles wouldn’t persist.

November 16, 2012 (Charleston Classic)
(8) Colorado 60, Baylor 58
A big win in the early going for the Buffaloes as they continue to grow as a program under Tad Boyle.  This was a quality win that also advanced them into the championship game.

(9) Dayton 87, Boston College 71
In the second half, Dayton showed great trust in one another and put on a clinic at the offensive end, while playing some good defense as well for a convincing win.  They bounced back from a loss a day earlier.

(10) Murray State 72, St. John’s 67
This matchup was a contrast of teams from an experience standpoint, as the Racers were an experienced bunch that had to overcome some adversity, while the Red Storm were a very young group.

(11) Auburn 55, College of Charleston 51
Auburn senior Frankie Sullivan played despite suffering a nasty gash in his shooting arm a day earlier and had 24 points on 9-18 shooting, showing no ill effects.  Meanwhile, College of Charleston showed that offense was an area of concern, especially without a key player in the lineup.

November 17, 2012 (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic)
(12) Notre Dame 78, Brigham Young 68
Big man Jack Cooley continued his hot start with another double-double to carry Notre Dame until their guards could get untracked later.

(13) Florida State 73, Saint Joseph’s 66
In taking home the championship, Florida State showed that they had a high ceiling, especially since head coach Leonard Hamilton felt his team wasn’t really in sync offensively.  Saint Joseph’s didn’t have enough late in the game, which was surprising for a veteran team.

November 18, 2012 (Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament)
(14) UMKC 63, Norfolk State 57
In a game with two teams needing to bounce back, UMKC rebounded just enough to pull out a win over a Norfolk State team that looked to have a lot of potential but had to deal with newness and some early injuries.

(15) Loyola (Md.) 67, Albany 64
This game had an unexpectedly dramatic ending, as Loyola dominated early, then lost the lead in the final seconds before getting a three-point play with 1.5 seconds left to knock off an Albany team that was surely happy to go home after a brutal opening stretch.

(16) Ohio State 77, Washington 66
Ohio State won the National bracket championship with this win behind 31 points from Deshaun Thomas.  Washington played well but didn’t run the offense quite well enough and only forced seven turnovers.

(17) Seton Hall 60, Rhode Island 55
Rhode Island led for a lot of the evening, but Seton Hall was better down the stretch to knock off the Rams for third place.

November 21, 2012
(18) Boston College 50, Auburn 49
After going 0-3 in the Charleston Classic, the Eagles came home to get a much-needed win over another team that competed in the event.  In fact, head coach Steve Donahue joked that this was the fourth game of the event.

November 23, 2012 (NIT Season Tip-Off)
(19) Pittsburgh 85, Delaware 59
This blowout, following the tough loss in the semifinals, was tough for the Blue Hens.  They left New York thankful for the opportunity it provided and with some concerns.

(20) Michigan 71, Kansas State 57
Michigan completed a dominating run in this tournament, while Kansas State showed that the practice time they had coming up was just what the doctor ordered after they had a tough time in their biggest test of the young season.

November 24, 2012
(21) Holy Cross 60, New Hampshire 50
This was similar to some earlier games for New Hampshire, as the Wildcats were trying to make it through a challenging stretch to start the season and keep the confidence up in the meantime.

November 25, 2012
(22) Bryant 56, Boston College 54
After having to persevere through so many things that went against them, Bryant finally had something work out with some late plays in this big victory for the program.

November 27, 2012
(23) Vermont 85, Harvard 78
Vermont rode a big first half offensively to this victory, continuing their recent road success that might puzzle some people.  But look closer and you can see that it all makes sense.

November 28, 2012
(24) George Mason 55, Rhode Island 52
Like many teams, George Mason was trying to establish some consistency early on, and it showed in this one.  They ran out to a good lead and couldn’t play at quite the pace they wanted, and while they were 5-2 they weren’t winning the way they wanted to.

November 29, 2012
(25) Brown 69, Sacred Heart 56
With this win over the short-handed Pioneers, Brown improved to 3-3 and showed what they might be capable of.  They now appeared to have an identity, and that was a big development after they lacked one a year earlier.

December 1, 2012
(26) Providence 73, Mississippi State 63
While Providence’s good start while short-handed continued, what was more easily noticed was the difficult job new Mississippi State head coach Rick Ray had in front of him.  He had a young team that was also hampered by injuries, and it was clear this year wasn’t going to be pretty.

(27) Bryant 70, Army 59
With a nice crowd on hand, Bryant rewarded the fans by not only beating the visitors but also a virus that hit several players on the team.

December 4, 2012
(28) UMass 72, Northeastern 66
UMass headed into a ten-day break for final exams with their first win of the season that didn’t require a buzzer-beater.  The feeling was that they weren’t playing quite the way Derek Kellogg wanted them to, but the hope was that would change after exams were over.

December 5, 2012
(29) Yale 64, Bryant 62
Yale started a big road stretch with a buzzer-beating win at Bryant, one they needed.  History almost repeated itself as they again blew a second-half lead, but this time they pulled it out with the help of a talented freshman, Justin Sears.

December 6, 2012
(30) Providence 72, Rhode Island 57
Providence continued to defy logic by improving to 7-2 in a way probably no one expected.  Turnovers became a new issue for Rhode Island after they had not been a problem up to this point.

December 7, 2012
(31) Connecticut 57, Harvard 49
Sophomore forward Deandre Daniels had the big game, a breakout game he’s long been capable of.  But it’s the Connecticut guards that were going to carry this team as far as they would go.

December 8, 2012
(32) Boston College 72, St. Francis Brooklyn 64
Boston College continued to grow with this win over a St. Francis Brooklyn team that entered the season with expectations of contention in the Northeast Conference, which was relatively new.

(33) La Salle 66, Northeastern 64
In pulling out this big road win right before final exams, La Salle showed that they were worthy of being in the conversation among the top Atlantic 10 teams.

December 11, 2012
(34) Harvard 65, Boston University 64
This was another tough loss in the final seconds for Boston University, as they again couldn’t get a defensive stop they needed late.  That was part of a larger problem, which is that this team didn’t look like the Terrier teams of recent years at that end of the floor.

December 15, 2012
(35) Rhode Island 72, SMU 50
This was the clearest evidence that SMU’s 8-1 start heading into this game was deceiving since it came against a weak schedule.  The 2-7 Rams simply took them apart in a win that wasn’t as shocking as the records might suggest.

December 16, 2012
(36) Boston University 69, Quinnipiac 62 (OT)
As Quinnipiac fell to 3-6 after this tough loss on the road, their non-conference time was running out.  Their offensive confidence seemed shaken, and this team badly needed a win to start moving that in the right direction.

December 18, 2012
(37) Providence 79, Colgate 54
At just the right time, Providence got more bodies as Kris Dunn and transfer Sidiki Johnson made their debuts in this game.  Dunn made an instant impact with 13 assists to overshadow his 3-13 shooting, while Johnson had eight rebounds in 16 minutes.

December 19, 2012
(38) UMass 85, Ohio University 76
A quality win for UMass coming out of final exams over a veteran Ohio team that had a lot of potential, especially if they could shore up their defense.

December 21, 2012
(39) Northeastern 83, Central Connecticut 62
Northeastern broke a five-game losing streak with an impressive outing in Jonathan Lee’s second game back from a broken foot.  It came at a good time, as CAA play was not far away.

December 22, 2012
(40) Boston University 70, Cornell 57
As Boston University continued to come to life following a rough start, Cornell continued to look for some consistency.  Some of their flaws were becoming a little more noticeable this late in non-league play.

December 28, 2012
(41) Brown 69, Providence 68
This was a big win for the Bears and a dramatic one at that, in a game that surely had many wondering why Providence played it at Brown in the first place.  The Friars’ issues were clear in this one, while the game was a high point after a year with none of them for Brown’s Tucker Halpern.

December 29, 2012
(42) Boston College 70, Holy Cross 60
Holy Cross didn’t bring their “A” game on this day, especially for a key stretch of the game, and it helped show how much they need some production from the wing.

December 31, 2012
(43) Boston College 79, Dartmouth 58
For young Dartmouth, growing pains were abundant up to this point, as they looked like a team with potential but also a lot of youth.  Meanwhile, Boston College was about to enter ACC play in a much better place than a year ago.

January 2, 2013
(44) Vermont 64, New Hampshire 51
This wasn’t the way New Hampshire wanted to begin America East play, losing at home in a concerning fashion.

January 4, 2013
(45) Rhode Island 59, Brown 47
This was an ugly game for most of the 40 minutes, with Rhode Island leading 21-14 at halftime.  The Rams’ defense was their calling card, as it had been most of the season, and it carried them until the offense woke up.

January 5, 2013
(46) Northeastern 68, UNCW 64
A close game throughout was one where the Seahawks had their chances, but couldn’t break through due to familiar foes like turnovers and inconsistency.

(47) North Carolina State 78, Boston College 73
Give Boston College credit for giving the ACC preseason favorites all they could handle.  But the Wolfpack also didn’t exactly look like favorites, not putting BC away until late.

(48) DePaul 83, Providence 73
DePaul rebounded from a tough home loss a few nights earlier, although the Blue Demons also didn’t finish well after having a comfortable lead.

January 6, 2013
(49) Florida 79, Yale 58
Due to injury, Erik Murphy was unable to play in a game as close to a homecoming as Florida got.  The Gators took care of business and closed out non-conference play in just the way they needed to.

January 8, 2013
(50) Brown 75, Niagara 74 (OT)
Niagara built up a 36-17 lead in the first half, but blew the lead and then lost in overtime.  They had a chance to get a road win, but showed that they still had room for growth to go with their 3-1 MAAC start.

January 9, 2013
(51) Syracuse 72, Providence 66
As they did at times this season, Syracuse had some offensive struggles.  Offensive rebounding was the big difference in this unusual win for the Orange, and in hindsight it might be a game that woke up Providence since the Friars improved on the glass later in the season.

January 10, 2013
(52) Bryant 103, Quinnipiac 95
This was a wild game in which Quinnipiac stormed back late, just when it seemed like Bryant had the game well in hand, to the point where Bryant head coach Tim O’Shea had to put his starters back in late.  It was another record-setting night for the Bulldogs, while the Bobcats lost in part because of their offense even on a night when they scored 95 points.

January 12, 2013
(53) Charlotte 58, Rhode Island 50
This wasn’t a pretty game, but the 49ers improved to 2-0 in early Atlantic 10 play with this road win largely behind balance and defense.

January 14, 2013
(54) Louisville 73, Connecticut 58
With Peyton Siva in foul trouble in the first half, Louisville’s offense struggled.  When he was back in the second half, they were much better, showing how important he is to this team.

January 16, 2013
(55) Miami 60, Boston College 59
Boston College had a chance to tie in the final second, but a missed free throw prevented overtime and allowed the Hurricanes to hang on for another win without big man Reggie Johnson.

January 17, 2013
(56) Bryant 79, Mount St. Mary’s 78 (OT)
A great ballgame that would be a harbinger of things to come between these two.  Bryant had a surprise hero in overtime, while Mount St. Mary’s showed pretty much everything on the evening.

January 19, 2013
(57) Providence 69, Villanova 66
In a long slugfest of a game (over two and a half hours), Villanova couldn’t pull one out despite having plenty of chances.  Turnovers were a problem, as they gave the ball away 25 times, and symbolic of the end of the floor that was most problematic for the Wildcats.

(58) Brown 65, Yale 51
Offensive issues were again a culprit in a loss for Yale, with a dubious stat included: they did not have an assist until about seven minutes into the second half.

January 22 2013
(59) Pittsburgh 68, Providence 64
As Pittsburgh again pulled one out against Providence, one could see how their consistent identity is a key to their success.  Providence lost their seventh in nine games and continued to have some growing pains now that they had their full roster available.

January 23, 2013
(60) Northeastern 95, William & Mary 91 (2 OT)
For a while, it looked like Northeastern was in control and would cruise to a 7-0 start in the CAA.  But William & Mary rallied to force extra basketball with some inspired play that they hoped to carry over.

January 24, 2013
(61) Hartford 51, New Hampshire 40
Neither team played well in the first half, but Hartford woke up first behind the stellar play of Mark Nwakamma.  New Hampshire was, simply put, not in a good place after this one.

January 26, 2013
(62) Bucknell 65, Holy Cross 58
After a tough home loss to Lehigh a few nights earlier, Bucknell rebounded the way one would expect a seasoned contending team to.

January 27, 2013
(63) UMass 70, Richmond 65
A tough loss for Richmond in a game where they could have used a win, especially with the momentum they seemed to have coming into the game.  UMass showed how they were adjusting to life without key shooter Jesse Morgan.

(64) Northeastern 71, George Mason 51
In the latter part of the second half, Northeastern broke away from George Mason by putting on a clinic.  In moving to 8-0 and sweeping the Patriots, the Huskies were clearly in the driver’s seat in the CAA at a very early juncture.

January 29, 2013
(65) North Carolina 82, Boston College 70
A better defensive effort in the second half helped North Carolina pull this one out.  They needed a road win and showed a little improvement in some areas in which they needed some.

January 30, 2013
(66) VCU 70, Rhode Island 64
VCU snapped a two-game losing streak in this one thanks largely to more success putting the ball in the basket.  Shooting 48.1 percent from the field helped them overcome 19 turnovers.

January 31, 2013
(67) Connecticut 82, Providence 79 (OT)
Another incredible game on the stat sheet as Providence out-rebounded Connecticut 55-24, tying a Big East record for rebounding margin in a conference game, yet still lost.  A string of missed opportunities was the legacy of this game.

February 1, 2013
(68) Harvard 67, Yale 64
Harvard’s offense continued to shine in this one behind its two young guards, which was the case often this season even as they had forged an identity as a defensive team in recent years.

February 2, 2013
(69) Boston College 75, Clemson 68
The Eagles had a good lead for a while before needing to hang on in the end to break a losing streak, while Clemson never appeared to wake up for this noon tip, something one might expect from a young team.

(70) Northeastern 59, Drexel 52
As Northeastern continued to roll in CAA play by beating the preseason favorites, Drexel remained mired in mediocrity with a 5-5 CAA record.  The Dragons had to beat more than just their regular opponents, and it may have been catching up to them.

February 5, 2013
(71) Boston University 79, Maine 72
The Terriers looked to have an old-fashioned blowout in this one until they didn’t finish it well, allowing Maine to get within single digits late.

February 6, 2013
(72) Providence 54, Cincinnati 50
This was perhaps Providence’s best defensive effort of the season to this point, as they limited Cincinnati all night long to pull out the win.  The Bearcats were fine defensively, but as happened often, offense was the first problem when they lost.

February 7, 2013
(73) Bryant 84, St. Francis Brooklyn 77
The Bulldogs continued to win with offense, improving to 13-2 when scoring at least 70 points.

February 9, 2013
(74) Lehigh 68, Holy Cross 61
The start of this game was pushed back to 7 p.m. as the result of a blizzard that hit much of New England a day earlier into the morning of the game.  Lehigh had a lot to battle in this game where momentum swung often, but as has been the case before they overcame the adversity they faced.

February 12, 2013
(75) Holy Cross 66, Navy 57
What was once a battle of Patriot League powers was instead a battle of two teams near the bottom of the league and with losing streaks.  Holy Cross ended theirs at five games and hoped it was the start of some better play.

February 13, 2013
(76) Delaware 76, Northeastern 74 (OT)
A big road win for the Blue Hens was a contrast to what happened when they came to Matthews Arena a year earlier.  It also gave them hope of finishing the regular season in a similar fashion to how they finished last season.

February 15, 2013
(77) Harvard 73, Penn 54
Harvard started the big weekend by knocking off struggling Penn, who fell to 5-18 overall with this loss.  Jerome Allen was trying to guide the Quakers through the tough times.

February 16, 2013
(78) Providence 71, Notre Dame 54
Providence continued to play well of late in picking up a convincing win over a good Notre Dame team.  For the Fighting Irish, this game was an aberration.

(79) Harvard 69, Princeton 57
Host Harvard took home the first showdown of expected Ivy League contenders behind a big second half.  The Crimson knew this was only the first of two against the Tigers.

February 17, 2013
(80) Boston University 68, New Hampshire 56
A very motivated Terrier squad won their seventh time in eight games, hoping to close out their America East tenure on a good note.

February 19, 2013
(81) Boston College 69, Maryland 58
Fresh off an upset of Duke that got them back in the NCAA Tournament conversation, Maryland couldn’t turn it into a momentum booster as they lost at Boston College.  For their part, the Eagles appeared to be growing up right before our eyes.

February 20, 2013
(82) Xavier 55, Rhode Island 42
A challenging stretch run for Xavier was ahead after this road win, which was made better by the fact that several key games coming up were at home.

February 21, 2013
(83) Bryant 88, Central Connecticut 67
While the Blue Devils were up against an offensive powerhouse, this wasn’t the first game this season where defense was an area of struggle for them.

February 22, 2013
(84) Harvard 65, Brown 47
It’s not surprising that Harvard won, but Brown put forth a rare bad effort that had head coach Mike Martin rightly called “unacceptable” all the way around.

February 23, 2013
(85) UMass 76, Dayton 66
With Cady Lalanne posting a big game (22 points, 14 rebounds) and looking like a missing link, UMass put Dayton into a danger zone in terms of making the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

(86) Harvard 72, Yale 66
In a very hostile environment, young Harvard battled to pull one out and set up another big battle between the Crimson and Princeton less than a week later.

February 24, 2013
(87) La Salle 72, Rhode Island 65
A better second half by the Explorers allowed them to come back and ultimately claim a victory, moving them a little closer to the NCAA Tournament.

February 27, 2013
(88) Georgetown 79, Connecticut 78 (2 OT)
This was a thriller, especially since Connecticut really had no business even getting this game to overtime, let alone being in the driver’s seat to win at one point in the second overtime.  Otto Porter Jr. came up big in a different way for Georgetown this time.

February 28, 2013
(89) Robert Morris 77, Bryant 75
In a game with much on the line, Robert Morris came through in the second half behind a couple of players to pick up the win and clinch a hard-earned Northeast Conference regular season title.

March 2, 2013
(90) Old Dominion 81, Northeastern 74
Old Dominion had a rough final season in the CAA, but they came to Boston and beat the regular season champions on their Senior Day to get some semblance of a silver lining to close it out.

(91) Bryant 85, St. Francis (Pa.) 60
After losing a big game two nights earlier, Bryant had to avoid a letdown against the last-place team so they could secure a home game in the conference tournament.  They did just that.

(92) Providence 62, St. John’s 59
In a matchup of two very similar teams, as St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin noted, Providence managed to pull one out.  The Red Storm played their first game without suspended leading scorer D’Angelo Harrison and didn’t look very different.

March 3, 2013
(93) Boston College 53, Virginia 52
This was an emotional game for Boston College as longtime assistant media relations director Dick Kelley was honored before the game with the USBWA’s Most Courageous Award, and the Eagles won one for him.  Virginia, meanwhile, couldn’t turn a win over Duke in the last game into a momentum builder.

March 5, 2013
(94) Providence 76, Seton Hall 66
Providence got above .500 in Big East play for the first time all season, and suddenly looked like they could become an NCAA Tournament bubble team if they kept it up.

March 6, 2013 (Northeast Conference Tournament Quarterfinals)
(95) Mount St. Mary’s 75, Bryant 69
The Mount ended the regular season as arguably the hottest team in the Northeast Conference, and they continued that run by resetting after a tough first half.  It was a tough and unexpected end to the regular season for Bryant.

March 7, 2013
(96) Butler 73, UMass 62
Fresh off a blowout loss that got a lot of attention, Butler looked more like themselves with a solid all-around showing in this game.

March 8, 2013 (MAAC Tournament First Round)
(97) Siena 70, Marist 64
This win did not come easily for Siena at all, as a team that struggled to win games all season needed to show some mental toughness to pull this one out.

(98) Fairfield 54, St. Peter’s 47
This wasn’t a game where you would send a copy of the video to the Hall of Fame, but Derek Needham and Fairfield lived another day and St. Peter’s head coach John Dunne was sad to see the season end.

March 9, 2013 (MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals)
(99) Niagara 74, Siena 62
Turnovers hurt Siena once more as their season came to an end at the hands of the regular season champions.  It was a costly win, though, as point guard Tahjere McCall was injured early.

(100) Iona 89, Canisius 85
Iona pulled out an entertaining game that was as good as expected.  Jim Baron wasted little time getting results at Canisius, but right after this tough loss that didn’t mean very much.

(101) Fairfield 43, Rider 42
Derek Needham & Co. lived another day by shutting down Rider to advance to the semifinals.  Rider just never got untracked and Fairfield scored just enough.

(102) Manhattan 55, Loyola (Md.) 52
Manhattan completed a day full of upsets by knocking off Loyola (Md.), which got us a late post-game press conference from the always entertaining Jimmy Patsos.

March 10, 2013 (MAAC Tournament Semifinals)
(103) Iona 79, Niagara 73
Although a top seed going down is often news, this wasn’t a big surprise because Niagara was still young and Iona had a veteran team that wasn’t far behind the Purple Eagles.

(104) Manhattan 60, Fairfield 42
Fairfield couldn’t hang around one more night as Manhattan scored a convincing win to advance to the championship game.

March 11, 2013 (MAAC Championship)
(105) Iona 60, Manhattan 57
In a well-played game, Iona had just enough to take home the championship for their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.  This time, there would be no doubt about it after they had to sweat out Selection Sunday.

March 12, 2013 (Big East Tournament First Round)
(106) Seton Hall 46, South Florida 42 (OT)
At this point, surviving and advancing is what matters, and Seton Hall did just that in a very ugly game.  The Pirates tied a Big East Tournament record for the fewest points by a winning team.

(107) Rutgers 76, DePaul 57
Rutgers pulled away in the second half to move on and finish a disappointing season for DePaul.  The Blue Demons ended the season not looking like next year could be a good step forward for them unless some things change in the off-season.

March 13, 2013 (Big East Tournament Second Round)
(108) Cincinnati 61, Providence 44
Cincinnati took Providence out of everything they wanted to do right from the outset en route to a convincing win, showing that the Friars still need to grow more to win in New York as they lost their fifth straight Big East Tournament game and tenth in 11 tries.

(109) Syracuse 75, Seton Hall 63
Seton Hall scored more points this time around, but didn’t play well enough defensively to stop Syracuse.  Michael Carter-Williams tied a Big East Tournament record with 14 assists while turning the ball over just once.

(110) Villanova 66, St. John’s 53
Villanova was able to grind out St. John’s, who often struggled in a halfcourt game.  The Wildcats got a big game at a good time from big man Mouphtaou Yarou, as the Red Storm focused more on the guards.

(111) Notre Dame 69, Rutgers 61
As Notre Dame advanced to the quarterfinals, Rutgers’ season came to an end.  One had to wonder how bright their future looked after this season, when it once looked very bright – and we would later see things take a turn for the worse.

March 14, 2013 (Big East Tournament Quarterfinals)
(112) Georgetown 62, Cincinnati 43
Georgetown did to Cincinnati what the Bearcats basically did to Providence 24 hours earlier.  It was another piece of evidence that offense was going to be the key for Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament.

(113) Syracuse 62, Pittsburgh 59
In a matchup of two teams headed to the ACC next year, Syracuse held off Pittsburgh to give us one more installment in the context of the Big East of Georgetown vs. Syracuse.

(114) Louisville 74, Villanova 55
Early in the day, news broke that legendary basketball coach Jack Curran died.  One of his many disciples, Russ Smith, played a big game in his honor to lead the Cardinals into the semifinals.  Villanova was left to hope they could continue to grow in the NCAA Tournament.

(115) Notre Dame 73, Marquette 65
Notre Dame won the turnover battle big to send Marquette home early and advance to the semifinals for the fourth straight year.  A big night from Pat Connaughton helped, as he hit six three-pointers.

March 15, 2013 (Big East Tournament Semifinals)
(116) Syracuse 58, Georgetown 55 (OT)
It was only fitting that this last installment of Syracuse-Georgetown in the context of the Big East occurred in the last Big East Tournament as we know it.  It almost went to a second overtime, but Syracuse held on after going 1-6 from the free throw line in the extra session.

(117) Louisville 69, Notre Dame 57
Notre Dame made a nice run, but couldn’t keep it going against Louisville.  The Fighting Irish felt like they gained something in the Big East Tournament that would help them going forward, while Louisville’s win gave us one more gift in the championship matchup.

March 16, 2013 (Big East Championship)
(118) Louisville 78, Syracuse 61
For a while, it looked like Syracuse’s offensive renaissance would continue right through the championship game.  Instead, Louisville turned the game around and won going away, and did so with an unexpected hero in Montrezl Harrell, showing part of why this team was a legitimate national title contender.

March 20, 2013 (NIT First Round)
(119) Providence 75, Charlotte 66
Charlotte was happy to be in the NIT, even though they wanted more, and despite the loss they felt like they accomplished something that will help them next season.

March 25, 2013 (NIT Second Round)
(120) Providence 77, Robert Morris 68
Fresh off a big win over Kentucky the week prior, Robert Morris shot well from long range but couldn’t pull this one out.  As the Friars played their last home game of the season, one gets the feeling that Ed Cooley’s rebuilding job is starting to bear some fruit.

Top Ten Games of 2012-13

1. February 27, 2013 – Georgetown 79, Connecticut 78 (2 OT): This game provided big twists and turns and looked like it might be decided differently twice before it was finally over.

2. March 15, 2013 – Syracuse 58, Georgetown 55 (OT): What more can you say? The last installment of Syracuse-Georgetown in the context of the Big East was a classic.

3. March 6, 2013 – Mount St. Mary’s 75, Bryant 69: This was as good a quarterfinal as you could expect a 4-5 matchup to be, well-played and with a great atmosphere.

4. February 28, 2013 – Robert Morris 77, Bryant 75: A thriller with the Northeast Conference regular season title on the line and with a packed house.  It was all anyone had hoped for.

5. January 23, 2013 – Northeastern 95, William & Mary 91 (2 OT): So much for Northeastern cruising to another win. William & Mary mounted a great comeback and took the Huskies to the limit.

6. March 11, 2013 – Iona 60, Manhattan 57: A well-played game between two local rivals that came right down to the end, with an NCAA Tournament bid on the line.

7. February 13, 2013 – Delaware 76, Northeastern 74 (OT): A year ago, Delaware gave one away at Matthews Arena.  This time, they won in dramatic fashion on a deep three-pointer with the shot clock running down.

8. January 17, 2013 – Bryant 79, Mount St. Mary’s 78 (OT): It was easy to forget that these two gave us a great game earlier in the season in Smithfield.

9. November 9, 2013 – Northeastern 65, Boston University 64: An opening night thriller between two arch-rivals decided on a three-pointer with less than a second to go.

10. March 9, 2013 – Iona 89, Canisius 85: One had the feeling this 4-5 matchup in the MAAC Tournament would be an entertaining and high-scoring game, and it certainly was.

In the 15-under championship, DC Assault broke away from the Playaz late in the first half, then scored the first ten points of the second half to take a 41-18 lead en route to a 62-42 win. Ako Adams (6’2″ Fr. SG, Arlington (VA) Bishop O’Connell HS) led a balanced attack for D.C. Assault with 11 points, while Sam Green (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Forestville (MD) Bishop McNamara HS) added ten. Jajan Mosley (6’2″ Fr. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s) led the Playaz with a game-high 16 points.

In the 17-under championship, the Albany City Rocks scored the first 12 points of the game against the host Playaz, who were fresh off a major upset of two-time champion Team Takeover in the semifinals. The City Rocks then poured it on for a 35-14 halftime lead and scored the first 15 points of the second half en route to running away from the Playaz by a score of 58-28. John Schurman (6’5″ Jr. SG, Syracuse (NY) Fayetteville-Manlius HS) led a well-balanced attack for the City Rocks with a game-high 13 points, while three others scored 10 points apiece.

Now, a look at some of the players we saw this weekend.

Ako Adams (6’2″ Fr. SG, Arlington (VA) Bishop O’Connell HS) Athletic guard really came alive in the championship game during a stretch where his team broke the game open. This came after a solid semifinal performance, and he shot well from long range and was in a lot of plays.

Floyd Adhan (Fr. SG-SF, Shrewsbury (MA) St. John’s Prep) In an early Saturday morning game, he helped lead his team to victory with 12 points, scoring from good fundamentals like moving without the ball and a touch from mid-range. He’s probably not done growing yet, is athletic and his body has a ways to go, so there’s good upside here.

Bashir Ahmed (6’6″ Jr. SF, Bronx (NY) John F. Kennedy HS) An athletic wing with some length, there’s certainly some potential here. His body isn’t there yet, and his ball skills need some work as they’re just okay for the next level right now.

Amir Bell (6’3″ Jr. SG, East Brunswick (NJ) High) There’s nothing about him that will leap out at you, but he has a solid combination of physical gifts and skills. Though not a lights-out shooter or a great scorer, he did reach double figures in both pool games while showing above-average ball-handling and passing abilities for the wing, and he was active on the boards. A highlight was a play where he got a key offensive rebound and managed to pass for a layup while he was falling out of bounds. Mid-major prospect has committed to Princeton.

Phil Booth (6’3″ Jr. SG, Baltimore (MD) Mount St. Joseph HS) Arguably his team’s best player this weekend, he drove effectively very often to create for himself or a teammate. A plus athlete, he showed a floater and some range on his jumper, though he tended to slash to the hoop more, and handled the ball well for the shooting guard spot.

Randall Brodie (6’2″ Fr. PG, Potomac (MD) School) A quick and shifty point guard, he has a slight frame and his body has a ways to go but the lefty has some potential. He can finish with his right (off) hand and was good in transition, and while he can shoot he also seems to kick his legs to the side when he goes up, which looks awkward.

Elijah Burns (6’8″ Jr. PF, Troy (NY) LaSalle Institute) One of the better prospects on the 17-under champions, he’s athletic with a good frame and body. He reached double figures in both the semifinal and championship games, scoring in transition and showing the ability to finish while getting fouled.

Jordan Butler (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Glastonbury (CT) High) A well-built forward with a good frame, he’s not in the best of shape but competed well and isn’t lacking skills, scoring 17 points in an early game. A post-graduate year at Putnam Science Academy is ahead next year for him.

Tre Campbell (6’1″ Jr. PG, Washington (DC) St. John’s HS) A solid point guard who knows how to win, he still has a good deal of physical upside. This weekend was another solid one for him, especially as he shot the ball well, which hasn’t been his forte. Add that to his competitive streak and ability to run a team, and you have a high-major/high-major minus prospect that someone will be happy to get.

Raiquan Clark (6’2″ Jr. SG, New Haven (CT) Hillhouse HS) A plus athlete with a good frame, he got better as the weekend went along. He didn’t put up big numbers and his body isn’t there yet, so he’s still tapping into what he can become.

Adonis Delarosa (6’10″ Jr. C, Middle Village (NY) Christ The King HS) A big body inside, he eats space but also moves reasonably well for his size and can score. Even so, he would certainly benefit from improving his conditioning, as his post moves aren’t bad but need some polish as he tends to travel often.

Marcus Derrickson (6’7″ So. PF, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI HS) The better of the two wide-bodied post players on his team, he has some bad weight but isn’t lacking ability and seems to use his body well. He rebounded well in stretches and showed some scoring ability, including a touch with a jumper. On the down side, he traveled on the post more than once.

Martin Geben (6’9″ Jr. PF, Hagerstown (MD) St. Maria Goretti HS) A highly-skilled forward, he didn’t star in this event like he did last year but was still solid. He showed the ability to play inside and out, took a charge at the defensive end and finished close when he got a chance.

Sam Green (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Forestville (MD) Bishop McNamara HS) Talented young forward has a lot of potential, as he has a good frame and plenty of physical growth to come. He scored a number of times on stickbacks both on the break and in the halfcourt, while also showing a touch from mid-range including a baseline fade-away on the post, and also passed out of the post well. In the 15-under semifinal, he scored 15 points, then added ten in the championship game.

Joe Hampton (6’6″ Fr. PF, Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha Catholic HS) Along with Green, he helped DC Assault control the paint in the 15-under playoff rounds. He has a big body that he moves well, although he could stand to improve there, but right now the lefty can overpower defenders to score inside and he has some scoring moves in his arsenal. In addition, he has time to get his body in better shape.

Emmitt Holt (6’7″ Jr. PF, Rochester (NY) Webster Schroeder HS) Thick power forward was a solid contributor for the 17-under champions, especially in transition as he got in the open floor often. Besides that, he showed a post move to score and was strong inside at both ends.

Tyler Lydon (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Elizaville (NY) Pine Plains HS) Still a baby physically, the lanky forward impressed as he has the skills of a stretch power forward to go with some length and rebounding ability. He’s not lacking a motor and boxes out well, and he will get out in transition some in addition to having range out to the three-point line. He scored 16 points in one game and was among the double-digit scorers in the final. The biggest knock is that he badly needs to gain strength, and that was evident on several plays. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

James Palmer (6’4″ Jr. SG, Washington (DC) St. John’s HS) An athletic wing with some length, he was a nice complementary scorer who, like everyone on his team, plays very well within the team concept. He looked to score in flow and did so, while also making some nice passes along the way.

Myles Powell (6’0″ So. SG, Medford (NJ) Tech) When he gets going, this baby-faced shooter can light it up, and he did so twice in scoring 30 and 36 points, including nine three-pointers in the latter game. More of a shooter off the catch, he did hit off the dribble a couple of times as well. In the semifinals, fresh off the 36-point effort where he carried the team, he struggled to shoot or do much else in scoring just 11 points.

John Schurman (6’5″ Jr. SG, Syracuse (NY) Fayetteville-Manlius HS) A fine complementary shooter, he fits well on a team that has good forwards and an attacking point guard. He has a good frame and body and moved well without the ball to benefit from his teammates, hitting four three-pointers in the semifinal win and leading the balanced attack in the title game.

Marquell Sheffield (So. PF, Paterson (NJ) Eastside HS) Look at his body and you’re immediately intrigued, as along with his size he’s athletic and has a body that’s still developing. But watch him play and you’re left wanting much more from him if this weekend is any indication. He wasn’t a big factor, showed a tendency to put the ball on the floor unnecessarily under the basket and didn’t exactly catch everything.

Sterling Taplin (6’2″ Jr. PG, Williamsville (NY) North HS) An athletic point guard, he attacked often and with good success, driving and dishing often and making a very acrobatic layup high off the glass one time. He has a good frame and can hit from long range, but his forte is driving to create.

Marques Townes (6’3″ Jr. SG, Metuchen (NJ) St. Joseph’s HS) Thick guard is an athletic scorer who will drive all day to try to score. He didn’t show much of a jump shot, which might be good from a shot selection standpoint, as he scored with runners in traffic and often on other plays closer to the basket, at times using his body although he doesn’t appear to have all good weight. He scored in double figures in at least three games on the weekend.

Dion Wiley (6’5″ Jr. SG, Potomac (MD) High) A solid wing, he has a good frame and showed good fundamentals such as moving without the ball and some speed with the ball. From a scoring standpoint, he showed some range on the jumper and got into double figures in a couple of games.

Walter Wright (5’10″ Sr. PG, Waterbury (CT) Wilby HS) A point guard with a slight frame, he’s a little more of a scorer than a floor leader, although he was able to drive and dish a few times. He went for 14, 18 and 15 points in his team’s three games here. Next year, he will do a post-graduate year at Putnam Science Academy.

Other players who caught our attention:

Gilberto Cue (5’10″ Fr. PG, Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic)
Devine Eke (6’5″ Jr. SF, Plainfield (NJ) Union Catholic Regional HS)
Drake Goddard (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Washington (DC) Maret School)
Jamil Hood, Jr. (6’3″ Jr. SG, Albany (NY) Green Tech)
Jalen Jackson (6’7″ Jr. PF, Hillsborough (NJ) High)
Sean Ryan (6’3″ Jr. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep)
Jajan Mosley (6’2″ Fr. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s)
Sammy Singletary (6’1″ So. PG, Paterson (NJ) John F. Kennedy HS)
Quadri Smith (6’7″ Jr. PF, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI HS)
Alex Wolf (6’9″ Jr. PF, Greenwich (CT) Blair Academy)

Then the opposition went on a run never looking back.

For Iowa the 74-54 defeat in the NIT final was bitter. Because they had been playing well adding to it was the fact Baylor ran away and turned an expected close contest into a rout.

Looking beyond the bitter disappointment at the final buzzer, there was a lot for Iowa to be proud of and a lot to look forward to. In post-game interviews Iowa coach Fran McCaffery admitted his team felt the immediate hurt after walking off the floor on the short end of the score. “They are upset,” McCaffery said later. “They know they didn’t play well, but I tried to take it off them a bit saying, look I did not do a good enough job.”

McCaffery has done nothing short of an outstanding job coming to Iowa City following a great run at Siena. His first year at Iowa brought a 11-20 record in a rebuilding situation. Last year saw significant progress as Iowa earned an NIT bid and defeated Dayton in the first round before being eliminated by Oregon. The final record was 18-17. This past season, the Hawkeyes dropped some tough conference games but still finished 9-9 (seven losses by four points or less) in the Big Ten. The 21-12 record brought another NIT bid.

One insider close to the program said, “this team was in a good frame of mind getting the NIT bid. They saw it as an opportunity and ran with it. If next year’s team were on the bubble and got an NIT bid their might be disappointment.”

The point is, Iowa is young and even better days are ahead. Baylor coach Scott Drew was being more than gracious saying, “Iowa will be a great team.” The Hawkeyes will lose only one starter, senior guard Eric May, who was an excellent team leader. Four starters return, including the top two scorers, 6-6 junior guard Roy Devyn Marble, an All-NIT selection, and 6-9 sophomore Aaron White. Adam Woodbury, a 7-1 freshman center, should improve with added strength and experience.

“Right now we have to take a little break,” McCaffery said. “It’s been a long season, about seven months. They have to get away from it and be a student and enjoy that.” In the meantime the Iowa staff will put together individual workout plans for the returning players. Iowa will have extra practice with an overseas trip planned. McCaffery admits there is something special on the horizon. “We will enter next season with a tremendous focus of what we are capable of,” the coach said. “We also are aware of some of the things we didn’t do and have to go out and do.”

The season brought 25 wins and notable achievements. “We played (in the NIT) in front of some packed houses,” McCaffery said. “We won a big time road game (at Virginia in the quarterfinals) and came to New York, beating a good team and losing to a good one as well. We will learn from the experience. It can only make us better.”

Iowa shows the disappointment following the loss to Baylor

The main points of emphasis:

1.Tempo free breakdown:

2. It started on the perimeter. While Pierre Jackson gave Baylor a Most Outstanding Player performance, the tone was set by another backcourt standout guard, A.J. Walton. The Baylor senior pressured the Iowa guards and never allowed them comfort in running the offense. Iowa, a transition team, was denied fast break opportunities. In the half court sets there were few, if any, easy baskets for the Hawkeyes. “We like to get to the rim and the free throw line,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey said. “They (Baylor) forced us to take too many three point shots.”

The turnovers show both teams cared for the ball. Baylor did not force many turnovers but applied that ball pressure that affected the Iowa offense.

Baylor’s Pierre Jackson proudly displays the MOP trophy

3. Offensive rebounding. An interesting situation. Baylor gave up 20 offensive rebounds and was significantly beaten in the offensive rebounding percentage. “During time outs, I kept telling my guys we have to rebound,” said Drew with a touch of humor. Drew could live with the 20 offensive boards due to the fact his defense forced Iowa into a very poor shooting percentage. McCaffrey admitted the Baylor interior defense negated those added offensive opportunities. “We got looks especially on second chances,” the Iowa coach said, “but could not convert. Their length was a factor.”

4. After a slow start the Baylor offense got on track. At the half Baylor led 27-22 as neither offense had a great showing the first twenty minutes. Early in the second half, Baylor held a narrow 28-27 lead. The Bears went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. They finished with an outstanding offensive efficiency.

Jackson led the way with 17 points and 10 assists. Cory Jefferson paced the scoring effort with a game-high 23 points for Baylor and freshman Isaiah Austin added 15 points and nine boards.

5. The NIT title was the pinnacle of Drew’s rebuilding. When he came to Waco the program was worse than down. Decimated and on life support was more appropriate. Gradually Drew rebuilt. There were notable moments in the 2009 NIT second place and two Elite Eight NCAA appearances in the following three years. The NIT title gave, “our kids a chance to celebrate, not watch a celebration,” per Drew.

The Baylor coach naturally credited Baylor’s administration for the commitment to turn things around. He also credited the good fortune of having talented players who bought into a team concept first and foremost, such as Walton who will leave as the winningest player in Baylor history. And Jackson, who came from a National Junior College Championship team, yet embraced the team concept from the time he stepped on campus.

Drew was also gracious enough to recognize the outstanding Baylor women’s program when he called the NIT title, “the first men’s basketball championship in Baylor history.”

The Honors

MOP- Pierre Jackson, Baylor- averaged 20.5 points, 10 assists and 3.5 turnovers in 38 minutes per contest in New York.

All-Tournament: 

• Alex Len, Maryland – paced Maryland with 16 points against Iowa.
• Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa- led all scorers with 21 points against Maryland in the semis.
• Cory Jefferson, Baylor – a consistent 21 points against BYU and 23 versus Iowa in the final.
• Isaiah Austin, Baylor- freshman center impressed with a combined 29 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks for the two contests.