Northeast Hoops Festival Player Notes
NEW LONDON, Conn. – With the college basketball season over, the off-season – if there really is one – has begun with travel team tournaments. This weekend wasn’t the first one with any such action, but it was the first since the season ended.
Connecticut College played host to the Northeast Hoops Festival, run by Hoop Mountain. The event featured teams largely from New England, although a few teams from just outside the region were also in the event.
Here is a look at some of the players who shined in our viewing on Saturday.
Ronald Abwoch (6’1″ Jr. SG, Portland (ME) Deering HS) He impressed with his shooting in pool play games, which helped keep his team in the game for a while against the loaded Expressions team. His frame is a little slight, but he has a good overall body and shot the ball well from long range en route to scoring 15 and 17 points in two games.
Patrick Ackerman (So. PF, Worcester (MA) Academy) He played relatively limited minutes and has some work to do. He has a thin upper body and his lack of strength certainly didn’t help him.
Cory Andrews (6’5″ So. SF, Waterbury (CT) Sacred Heart HS) He was the best player on the floor for his team on Saturday, as the athletic wing was constantly finishing when he had the ball near the hoop. In going for 16 and 14 points in the two games, he scored often in transition.
Luke Apfeld (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) Active athlete played well in his team’s two wins, as he was constantly around the ball and making plays. Thus far, he’s played on teams where he’s had a limited role, but if his play on Saturday is any indication, he’s ready to take on a little more responsibility.
Devan Bailey (6’2″ Jr. SG, Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy) A solid intangible player known for his defense, he was very active at both ends of the floor. He won’t put up big numbers or star offensively, but he’s a solid contributor and has a good body.
Billy Baron (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken HS) The junior guard played some good basketball on Saturday, as he really looked like a floor leader and made plays for his team. In doing that, he was very effective while scoring just 13 points in the two games.
Melsahn Basabe (6’6″ So. PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School) An intriguing prospect, he played two good games and looks like he’s improved nicely since the start of the season. He’s long and still a baby physically, did a lot of work inside and is a plus athlete, and showed some good moves to finish inside.
Peterson Bernard (6’7″ Sr. PF, Roxbury (MA) Madison Park HS) He’s always had the big post body, and slowly he seems to be realizing what he can be. At his best, he’s a solid rebounder with good box-outs and an occasional scorer inside, as his offense needs work and is where he has to realize what he can be – a post scorer using his body to get inside shots and occasionally a nice interior pass, which he did once in a late game. He’ll be in prep school next year.
Preye Boyle (6’5″ Jr. SF, Springfield (MA) Central HS) Well-built wing had a solid opening game, going for 17 points, before being more of a complementary player in the second game. The lefty is a plus athlete with range out to the three-point line on his jump shot.
Matt Brown (6’2″ So. SG, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon) Solidly-built wing is versatile and makes himself a factor by being active and finding the ball. He’s capable of scoring in a few ways, although shooting it from long range doesn’t look to be his forte, and he’s a plus athlete.
Kyle Casey (6’6″ Jr. SF, Chestnut Hill (MA) Brimmer & May) Athletic forward had his motor going, which is a key for him because he’s at his best when that is the case. He has a solid body and was very active, but also drove into trouble a few times with the ball. There wasn’t a question about his effort on the day as he helped his team to two wins.
Cliff Celestin (6’0″ Jr. PG, Marion (MA) Tabor Academy) The floor leader for the Boston Soldiers was unspectacular but effective in the day’s final game. He’s a pass-first floor leader who didn’t look to score much, with a three-point shot that is almost a set shot.
Ben Crenca (6’9″ Jr. PF, Exeter (RI) Worcester Academy) He didn’t put up big numbers, but he did help his team pick up a couple of wins. His big body looks to be in better shape, but he’s also not the most fluid with his moves inside or how he runs the floor.
Jerell Gomes (6’3″ Sr. SG, Providence (RI) Feinstein HS) Known more for his shooting, he had some time at the point and didn’t seem as comfortable. He’s athletic and has good range on his shot, and with the teammates he has, he should get his share of open looks. Prep school likely beckons for him next year.
Tucker Halpern (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Needham (MA) Noble & Greenough School) Known for his shooting, he didn’t put up much in the way of numbers. But the good thing about his play is that he did other things, as he made a lot of basketball plays to help the team. He blended in and didn’t have to benefit from what others did, as instead his teammates benefited from plays he made.
Greg Jacques (5’9″ Jr. PG, Needham (MA) St. Sebastian’s) He should really thrive with the new Expressions team as he has no shortage of capable scorers to get the ball to. Known for his ability to run a team, he has a good body for the point and is enough of a scoring threat that defenders can’t just ignore him. He went for 11 points in his team’s opening game, including a three-pointer.
Peter Kaasila (6’9″ Jr. PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s) Wide-bodied post player has always had the fundamental scoring tools inside, and his conditioning looks to be improving some. He continues to prove to be good as a role player, going for 14 in one game while surrounded by players who are more the go-to guy type than he is.
Michael LaPlante (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Woonsocket (RI) High) Athletic wing is capable of some highlight-film type plays, although he didn’t put up big numbers. His athleticism is the main part of his game, which has to catch up to his physical talents at this point.
Mike Marra (6’5″ Jr. SG, Smithfield (RI) Northfield Mount Hermon) His shot wasn’t going down early, but he eventually got it in gear and also found other ways to score in the meantime. The Louisville commit went for 15 in his team’s opener.
Sam Martin (6’2″ Jr. SG, West Warwick (RI) Worcester Academy) When his shot is going, he’s at his best, and that was the case in his team’s opener. He was moving without the ball and getting shots, and they were going in as he led his team to a win.
Andrew McCarthy (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Sudbury (MA) BB&N) After missing a lot of time due to injury, he’s starting to look a little like the player he was pre-injury. He’s at his best when he’s running the floor and being active on the boards and blocking shots, and he did that at times in addition to knocking down a couple of three-pointers. Prep school beckons next year.
Erik Murphy (6’10” Jr. PF-C, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School) He was a little difficult to recognize at first because he’s physically much more mature now than he was just a few months ago. Best of all, he hasn’t lost a step, as he was very active and scored just about any time he got the ball inside in going for 20 points in one game on Saturday. The Florida commit is looking a lot like he was once projected a couple of years ago.
Daniel O’Keefe (6’5″ Jr. SF, Lexington (MA) High) You’ve got to love how he comes to play the game all the time. He’s not the most athletic, not the best shooter, not the best rebounder or ball-handler, but he has something of each to go with a great feel for the game and no lack of effort. He’s a good rebounder and makes a lot of plays because he has a nose for the ball. In two games on Saturday, he went for 11 and 15 points.
Tyler Olander (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Storrs (CT) E.O. Smith HS) Lefty forward had a nice showing at the offensive end. He has a thin upper body, which should get better as he matures physically, while showing good skills inside and out. He has some range on his jumper, knocking down two three-pointers en route to 12 points in one game.
Derek Retos (5’9″ So. PG-SG, Chestnut Hill (MA) Brimmer & May) In his team’s second game of the day, he put on a shooting exhibition as he canned seven deep balls en route to 27 points. He has point guard size but a shooter’s mentality, so the biggest thing for him to do will be to grow physically and keep his shooting touch all the while.
Ashton Wadkins (6’5″ So. SF, Providence (RI) Classical HS) Very athletic wing looks to have some nice upside if he keeps working. He used his athleticism to get to the basket and finish, while also getting some transition baskets.
Jordan Williams (6’9″ Jr. PF, Torrington (CT) High) He still has the good inside scoring ability, but now his body is in much better shape than it was last summer. That’s a good sign since he can still get better physically. His touch from within about 5-10 feet is still solid, and his improving condition will only make him a more dangerous player.
Other players who caught our attention:
Nate Lubick (6’8″ So. PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School)
Tim McKinney (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Duxbury (MA) Boston College HS)
Joe O’Shea (6’4″ So. SG, Burlington (VT) High)
Dartaye Ruffin (6’8″ Jr. PF, Stoughton (MA) High)
Billy Soriano (5’8″ Fr. PG, Providence (RI) Mount Pleasant HS)
Cory Wright, Jr. (5’11” Jr. PG, Pawtucket (RI) Marianapolis Prep)
