Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Boston, MA (Future150) -- On the first day of the Hoop Dreams Mag Prep Classic there were plenty of players who stood out. Some were unsigned seniors who were looking to make a name for themselves. Some were international prospects, and some were underclassmen that had yet to become known commodities:
Jermaine Samuels, 2017 SF, Rivers School: Samuels is still adjusting to the high school game but it is clear that he has a chance to be a special player. Standing at 6-foot-6 already, he moves very well in the open floor and had a number of athletic finishes around the rim.
Daniel Eduardo, 2014 SF, Redemption Christian Academy: He got out on the break and finished above the rim on multiple occasions. While he stands at just 6-foot-5, he is powerfully built and showed off some guard skills as well. His best asset is his ability to get to the basket and he could draw interest from low major programs going into the spring signing period.
Bobby Ahearn, 2014 PF, Marianapolis Prep: Ahearn showed the ability to score the ball both inside and on the perimeter. He works hard on both ends of the floor and at this point, looks ready to make an impact at Binghamton next season.
Matt Cimino, 2014 PF, Worcester Academy: One of the better forwards available in the senior class, Cimino runs the floor well and is a sneaky good defender. He needs to get stronger in order for him to stop getting bullied by bigger forwards, but his skill set is high-major.
Sultan Olusekun, 2015 PG, Belmont Hill: Arguably the breakout player of the day, Olusekun led his Belmont Hill squad to the upset victory over Vermont Academy. He was a pesky defender, found his teammates, and scored the ball as well. He has a high IQ as a player and fits the ideal point guard mold. Look for him to have a breakout AAU season with Expressions on the EYBL circuit.
Bruce Brown, 2016 SG, Vermont Academy: Brown is a physical guard who plays hard on both ends of the floor. He was one of the few bright spots for Vermont Academy in the loss, he got to the rim at will and showed an improved handle. He has the length to be a lockdown defender and looks well on his way to becoming one.
Dmitri Floras, 2014 PG, Macduffie School: Floras is one of the more underappreciated guards in the northeast. As he showed today he is capable of playing either position and has a decent jumper. He will be a good player for Quinnipiac and could turn into one of the better guards in the conference in time.
Mihailo Vasic, 2014 PF, Lee Academy: The big man is currently flying under the radar but should be a target for mid and low-majors this spring. He runs the floor well and finishes everything around the rim. He also has some guard skills, as he handles it surprisingly well for a 6-foot-8 forward.
Damontre Jefferson, 2015 PG, Believe Prep: He has the reputation as a shot jacker but has worked hard to transform himself into more of a distributor. On Saturday he did just that, helping his team to the victory. He can still score at will and is one of the streakiest shooters around, but it is clear he is dedicated to being more of a lead guard.
Nemanja Zarkovic, 2014 CG, Jean-De-Bruf: If Olusekun wasn’t the breakout player of the day, it’s only because Zarkovic was so solid. He showed the ability to play either position at a high level and should immediately become a target for mid and low-major programs. He is unselfish and looks to make the extra pass but is still capable of creating shots for himself and others. At 6-foot-3 he has good size and it is easy to see he has a good basketball IQ.
David Burrell, 2015 SF, Believe Prep: Burrell is a jumping jack of an athlete and in an up-and-down affair his game was on full display. He is a streaky shooter from deep but when he is on he can score from all over the floor and is hard to guard. He is an active defender as well and seemingly gets better every time he steps on the floor.
Jordy Tsimanga, 2016 C, Macduffie School: Tshimanga is far from a finished product but it appears that he will have the chance to be a big time talent. He has soft hands and a massive frame for a 6-foot-9 kid. He moves well for a big of his size and gives 100% on both ends of the floor. He is definitely one to keep an eye on.
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