Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
New Haven, CT (Future150) -- On the third and final day of the National Prep Showcase, the action was fierce as teams looked to pick up one last win before heading home, and players hoped to get more looks from the college coaches in attendance. A majority of the games were close throughout and went to the wire. Here are the guys who played well on the final day:
Tyler Lydon, 2015 SF, New Hampton- While he has yet to fill out, Lydon has a nose for the ball and is a great rebounder. He proved that in their game vs Massanutten, where he scored 15 points and grabbed 15 boards. The Syracuse commit is a versatile forward who can put the ball on the floor and shoot it from deep as well. He is a great start to their class of 2015.
DJ Foreman, 2014 SF, Massanutten- This time last year, Foreman was considered a power forward, fast forward and it’s looking like he will end up playing on the wing. He showed an improved handle as well as the ability to hit threes off the dribble. The impressive part of his transformation is that he has made it without sacrificing any of his toughness that made him such a sought after prospect. Rutgers fans should be giddy about his arrival in Piscataway.
Marial Shayok, 2014 SF, Blair Academy- Shayok is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades player in the sense that he can score, run the offense through him, and is arguably his team’s best defender. He plays with a high running motor and is physically imposing. He held 2015 standout Terrence Mann to just four points in the first half of their matchup.
Kaleb Joseph, 2014 PG, Cushing Academy- A 6-foot-3 point guard with great explosiveness, Joseph was one of the few Cushing players that could handle going against Canarias Basketball Academy. He got to the rim and either finished with powerful dunks or got fouled. His shooting ability has improved as well. He can play either guard position and may do so at times at Syracuse, where he will team up with Tyler Ennis.
Michal Cekovsky, 2014 C, Canarias Basketball Academy - He had a superb weekend, scoring down low at will. He got great position and used a bevy of moves. While he is a legit 7-feet tall, he runs the floor very well and is fundamentally sound. He will be highly sought after heading into the spring signing period.
Devonte Graham, 2014 PG, Brewster Academy- There is little doubt that Graham will be one of the most highly sought after players in the nation once he becomes available. The former Appalachian State commit is waiting to be released from his NLI but there is no chance he will ever suit up there if they don’t. He got to the rim with ease as well and hit shots from beyond the arc. He is a blur in the open floor and has great size as well. He is far and away the best uncommitted point guard in the class of 2014.
Satchel Pierce, 2014 C, Kiski Prep- He looks like he will be a bit of a project, but if anyone can get something out of him it’s Buzz Williams. The Marquette-bound center has good hands and is efficient with his shots, scoring 17 on 6 of 8 shooting while pulling down 10 boards as well.
Damontrae Jefferson, 2015 PG, Believe Prep- He has changed his game up a bit in that he has become much more economical with his shot selection and is focused on being more of a traditional point guard. Jefferson has always been supremely gifted, but it would appear that the light has gone off in his head and that he is becoming an efficient player as well.
Cheick Diallo, 2015 C, Our Savior New American - He is one of the premier big men in the country thanks to his shot blocking, athleticism, and ability to run the floor. His offensive game has improved rapidly and continues to get better. He is a freak athlete that shows great timing defensively. As good as he is now, he’s only going to get better. That’s a scary thought.
Christian Vital, 2016 CG, Vermont Academy- He is a talented scoring guard that can get hot in a hurry. That’s what happened on Sunday night, as he hit 6 threes en route to a 24 point performance. While he was one of the bright spots for VA against Our Savior, it’s easy to get excited about Vital. He’s an explosive guard who can score on all three levels. He’s due to break out sooner rather than later.
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