Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
West Chester, PA (Future150) -- This past weekend, one of the more under-the-radar events took place at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. The Big 64 may not be a big name pre-season showcase yet, but if the talent level stays as high as it was this past weekend, it’s only a matter of time. Many of the top Philadelphia area teams were in the gym, as well as Life Center (NJ), Friends (MD), and Salesianum (DE). A few of the big named players stood out while a couple of underclassmen grabbed the attention of scouts in the building.
Sean Lloyd, 2015 SG, Haverford: Lloyd is a talented wing that can play any of the perimeter positions. With Haverford he has teammate Levan Alston running the point so he takes on more of a scoring role. He has a college-ready frame that he uses to bully his way to the rim and finishes through contact. Lloyd also showcased an improved jump shot, shooting 4-for-6 from three point land on Saturday.
Ellis Dozier, 2014 CF, Sherwood: Dozier played his AAU ball with Sam RInes this summer so he came from MD to get some games in with Rise Academy despite being at Sherwood (MD). Rise recently lost two of their top players so Dozier was the focal point of the offense. He showed good versatility and was able to get to the rim when he faced up and attacked. He stands at 6-foot-8 now and could grow to be 6-foot-10. Despite his size he is more comfortable on the perimeter. Dozier is currently contemplating re-classing to 2015 and has a number of big time programs looking at him.
Levan Alston, 2015 PG, Haverford: Alston has had the reputation as one of the top point guards in the Northeast in his class and lived up to the billing. He knows how to run a team and looks to set his teammates up before hunting his own shot. At 6-foot-3 he has good size for the position and is able to either shoot over defenders or get to the rim and finish.
Marquise Collins, 2016 SF, Chester: It would appear that Chester has their next big wing prospect of the future in Collins. He is still quite raw but stands at about 6-foot-7 and is super athletic. He put the ball on the floor and attacked the rim this weekend. His length also makes him a great defender . While he is far from a finished product, he has the potential to be the next high-major wing out of Chester.
Lamar Stevens, 2016 SG/SF, Haverford: Possibly the more interesting prospect on the Haverford squad is 6-foot-7 wing Lamar Stevens. He is super athletic and showed that he is capable of shooting it from deep as well. He is arguably the best perimeter player in Philadelphia in the class of 2016 due to his size and ability to score the ball on all three levels.
Traci Carter, 2015 PG, Life Center: The Roman Catholic transfer might only be in his first year at Life Center but he already looks to be this squad’s leader. A pass-first point guard, Carter found his teammates for open looks and pushed the ball in transition all weekend. Carter also made sure to get the ball down to his big men, an underrated skill. While Carter showed he can run a team, he is also more than capable of being a scorer as well. Look for him to continue to improve his stock during the high school season and into AAU season where he will run with We-R-1 again.
Georgios Papagiannis, 2015 C, Westtown: The big man was the best prospect regardless of class in the building all weekend. At 7-foot-1 he is a mammoth of a center. He moves well for a player of his size and has fantastic hands. He showed great footwork in the post and the ability to score it with either hand. Papagiannis must work to improve his jump shot a bit but his understanding of the pick-and-roll is very advanced. This is his first year state-side and it’s clear that he is one of the top players in the class of 2015 nationally.
JaQuan Newton, 2014 CG, Neumann-Goretti: The Miami commit did what he does best on Saturday, getting to the rim and scoring it. Newton looks like he is going to be a perfect fit in the Hurricanes offense and should have an impact from day one. He is the leader of this Saints squad that looks poised to be in contention for a state title.
Trayvon Reed, 2014 C, Life Center: Reed looked comfortable with his new team on Saturday despite it being the first time that the team had actually played together. He was at his best when he was blocking shots and finishing lobs above the rim. He gives Life Center the ability to take risks on defense due to his elite shot-blocking. Look for Mark Turgeon and Maryland to use him in a similar role next season.
Jared Nickens, 2014 SF/SG, Westtown: Speaking of Maryland commits, Nickens was on fire during his first game on Sunday; knocking down shots from all over. While his ball-handling has improved, it’s not quite good enough for him to make the move to SG full-time at this point. That being said, he should bring the Terps plenty of value as a scorer and shot maker during his time in College Park.
Tony Toplyn, 2014 PF, Neumann-Goretti: The undersized power forward was really impressive Saturday, dunking everything he got his hands on. Toplyn runs the floor we and is very athletic. On the defensive end he plays bigger than he is and works to deny his man the ball. He should have an impact at a low major as an energy guy who makes plays.
Donte Divincenzo, 2015 SG, Salesianum: Divincenzo is one of the more under-the-radar recruits in the class of 2015 but it’s only a matter of time before he breaks out on the national stage. A shooting guard with great size and the ability to stroke it from deep, Divencenzo has no shortage of suitors. His is a smooth athlete who is at his best when he hunts his own shot. Look for him to make the leap into the Future150 updated rankings.
Malik Ellison, 2015 SG, Life Center: The son of former NBA player Pervis Ellison, Mailk showed a knack for scoring the ball. At 6-foot-5 Ellison has ideal size for his position moving forward. He shot the ball well and even ran the offense at times when Carter was on the bench. He plays with a high basketball IQ and rarely makes bad decisions with the ball in his hands.
Ryan Gomes, 2016 C, Friends: Gomes had a big time matchup with Papgiannis in his first game on Sunday morning and didn’t disappoint. While it was tough for him to score the rock against him, defensively he held his own. Gomes also showed the ability to face up and attack of the dribble or hit a 15-foot jumper. He must add strength and work on his post moves but the big man has a high ceiling.
Tony Carr, 2016 PG, Roman Catholic: Carr recently transferred from Abington Friends (PA) to Roman Catholic and while he won’t be the go-to player on this squad it is clear he will have an impact. He is a pass first point guard who always makes the right play. Playing alongside Shep Garner and Rashaan London should only help him develop his game. His ability to shoot from deep keeps defenders honest and he may be one of the best passers in the class of 2016.
Rashaan London, 2014 CG, Roman Catholic: London looks to be the perfect fit for Drexel. He handles the ball, can play either position, and has that Philly toughness. On defense London take pride in guarding his man and shutting him down. Look for him to be a nice four year player for Bruiser Flint and the Dragons.
Comments:
Thanks for showing Ryan Gomes some love. Just to update your stats on him, he is now 6’9” plus and weigh is about 210 and home town is Westminster. Look forward to seeing you in Nashville