Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Havoc Fall Shootout Presents The Area's Finest

Many of the Capital District's top up & coming basketball talent donned a jersey at the same place last Saturday: Schenectady High School, home of the inaugural Havoc Fall Shootout. The majority of the Capital District boys suited up for 518 Mix, a team largely consisting of City Rocks players. The girls side, which was the stronger showcase of the two, had local talent more spread out.

Boys

518 Mix split games against a pair of teams from Redemption Christian Academy, a prep school now based in Northfield, MA. They lost a double digit lead and held on to win by 4 against RCA's varsity squad, and then lost by 20 to the post-grad team. Contributions were given from Guilderland teammates Andrew Sischo and Mike Wine, Green Tech teammates Dasier Lukes and Neftali Lind, Watervliet's Ty'Jon Gilmore, Troy's Ryan Carmello, Mount Anthony Union (VT)'s Tyler Champagne, Whitesboro's Josh Gregory, and Little Falls' Todd Hubbell. Wine and Hubbell are juniors; the rest are seniors.

Other boys teams showcased local talent. NYE consisted mainly of Green Tech players, and there was a team representing Albany HS - those two went to overtime in the morning. Capital District based team Squad did well - normally led by Lansingburgh's Davonte Jones and Green Tech's Derrick Rowland, among others. They certainly were aided by Putnam (MA) senior Tyonne Malone Jr., an explosive 6'5" wing with offers from UMass, Saint Peter's, Sacred Heart, and Manhattan. Shaker varsity went at it without a coach Saturday - led by guards Ben Diamond and Brian Hayes, along with post Kai Dare. They battled many of the Capital District's future stars in the last game of the day, an AOBA team consisting of many of the best 8th & 9th graders.


Girls

The girls side had some shining stars, and it was very balanced at the top. The best teams there played each other, and all of the games were close. No team at the oldest level walked out unscathed, and 4 different groups had impressive talent at that age group. Havoc - the host team - along with Albany Lady Falcons and a last second crew that myself and tournament director Terrance Florence put together (donning mainly Empire State Takeover jerseys) all went 2-1 on the day by beating each other up. Berkshire Blazers, out of western MA, also had some impressive talent.

The new look New York Havoc team, with Terrance Florence at the helm, has a great display of the top Capital District prospects in 2017, 2018, and 2019. They won close games over Berkshire Blazers and Albany Lady Falcons, losing one in the middle to the Empire State Takeover squad that went down to the final possession. A few players had shining stretches for the squad.

Amsterdam junior 3/4 Nina Fedullo stood out at both ends with her usual combination of skill and will. Her ability on the basketball court is like that of a utility player in baseball - plug & play anywhere and you'll be fine, and no one on the court will outwork her. To add to her scrappy style of play and ability to convert from 15' and in, she showed growing confidence in knocking down the 3. Columbia freshman Grace Heeps stood out as usual with the tools she provides. A 5'10" combo guard, game most suited for the 2 but can also run the point, kept the defense honest with her shooting ability and showed off an increased ability to get to the rim off the dribble. 5'10" Glens Falls junior Lucy Tougas has also made a seamless transition over to Havoc and had her shining moments. Another combo guard but certainly more comfortable running the point, she had very strong stretches at the 1. She was more confident in the jumper, knocking down several pull-up mid-range Js, and it opened up her ability to set up others later in the day.

Shaker sophomore 2 guard Shyla Sanford brought everything you expect of her to the table - a pitbull of a defender, she caused issues for whoever she was guarding, and she continued to show as pure of a perimeter jumper as there is in the area. The most eye-opening contribution may have come from a newcomer from out of the area - Northampton (MA) junior Lauraine Joensen. The 6'2" stretch 4, originally from Denmark, is no stranger to EST - she was a contributor and honorable mention selection for Outwork, the top-seeded team this summer that lost a nail-biter in the finals. With her height, length, great skill for her size along with mobility, she added an entirely different dynamic to the Havoc group. She fit into the scheme perfectly on both ends, and it was easy to see that with her elite ability to catch & finish along with knock down the mid-range J or take her defender off the dribble from 15'-17', teammates loved having her around. Contributions were also seen from Glens Falls freshman Sophie Tougas, a 6 footer who could feasibly play/defend all 5 positions on the court - she showed some good signs Saturday, just getting back on the court after a foot issue has kept her mainly sidelined for 4 weeks. When she's back to 100%... look out.

5'11" Guilderland shooter Olivia Baumann and 6'3" Tara Sager out of Ichabod Crane also had their moments. They were missing one important piece - hard-nosed sophomore guard Cameron Tooley was held to the role of a cheerleader Saturday, resting a back injury.

At full strength, and for never having a practice together or even knowing who each other was (for the most part) before Saturday, the hybrid Empire State Takeover/AOBA squad was a force to be reckoned with. After taking a morning loss to Albany Lady Falcons (without the services of Division I talent Sydney Brown), they responded by holding off New York Havoc and winning in blowout fashion over a younger AOBA group.

As usual, Shenendehowa junior Sydney Brown was impressive. At a very athletic 6'0", she's comfortable filling just about every role on the court. Started off as a post and took smaller matchups in the blocks, but certainly has the ability to attack from the wing, and her quickness allows her to blow by as soon as she gets to the side of her defender. She even showed she can run the show when given some opportunities to run the point. And let's talk about athletic again: ball got stuck between the rim and backboard, and she knocked it out. WITH EASE. 2 step gather, 2 foot jump, simple. Have fun, Suburban Council. It was more than just Syd, though - her high school teammate came through with one of the stronger days I've seen from her. Senior Morgan O'Brien showed a consistent ability to keep the ball alive on both ends, take advantage of slower matchups in the post by using her go-to spin move to get to the rim, and just the simple knack of being in the right place - a very underrated skill. Cuts & post movements almost always were right to the open area, making it easy to get the pass to her and making for an easier finish.

Another pair of teammates showed out for this squad - from across the state border in Vermont. Mount Anthony Union junior Madison Little went from looking rusty early in Game 1 (c'mon, it's soccer season) to getting in the flow and knocking down some jumpers, and by the game against Havoc, she was back to ol' Maddy. Around 5'9" with very long arms, big hands, and a high release on the jumper, a hand in the face doesn't mean much to her. After getting to the rim a couple times, she knocked down J after J to the effect of 20 points in that 58-55 W. With that height, length, quickness, and pure strength for her size, she can defend every position. She defended both CeCe Mayo & Saeeda Abdul-Aziz well against Falcons. Against Havoc, it was Grace Heeps, Lucy Tougas (backcourt), Nina Fedullo (tweener), and Lauraine Joensen (6'2" stretch 4/5). She used her strength to literally run through a double screen in the closing seconds, helping preserve a win. She attacked the rim and had the mid-range - her high school teammate, fellow junior Brianna Legacy, had the 3 firing on all cylinders. It was 3 after 3 for the 5'7" guard, knocking down 10 of them over the course of 3 games while shooting it at a high clip. She also showed an improved ability to use that for other things - took advantage of the lanes opening up and got to the rim on numerous occasions, and also hit a cutting Brown or O'Brien more than once. Another strong defender with toughness and long arms to boot, she had more than her share of steals throughout the day.

Colonie freshman Aliyah Wright ran the point very well for this group, and showed that although it's only been a few short months since AAU season, she has seasoned well beyond that time since then. The difference in on-court decision-making and maturity is easy to see - mistakes were at a bare minimum, a heck of a sight from a point guard at that age. Her ability to score in a variety of ways, put defenders on skates with the handle, set teammates up, and read defenders to know when it's time to do each of those was all on display. She was the driving force behind a late push in the morning game, knocking a 14 point deficit down to 5. Ballston Spa senior Liv Allrich continued to show her versatility and why she's the person everyone in the Capital District should be talking a lot more about. At 5'10" with a strong frame, yet an unmistakable shooting ability and deceptive quickness and handle, there's nothing that she wasn't able to do on the court. Allrich was able to take what the defense gave her and use it to her advantage, and her basketball IQ is second-to-none to those with a trained eye. She also showed the desire on Saturday to defend tough matchups - she wanted to guard the best players. Contributions were also seen from Shaker senior point guard Audrey Martino, who was all over the court as far as hustle goes in the opener and was able to make things happen offensively in the last two games.

Albany Lady Falcons came to play as well with a couple faces that you don't normally see with the Falcons jersey on. They pulled away to beat the hybrid EST-AOBA squad in the morning, had a solid battle from start to finish against Berkshire Blazers, and then lost late to New York Havoc. They were led throughout by two of the most highly touted junior prospects in the Capital District, Shaker's CeCe Mayo and Mohonasen's Saeeda Abdul-Aziz. Mayo, already committed to West Point, has undeniable talent. At 5'11", she's comfortable playing any position on the floor offensively. She can handle it and run the show from the top, attack the basket from the perimeter, hit the 3, set herself up or set others up. She did a little bit of everything throughout the day offensively. She does a good job anticipating the play on D and used that well, getting in the passing lane time and time again. Abdul-Aziz really got it going in the last game. Another 5'11" wing who is in range as soon as she walks in the building, she showed every bit of that in leading the Falcons back to a 1 possession deficit late. When defenders respect it, it becomes that much easier for her to get to the rim. A couple shots that she hit during the day were ones that made you realize why she has multiple Division I offers - it's not every day you find a girl close to 6' that can not only knock down a stepback 24 footer with a hand in the face in a pressure situation, but makes it look smooth too. Albany sophomore point guard Bridget Whelan had her shining moments as well, especially in the early game, where her combination of perimeter shooting ability and pure toughness came to the front. She made play after play on both ends during the morning.

Berkshire Blazers certainly had a few worth mentioning in the 3 usual suspects from that area. Backcourt mates and fellow Pittsfield area juniors Peyton Steinman (Pittsfield 2017) and Grace Guachione (Miss Hall's 2017) were steady as always and made things happen, both offensively (Guachione primarily with the jumper, Steinman primarily off the bounce) and defensively. 6'4" Mount Greylock junior Jenna Benzinger was a force in the blocks, and continues to impress this fall - she's in better shape each time I'm able to evaluate her, which has been a huge lift for her on-court production.

Another quality Capital District event in the books - would like to thank Terrance Florence for the opportunity to be able to lend a hand! Without question, one of the biggest supporters of the Empire State Takeover initiative - give support, get support!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Empire State Takeover Girls Exposure Event Recap

On October 4, a small but talented group of 5 seniors, 6 juniors, 8 sophomores, and 2 freshmen took the court at Union College, showing what they could bring a college program in front of coaches from St. Thomas Aquinas, Hartwick, SUNY Cobleskill, Elmira, Keene St., St. John Fisher, SUNY Brockport, Clarkson, SUNY Morrisville, and Utica in a series of games and drills. Here is what they - and I - saw.
Allrich letting the 3 fly with Natalie DiSalvo defending
Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa '16, 5'10" G/F) - Arguably had the best showing of the day. A seriously underrecruited Capital District prospect who has done her work in the shadow of the more highly touted players of the class, her skill set was on full display at Skidmore and it brought her to the forefront. Strong build which allows her to post up smaller, weaker matchups and the post footwork to really take advantage of it, but also has very deceptive quickness and handle to take any matchup on from the wing, especially a larger defender. Knockdown shooter with range well beyond the line, and has a very high basketball IQ. Smart enough to anticipate the play and does all the non-box score things. Borderline scholarship talent with all Division 3s looking at her now. Will make whatever school she lands at very happy.


Chudy sweeping across the lane between Sam Dayter (left) and Brianna Legacy
Maddie Chudy (Saratoga Springs '16, 5'11" F) - Long, agile post that runs the floor extremely well. Scored a bunch by filling the lane in the open court and beating her defender down the court. Keeps the ball high in the blocks and uses her agility in post moves too - that and her length allows the sweeping baby hook with either hand to be a go-to move. Best as a help-side defender, where she can protect the rim. The length, along with good timing, makes her a good weak side shot blocker. Like many that attended, academics are very high as well.


DiSalvo finishing off the stepback against Mykal Walters
Natalie DiSalvo (Canton '16, 5'9" G) - One of the best pure scorers in the building, and she did so in a variety of ways at Skidmore. Skilled and physically strong wing with a high motor, she excels in the open court and in a half-court setting. Great perimeter and mid-range jump shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble. Loves using the stepback going to her left. Strong enough to body up smaller matchups in the post. Tough competitor that shows the desire to win at anything in any season. Another borderline scholarship talent who is a hot name among Division III programs - she'll give job security to a coaching staff for a handful of years.


Elliott knocking down the mid-range jumper
Nakaela Elliott (Saratoga Springs '16, 5'9" F) - Good 4 with a deceptive skill set. Slightly undersized compared to other posts, but can score against more size in multiple ways. Can step back and hit the 15-17 foot jumper, and has a couple go-to moves in the post. Slippery in the blocks and is good at feeling where the defender is, even using a modified Dream Shake from time to time. A gamer that steps up her level of play against the top competition.


Nicholas getting a hand on the shot attempt from Grace Heeps
Maya Nicholas (Cobleskill-Richmondville '16, 5'10" F) - Lanky tweener with an expanding game. Most effective as a 4 right now, but with work could become a lanky college 3. Best suited offensively getting in the open court and using athleticism. She can work in the post offensively or get by slower matchups off the dribble from the perimeter. Maya's an asset defensively with ability to guard multiple positions. Good rebounder at both ends, can block shots, and can be a pest defensively against wings with her length.

Class D 2nd team all-stater Laing pulling up for the three in a late scrimmage
Brianna Laing (South Kortright '17, 5'3" G) - The most serious basketball player on a small-school program synonymous with success, and her game is expanding as such. Undersized, but doesn't let it stop her. Fearless attacking the basket, can knock down the jumper with range beyond the 3 point line, and uses the floater & pull-up jumper to her benefit. Good floor general - calms everything down and can run the show on offense. A ballhawk on defense that gets after it. Definitely could see her being a 1st team all-stater in Class D in the future.

Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh '17, 5'4" G) - Quickly improving guard who looks ready to tear up her small-school conference this year. Her game has flourished since beginning to play against strong competition. High basketball IQ, makes the right play and rarely turns it over. Does a lot of the little things that get overlooked. Lefty, and seems to always be able to get to her left. Good mid-range shooter and loves the 8-12 foot floater, an asset for someone undersized like her. Shoots free throws at a very high clip and has a noticeably good attitude.

Tougas attacking the rim on the break with Julianna Taylor defending
Lucy Tougas (Glens Falls '17, 5'10" G) - The best pure point guard college prospect in the building. Happier with an 8 point, 12 assist stat line than anything, and it really shows when she's playing around people who can score. Great size & strength for the position. Court vision is perhaps her biggest strength, sees everything going on and can thread the needle with a no-look pass on the move just as easily as making the simple pass. Makes teammates better - they know they're getting it if they run the floor or cut. Needs work on perimeter J, but has handle & can get to the rim easily, and mid-range J is improving steadily. Deadly in the pick & roll game. Ivy-level academics.

Caivana in recovery mode on D against Holly Manchester
Danielle Caivana (Frankfort-Schuyler '17, 5'2" G) - Small, but electric guard who can fill it up when she gets it going. Slick handle that was on full display and has deep range - much deeper than people would expect looking at her frame. 25 feet is in range, and she's a danger to hit 5 or 6 threes if she starts feeling it. Uses the pull-up J well and has an improving runner. Plays best when she's allowed to be in attack mode.

Battle of the matching shoes - Legacy off the dribble with Cameron Tooley defending
Brianna Legacy (Mount Anthony Union (VT) '17, 5'7" G) - One of the best shooters in the gym, and she was firing on all cylinders. Knocked down 10 threes in 3 games, shooting them at a high percentage, and used it to open up other parts of her game. Defenders having to respect the jumper made it much easier for her to get to the rim. Looks like she's been in the weight room - improving physical strength helped her finish better through contact. Was tough on D as well, does a good job anticipating the play and getting a hand in the passing lane. Strong showing overall for one of VT's shining juniors.

Taylor looking ahead while running the point for her squad
Julianna Taylor (Fonda-Fultonville '17, 5'5" G) - Hard-nosed guard who is a menace on defense. Offensive game is improving, especially the perimeter jumper which has turned into a strength of hers, and she's a viable scoring option on any team. That being said, what she brings defensively is still her strong suit. Quick on her feet and fearless, she can be a pest to the opposition's best perimeter player, and her long arms make it easier for her to disrupt the ballhandler or get a hand up on a shot. Has improved quite a bit over the last few months. 

Manchester off the bounce with Cameron Tooley defending
Holly Manchester (Susquehanna Valley '18, 5'0" G) - Really strong showing from the smallest girl on the court. Fearless (and effective) getting to the rim and going up against girls a foot taller. Good floater. Ambidextrous - does pretty much everything close to equally well with the left and right hand. Can knock down the 3 if given a little space. Great court vision and can slip passes into tight areas with ease. Uses her brain on defense more than anyone else there - notices her opponent's tendencies and sits on it. Her opponent was never able to go to their go-to move after the first few minutes.

Katelyn Flanagan (Canton '18, 5'5" G) - Scrappy, physical guard that became more effective throughout the afternoon as she got more comfortable. First time breaking into Capital District hoops and out of the North Country. Made her presence felt at various times and plays with heart. Probably just scratching the surface of her potential.

Dayter taking it to the rack against a defending Grace Heeps
Sam Dayter (Cohoes '18, 5'9" G) - All about upside. As a lanky, fast 5'9" combo guard, the physical tools are unmistakable. Another one who is really just scratching the surface. Tough to stay in front of with quickness and a very long first step. Can pull up and hit the mid-range J and knock down the three if given some space, but does best getting all the way to the rim. Crafty finisher, had a nice reverse around a couple defenders in the last scrimmage. Good defender in both man-to-man and zone with the physical tools. Potential for days.

Johnson defending a Brianna Legacy shot attempt with Mykal Walters helping from behind
Cheyenne Johnson (Wantagh '18, 5'5" G) - Made her mark primarily on the defensive end. The Long Islander came in with defensive toughness like she was from NYC. Not afraid to be physical and was stronger than her size let on, and was a pest by using quick hands to poke the ball away time and time again. Looked to set others up more than herself on the offensive end - almost always made the extra pass.

Colorful Cam gathering for a breakaway layup
Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa '18, 5'6" G) - Really strong, really effective, really fun to watch lefty combo guard. Can fill either spot in the backcourt and appears to be equally comfortable with both. Tough as nails, absorbs more contact than any smaller guard here and thrives off it. Doesn't need to always go left, but always finds a way to get there. Great floater and finishes well at the rim. Lives at the free throw line and makes them count. Knockdown mid-range shooter and the three is improving. Can also set others up and knows when it's time for others & when it's time for her. Arguably the best perimeter defender at Skidmore, high basketball IQ and the quickness to smother the ballhandler. Good attitude and a very hard worker.

Walters extending on the break to beat a charging Grace Heeps to the rim
Mykal Walters (Hudson '18, 5'6" G) - Showed flashes of what to expect in the future as the afternoon went on. Did very well in the last scrimmage. Knocked down a few jumpers, got out in the open court and got some easy ones that way as well. Just recently got serious about basketball, but has made big strides forward recently. Big upside over the next couple years.

Carter on the pull-up jumper with Julianna Taylor defending
Emma Carter (Mount Abraham Union (VT) '18, 5'9" G) - Really strong showing from one of Vermont's most underrated young prospects. Wing with good size and a high release, she can stroke it from deep and a hand in the face doesn't bother her. Good stepback and can find ways to get herself open looks. Unlike many from smaller areas, she plays up to stronger levels of competition and had her shining moments throughout the day. Strength is her pure scoring ability now, but has shown improvement in every aspect of her game since spring & summer. One of the shining performances of the day.

Maya Alvarez (Hudson '18, 5'9" F) - Active & athletic tweener that had her moments in limited action. Really thin & lanky, active on both ends, and keeps a lot of balls alive on the boards at each end. Best suited in an uptempo style where she can use her strengths.

Heeps running the show on the break during an early scrimmage
Grace Heeps (Columbia '19, 5'10" G) - Serious Division I prospect already. Combo guard with legitimate range out to 23-25 feet. Capable ballhandler, especially to free herself up for a jumper, and getting quicker and more comfortable putting it on the deck to get to the rim. Also getting quicker laterally now, which is beneficial on the defensive end. Her game is best suited as a 2 guard, but can also fill the PG spot and has great court vision and the ability to snap advance passes 50-60 feet ahead on a rope. With her youth, she may even have some growing left to do. Potential high major - sky is the limit for one of the region's top freshmen.

Sophie Tougas (Glens Falls '19, 6'0" G/F) - Yet another major Division I prospect from the Class of 2019. Can either play the 2, 3, or 4 depending on lineups and will be able to run the point before all is said and done, and she can defend every position on the floor with her rare combo of height, length, and quickness. Capable shooter, especially mid-range but can also knock down the 3. Good handle, can control the play against pressure and break her defender down off the dribble. More confidence will turn her into scary good, potential high major prospect. Foot issue unfortunately kept her out for most of the day.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Empire State Takeover Boys Exposure Event Recap

On Sunday, a small but talented group of 18 seniors and 6 juniors took the court at Union College, showing what they could bring a college program in front of coaches from Le Moyne, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Purchase, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Cobleskill, Union, Clarkson, Hartwick, Keuka, and Ulster CC in a series of games and drills. Here is what they - and I - saw.

Carmello (#5) in the play with Devin Boyle as Anthony DeBonis extends for a layup
Will Carmello (Bishop Gibbons '16, 6'0" G) - Will's strength on Sunday was the perimeter J. He made the defense pay numerous times for giving him space by knocking down the three. Gravitated toward the corner 3, which he hit with consistency. Not the most athletic there, but made up for it with brains defensively.


Bergh attacking the rim with Mike Wine (left) and Colden George (right) defending
Kory Bergh (Amsterdam '16, 5'10" G) - One of the premier guards out of his class in the area for a couple years now, he took a big step in showing that it was his time on Sunday. Kory had it all going, and with scorers around him, he was able to take the role of pass-first point guard that could score when the time was right - which is what he does best. Short, but strong and unafraid of contact. Actually seeks it out at times. One of the best (maybe the best) passer there, good handle and a knockdown shooter. Will be a great pickup for a program.

Diamond pulling up for an open 3 during a late scrimmage
Ben Diamond (Shaker '16, 5'8" G) - If Kory is thunder, Ben is lightning. Very crafty, slippery guard that uses a combo of slick moves and intelligence to make up for the clear size disadvantage. Uses change of speed better than most and can finish in a variety of ways. Scrappy at both ends. He'll go under the radar because of size, but could really help a team with an uptempo system.

Boyle pulling up for one of his many threes on the day with Colden George defending
Devin Boyle (Johnstown '16, 6'1" G) - Devin has exploded onto the Capital District scene over the last few months. Barely mentioned up until somewhat recently, he followed up a great summer league showing with a great one Sunday. Crafty with the handle and can do well setting others or himself up. One of the best shooters in the building - either off the catch, off the dribble, or off the screen. Was flying under the radar, but that's changing.

Mullins beating Darius Wicks (left) and Anthony DeBonis up the court for an easy 2
Mark Mullins (Chenango Valley '16, 6'3" G) - Talented all-around athlete from the Binghamton area. He had stretches of very strong play Sunday. Mark is a systemless kid - he can find his stride in any style of play, offensively or defensively. Capable shooter who can also put it on the floor or take smaller matchups down low. Long & can defend multiple positions. One of the hotter D3 prospects in upstate NY.

Close-up of a Champagne jumper in early session fast-break drills
Tyler Champagne (Mt. Anthony Union (VT) '16, 6'4" G) - Can't miss wing from the Bennington, VT area. At 6'4" with long arms and a high release, he can get his jumper up over defenders without them being able to alter it. One of the smoothest offensive players here - along with the perimeter J, he can put it on the floor to pull up for a mid-range J, use a floater, or get all the way to the rim. Another one who could fit in either a man-to-man or zone defensive scheme with his physical tools. Also an honorable mention pick in the EST summer league.

Evans with the blow-by against a defending Caleb Lapinel
Andrew Evans (Niskayuna '16, 6'3" G) - Perhaps one of the more underrated seniors in the Capital District. Showed a variety of tools Sunday and can score many different ways. Gets after it and plays with a little bit of an edge. Another good shooter with range well beyond the arc. Could fill either guard role at the next level. Good high-academic fit.

Lapinel attacking the rim with Anthony DeBonis on defense
Caleb Lapinel (Jefferson '16, 5'11" G) - Scrappy guard that has shown marked improvement over the last couple months. Despite his size, he was one of the best rebounding guards there - got to the right spot and wasn't afraid of contact. Works for everything he gets on the court. Does a good job pushing tempo and finishing around defenders.



Higgins with one of his many threes on the day
Matt Higgins (South Glens Falls '16, 6'3" G) - It felt like Matt couldn't miss Sunday. Perhaps the most well-rounded wing there, Higgins doesn't really have a weakness. He can shoot the 3 (hit about 15 in 3 games), loves the mid-range game, can get to the rim and finish above it, can handle and set others up, and is a lockdown defender when he's in it. Continuing to fill out and get better - bunch of D3 schools going after him.

George with the open mid-range J in fast-break drills
Colden George (Attica '16, 6'2" G) - Stat-stuffing combo guard. Decent scorer, especially in the open court. His athleticism and length makes him a solid rebounder coming from the backcourt and he can get to the rim with sheer speed off the dribble. Willing to make the extra pass and good at setting others up. Got after it on defense and didn't give up on the play if he got beat.

Ty'Jon Gilmore (Watervliet '16, 6'1" G) - A nagging foot injury got the better of Gilmore midway through the day, taking away perhaps the most talented guard in the building. Very strong & physical PG that loves contact and lives at the line, but also has consistent range out to 25'. Could also gladly fill the role of a pass-first point guard and has the maturity & IQ of a college senior on the court, not a high school senior. No offers yet, but receiving some serious interest from scholarship schools - both Division I and Division II.

More fast-break drill action - Bryant finishing above the rim in the 2 on 1 break
Rayquan Bryant (Newburgh '16, 6'3" G) - Athletic wing that finished above the rim as well as anyone in a Takeover jersey Sunday. Does a good job getting a step on defenders and initiating contact going to the rim. Would live at the free throw line in games that were called a little tighter. Quickness and length allow him to defend multiple positions with ease. Plays with a chip on his shoulder and gets after it on both ends.

Gregory letting it fly after getting himself some space
Josh Gregory (Whitesboro '16, 6'4" G/F) - Young senior (still 16) that is not only growing into his body, but still growing. Can shoot the lights out when he gets it going. He was streaky Sunday, but still one of the better shooters there even on an off day for him. Uses the ability to knock it down to set up other aspects of his game. Bigger than most guards and has the ability to post up smaller matchups. Also willing to make the extra pass. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Good Division 3 prospect now, but a post-grad year could bump him up into D2 waters.

DeBonis up high with the finish during Sunday's final scrimmage
Anthony DeBonis (Troy '16, 6'6" F) - Lanky, athletic lefty that does just about everything you could look for from the 4 spot. He can finish at and above the rim, is a very good rebounder on both ends, and his mid-range jumper & face-up game have improved drastically. Great shot blocker coming from the weak side in help position. He runs the court better than most bigs and knows what to do with it when he gets it. Underrated post on a Troy team that has been very guard-dependent the last couple years - he'll make a program happy for the next few years.

Schultz defending against a tough attempt from Anthony DeBonis
Ian Schultz (Albany CBA '16, 6'5" F) - His game translates very well to a stretch 4 at the next level. Can step out and knock down the jumper consistently out to beyond the 3 point line. Uses that to open up other aspects of his perimeter game, which is deceptively strong. Works well in the post, uses the jump hook effectively. Tough kid and very good rebounder. Does all of the little things that teams are looking for.

Perry (#49) going up on defense against Andrew Sischo
Nick Perry (Attica '16, 6'4" F) - A little undersized for the post position at the next level, but makes up for that with brute strength. Battled everyone well in the blocks on both ends. Didn't see the ball as much as the other bigs Sunday, but did well when he got it. Much of his success came off work on the offensive boards. Outworks his matchup most of the time.

Skaine going up with the left hand with Mike Wine battling down low on defense
Alex Skaine (Saratoga Springs '16, 6'4" G/F) - Tough, gritty tweener with budding guard skills. Has played primarily down low to this point and has the post skills to go with it - great footwork, strong go-to move and counter move on each block, and has toughness. His jumper has improved quite a bit out to 18', along with his ballhandling ability. He can be successful in a half-court or uptempo style, and he can defend multiple positions. Quickness and length also makes him a very good pick & roll defender. Interest has been blossoming for him.

A rare 6'8" true big man that runs the floor - easy 2 for Sischo because of it here
Andrew Sischo (Guilderland '16, 6'9" F) - Physically dominant on both ends. Strong in the post, has a variety of moves in the post and can finish with power or finesse. Great touch - but can also dunk in traffic. He can also step out and knock down the mid-range and perimeter J with consistency. SERIOUS improvement over the last year. At the point where one defender just won't do against him. EST summer league MVP with another solid performance Sunday.

Fancher setting up a teammate off penetration in early fast-break drills
Colby Fancher (Stamford '17, 5'11" G) - Good overall performance for one of the few small-schoolers in the building on Sunday. Tough, scrappy PG who is maturing on the court and playing with more control - a big plus in his game. One of the fastest players there, really can wreak havoc in the open court. Had a couple beautiful passes once he got into the lane. Utilized the floater a few teams to get it over taller defenders. Ball-hawking defender who gets more than his share of steals.

Good battle here with Anderson defending on the play against Matt Higgins
Adam Anderson (Saratoga Springs '17, 6'1" G) - From JV player to sought after by every Division III program that sees him in 8 months time, it's been a rapid climb for Anderson with much more to come. Decent size from the point - long arms and sneaky athleticism make him play taller than he is. Capable perimeter jump shooter, game will take off more with improvements there. Great at getting to the rim and uses pull-ups & floaters from 10-15 feet very well. Active defender and has the type of body & quickness to be a lockdown defender against either backcourt position. Expect a breakout year from this up-and-coming junior.

Mike Wine (Guilderland '17, 6'0" G) - Previously underrated point guard who has commanded respect as one of the area's best over the last few months. Mike has the ability to really fill it up, using quickness to get to the rim, utilizing a variety of ways to finish before getting to the rim, and knocking down jumpers from mid-range out to beyond the 3 point line. He can also set others up very well and feasts on pick & roll situations. His quickness & toughness make him stand out in a guard-heavy crowd.

Wicks looking ahead late in Sunday's scrimmaging
Darius Wicks (Saratoga Springs '17, 5'9" G) - Plays the game with a more physical edge than the average point guard. Enjoys contact and invites it on offense, but can knock down the 3 if given room. Takes pride on the defensive end and aims to make ballhandlers uncomfortable. Gets underneath their chin and is a ball hawk going for steals, not afraid to play tough & physical at that end as well. Spent a lot of Sunday shaking out the cobwebs (mid-football season for him), but became much more comfortable as the day went on.

Hawkins cleared for liftoff in the open court
Jalen Hawkins (Utica Proctor '17, 6'3" G) - One of the best athletes in the building and made sure it was known. Great foot speed, lateral quickness, and length. When given a lane, he goes to the rim with the goal of ripping the rim down along with whoever goes up with him. Had a couple near-posters. Capable jump shooter, can knock it down with a little room, and has the ability to be a strong defender when fully invested. Generally prefers finesse to power and uses quickness/length to finish around contact. Great fit as a PG for an uptempo system at the next level.

Parker attacking the rack with Darius Wicks working on D
Dom Parker (Stamford '17, 6'1" G) - Small-schooler, but you wouldn't be able to tell. Size, skill, length, and athleticism were all comparable to the lion's share of combo guards in the building. Became more comfortable through the day and was in attack mode in the later stages. Strongest aspect on this day was his jumper, which defenders had to respect. Blossoming talent - continued on-court work and playing against strong competition will help him make giant strides.