Day two of the 2016 NY2LA Sports Final Chapter and Summer Showdown took place on Thursday. In bracket play of the Final Chapter, Troy Brown Jr. and the Las Vegas Prospects took care of business, winning both of their games in bracket play. Closing out the Summer Showdown, blue chip shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. put on a show for the fans in a marquee matchup.
Here are the top performers and stock boosters from Thursday’s action…
TOP PERFORMERS
Troy Brown Jr. – 2017 – PG – Las Vegas Prospects
One of the nation’s top point guards, what makes Brown special, aside from his 6-foot-6 frame, is he doesn’t need to score to be effective. Brown eased himself and his team into the game and then took over when needed. He scored a game-high 22 points in a win over All-In Y&R on Thursday. Brown rarely forces the issue offensively, knowing he can get any shot he wants and that his frame and skillset allow him to get deep into the paint before much resistance is possible. Brown is also a great perimeter defender. He’s quick enough to stay in front of smaller guards and Brown plays the passing lanes exceptionally well. A kid that gives you everything at the point guard position, Brown also shredded the defense with beautiful passing when it seemed he had no options available. Brown had himself a day, scoring 14 points in a win over the Wisconsin Swing and 20 in a loss to Howard Pulley as part of the Summer Showdown.
Ayo Dosunmu – 2018 – G – Mac Irvin Fire
There might not be a player in the entire country that gets to the rim more than Dosunmu. He’s a good jump shooter, but Dosunmu is so creative, so smooth, and just has a knack of slicing through defenses that he rarely needs to settle. After scoring 29 points in the opening night of the Summer Showdown, Dosunmu was at it again, getting right to the rack against Team Loaded VA. Dosunmu scored early and often, going coast-to-coast or penetrating off the pick n’ roll. A player that’s had a huge travel season, Dosunmu has established himself as one of the best guards in the country.
Marcus Garrett – 2017 – PG – Swaghouse Elite
Garrett had a game-high 17 points in a loss to All-In Y&R on Thursday. One of the most underrated point guards in the country, Garrett can score, facilitate, and defend at a high level. At 6-foot-5, he could easily create a ton of offense for himself, but prefers to be more of a quarterback and get the ball to his playmakers in a position where they can be successful. Garrett is a decent shooter, but excels most in transition where he can make plays for himself and his teammates. This kid is just steady no matter how high or how low things go for him and Garrett’s composure sets him apart from a lot of guards.
Demarius Jacobs – 2017 – PG – All-In Y&R
In a highlight matchup with the Las Vegas Prospects, Jacobs held his own against some terrific jobs. Jacobs always lets his defense jump start his offense and his play down the stretch gave All-In Y&R a chance late after a nice spurt from Jacobs. The explosive senior got to the rim and finished some impressive buckets around and over traffic. Defensively, he was a pest as always, recording a handful of steals. Jacobs also extended his range and knocked down two triples. He finished with a team-high 13 points in the loss. Jacobs picked up where he left off in the morning, scoring a team-high 16 points in a win over Swaghouse Elite.
Nate Pierre-Louis – 2017 – G – Sports U
In a grind-it-out affair All-In Y&R, Pierre-Louis was solid. Baskets were hard to come by and Pierre-Louis earned everything he got, including some acrobatic finishes around the rim with the defense draped all over him. An athletic, strong guard who can play on or off the ball, Pierre-Louis is creative off the bounce. He doesn’t let the defense relax much, whether it’s attacking the hole or driving and dishing. Pierre-Louis finished with 15 points in a double overtime defeat to kick off the Summer Showdown.
Jahvon Quinerly – 2018 – PG – Sports U
The touted point guard prospect got off to a great start against Mac Irvin Fire in the Summer Showdown. Quinerly was simply unguardable off the bounce. Even when the defense managed to take away the drive, Quinerly had the savvy to either tap into his secondary moves or pull up for the shot. Already holding offers from some of the nation’s premiere programs, Quinerly showed the ability to run a team and take over the scoring load depending on what was needed.
Gary Trent Jr. – 2017 – SG – Howard Pulley
Trent showed why many consider him the best shooting guard in the country. The blue chip senior scored 20 points in a win over the Las Vegas Prospects. Trent is skilled, strong, and athletic enough to get any shot he wants on the floor. A three-level scorer, Trent can play with his back to the basket, shoot off the bounce from mid-range, and go well beyond the arc for triples if he pleases. Attacking the basket, few have the ability to hang in the air with Trent, who makes it look so easy. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who will take his talents to Findlay Prep next season, will make one college program very happy next season.
Simon Wright – 2017 – F – Minnesota Comets
Wright’s motor never stops running. The 6-foot-7 combo forward goes full speed in everything that he does. Wright is a great transition forward that runs the floor very hard, and because of it, earns himself a number of easy looks. The strong lefty is a really solid finisher around the rim. He doesn’t shy away from contact and goes right through the chest of the defender. One of the top mid-major prospects in the Midwest, Wright has some versatility on the perimeter. He can step out and shoot the basketball and is also a terrific passer. Wright will put the ball on the deck and get all the way to the bucket as well when slashing opportunities present themselves. He did a little bit of everything during Thursday’s win over the Illinois Stars, including a team-high 11 points.
STOCK BOOSTERS
Jameel Alausa – 2017 – PF – All-In Y&R
Alausa was very tough and active around the basket and his effort level was big for All-In Y&R in their win over Swaghouse Elite. The 6-foot-7 senior attacked the basket hard and didn’t shy away from contact. Alausa set the tone with some a couple throw downs at the rim and blocks on the other end of the floor. He pretty much kept Swaghouse Elite out of the paint for most of the game. Alausa also impressed with his ability to stretch the floor from the outside, a new addition to his game. He had 12 points and a handful of rebounds and blocks in the victory.
Alex Arians – 2017 – SF – Wisconsin Swing
In a game that got out of hand late, Arians was a bright spot for the Wisconsin Swing in their loss to the Las Vegas Prospects. The sharpshooting lefty went for 22 points, including six triples. Having a breakout travel season, Arians has noticeably improved his strength and athleticism and was able to finish some impressive shots against the athletic wings and forwards of the opposition. Arians, the younger brother of Wake Forest forward Austin Arians, holds offers from South Dakota State, West Texas A&M, and Wright State with more on their way. He finished the night with a game-high 19 points in a win over Team Loaded NC in the Summer Showdown.
Jordan Davis – 2017 – SG – Team Loaded NC
Davis was tough to stop during Wednesday’s loss to the Wisconsin Swing in the Summer Showdown. He can be a streaky shooter, but Davis helped keep his team close. The 6-foot-3 senior was scoring off the bounce from three-point range and breaking down defenders off the dribble. Davis also showed the ability to be a rim protector defensively. Coming over from the weak-side he blocked and altered a number of shots.
Jarius Hamilton – 2018 – SF – Team Loaded NC
Hamilton has quite a bit of upside and showed that off during Thursday’s loss to the Wisconsin Swing at the Summer Showdown. A 6-foot-7 junior, Hamilton has the elevation and strength to be a big time finisher at the rim. He made some impressive plays in transition and a lot of time defenders just get out of the way knowing they can’t stop him. Hamilton’s outside game appears to be a work in progress as he didn’t always look comfortable taking available jumpers, but it’s definitely in his arsenal. A top 100 prospect in the class of 2018, Hamilton could be very scary if he rounds out his game.
Bryce Irsfeld – 2017 – PG – Minnesota Comets
Irsfeld scored just two points in a win over DTA Thursday morning, but this is clearly one of the better Division 2 point guard prospects in the Midwest. Irsfeld has a great understanding of the offense and makes savvy plays with the basketball. He’s quick enough and a good finisher around the rim to do more offensively, but would rather stick to the game plan than go rogue. Irsfeld can play at an up-tempo pace without committing turnovers and is also a sound perimeter defender as well that refuses to give up straight-line drives.
Isaac Johnson – 2017 – SG – Howard Pulley
Johnson had a very nice showing during Thursday’s win over the Las Vegas Prospects in the Summer Showdown. A very strong perimeter shooter, Johnson took advantage of some open looks. Also an underrated athlete, Johnson has the ability to get to the rack and is strong enough to take contact at the hoop and be able to finish. A player who is a star in his role for Howard Pulley, Johnson is the type of player who can provide whatever boost his team may need on both ends of the floor.
Trea Jones – 2017 – SG – Swaghouse Elite
Jones shot the ball very well in Thursday’s loss to the Wisconsin Swing. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard hit six triples en route to a game-high 18 points. Jones also did some nice things in transition, pushing the tempo and dropping the ball off to open teammates. Jones has nice size and some pretty good bounce. He elevates very well when he shoots the ball and stays active on the perimeter to find the soft spots in the defense.
Luke Loehr – 2017 – PF – Minnesota Warriors
Loehr carried the Minnesota Warriors in the second half. He scored 19-straight points, sparking a big comeback in the final period. A skilled post presence, Loehr has a nice jump hook from close in and a good looking jumper. He can also knock down shots from the perimeter and just always seems to be at the right place at the right time as his teammates found him in scoring position time and time again. Loehr finished the game by scoring 33 of his team’s 53 points in a win over Reach Legends.
Liam Lyman – 2017 – SG – Illinois Stars
Lyman had two nice games shooting the basketball and was an x-factor for the Illinois Stars on Thursday. He was consistent through two games and seemed to get hotter later in games. In a loss to the Minnesota Comets Thursday afternoon, Lyman nailed six more triples en route to a game-high 20 points. The 6-foot-3 senior has pretty good size for the position and a sweet stroke from downtown.
Luis Rodriguez – 2017 – G/F – I-Cann All-Stars
The 6-foot-5 wing had some impressive moments during Thursday’s loss to the Illinois Stars. Rodriguez has an intriguing frame and absorbs contact well at the rim. He can also stretch the floor and knock down perimeter shots. A good athlete, Rodriguez gets up and down the court well and is a good finisher in transition. He scored in double figures during the loss.