Pool play at the 2016 NY2LA Sports Final Chapter concluded on Friday. As teams battled for position in their respective brackets, the Wisconsin Swing won a key matchup thanks to the help of Chris Knight. Meanwhile, Troy Brown Jr. and the Las Vegas Prospects also continue to look like a title contender and took care of business as well.
Here are the top performers and stock boosters from Friday’s action…
TOP PERFORMERS
Troy Brown Jr. – 2017 – PG – Las Vegas Prospects
Continuing his huge week, Brown continues to look like one of the nation’s top talents. Where doesn’t he impact a game? Brown has locked up some of the nation’s best guards this week and that continued on Friday. Brown has value all over the floor. When he’s knocking down his three-point shot, he’s too big and too skilled to be stopped. Brown also wowed the crowd with some laser passes that even had the defense dropping its jaws. He finished with a team-high 13 points and was also approaching double figures in assists and rebounds during a win over Swaaghouse Elite to finish 3-0 in pool play.
Drake Dobbs – 2020 – G – Net Gain Sports
Dobbs is definitely a name to know. A star on the GNBA circuit, Dobbs will enter high school ready to play at the varsity level. Playing up in the 15U level, Dobbs is a skilled, high-IQ guard who can score and facilitate. While he wasn’t challenged at a high level on Friday, we’ve seen Dobbs torch some terrific athletes in the past. Dobbs has some deceptive quickness and athleticism off the bounce. He’s already a scorer from all three levels and has the ability to take over offensively or be a floor general for his team at the point guard spot. He scored a game-high 15 points in a win over the Illinois Magic.
Anthony Fairlee – 2019 – G/F – Illinois Irish
It’s early, but Fairlee has created some high major buzz for himself amongst the coaches. A terrific slasher, Fairlee has some explosive athleticism and isn’t even close to where he’s going to be physically in a few years. At 6-foot-3, Fairlee has a high motor and is active in many different areas. In transition and off the bounce, he’ll play above the rim. Fairlee does have some perimeter skills and will take open jumpers when available.
Demarius Jacobs – 2017 – PG – All-In Y&R
Finishing the travel season strong, Jacobs had another good effort against the Wisconsin Swing. He scored a team-high 16 points in a losing effort. Jacobs got off to a fast start, breaking people down off the dribble and flying up the floor in transition. One of the best guards in the country on the break, Jacobs makes things happen on offense and takes away points from the opposition with his unique shot blocking ability.
Trey Jenkins – 2019 – F – Ramey/Jets United
Jenkins looks like a potential high major prospect. A 6-foot-6, 185-pound sophomore, Jenkins is very skilled and athletic for his age. He didn’t extend his range at all during Friday’s win over the Colorado Titans, but watching him in warmups, he’s definitely got a jumper in his arsenal. Jenkins runs the floor like a gazelle and is a skilled finisher over the defense. He needs to get stronger with the basketball and improve his ball handling before he’s a true combo forward, but his interior play was quite dominant. Jenkins made some impressive post moves, showing great footwork to maneuver around the defense. He scored a game-high 15 points in a comfortable victory.
Chris Knight – 2017 – PF – Wisconsin Swing
Beginning to breakout this week, Knight had another big effort in a win over All-In Y&R. The high-upside forward can be streaky with his play, but is starting to put things together in July. Knight scored a game-high 18 points and made a ton of game-changing plays on both ends. Knight worked his mismatches well and took smaller players into the post and tried to drive on the bigger defenders. When he’s hitting his jumper like he was on Friday, Knight becomes very difficult to stop with his athleticism. One of the top shot blockers in the Midwest, Knight racks up a handful of swats each game and his second half defensive efforts were key in the victory.
Simon Wright – 2017 – F – Minnesota Comets
Wright had a huge second half, leading the Minnesota Comets to a come from behind win over I-Can All-Stars. The rising senior brought out the bag of tricks, scoring from beyond the arc off the dribble early and often. The 6-foot-7 forward nailed triples en route to a game-high 27 points. He came up big in the extra session, getting the tying basket and then blocking a shot to send the game into double overtime. An excellent transition big, Wright handles, passes, and sees the floor like a guard. He absolutely kills defenses in the open floor with his passing ability. A high-motor player, Wright never stops moving and everything he does is 100 percent. His teammates love playing with him and he’ll find ways to get on the floor at Elon early and often.
STOCK BOOSTERS
Austin Andrews – 2020 – PF – Net Gain Sports
A skilled and tough big man in the 2020 class, Andrews has a nice future ahead of him. The 6-foot-4 forward scored 12 points and racked up a ton of rebounds in a win over the Illinois Magic in 15U play on Friday. Andrews runs the floor very well for his size and has terrific hands to catch the ball away from his body. Andrews is a tough finisher around the basket and doesn’t shy away from contact. One of the top players in the GNBA circuit over the past few years, Andrews is well on his way to being a nice prospect at the high school level.
Alijah Bates – 2019 – F/C – The Force
A promising big man in the sophomore class, Bates has an advanced frame and is a good blend of strength and skill. At 6-foot-5, Bates has some intriguing length and athleticism. He uses his body well to seal defenders on the block and establish early post position. Bates has some good footwork and can spin and shoot over either shoulder. He also reacts very well defensively. His lateral quickness on the perimeter will come into question down the road, but in terms of his weak-side post defense, Bates took a handful of points off the board during Friday’s loss to the Illinois Irish, whether it was blocking/altering shots or getting his hands on passes intended for cutters heading to the rim.
Jalen Hill – 2019 – PF – Las Vegas Prospects
Hill is a very intriguing prospect to know. A 6-foot-4, 180-pound big man, Hill has some exciting physical tools. He made a number of impressive blocks and snatched some rebounds that most kids his age can’t. Hill has some unbelievable ability to make up ground from behind and got his hands on balls that seemed well out of reach. His offensive skill set is still developing, but Hill has a very strong frame and can power his way to buckets inside.
Mitch Mascari – 2019 – SG – Illinois Stars
A sharpshooter with size and bounce, Mascari is a very intriguing prospect. He scored 15 points in a win over the Colorado Titans on Friday, hitting four three-pointers. Mascari has some shake off the bounce and his long arms allow him to shoot over the top of the defense. A player comfortable shooting on the go, Mascari doesn’t need a lot of room to snap off his shot.
Miles Oliver – 2017 – PG – I-Can All-Stars
The California point guard is very quick and an excellent on-ball defender. Oliver gets close enough just to rattle the ball handler, but not close enough for a foul to be called on him. He moves laterally exceptionally well and that speed carries over to the offensive end of the floor. Oliver was able to blow by opponents and float shots over the top of the defense. Once defenders gave him space, Oliver showed the ability to pull up off the bounce and drain shots from the outside.
Reishaun Satar – 2018 – PG – Grassroots Hoops
Although his team struggled, Satar was a bright spot for Grassroots Hoops in their loss ot the Wisconsin Swing. A 5-foot-11 guard, Satar is a smooth operator offensively and displayed terrific vision in the open floor. He was able to skip the ball across the court and beat the defense over the top. Satar also shot the ball well from the perimeter, connecting on three triples. Satar has a quick stroke that’s tough to defend. He finished with a team-high 12 points Friday night.
William Shumpert – 2019 – SF – Ramey/Jets United
Shumpert is a good looking athlete. At 6-foot-4 and 210-pounds already, Shumpert can slash and finish through contact. He had a nice dunk on the break during Friday’s win over the Colorado Titans as well. Shumpert plays mostly around the rim, but can help out in other ways. Shumpert was very active on the glass and was his team’s best rebounder on the defensive need of the floor from the small forward position. Shumpert also has the ability to jump start the fast break and made some nice passes to open streaking teammates.
Logan Wolf – 2019 – SG – Iowa Barnstormers
Wolf has court savvy and can make a variety of plays in the open floor. The 6-foot-3 guard displayed some excellent ball handling skills in the open floor, crossing over defenders and either getting all the way to the basket or dishing to a teammate. A lanky, athletic guard, Wolf has value on and off the basketball. He can play both guard positions if needed and does a great job of picking his spots offensively. While he wasn’t on the court much during an easy win over Minnesota Select, Wolf impressed with his scoring and passing ability.