2021 Nate Blue Showcase Top Performers

By David Cordova

 

On Thursday night, RecruitTheBronx.com paid showed up at the Frederick Samuel Community Center in Harlem for the 2021 Nate Blue Showcase. Many of the Tri-State area’s best came out to play in front of junior college coaches. This included two games that included seniors and another other game that included underclassmen. Here are the standouts for the three games:

 

Promise Opurum 6-7, Forward, New Rochelle High School, Class of 2021 - A forward that is very dominant in the post area when it comes to the offensive end and is solid when it comes to attacking the glass for rebounds. Is great at establishing his presence in the paint area and is great at altering the opposition’s shot or blocking the shot entirely.

 

Javel Cherry, 6-4, Point Guard, Poughkeepsie High School, Class of 2021 - A guard that is a great floor general as he knows how to play position very well. Is a guard that is able to keep track of his teammates at all times when he’s on the floor, especially when they’re moving around the floor and makes sure they are ready for and able to receive passes which can lead to baskets. Is also a player that is able to drive to the basket with easy.

 

Andrew Laing 6-1, Point Guard, Cardozo High School, Class of 2021 - A guard that is great at decision-making when having the ball in his hands, such as knowing when to shoot or pass. Has an affinity for driving to the basket and is able to absorb contact when going up for a layup. Also has the ability to shoot from the perimeter.

 

Bradley Young, 6-3, Shooting Guard, Union Catholic High School (NJ), Class of 2021 - A guard that is able to create for himself off the dribble and is able to find ways to get to the hole. Is able to dribble with his left hand and has a lot of finesse in his game. Has a nice shooting touch from the key & from long range. When using his athleticism on the offensive end, he has the ability to get to the cup with ease.

 

Shamar Chester 5-11, Point Guard, High School for Construction, Class of 2021 - A guard that is a great playmaker that makes a lot of hustle plays and also is good at passing the ball to his teammates. Has excellent court vision when it comes to them moving around the court. Uses his quickness when he is on the break and can attack the lane and can score efficiently when he is not guarded heavily.

 

Jaden Peña 6-6, Forward, Xaverian High School, Class of 2021 - A guard that is very skilled and uses it to his advantage, whether it is getting to the hole or by stepping out to three-point range and getting his shot off. Has the ability to get to the rim with efficiency and his toughness allows him to grab rebounds and make some great plays. Is not afraid to use his physicality on either end of the floor.

 

Zavi Samet, 6-2, Shooting Guard, Torah Academy (NJ), Class of 2021 - A guard that has plenty of finesse when he has the ball in his hands and can make plenty of plays. Is able to create for himself and can attack the basket with ease. Is good at giving his teammates the ball at the right spots. Has a great shot selection.

 

Dontae Prescott 5-10, Point Guard, Thomas Jefferson High School, Class of 2021 - A guard that has a great court awareness on the floor at his position. Is able to deliver the ball to his teammates at the right time, which leads to assists and baskets. Has a nice shooting touch from the perimeter, but is known for driving to the basket with ease and is able to absorb contact in the paint.

 

Nick Folk 6-1, Point Guard, Xaverian High School, Class of 2021 - A guard that has plenty of quickness when coming up the court and can attack the basket with ease. Is very fearless when driving to the basket and is able to create for himself off the dribble. Has the ability to shoot from the corner. Is able to find teammates at the right spots in the right moments.

 

Ian Jackson 6-6, Shooting Guard, Cardinal Hayes High School, Class of 2024 - A guard that has a strong build and is very strong with the ball. Is able to create for himself off the dribble and is able to get to the basket with ease. Runs up and down the floor well and is a master with his dribble. Is very poised and mature when he’s on the floor.

 

Jonathan Medley 6-3, Shooting Guard, St. Francis Preparatory School, Class of 2022 - A guard that has a quick first step when he’s dribbling and can create for himself off of a pick and roll. Knows when to attack the lane and is unafraid of contact. Has the ability to shoot from long range and is one that can play above the rim at all times.

 

Tarique Foster 6-8, Forward, Cardinal Hayes High School, Class of 2022 -A forward that has a long wingspan and has the ability to bring the ball up and down the floor. Has the ability to play like a big man when he’s in the paint area, but has a lot of guard skills. Is a player that can also shoot from the perimeter. Is very quick to get to the hole and is a great shot blocker on the defensive end.

 

Chance Morrish 6-2, Point Guard, St. Francis Preparatory School, Class of 2022 - A guard that has the ability to give the ball to his teammates at the right spots. Whenever he drives to the basket, he is able to absorb the physical contact and is fearless when going up for a basket. Has the ability to shoot from long range and can anticipate the pass when he sees his teammates pulling up with the ball.

 

Jaden Daughtry 6-6, Shooting Guard, St. Francis Preparatory School, Class of 2022 - A guard that is a great at passing his teammates the ball and giving them the opportunity to get baskets. Is a player that is very explosive off the bounce and is able to play above the rim. Has the ability to be active for the ball, especially when it comes to blocking shots, getting loose balls. Knows when to take clutch shots.

 

Kelvin Collado 6-6, Forward, Mount St. Michael Academy, Class of 2023 - A forward that is able to put the ball on the floor and has a quick first step off the dribble. Is able to attack the basket with ease and can also shoot from long range. Has a lot of toughness and is very fearless when on the court.

 

Spencer Mahoney 6-7, Forward, Xaverian High School, Class of 2023 - A forward that is very smooth with the ball and in the low post, as he is able to move with fluidity when he has the ball in his hands. Is able to score with ease, as a result of his footwork. Is able to establish his presence easily when in the low post, by using his body.


Jean Aranguen 6-3, Shooting Guard, Upper Room Christian School, Class of 2022 - A guard that has the ability to be a playmaker and is a very efficient ball handler. Knows when to slice and dice his way to the basket at all times. Has great lateral movement and has a penchant for attacking the lane when driving to the basket and is fearless.


Elijah Bailey 5-11, Point Guard, Berkeley Carroll High School, Class of 2022 - A guard that has a big heart and playes bigger than his diminutive frame. Uses his dribble to speed past defenders and is able to glide his way to the basket. Knows how to get his teammates the ball and is not afraid to shoot from long range.


Albert Vargas 5-11, Point Guard, WHEELS, Class of 2021 - A guard that uses his quickness to his advantage and is able to get past his defender with no problem. Has many ways to score, including jumpers and driving to the basket. Is very strong defensively, as he knows how to pick apart the opposition for the ball.


Aliou Cisse 6-7,  Forward, Yonkers High School, Class of 2021 - A forward that has a long wingspan and an outstanding reach for his height. Is able to showcase his athleticism on both ends of the court. Is always alert for the ball and can always deflect passes or shots made by the opposition and is great at playing above the rim.