2022 NY Hoops Festival Standouts

By David Cordova,

On Sunday, December 11, we were at Christ the King High School in the Middle Village section of Queens for the first annual NY Hoops Festival. This was organized by the renown Pro Scholars Athletics grass roots and youth support program.. In this event, high talent teams from the tri-state area, Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania came out and showcased their talents in front of various college coaches from multiple levels. Here are the standouts from both games.

Deron Rippey, Jr., 6-0, Shooting Guard, Blair Academy (NJ), Class of 2026 -A guard that is very wise beyond his years and is always ready to do what is required of him on the floor. Will go and obtain the rebound and has cat-like instincts that allow him to obtain blocks. Will find ways to score, such as driving to the basket and will always look to get his shot off on the perimeter.

Adam Clark, 5-10, Point Guard, West Catholic High School (PA), Class of 2023 -A guard that is very quick and will try to make an impact on the game in whatever capacity he can. Uses his speed to get to the basket and is very fearless when going to the basket. Has great instincts as a point guard, as he is a great facilitator to his teammates. Finds teammates efficiently and will definitely feed them and get them points.

Khalil Horton 6-8, Forward, Keystone Academy (PA), Class of 2023 - A forward that is an imposing figure with versatility in his game. Is able to step out on the perimeter and from three-point range and hit shots. He has the ability to use his length and size to his advantage in the post area, as he is able to absorb contact in the low-post area and is able to go up with strength. Is also a player that can get blocks easily.

Brian Blanchet 6-0, Shooting Guard, Keystone Academy (PA), Class of 2023 - A guard with plenty of poise and can make plenty of noise with his scoring ability on the floor. Is very fearless when going to the basket and is able to absorb contact. Has a nice, fluid shooting motion when he’s on the three-point range. When he is not being guarded heavily, he will take advantage of the opposition when it comes to where he’s shooting from.

Benjamin Ahmed 6-10, Forward, Putnam Science Academy, Class of 2026 -A forward with a long wingspan and plenty of size that impact that outcome of the game for his team, just through his presence in the paint area. Is a player that can change or alter plenty of shots on the defensive end. Makes his presence felt on the offensive end, as he is able to put the ball on the floor and make plenty of powerful moves and score afterwards.

Miles Rose 6-5, Shooting Guard, Putnam Science Academy, Class of 2023 - A guard that has the ability to bring energy to his team whenever he’s on the floor. Has a penchant for making strong drives to the basket and is able to get up for rebounds. Has a nice shooting stroke from three-point range, which he is not afraid to unveil when not heavily guarded.

Michael “MJ” Smith, 6-2, Shooting Guard, Mount Zion Prep School (MD), Class of 2024 - A guard that is a scoring machine on the floor. Has the ability to direct traffic when he has the ball in his hands and can slow down the tempo or increase it depending on the low of the game. Has a penchant for making the most unorthodox shots, as he has plenty of confidence when going up to score.

Elijah Wilborn 6-9, Forward, South Kent School, Class of 2023 - A forward with plenty of size on the floor that can provide plenty of toughness on the court. Is a physical player that can bang on the boards and snatch rebounds out of the air. Has plenty of explosiveness on the floor and will get to the rim after putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket efficiently.

Matt Gilhool, 6-11, Forward, Westtown School (PA), Class of 2024 - A forward that brings a lot of toughness to his team and can do many things in the post area. Has the ability to use his strength in the low post to obtain rebounds and muscle his way to the basket. Has a penchant for using his explosiveness to get to the rim.

Michael Spisto 5-9, Point Guard, St. Peter’s High School, Class of 2024 - A guard that has a huge heart that makes up for his lack of size and that will take on anything in his midst. Is known for controlling the tempo of his team and will make sure that his teammates get the right opportunities to score at the basket. Will definitely try to get his shots off as well, including when shooting from the top of the key or shooting from long range.

Qadir Martin 6-6, Forward, St. Peter’s High School, Class of 2024 - A forward that has good size and great footwork, as he is able to put the ball on the floor and can back down the opposition on the offensive end. Is a force when it come to getting rebounds on both ends of the floor. Has a penchant for driving to the basket and using his frame to absorb contact and is a great finisher at the basket.

Danny Carbuccia 6-0, Shooting Guard, Archbishop Stepinac High School, Class of 2025 - A guard that has the penchant for making crucial baskets for his team when the opportunity presents itself. Sees where his teammates are moving and tries to get them the ball in order for them to score. Will drive to the basket or will shoot from the perimeter or from three-point range.

Xavier Barrow 6-0, Shooting Guard, Susan E. Wagner High School, Class of 2023 - A guard that is a playmaker and the impact player for his squad. Has a penchant for driving to the basket and can make plenty of shots from three-point range. Has a lot of confidence in his decision-making and can make some great plays when on the court. Is very fearless when it comes to the opposition and is always ready to take on anything in his way.

Isiah Campos 5-10, Point Guard, Susan E. Wagner High School, Class of 2023 - A guard that is very fast and will pay very close attention to the opposition when he’s on defense, as he looks to obtain a steal every time. Is a player that trusts his own shot and will definitely get his shots off when open on the perimeter or will drive to the basket with ease. Is a great facilitator when he’s on the floor, as he gets his teammates the ball at the right moments.

Keishawn Morris 6-1, Shooting Guard, South Shore High School, Class of 2023 - A guard that is looked at to do plenty for his squad at all times. Is a solid defensive player, who will match up with the opposition’s lead guard and force him into turning over the ball. Has a penchant for making off-balance shots or driving to the basket successfully for layups, which he also finishes. Has plenty of determination whenever he is on the floor.