Recruit The Bronx

2018 Smartball Classic - Top Performers

The Smart Ball Classic is here. Now in its thirteenth year, this is New York City’s premier single elimination pre season high school tournament. Rudy King, the Director, now has 22 teams participating. The first week consists of play-in games. Recruit The Bronx was on site, and these are the players that we noticed.

WEEK 1
Monday, August 8
Play In Games

Brooklyn Law & Tech vs All Hallows High
McKee High vs Longwood Prep

Kamari Ware 2021 5’7 guard Brooklyn Law & Tech - can be an effective shooter. Moves well without the ball. Getting better with his dribble. Needs to get stronger and faster in transition.

Nick Johnson 2019 6’4 forward All Hallows - strong body. Good in transition. Good at attacking the basket. Has the ability to take you one on one when isolated. Needs to work harder on defense and needs to work on shooting.

Joseph Thompson 2019 5’9 point guard Longwood Prep - can handle the ball with both hands. Good facilitator and willing distributor. Needs to be a better shooter.

Jahbrey McFarlane 2021 5’7 guard McKee HS - although streaky he can score the ball. Can hit open 3pt shots. Plays hard on defense. Needs to get consistent at scoring.

Thursday, August 9
Archbishop Stepinac vs Brooklyn Law & Tech
Monsignor Scanlan vs Boys & Girls HS

Davonta Cook 2019 5’10 guard BK Law & Tech - increasingly getting better with his ball handle. Can beat opponents off the dribble. Can make plays with his passing. Needs to shoot more consistently.

Ed Minaya 2019 5’9 guard Stepinac HS - decent point guard. Can handle and shoot the ball. Plays with a good pace. Good court vision. Needs to do more with less dribbling

Matt Mayers 2019 6’8 center Scanlan - Space eater in the paint when he stays in the paint. Can block shots. Good hands. Can catch the ball in traffic. Runs the lane. At times, can start the break. Average footwork in the post.

WEEK 2

Monday, August 13
Cardinal Hayes vs Curtis High
Iona Prep vs Bishop Loughlin

Joe Toussaint 2019 5’9 point guard Cardinal Hayes - good passer. Solid with his dribble. Can get to the basket from the top of lane or from the baseline. Can score the ball. Needs to knock down more 3pt shots

Adeleye Oyekanmi 2019 6’3 guard /wing Curtis HS - tough player. Can dribble drive, rebound and defend. Can hit the 3pt shot. Needs to work on shooting off the dribble and coming off screens.

Darnell Askew 2019 6’4 forward Curtis HS - Good footwork around the basket. Good in pick and roll action. Sets solid screens. Good rebounder. Can play above the rim and finish with power and block shots. Needs to add perimeter action to his game.

Julian Champagnie 2019 6’7 forward Bishop Loughlin - good midrange abilities. With his lengthy wingspan he can rebound the ball. Average with dribble. Needs to more aggressive.

RJ Greene 2022 6’4 swing Iona Prep - An athletic rising freshman who proved able to play multiple positions. SBC chose him as Co-Player of the Game. He was a lso chosen by SBC to represent NY next week in the NY vs Philly/NJ Challenge game. Extremely versatile and tough to contain. His impact at the next level will be tied to his progress in upping his ability to stretch defenses with the deep 3 ball.

Tuesday August 14
Cardozo High vs St Raymond High
Wadleigh High vs South Shore High

Gary Grant 2020 6’6 forward St. Raymond - athletic when he is in transition. Decent rebounder. Stays active around the basket. Needs to get stronger in the post.

Jaylen Davis 2019 6’3 wing Cardozo - can be an explosive player with 3pt shooting ability. Moves well without the ball. Makes good decisions in transition. Needs to work on his defense.

Femi Odukale 2019 6’4 wing South Shore HS - takes it hard to the basket. Good vertical. Good wingspan. Need to create more off the dribble.

Kadary Richmond 2019 6’3 guard /wing South Shore HS - 3pt shooter. Can handle the ball. nice combo guard. decent defender. Nice first step. Needs to absorb contact at the basket.

Elijah Winn 2019 5’7 point guard Wadleigh HS - stocky frame but good ball handle and speed. Makes the right passes. Has control in the half court. Needs to worker at making more defensive stops.

Wednesday, August 15
Brooklyn Collegiate vs WHEELS
Lincoln High vs Wings High

Glen “Jojo” Anderson 2019 5’6 point guard Brooklyn Collegiate - good speed with the ball. Good dribbling skills. Applies good pressure on defense. Needs to limit turnovers in transition.

Brian Stevens 2019 6’3 guard Lincoln - effective at the two guard or wing. Has a nice feel for the game. Average handle but gets the job done. Can make good passes. Hits his mid range shots. Needs to keep working hard on his one on one defense.