2016 Rumble in the Bronx -15u
By Leonardo Jorge
The “Rumble in the Bronx” is one of the nation’s best AAU tournaments in the month of June. The talent is deep in almost every pool and many of the East Coast’s best young players make sure to be in the action. Here are some of the stand out players in the 15U division:
Jalen Nesmith (2019) 5’9 G, Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx) AAU Team: New York Rens- Hector Jalen is a very talented guard that always plays hard. However, he still has a lot of learning to do. The biggest thing he should focus on is playing more north to south instead of east to west.
Phillps Joseph (2019) 6’7 G/F, Christ The King (Queens) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Phillps is a tough, strong guard who can score the ball and defend many positions. He needs to develop a more consistent jumpshot but I’m sure that he’ll be a deadly scorer by the time 17U comes.
Hassan Drame (2019) 6’5 F, Our Savior New American (NY) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Hassan is one of those guys who gives it his all, all the time. As a coach, you can put him anywhere in your full court press. He also has good offensive skills that I would like to see him display more often.
Femi Odukale Jr. (2019) 6’3 G, South Shore HS (Brooklyn) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Femi has good ball handling skills and great passing ability. He’s not necessarily a floor general but he’s definitely a play maker. I would like to see him display his scoring ability more often because without points, people usually don’t recognize your talent as much as they should but I want him to do it without forcing shots.
Alejandro Vasquez (2019) 6’2 G, John Bowne HS (Flushing) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Alejandro has a good handle & a natural scoring ability. In the long run, he may be able to do the same things on the next level. However, it seems like he takes some plays off and that’ll hurt him in the future. College coaches may think he needs to get more serious about the game but that was his main weakness and if he really cares, that’s something that’s easy to fix.
Fousseyni Drame (2019) 6’5 F, Our Savior New American (NY) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Like his twin brother, Fousseyni also plays hard all the time. He can run the floor and has a lot of upside to his game. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops at Our Savior New American.
Isaiah Richards (2019) 6’9 C, Victory Collegiate HS (Brooklyn) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Isaiah needs a lot of work in order to maximize his potential but he plays very hard and it’s easy to see that he cares about the game. On the defensive end he’s already dangerous around the rim, I would like to see him bring that to the offensive end as well.
Isaiah Amazon (2019) 6’1 G, Xaverian HS (Brooklyn) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Isaiah is one of the guards who can just put the ball in the basket. This Rens 15U team is very deep so talent can go hidden at times but it’s easy to see that Isaiah is a player that’ll do great things in high school & hopefully college as well.
Xander Alvarado (2019) 5’10 G, Fox Lane HS (NY) AAU Team: New York Rens-Hector. Xander didn’t do anything particularly special this weekend. However, I believe that he’s one of those kids that have it in them but they just need to unleash their ability. He needs to go after it more and prove that he’s more than just a bench guy. In my opinion, he should play somewhere else that offers more opportunities to showcase his ability and develop his confidence.
Adriece Payne (2019) 5’8 G, Eagle Academy for Young Men II (Brooklyn) AAU Team: NY Jayhawks. Adriece is one of those little guards who have a lot of heart & play a lot of defense. If you’re a coach and you’re looking for a kid who’s going to go in there and go after it, you should definitely give Adriece a shot.
Nkosi Cooper (2019) 6’2 G, Suffield Academy (CT) AAU Team: NY Jayhawks. Nkosi is a skilled guard that can score the ball. He makes high level moves that other kids his age generally aren’t accustomed to guarding. If he keeps displaying his scoring ability, some coach at the next level will be more than happy to offer him a scholarship.
Kareem Reid (2019) 6’8 C, John Bowne HS (Flushing) AAU Team: NY Jayhawks. Kareem is a big that has lots of potential. Unlike other “potential bigs” his age, he already has developed some of that potential. He’s dangerous on both sides of the floor but he has a lot of work to do in order to really blossom as player.
Michael Hernandez (2019) 6’2 G, Bloomfield HS (NJ) AAU Team: NY Jayhawks. Michael has the right idea and plays hard, he just needs to learn how to put it all together. He needs more skill work and needs to work on decision making ability in order to take his game to an elite level. I believe that he’ll take it to that level sooner than later if he stays in the gym.
Jalin Sinclair (2020) 6’0 G, Suffield Academy (CT) AAU Team: PSA Cardinals. Jalin is a tough, fearless guard that can put the ball in the basket. Right now his game is coming all together but in high school I’m more than sure that he’ll be a player to look out for.
Abdias “Speedy” Carcamo (2020) 5’9 PG, Archbishop Molloy (Queens) AAU Team: PSA Cardinals. Speedy is a high IQ PG that’ll run your plays perfectly. However, high level PGs can put the ball when their team needs them to. He needs to work on his scoring ability but it’ll come with time, he has a lot of growing and developing to do. It’ll soon all come together for Abdias as long as he stays focused.
Brandon Weston (2020) 6’4 G/F, St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy (WI) AAU Team: PSA Cardinals. It’s easy to see that Brandon will be a high level player in a few years. He’s a versatile forward that can grab boards, block shots and finish your plays. As long as he stays focused, Brandon will have lots of colleges knocking on his door soon.
Tysheem Pickett (2019) 5’7 G, South Bronx HS AAU Team: PSA Cardinals. Tysheem goes after it. He needs to stay in the gym and sharpen his all-around game but I believe that Tysheem will be a more-than-good guard sooner than later.
Adrise Bivens (2019) 6’3 G, Bishop Loughlin HS (Brooklyn) AAU Team: NY Lightning. Adrise is a talented guard that defenders have trouble staying in front of. However, he needs to work on finishing ability because a good move means nothing without a bucket. As long as Adrise stays focused and stays aggressive, I have no doubt that he’ll be a high level guard.
Bernard Kouma (2019) 6’11 C Redemption Christian HS (NY) AAU Team: NY Lightning. Bernard is a big with lots of potential. At 6’11, he has good athleticism & fundamentals. Being that he’s a freshman, he has lots of time to develop his game. As long as he stays aggressive & focused, colleges will have no problem offering Bernard a scholarship.
Jared Harrison-Hunte (2019) 6’4 G/F, Christ The King HS (Queens) AAU Team: NY Lightning. Jared is a very strong guard with sneaky athletic ability. Because of his size, it’s tough for most guards to stop him. Because of his quick feet, it’s tough for most bigs to stop him. Put it all together and those are the reasons it’s easy for Jared to get buckets. However, with age, the defense gets bigger and tougher. Hopefully Jared realizes that and keeps developing his game.
Justin Champagnie (2019) 6’5 F, Bishop Loughlin HS (Brooklyn) AAU Team: NY Lightning. Justin is an athletic forward that can defend at the rim and finish your plays. He’s an efficient player, coaches at the next level will definitely find a way to use him and maximize his abilities.
Trey Hall (2020) 6’7 G/F, AAU Team: NY Lightning. Trey has all the tools to be really special. However, he needs to realize that a lot of kids also have all the tools to be special. He needs to live in the gym and keep sharpening his skills or he’ll have wasted a lot of potential.
Judah McIntyre (2019) 5’8 PG, Dwight Englewood School (NJ) AAU Team: NY Lightning. Judah didn’t do anything particularly “special”, but to me, consistency is special. He’s a tough point guard that’ll run your plays and get the job done. He seems to be very coachable and easy to trust with the ball.
Elijah Wynn (2019) 5’10 G, St. Raymond’s HS (Bronx) AAU Team: BSNY Metro Flyers. Elijah is a very tough guard that can score the ball and understands the game. Bigger defenders don’t affect him as much as they affect most guards his size. Elijah will be a high level guard if he keeps his mind to it.
Dejourn Cook (2019) 6’6 F/C, Immaculate Conception HS (NJ) AAU Team: BSNY Metro Flyers. Dejourn is a strong forward that can finish through contact. He’s built for the next level, he just needs to sharpen the skills that’ll take him there.
Glen JoJo Anderson (2019) 5’9 PG, Brooklyn Collegiate HS AAU Team: BSNY Metro Flyers. Glen is a really tough kid that has no problem going at the other team’s best guard. He’ll give it his all and get the job done, as a coach that’s all you can ask for from your PG.
Adeleye Oyekanmi (2019) 6’5 F, Curtis HS (Staten Island) AAU Team: BSNY Metro Flyers. Adeleye is a strong guard that can get in the lane and get a bucket against any defender. At times he seems like a “hidden weapon” so he needs to remember to stay aggressive because he has All-Star ability.
Majesty Johnson (2020) 5’8 PG, Brooklyn Collegiate HS AAU Team: BSNY Metro Flyers. Majesty has lots of heart and that’s something you can’t teach. He shows maturity for a young guard and makes high level decisions. He can shoot the ball well and also has good court vision. It’s not easy to make up for height so he needs to make sure to keep developing his strength and IQ. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops at Brooklyn Collegiate.
Kassem Ouedraogo (2019) 6’7 C, Wings Academy (Bronx) AAU Team: Born Ready Elite. Kassem is a potential big that needs a lot of work. However, he has a lot of upside and can be developed into almost any position on the next level. He has time to develop his game so he needs to live in the gym starting now. However, Kassem has the ability to make noise and surpass many kids in his class by the end of the summer, hopefully he makes the most out of his potential.
Mahamadou Nimaga (2019) 5’11 G, Wings Academy (Bronx) AAU Team: Born Ready Elite. Mahamadou has a good feel for the game, he just needs to make the most out of his natural ability. He can be a great guard one day around the right coaches.
John Wilson (2020) 5’9 PG, Lincoln High (NY) AAU Team: Scholar Athletes. John is a talented guard that just makes things happen on the court. He has great passing ability and it’s tough for defenders to stay in front of him. He needs to take the good things that come with being a talented NYC guard and leave the bad things that come with being a talented NYC guard. If he can successfully do that, sky’s the limit for John.
Paul Mulcahy (2019) 6’5 G/F, Gil St. Bernard HS (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Black. Paul is a versatile forward that’ll be a high level player in a few years. He’s one of those freshman that can drop 20 on the seniors now. He needs to take advantage of the fact that he’s ahead of most kids his age and keep developing his game. If not, everyone will catch up to him. Hopefully Paul stays focused and remains a killer for the NJ Playaz squad.
Chris Ings (2019) 6’0 G, Neuman Goretti HS (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Black. Chris is another great Playaz guard with good all-around game. He has sneaky athleticism and good scoring ability, he’s not someone to sleep on.
Cartier Bowman (2019) 6’4 G, Immaculate Conception (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Black. Cartier is a very athletic guard that can score and defend. He’s fearless on the court and will go after any defender no matter what the circumstances are. He’s a kid that will end up with multiple offers if he stays focused.
Josh Wright (2019) 6’0 G, Cape May Tech (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Black. Josh is another guard that couldn’t be ignored because he has a good all-around game. The NJ Playaz definitely know a thing or two about developing high level guards, Josh is in good hands and I see him being a high level player soon.
Anas Amos (2019) 5’5 PG, Newark Eastside AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Black. Anas is a good floor general with a lot of heart. He consistency couldn’t go unnoticed. He played hard on both sides of the court and hopefully college coaches will recognize that. It’s not easy being 5’5 and leading a team so deep in talent, hopefully Anas keeps sharpening his skills and takes his game to the next level.
Elijah Perry (2019) 6’0 G, Holy Cross (Flushing) AAU Team: Rising Stars. Elijah displayed a great understanding of the game. He can really shoot the ball but being that he can do it so well, I would like to see him do it more consistently. The first step would be for him to work on his shot selection, then it’ll all fall into place for Elijah. Hopefully he learns how to make the most out of his skill set.
Brian Kenyon (2019) 5’11 G Long Island Lutheran (NY) AAU Team: Rising Stars. Brian is not the most talented player but once they start running up and down the court, that doesn’t make much of a difference. He’s a good team player and has a good understanding of the game. I would like to see him develop his ball handling andfinishing ability, it’ll really take his game to the next level.
Zaquan Warren (2019) 6’4 F Holy Cross (Flushing) AAU Team: Rising Stars. Zaquan is a strong forward who has the body and skill set to put up a fight against high level players. However, sometimes it seems like he can play a lot harder and be much more focused. Once he sharpens his skills & gets his mind right, Zaquan will be a really good player for Rising Stars and Holy Cross.
Tyler St. Furcy (2019) 6’3 G, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY) AAU Team: Rising Stars. Tyler has the potential to be a really good guard. He can score the ball and displays natural ability to play the game. He just needs to surround himself with the right coaches and build on that natural ability in order to make the most out of basketball.
Mike Green (2019) 5’9 PG, Mount St. Michael’s (Bronx) AAU Team: NY Gauchos. Mike is a PG that understands the game and can run with the best. However, he needs to get stronger and stay aggressive in order to really display his talents. It’ll be interesting to see how Mike pans out by the end of the AAU season.
Jordan Gallimore (2019) 6’7 F, Bassick HS (CT) AAU Team: NY Gauchos. Jordan is an athletic forward that can be useful as an outlet on the break. I would like to see him develop his finishing ability because against other high level bigs, his athleticism can’t save him. However, I see good things in the future for Jordan as long as he develops his skill set and stays focused.
Alec Rodriguez (2019) 5’8 G, Belen Jesuit Preparatory HS (FL) AAU Team: NY Gauchos. Alec is a guard that can compete against other great guards but seems to lack confidence at times. He’s unsure with his decision making and at 5’8, his decision making needs to be one of the best parts of his game. He has good handle but he needs to be more efficient with what he does after he makes a move. If he works on his finishing ability and decision making, he can do lots of good things for the Gauchos in the near future.
August Mahoney (2019) 6’0 G, Albany Academy(NY) AAU Team: City Rocks. August is a great fundamental guard that can really shoot the ball. He hads the rep of being a top 5 shooter in his class. I’m looking forward to seeing what August and the City Rocks squad does throughout the rest of the AAU season.
Jaylen Colon (2019) 6’0 G, John F. Kennedy (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Grey. Jaylen is a really good floor general that can dribble and pass the ball at a high level. He needs to get stronger in order to keep having success but that shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. I would like to see his skills tested against more elite competition throughout the summer.
Victor Kanopka (2019) 6’5 F, Don Bosco Prep (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Grey. Victor is tough forward that gets into the lane and goes at the defense with no fear. He can play on the perimeter which makes him a very versatile player for the Playaz squad.
Nigel Towns (2019) 6’2 G, John F. Kennedy (NJ) AAU Team: New Jersey Playaz-Grey. Nigel needs to keep developing his skill set & remember to stay aggressive but he has a natural feel for the game and that ability can take him a long way if he builds on it.
Khalif Battle (2019) 6’3 G, St. Joseph HS (NJ) AAU Team: Sports U. Khalif is a talented guard that can put up buckets against just about anyone in his class. He has good size for a guard and in the long run I see him being a very high level player.