2019 All Gym Rat Challenge Team - 11th Grade Division
Excerpted from Gym Rat Challenge reporting
Zed Key (10) 6-8 post Long Island Lightning-Wagner/Long Island Lutheran: Easily the most-dominant player in the division. Ca post up and finish both ways with counter moves His drop step dunks are impressive. Uses his body extremely well to get position in deep. An elite shot-blocker, sending anything that comes his way into the stands. Uses his broad frame to rebound on both ends. Consistently hits the 10-to-12-foot shot. Strong interest by close to two dozen schools, including high majors including Florida, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UMass, Rutgers, Tulane, Seton Hall, Penn State, Illinois and many others.
Eisaiah Murphy (2) 6-5 guard Next Level/White Plains High School: A lefty who can really fill it up, and showed off his offensive skills to great effect here, finishing with 29 points in the championship contest and stepping up when his team needed it most. He is lethal in transition game, using his height and length to finish. Impacts the game on both ends of the court. A very active defender. Added strength will push his game even higher. Is hearing from several Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference programs.
Cole Kattan (15) 6-2 guard Chris Ward Basketball-Green/Scarsdale High School: A very, very good shooter with outstanding range. Showed off an outstanding court IQ. Crafty enough to get shot off against pressure.Handles the ball very well and doesn’t turn it over against pressure. Competes hard and will play effectively at both ends of the court. Was at his best in his bracket’s championship game here.
Trey Sweigart (24) 6-1 guard Pennsylvania Rens/Central York: Super active on both ends, amplifies and energizes the whole team. Cuts hard without the ball and is an excellent finisher at the rim. Has a versatile offensive game. Can dribble, pass and shoot. But he really sets himself apart with his high court IQ at both ends.
Jamir Dantley (4) 6-1 guard Mt. Pleasant Bulldogs/Alexis I. DuPont School: A long, quick and athletic guard that is active particularly on the defensive end, getting more than his share of deflections and steals. He is more than just a scorer. He can play either guard spot and makes plays not only for himself but for teammates. Excellent pull-up and step-back jumper and showed a good ability to finish at the rim.
Antonio Taylor (1) 6-3 wing NY Extreme Hoops/Peekskill H.S.: A long and athletic wing that can score in a variety of waves. Showed an ability both to drive to the rim and stop out to shoot from as far out as the bonus stripe. Excellent offensive rebounder who attacks the glass. Has the tools to be an outstanding defender. Very versatile, impacts games on many plays.
Logan Bagshaw (1) 6-3 guard Maine Renegades-Vashon/Greely High School: Outstanding shooter who can explode from deep. Can score it off the bounce or from deep. Very effective use of the shot fake. Has a great court IQ, and is also a terrific passer. One of the biggest scorers here; had 40-plus points in two different games including a 53-point explosion. Has heard from UMaine, but mostly hearing from D2’s and D3’s. This kid is definitely a D1 level scorer.
Noe Fleurimond (11) 6-5 wing Next Level (NY)/Woodlands High School: A big, strong wing who affects the game on both ends. He makes a living on the offensive glass. Plays an extremely physical game. Gets out on the break and is a very good finisher in transition. Needs only to improve his jump shot to be even more effective.
Keyshawn Miller (1) 6-3 wing Next Level (NY)/Our Saviour Lutheran: A terrific wing player who can score it in a variety of ways. He is a creative finisher who knows how to get to the rim and do damage there. Also, an active defender who impacts the game with his work at that end. Needs only to add a consistent shot from deep to be even more effective.
Ben Onek (22) 6-5 wing Blue Wave (Maine)/Freeport High School: A strong left-hander who showed the ability to play either guard or small forward spots. Exhibited a nice shooting touch, even from deep, but can also take defenders off the bounce. Rebounds very well for his size and will push it on the break. Hearing from UMaine and Bryant, but is expected to attend prep school.
Christop Sauerborn (14) 5-11 point guard Chris Ward-White/Horace Greeley High School: A lefty who is a terrific lead-guard. Pass-first point guard who delivers passes to open teammates. Also a capable scorer who showed off an ability to connect from deep. On the defensive end he really harasses opposing players from end line to end line.
Chris Cain (30) 6-7 post Early Risers Orange/Pine Bush High School: A lanky lefty with solid fundamentals. A raw talent with a high court IQ. Consistently knocks down mid-range shot with a hand in his face. Blocks shots and limits fouls. Nice post game with solid footwork to both sides. Uses length to rebounder over stronger bigs. Ton of potential, but would benefit from added bulk and with better ball-handling skills. Runs the floor well and finishes with either hand.
Thomas Cirrito (3) 6-1 guard Long Island Lightning-Wagner/Miller Place High School: A knock-down deep-range shooter. Excels off the catch-and-shoot, and can make tough shots with a hand in his face. Tough and coachable and showed a high court IQ. Active defensively, creating steals for himself and teammates. Exceptional passing allows him to teammates into shooters. Can handle the ball, but needs to be a stronger finisher. Pursues the 50-50 balls relentlessly.
Reuben Synsmir (3) 6-2 point guard Unity Legends Select/American Christian School: A tough leader, a dynamic guard who can impact games in a variety of ways. Elite driving ability and gets to the rim with ease. Sets teammates up for open 3’s on drives, but can also finish in traffic. Athleticism allows him to be a high flyer, and catches lobs for dunks in traffic and on the break. A defensive menace creates steals and deflections. Elite speed on both ends.
Brian Moore (4) 6-2 guard Early Risers Lafrance/Kingston High School: A special player who shows up when his team needs him. The better the competition, the better he plays. Lightning-quick with the ball in the half court, and can go the full length effortlessly for finishes through contact. Highlight dunks are accompanied by clutch 3’s and tough mid-range jumpers. A defensive pest. Relaxed and unfazed. Needs to shore-up his long-range shot and rebounding, but is more than capable with his athleticism. Hearing from Siena, Rider, Monmouth, Pace, Southern New Hampshire, Nyack, Dominican and Assumption.
Ismail Taylor (23) 6-5 forward Unity Legends Select/West Orange High School: Makes a tremendous impact on both ends. Uses strength and athleticism to finish with either hand through contact. Nice low-post game, going to his right. Showed flashes of a mid-post game, but needs to improve stepping away from the hoop. Creates a lot of steals with his knack for deflections. If he gets a steal, it’s almost always a dunk on the other end.
Caleb Simmons (0) 6-4 forward Early Risers Lafrance/Newburgh Free Academy: A strong forward with a nice touch out to 10 feet. Finsihes well around the rim with either hand through contact. Aggressive rebounder, especially on the offensive end. Uses his athleticism to his advantage on defense, but struggles guarding bigs with their back to the basket. Improved dribbling skills would add to his overall package.
Scott Woodring (25) 6-6 post Hoosiers/Waverly High School: Fundamental big with solid post moves. Nice one-dribble, turnaround hook to his right. Great footwork on the block. Can turn and face out to 15 feet, and hit consistently. Finishes through contact with either hand. Needs to work on his conditioning and to keep improving on turn-arounds to his left hand. Tough hustler and very coachable.
Sean Williams (21) 6-1 guard Team Elevation Green/Old Bridge High School: A lefty who shoots the three-pointer effectively on kick-outs. Runs hard and gets to the basket going left. Anticipates well on the defensive end especially in pressing situations. Extremely conscious of keeping hands high on traps.
Gerald Jarmon III (51) 5-11 guard Team PA Supernatural/Scotland Sports Campus: A small, but effective shooting guard who has a really quick release. Can get it off against bigger defenders. Uses the threat of a shot to get into the lane. Can take contact and finish and finishes with either hand in transition game. Good job moving laterally while guarding the ball. Hearing from Cornell, Navy, Princeton and American so far.
James Taylor (13) 6-0 guard VT Elite/Burlington High School: Just a lights-out shooter who hit six consecutive three-pointers in half of one game here….including one from 28 feet. Can finish in transition as well, and with his off hand around the rim. Better, though, at finishing with his right. Big time scorer, based on his long-range effectiveness. Hearing from Vermont and Florida Gulf Coast so far.
Jake Kelly (2) 6-4 forward Team PA Supernatural/Bishop McDevitt High School: A small forward who can put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim. Outstanding when finishing with his right hand. Can shoot the three as well. Uses pass fakes and pump fakes to move the defender so he can get an open look.
Quentin Aurty (15) 6-5 post Team Elevation/Notre Dame High School: An athletic post player who finishes well around the rim. Great at tracking down offensive rebounds. Will rebound outside his area. Can attack off the one or two dribbles. Moves laterally when switched on to guards to defend.
Sean St. Lucia (12) 6-2 guard City Rocks DiBacco/Niskayuna High School: Very good handle vs. pressure, can play either guard spot. Efficient scorer off dribble and from long range. Smooth stroke with range. Great feel for the game and gets teammates involved. Great reaction and anticipation on defensive end. High motor and always plays hard.
Massiah Mallory (21) 6-4 forward City Rocks DiBacco/Watervliet High School: An explosive player that finishes in traffic and around the rim. Very good with the ball going to the basket and in open court. Strong rebounder and reads the ball coming off the rim well. Active and bouncy at both ends of the court. High motor, and he can change the outlook of a game in a hurry. Hearing from Holy Cross and Colgate
Jacob Daly (0) 6-4 point guard REIGN/Kent School: A long, lanky and smooth point guard with great vision. Unselfish player that loves to get teammates involved. Gets to the rim vs. pressure and uses his body well to finish. Good shooter with range to 3-point line. Very active defensively with outstanding anticipation skills. High IQ and high energy player. Reclassified to class of 2021.
Taylor Bowen (0) 6-5 forward Blueprint/Mount Mandsfield Union High School: Played up two levels, has huge upside. Already has the game to play at this level. A lanky small forward with good handle. Runs the floor hard and is very good in open-court situations. Good stroke out to 18 feet. Great touch around the basket. Projects as a D2 player for now, might develop into more.
Alex Russo (21) 6-0 point guard 6th Boro Hoops/Fordham Prep: A strong, physically gifted point guard. Has a great motor and always plays with a lot of energy. Great handle and gets by his defender with ease off the dribble. Has a great feel for the game and gets teammates involved. High court IQ.
Matthew Wiele (14) 6-6 wing 6th Boro Hoops/Hackley School: Great length and uses his wingspan well at both ends of the floor. Great feel and understanding of the game. Moves well without the ball. Athletic and finishes in traffic. Showed a nice stroke with range to bonus line. Handles in the open court and plays with energy. Great anticipation skills on defense.
George Patsalos (41) 6-5 wing Golden Eagles-SGuest/Heritage Middle School: Played up a level. Great size for having wing-position skills. Great passer with strong vision in the open court. Showed ability here to score either inside or on the perimeter. Very noticeable motor with a lot of energy. Really moves in the open court and finishes well in traffic. Lots of potential.
Miles Jones (25) 6-1 guard Chris Ward Basketball-Green/Briarcliff High School: Very solid all-around player. Good shooter with good range. Very good pull-up/mid-range game. Has quickness and ability to get to the rim. Very good in transition. Great court IQ and passing ability. Finds open teammates and delivers good passes. Outstanding defensive anticipation that leads to his share of steals.
Tony Arnold (0) 6-0 guard 585 Bobcats/Eastridge High School: A really quick and athletic guard. Quick to either hand. Very good in open court and transition. Showed ability to knock down a mid-range shot. Decent decision maker, but will over drive at times. But, his quickness and athleticism sometimes covers for that. Best part of his game is his competitiveness….he really gets after it.
Sydney Thybulle (5) 6-7 post Chris Ward Basketball-Green/Irvington High School: Big, strong and physical in the post. He can finish well with either hand. Great footwork in the post. He can face up or play with his back to the basket. Agile and has good-enough handle to move out on the perimeter with some effectiveness. Good passer with a great court IQ. Has committed to Johns Hopkins.
Dante Pope (1) 6-4 point guard CT Heat/Middleton High School: A long and athletic guard. He is able to get to the rim at will. Good-sized point guard. He creates for himself or for others with ease. Reads the defense and delivers passes to open teammates in shooting positions. Scores around the basket and in transition. When he’s making his jumper, he is extremely tough to defend. Hearing from Hartford.
Romeo Aquino (10) 6-3 wing O.C. Kings/Washingtonville High School: A strong wing/forward player. High motor guy who rebounds hard at both ends. Big body that he knows how to use well on drives and when working around the rim. Finishes around the rim well. Also showed off an ability to put the ball on the floor and score from the perimeter.
Mark Barrett (33) 6-5 forward ASA Select-Rudy/Brookline High School: An awesome wing player. He is a really smart offensive player. Uses pump fake to his advantage. Outstanding moving without the ball and knows how to space the floor. Makes good, intelligent decisions when driving. Has ability to make plays off the bounce. Good shooter and rebounder. Committed to Bridgton Acaemy for post-grad year.
Matt Price (21) 6-1 point guard ASA Select-Rudy/Brookline High School: Outstanding all-around point guard. Controls the pace well. Has the ability to push the ball in transition, but also capable of creating with his passing in the half court. Showed ability to knock down mid-range shots and three-pointers. Defends really hard. Good rebounder for a guard. Hearing from several Ivy, Patriot league and NESCAC schools.
Elijah Rosenthal (1) 6-0 point guard O.C. Kings/Wallenpaupack Area High School: A very solid lead guard. Just an outstanding ball-handler with great passing ability. Sees open teammates and delivers the ball. Very good shooter. He hit eight three-pointers in one game here. Very good in the open court, and finishes well.
Stephen Ward (20) 6-6 forward ASA Select-Rudy/Beaver Country Day School: An athletic and bouncy wing forward. Showed off a good handle for his size. Has the ability to attack the rim off the bounce, and finishes strong with either hand. Has a great shot off the bounce. Physical and rebounds hard. Competes on every possession.
Dylan Diaz (10) 5-10 point guard Lightning-Haber/North Babylon High School: One of the top scoring guards of the weekend. Not much of an outside shooter, but goes straight to the basket at every opportunity and had 21 points in one game and 20+ games in two others. A strong handle allows hi to be a prolific playmaker off the dribble.
Kyle Coffin (3) 5-10 guard Interstate Basketball/Newark Valley High School: A top scorer at the Class D high school level this season, and there was little anyone could do to stop him here this weekend. Outstanding catch-and-shoot from the outside. An incredibly quick release out of his hand allowed hi to hit a game-winning buzzer beater from the corner three-point land in one game. Great touch from all over while here.
Hayden Lamey (0) 6-4 guard North Shore Blizzard/Briarwood Christian School: A Massachusetts native playing high school ball in Alabama. A versatile guard capable of playing either spot in the backcourt because of his quickness. Long and athletic enough to be solid on the wing as well. Good pull-up shooter who could stretch it out and connect from behind the arc when he looked or that shot.
Jamon Tucker 6-1 guard The Unit Promise/Niagara Falls High School: A very bouncy guard who came on as the tournament progressed. Seemed to thrive when able to get going north and south, and push the ball in transition. Confident when he was making decisions. Good shooting touch with quick release makes him a potent scorer anywhere on the floor. Interest from Daemen College.
Clyde Riggins Jr. 6-6 forward Long Island Select/Glen Cove High School: Not many here could match his inside strength. He made a living on the offensive glass and finishing around the rim softly with either hand. Showed flashes that he could be effective facing up off the dribble. Tough interior defender who holds his ground extremely well.
R.J. Myers-Turner 5-9 point guard Long Island Select/Uniondale High School: A creative lead guard physically tough enough to get into lanes and finish. Great and solid when working to get his own space and find others around hi. Hard-nosed on-ball defender who forces opponents into mistakes and turnovers. Quick hands and good lateral movement.
Jack Rudolph (1) 5-10 point guard Take Charge-Sullivan/Franklin High School: A very poised player who isn’t afraid of big moments. He can handle the ball under pressure with his head up. Does a really good job of setting up teammates for good looks. Can shoot the standstill three-pointer and has a one-dribble pull-up. Needs only to hit the weight room for additional strength and on finishing at the rim.
Manny Smith (11) 6-7 forward Riverside Impact/Achievement First Brooklyn: A very strong and physical forward with a high level of athleticism. He does a great job of protecting the rim on defense and rebounding high. Can guard all five positions. Needs to improve on ball-handling and long-range shooting.
Alan Rodriguez (2) 6-1 guard Riverside Impact/Holy Cross High School: A very quick guard, capable of playing either backcourt slot. He loves to get to the rim. Very aggressive trying to score, but also showed an ability to set up his teammates for good looks. Very capable three-point shooter as well. Needs to work on controlling his emotions.
Kevon Ferguson (10) 6-6 forward Riverside Impact/Brooklyn Collgiate: A very physical presence in the post, gets position and holds it. Soft hands and does a great job of catching in traffic and finishing. He protects the rim with great technique. A lefty that can shoot it out to 15-foot range. A monster on the offensive boards, aggressively goes after rebounds. Needs to polish his post moves.
Romello Faison (1) 5-11 guard LPFAM-Team Loyalty/Martin Luther King High School: Very quick and explosive guard that can get to the rim at well. Excels in the open court and finishes strong at the rim. Very capable three-point shooter when his feet are set. Very unselfish and looks to set his teammates up for good looks. Needs only to improve on decision-making.
Kervin Benoit (8) 6-0 guard LPFAM-Team Loyalty/Springfield Gardens High School: A very explosive off guard with a quick first step. Very physical when attacking the rim, and strong enough to finish through contact once there. He is just tenacious on the defensive end at all times. Very quick hands result in his share of steals/deflections. Needs only a little more range on jumper.
Kobe Long (8) 6-1 guard Roc City Rocks/McQuaid High School: A very long guard with good ball-handling skills. Capable of being effective at either guard role. He shoots the three-pointer with range off the dribble, or with a stand-still shot. Very good handling the ball against pressure. Can finish at the rim with either hand. Only needs to add some strength.
Connor Williams (24) 6-11 center Roc City Rocks/Victor High School: A real “big” who has soft hands and can finish inside against contact. He is a very good passer out of the post. Extremely tough to keep him off the glass, enthusiastically chases arguer rebounds. Showed off good post moves and he can score over either shoulder. Needs only to work on his conditioning.
Max Jusianiec (5) 6-6 shooting guard Roc City Rocks/Wellsville High School: A big guard with outstanding range. Very long with an ability to shoot past defenders. He can finish at the rim at times, but needs to handle contact better. Shoots well on catch-and-shoot situations. Improved ball-handling ability would enable him to better create his own shot.
Honorable Mentions:
Kohlby Murray 5-7 guard Slaters Austin Vincent 6-0 guard Ontario Storm Kent Olewiler 6-3 forward Pennsylvania Rens Christopher Neumann 6-2 guard Long Island Renegades George Mansour 6-5 forward Long Island Renegades Jahir Carpenter 6-5 forward Mt. Pleasant Bulldogs Marqui Mobley 6-5 forward Mt. Pleasant Bulldogs Jack Kruse 6-2 guard New York Extreme Hoops Zach Maturo 5-10 point guard Blue Wave Damir Brooks 6-3 forward ABBO Crusaders Michael Zargoza 6-3 guard United (NJ) Tazir Cantey 5-10 guard SJ Jazz Jordan Breton 6-0 wing Maine Renegades Diego Echevarria 6-0 point guard ACC Liam Hopwood 6-5 forward Chris Ward-White Will Fuchs 5-10 guard Early Risers Orange Chris Bamba 6-4 forward Early Risers LaFrance Khi Atchinson 6-0 wing Hoosiers Travis Finfrock 6-2 guard ASA Hoops Aaron Miller 6-4 wing Long Island Lightning-Wagner Sean Brickley 5-9 guard ASA Hoops Eric Baier 6-3 guard Unity Legends Select Michael Farrell 6-5 forward Unity Legends Select Jackson Rind 6-7 forward Unity Legends Select Evan Portnoi 6-5 forward Unity Legends Select Joel Maldonado 6-4 wing Unity Legends Select Ma Caspi 6-4 forward Long Island Lightning John Kennedy 6-9 center MVE William Britton 6-0 guard Team Elevation Jason Eberhart 6-8 center Team PA Supernatural James Barlow 6-6 center Team PA Supernatural Will Davis 5-10 point guard Capital City Lightning Leo Chaikin 6-2 guard VT Elite Jordan Lanaux 6-0 guard MVE Devin Strickland 5-10 guard Team Elevation Eric Baier 6-3 guard Unity Legends Select Cole Rhyne 5-10 guard Team PA Supernatural Ryan Teaney 6-3 forward City Rocks-DiBacco Jackson Atty 5-11 guard City Rocks-DiBacco Orlando DiBacco 5-7 point guard City Rocks-DiBacco Matthew Champlin 6-2 guard REIGN Dylan Craft 6-8 center REIGN Luke Crittenden 6-3 guard REIGN Ryan Selander 6-4 forward REIGN Tyler Morehouse 6-2 guard Blueprint Owen McDonough 6-4 forward Blueprint Leo Riby-Williams 6-2 guard Blueprint Carmine Castiello 5-10 guard 6th Boro Hoops Mark Osie 6-1 guard 6th Boro Hoops Mike Ryan 6-2 guard 6th Boro Hoops Jared Duquette 6-3 guard NB Rampage Connor Recore 6-4 forward NB Rampage Brady Hebert 5-7 guard NB Rampage Chris Smith 5-10 guard Golden Eagles SGuest Jacob Stern 6-3 forward Golden Eagles SGuest Jahseim Davis 6-0 guard Bulls Basketball Club Andres Fulgencio 6-1 guard Bulls Basketball Club Mike Caporale 6-6 forward Chris Ward Basketball-Green Dimaunie Meredith 6-3 forward Chris Ward Basketball-Green Albert Opena 6-3 guard Ottawa Phoenix Jaxon Smith 6-1 guard Ottawa Phoenix Jonah Bevacqua 6-7 forward O.C. Kings Kevin Stein 6-3 guard O.C. Kings Ryan Graham 6-1 guard O.C. Kings Leon Williams 6-2 guard ASA Select-Rudy Alex Momo 6-1 forward ASA Select-Rudy Jonathan Nkonoki 5-11 guard CT Heat Jack Crowley 6-4 onward North Shore Blizzard Dylan Berliner 6-2 guard East Coast Panthers-Rheingold Jared Thomas 5-9 guard East Coast Panthers-Rheingold Riler Spencer 5-7 guard Interstate Basketball Nate Barry 6-4 forward Interstate Basketball Stanley Magloire 6-0 guard Lightning-Haber Latrell Williams 5-10 guard Long Island Select Mike DiGiulio 6-0 guard The Unit Promise-Red Tahron Goudelock 6-0 guard The Unit Promise-Red Drew Plunkett 5-10 guard Take Charge-Sullivan Brayden Sullivan 5-10 guard Take Charge-Sullivan Ryan Johnston 6-4 forward Take Charge-Sullivan Arizel Almodover 6-0 guard Riverside Impact Bismark Nsiah 6-6 forward Riverside Impact John Garcia 6-4 forward Riverside Impact Khari Wilson 6-5 forward Riverside Impact Jordaine Dawkins 6-4 forward LPFAM-Team Loyalty Davion Lee 6-2 guard LPFAM-Team Loyalty Taria Robinson 6-1 guard LPFAM-Team Loyalty Matt Johnson 6-5 forward Maine Renegades-Johnson Cole Morin 6-5 forward Maine Renegades-Johnson Willie Graiver 5-9 guard Maine Renegades-Johnson Kayshawn Ross 6-3 guard Roc City Rocks Nyles Goodwin 6-4 forward Roc City Rocks