2019 Will Kelly Sr Invitational Tournament Top Performers

By Derrick Irving,

Sunday, August 11th, RecruitTheBronx.com was in attendance for the 1st Annual Will Kelly Sr. High School Invitational Tournament at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem.

The event is ran by Hoops By The River Director/Founder Will Kelly Jr. He and his father, Will Kelly Sr., founded Hoops By The River in 2009. Kelly Jr. started the high school tournament this year to commemorate and remember his father who passed away in October 2018.

Here are our top prospects from the event:

Travon Mack 2020 5’9 Point Guard Seward Park - A lightning quick guard with a shifty handle and an explosive first step. Gets to the basket in a hurry, acrobatic finisher thru traffic and around taller defenders. Crafty finisher with both hands, can go coast to coast due to his speed with the ball. Pesky perimeter defender, can get steals on the ball or the passing lanes, pick your poison. Has a non stop motor which sees him involved in almost every play. Is developing into a quality playmaker and his court vision has really been on display.

Anthony Harris 2023 6’3 Wing Thurgood Marshall Academy - A young player that can battle with Juniors and Seniors with ease. He has a strong body frame and uses it to his advantage especially on the drive. Deceptive athleticism and quickness. Is creative off the dribble, has an array of scoring moves and can finish with both hands. Attacks the basket strong, creates a head of steam going downhill. Moves well without the ball for a young player. Will continue to blossom with more experience.

Arnando Camacho 2020 6’3 Point Guard National Christian Academy (MD) - A natural passer with a strong handle, pounds the rock every dribble. Instinctive passer, makes good reads on defensive scheme. Controls the offensive pace well. Active rebounder for a guard, looks to get it and start the break himself. Good finisher on the drive thru traffic. Doesn’t force the issue offensively, he gets his shots within the flow of the game. Transferring to National Christian Academy (MD) from Brandeis HS.

Pedro Matos 2021 6’4 Forward Brandeis HS - Does the dirty work on the defensive and offensive boards, goes all out. Is an athletic rebounder. Long and lanky frame, long arms. Average interior defender. Needs to be a more consistent inside finisher, especially with the amount of putback chances he gets.

Justin Soto 2020 5’9 Point Guard WHEELS - High IQ PG who controls the pace of the offense well and gets buckets when it matters. Good footwork with the ball on the perimeter, uses foot misdirection well to keep defenders off balance. Quick first step out of triple threat. Has a strong body and finishes thru traffic well. Good court vision. Is a decent perimeter defender.

Brian Burke 2021 6’6 Forward WHEELS - A player with a lot of potential if he puts it all together. Good perimeter handle at his size. Can initiate the break off the defensive rebound and go coast to coast. Quick hands plays the passing lanes well. Runs the floor well, has a long and lanky frame. Needs to add muscle and get a lot stronger, will help him finish thru contact more consistently. Needs to improve his outside shooting.

Jarlin Bello 2021 6’4 Forward WHEELS - A tough rebounder who isn’t afraid of contact and gives his body up for a rebound. Runs the floor hard trying to be involved in every play. Continuously setting picks and cutting. Good inside finisher thru traffic.

Branden Pannell 2020 6’4 Wing LaSalle Academy - Very smooth offensive game with a nice pullup jumper. Vocal leader on both ends of the court, always communicating. Good outside shooter but sometimes falls in love with the jumper over driving to the basket. Needs to be more aggressive and consistent finishing on the drive.

Dylan Harney 2021 6’7 Forward LaSalle Academy - An athletic shot blocker who stays active and engaged defensively. Runs the floor hard to get putbacks and chase down blocks. Good rebounder, has long arms. Still just scratching the surface of what he can be offensively, but is showing improvement.

Isaiah McCants 2021 6’0 Guard New Vision Aim II Charter School - Tough finisher on the drive thru contact and traffic. Not an explosive leaper, but attacks the basket strong and has good body control. Gives good effort on defense. Decent ball handler. Needs to improve his outside shooting.

Colin King 2021 6’6 Forward Seton Hall Prep (NJ) - Has good hands, catches the ball well in stride and in traffic, is a decent finisher on the drive as well. Good form on his jumper, but needs to improve his ball handling to have more perimeter touches.

James Traore 2020 6’4 Forward Economics and Finance HS - A man-child physically on the court, has a football linebacker body. Hard to stop on the fastbreak or going downhill on the drive, but needs to finish more consistently. Can go coast to coast off the defensive rebound. Decent rebounder but with his physical presence needs to start imposing his will. Needs to improve his outside shooting. Needs to improve and tighten his handle, will create more driving opportunities for him in the half court set.

Herbert Hawkins 2020 5’11 Guard KIPP NYC - Good outside shooter, gets good elevation on his jumper. Sneaky athleticism can explode off the ground on the drive and has a quick first step. Decent perimeter defender. Needs to be more aggressive with the ball in his hands, he has the tools to be a scoring machine.

Clinton Obi 2020 6’4 Forward McKinney HS - An explosive leaper who looks to dunk everything. Athletic rebounder with long arms. Is an alleyoop threat on the fastbreak. Needs to improve his perimeter handle, has potential to be a good slasher.

Abubakar Kromah 2020 6’5 Wing Next Level Prep (KS) - Explosive leaper will throw it down with authority and show out when left open on the fastbreak. Good body control on the drive. A coast to coast threat, with how fast he can slash and get to the basket. Quick first step, finishes thru traffic well. Good outside shooter off the dribble. Needs to be more consistent on the catch and shoot.