2020 Purple Reign Warriors College Prospects
The Purple Reign Warriors grassroots basketball program started in the year 2013, with the goal of developing an elite youth basketball organization that would be all-encompassing and also affordable for working-class families. Program Director, Hassan Bilal, used his deep knowledge of the AAU/Youth basketball world to structure the working plans for the program. He has over 15 years of experience coaching on the AAU, travel, high school and college level, in the tri-state area. He currently is the Lead Assistant for the Men’s Basketball Team at Bronx Community College.
As the program was rising and building up momentum over its formative years it focused on player development, mentorship, advisement in high school and college placement, along with fielding tough, gritty teams and competing at a high level in local summer leagues/tournaments and annual showcase events throughout the NY metropolitan area. 2020 has seen the program take the next step moving into the elite travel basketball realm as a full-fledged AAU program.
At this time they have a developmental basketball program for ages 5-12, a year-round middle school program that will kickoff officially this fall and a strong high school program consisting of three teams (2024, 2023, and 2021/2022 mixed group). Purple Reign is based out of Yonkers, NY and services youths from Southern and Central Westchester County, Northern NYC and SW Connecticut.
Purple Reign’s Top Prospects:
Aliou Cisse (2021) - 6’6 (SF) from Yonkers High School is long, athletic and extremely versatile. He alters and blocks shots and is tough to score on. He is still a developing player, particularly offensively, as he continues to just scratch the surface of his potential. He attacks the rim with aggression from the high and mid post areas, and has a solid mid-range jumper. He is developing his outside shot and is an elite level athlete who frequently throws down thunderous dunks with style and flair.
Tyleek Fields (2023) 6’1 guard, Cardinal Hayes High - Fields is a Yonkers resident who commutes in to attend Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx. He can flat out put the ball in the basket! He has a knack for making big shots and coming up big in the clutch, when the game is on the line or when his team needs a bucket the most. He’s a tremendous shooter from long range and is growing as a ball-handler and playmaker. Had a highly productive year on Hayes’ freshmen team, being one of the team leaders and is poised to show why he should be considered as one of the top prospects in NYC, class of 2023.
Brandon Martinez (2021) 5’9 point guard, Lehman Campus (Bronx). This lefty PG is aggressive, attacks the rim with authority and is a great finisher, particularly for his size. He has a tremendous motor and is in very good physical condition (doesn’t wear down or tire easily). He can be a traditional PG, setting up his teammates and running offensive sets, but also is creative with the ball and can create his own shot. He’s still developing as a shooter but is a diligent worker and is putting in the time and effort to improve his game, preparing to play on the college level.
Isaiah Bray (2021) 6’1 wing, Palisade Prep (Yonkers) - Bray is tough and gritty. He’s a high level defensive player who can also put up points when asked to do so. He’s a solid outside shooter and likes to attack the rim by slashing through the defense, finishing and also drawing fouls on opponents’ bigs in the process. He’s reliable, coachable and is a student of the game.
Justice Garcia (2021) 6’2 guard, Lincoln High (Yonkers) Garcia is an athletic wing player with long arms who is an irritant and disrupter on the defensive end. He’s a strong defender both individually and in team concepts and racks up numerous steals and charges-taken. He’s a very good shooter from three point range, particularly on catch and shoot opportunities. He’s developing as a ball-handler and playmaker, which will help to round out his game.
Danny Batista (2023) 6’4 forward, Archbishop Stepinac. This Yonkers athlete flourishing in the the Purple Reign program, getting the opportunity to showcase all of the things that he does extremely well. He is finding the freedom to explore himself as a player and in the process take his game to a new level. Coach Bilal says Batista is “a genius on the defensive side of the ball with his ability to move his feet and stay with his man and also block and alter shots”. He’s simply a “Game-Changer” on that side of the ball. As a developing offensive player, he’s learning to feel more comfortable attacking off the dribble, and hitting open shots from mid-range and three point territory when the opportunities present themselves.
Ian Abreu (2024) 6’4 guard,Loomis Chaffee School (CT) Abreu is a Thornwood, NY resident when not at boarding school in CT. He has all the tools, attributes and the potential to be a Division 1 caliber talent. He’s long, athletic and strong for his position. He is adept at playing either the 1 or the 2 and can be an elite level defender at his position when he puts his mind to it. He has the ability to stroke it from deep, attacks the rim with aggression, is a good free-throw shooter. He is alos deadly in the lost art of the mid-range jump shot. He looks to still be growing and is still in the developmental stages as a talent, but at times is already dominant and easily the best player on the floor when he competes. He’s developing the killer instinct and consistency that is needed to be regarded as an elite talent. 94 classroom average.
Josendy Nova (2021) 5’9 point guard, Sacred Heart High (Yonkers). This Bronx boy is a slick ball-handler, with a knack for getting to the rim and finishing on tough drives to the basket, even against size. He’s strong and well put-together, has the ability to hit the outside shot when it’s available. He is a solid leader and good foul-shooter. He’s a lefty that has the ability to blow by a defender and also have his way with weaker guards in the post. Nova is a hard worker, with great upside as he prepares to be an impact player on the college level.
Rusbert Jiminez (2021) 6’6 forward, Sacred Heart High (Yonkers). Jiminez fits the role of a traditional post player. Is physical, strong around the basket, with pretty good low post moves and footwork. He can also hit the mid range jumper and shoots his foul shots well. He rebounds well, is coachable and is a high academic student-athletewith an 89 overall classroom average.
Makai Coleman (2024) 5’10 guard, Mount St. Michael Academy. Coleman is from Yonkers and is a deadly shooter from range when on. He’s developing as a playmaker and defender, and is improving nicely as a ball-handler. He’s not scared to take big shots and also is capable of making big shots, when the game is on the line. He is a nice young man, who is coachable and is a good student.
Jordan Willaims (2024) 6’0 guard, High School TBD - Williams is a Bronx native who is dynamic and aggressive on the court. He moves like a free safety and with that talent is extremely disruptive on the defensive end. He is also a flat-out scorer on the offensive side. Cioach Bilal says is potential is through the roof, and that his best trait is that he is coachable. He owns up to mistakes and corrects them instead of revisiting them. He’s a streaky shooter who can heat up literally from anywhere on the court and isn’t shy about having the ball in his hands in order to take big shots when the game is on the line. “Jordan Williams”, remember the name!
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