Vision Academy Basketball – Brooklyn
Vision Academy is a sports specific preparatory school with a campus located on West Street in Brooklyn. It is directed by its Head of School and Head Basketball Coach, Howard Russell. The program’s stated aim is to help inner city youth achieve a quality education and an elite level athletic experience at an affordable cost.
Vision Academy students receive an online education experience through VA’s educational partners at The Ogburn School (middle schoolers) and The James Madison High in Georgia (high schoolers). The course work meets meet National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and II eligibility requirements.
Athletically, VA’s student athletes train between 20-30 hours a week and play a national schedule in order to maximize their recruiting profiles. As for basketball, they run teams from 7th/8th grade on up. For high school play, they have both a National and a Varsity squad. Their prep teams are called Senior National, Post Grad, Prep 1 and Prep 2.
Their home court is primarily the four-court facility at The Post BK, but also they also use The Brooklyn Stuy Dome as an additional practice facility for some of their younger teams’ practices.
The programs top college prospects are currently:
Damarco Watson (2021) 6’3 shooting guard, Sr. National Team – Watson is projected to be a D1 player. He is a flat-out scorer. Averaged 33ppg this past season at Eagle Academy (BX). Also has tons of upside as well. Currently 6’3 but still growing. Has tons of tools, but needs to become more explosive
Tyshawn Scott (2021) 6’6 wing, Sr. National Team – Scott is one of NYC’s biggest sleeper prospects. He’s a 6’6 versatile wing who plays above the rim. Had several 20 point performances this last season and big time defensive performances. He is projected to be a kid who will play 1 or 2 years at a JUCO and then finish his career at a mid-major. If he takes his athleticism to the next level, he has high major potential.
Theodore Ghartey (2021) 6’9 wing, Sr. National Team – Ghartley is what Coach Russell calls “an enjoyable project”. He stands at 6’9, 215 pounds. Definitely needs to gain weight and get stronger. He has yet to play his true position as a wing. In high school, he was played at the center position for the past four years. He shoots the ball well, especially from 3. Plays hard and is a true team player. If he becomes a better ball handler, he’s easily a Division 1 prospect.
Deontay Sprattley (2021) 6’2 point guard, Sr. National Team – Sprattley is another NYC sleeper prospect. This guard can flat-out score, but is a true point guard as well. He hasn’t truly found his fit on the court yet. Whether that is to be scorer or a true point guard. He tends to defer at times, but the talent is unquestionable. He is a great defender as well. His defense is probably one of his best traits. Needs to become more athletic. If that happens sky and a D1 uniform is the limit for him.
Kyle Jackson (2021) 6’7 wing, Post Grad Team – Jackson is definitely what you call a late bloomer. He shot up to 6’7 in the past two years. With that being said, he’s a versatile wing that plays above the rim at ease. He has underrated court vision as well. Can grab the rebound and push the break. High academic, would definitely be a great fit for a Patriot league, Ivy league, ECC or NESCAC school.
Christian Rogers (2021) 6’7 wing, Post Grad Team – Rogers is another late bloomer. He just kept getting taller all throughout high school, and is possibly still growing. He had a pretty good high school career at New Rochelle High. He is a great defender, possibly his best attribute. Knocks down the mid-range jumper really well. Needs to become a better shooter off the dribble. Also needs to become more athletic.
Jaden Clarke (2021) 6’5 shooting guard, Post Grad Team – Clarke is a kid who gets way better every time you see him play. Unfortunately, he sat out this past year due to a knee injury. He is a very skilled guard who can run the show. Shoots the ball really well off the catch and dribble. He is definitely looking to have a impactful bounce-back season this year. Needs to drop some of the weight that he gained while injured.
Kwame Brown (2021) 6’5 wing, Post Grad Team – Brown is a very skilled wing. He played on a very good Morgan Park team for the past two years with some high major prospects. He was a bit over-looked due to that fact. He is doing a post grad year to show what he can do as the main piece of a team.He is very athletic and plays the game the right way. He needs to become a better decision-maker with the ball. Coach Russell thinks he is definitely a kid who’s a Division 1 prospect.
Jaheem Tyson (2022) 6’6 wing, Prep 1 Team – Tyson is played as a big in the post for most of his basketball career. He has now slimed down and become more athletic over the past two years. He plays above the rim with ease and might be one of the best rebounders in the Tri State area. He is probably done growing though, so he’s looking to transition to the wing over the next two years so he can continue his basketball career on a high level. He’s a mid-major/D2 prospect. Needs a more consistent motor.
Nicholas Molina (2021) 6’1 point guard, Prep 1 Team – Molina had a very solid high school career at Christ The King High. He played on some very good teams and won a city championship last year. With that being said each year he was there, they had other guards who were the focal point. He was regulated to a role player position. He is now doing a prep year to show he can run the show and be a top player on a really good team. He is explosive and a knock-down shooter when hot. He needs to develop into better decision maker and defender to max out his opportunities.
Jordan Council (2021) 6’2 shooting guard, Prep 1 Team – Council is a very skilled guard. The lefty plays with a lot of energy and can score the ball. He is not a true point guard though, does much better off of the ball. He is very athletic so can play against and guard bigger players. He needs to get a better right hand and become a better passer.
Donte Howard (2021) 6’0 point guard, Prep 1 Team – Howard Is arguably the best defender in the program. Defends at a high level, takes charges and gets deflections, the whole package. He can lock down the opposing guard. Offensively. he excels in transition. Decent catch and shoot shooter as well. He would be a great role player on a good D2 team and one of best players on a good D3 team.
Alain Aviles (2021) 6’0 point guard, Prep 1 Team – Aviles is one of the most unrated players in the state of New Jersey this last season. He was one of the best players in Hudson County. True point guard who does all the little things well. He takes charges, plays very good defense and plays hard all game. He also might be the best 3 point shooter in the VA program. He would be a three year starter on any D2 team that takes him.
Damir Brooks (2021) 6’5 wing, Prep 2 Team – Brooks is a high flying wing. If he gets a lane, watch your head. He is not currently a great ball handler or shooter though. He will be working to improve as a ball handler and shooter in order to excel on the next level. Needs a better motor as well. If those three things happen he will be a rememberable name on the D2 level.
Amar Ndiaye (2021) 6’5 wing, Prep 2 Team – Ndiaye is an athletic wing who has unfortunately played out of position his whole high school career. He will now spend this season transitioning from a big to a true wing. He blocks shots, plays above the rim and plays very hard on the defensive end. Offensively, he still needs to find himself. If he transitions into a true wing, he’s a D2 prospect without fail.
Herbert Hawkins (2021) 5’9 point guard, Prep 2 Team - Per Coach, Russell, Hawkins is still trying to decide whether he wants to be point guard or shooting guard. He is a great passer and ball handler, but he excels off of the ball. He can knock down jumpshots from anywhere on the court, including beyond college range. He needs to become a better defender in order to fix his biggest weakness.
Christian Smallhorne (2021) 5’10 guard, Prep 2 Team - Smallhorne is a another player who Coach thinks is still trying to decide whether he wants to be a point guard or shooting guard. He shoots the ball lights-out from 3 point land. However, offof the ball, he can score 12 points in three minutes with ease. He is not a bad ball handler but doesn’t excel there. He needs to become a better defender and more athletic, which is where he currently struggles.
Randy Zarzuela (2021) 6’5 forward, Prep 1 Team - Zarzuela can be as good as he wants to be. A 6’5 wing who can handle the ball and knock down jumpshots. He is not very athletic though and often tries to play while out-of-shape. If he works on his physical fitness and becomes more explosive, he’ll be a great fit for any D2 program.
Editor’s note: Catch Vision Academy PG team highlights here
Vision Academy links:
Website: http://visionacademynewyork.com
Twitter: @VisionAcademyN1
Instagram: @vsionacademyathletics