Team Mega Wildcats - College Prospects
Coach Arnell “Mega” Milton is the creator, sports conditioning trainer, skill developer and head coach for Team Mega Wildcats youth basketball program based out of Downtown Manhattan. The program is centered around the philosophy of using basketball as a tool. A tool that young men can use to open up the opportunity to better enrich their lives, academically, socially and eventually economically as they transition from boys to young men to young professionals. The program is going on its 7th year, growing each year. It started out as a local team only playing in the Tri-state area and has now evolved into to a national AAU and Travel Basketball, organized under a not-for-profit structure.
The program not only provides basketball teams but also sports performance training and skill development for both it’s own athletes and other programs’players. Many young men only participate in the Camp Mega workouts and Mega Runs (private open runs) while playing for other teams. To Coach Milton, winning is important but the other two of the three Team Mega Wildcats program pillars for success have also always been skill development and getting players exposure. That can include directing some Mega Wildcat players to play their games on other teams, if that is the best fit for their development. Coach Milton decribes his co-operative and integrated approach with other programs as being an Alliance. The Alliance works together to plug these scholar-athletes in the best positions to be successful, not only as basketball players but more importantly as students and young men. Accordingly, the final pillar of success is getting kids into colleges where they will succeed as students. That means getting them into the best academic situation for the least amount of money possible.
Below are some of the program’s current top college prospects. This list runs the full gamut of high level propects, under-the-radar kids and some potential late-bloomers.
Aljiah England (2021) 6’4 guard, Curtis High - England is a player of all dimensions. With his size, length, IQ and skill set he is not a tweener but a player with the talent and skill to play multiple positions. He can be a floor general and playmaker, running the offense and creating for teammates. He can just as easily run the floor, either throw or catch the alley opp, and play off of the ball. He can run off screens and show off his ability to shoot the ball. England can also post up, and he rebounds incredibly well. Which allows him to also be extremely effective as a forward when his team is playing a small ball or a speed line up. Defensively he has the quickness and smarts to guard smaller players and the strength, wingspan and athletic ability to guard taller players. He has a lot of Jrue Hoilday to his game and skill set. Definitely a Low to Mid Major D1 project on the college level
Nick Thomas (2021) 6’8 forward, Philips Andover Prep (MA) - When people look at Thomas and initially see his size, they often then underestimate his quickness, agility and speed. He is a highly intelligent and coachable player who is willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team and winning. He is a very good passer, a dominant rebounder, and a high impact help-defender and paint protector. He is a walking double-double. He never complains about touches even though he honestly deserves to touch the ball more frequently than he does. He is the grind-it-out hardworking player who is also extremely talented. He has won many AAU Tournament MVPs and championships playing for the Team Mega Wildcats. Frequently throughout his youth career, his dominance led to false accussations by opposing coaches re him being older than he was. Thomas has improved his perimeter skills each year, extending his range and ball handling ability. So as dominant as he can be around to rim, he can now also face up and be just as dangerous. He is good at getting the rebound and triggering the fast break. He also operates soundly in pick-n-pop scenarios. Academically, he is also stellar and will be a steal for whatever program gets him on the Division 1 level.
Raymond Moore (2022) 6’6 wing West Oak Academy (FL) - Moore is a smooth do-it-all wing player who is willing and able to play any position or role to help his team win. He is a great teammate and selfless player. He has versatility on both ends of the court. He is a gym rat who enjoys working on his game. He is expected to have a great year for nationally ranked powerhouse, West Oaks Academy. His length, IQ and athletic ability is going to catch the attention of many college coaches. Coach Milton feels like Moore is in the line of a lot of great late-blooming wings to be part of the Team Mega Wildcats program. He has elements of Albany-commit and Juco stand-out William Kondrat, super sophomore Ismael Massoud of Wake Forrest and national stand-out James Bouknight of UCONN.
Jaden DeJesus (2021) 6’0 guard, Knox School - “DeJesus is just a guard’s guard” per Coach Milton. “He does everything you need from that position to win games. He can score on all 3 levels and has the ability to play over the rim. He makes his free throws. Can break down defenders to create for his team and run your offense.” One of his biggest strengths is his ability to shoot the ball and he’s also great as the ball handler is pick-d-roll basketball. He is a team-first kid who is more interested in wins than statistics. He plays with a calmness and joy but has a fire to his game, especially defensively. He is one of the kids who wants to guard the other team’s best player. Dejesus is a hard worker, disciplined player who also ultra competitive whether it be workouts, practices or games. He had a few injuries that have caused slight setbacks, but he has always bounced back from them. Academically, he is strong as well. Coach Milton can definitely sees him playing in the Patriot League, NEC, MAAC or American East Conference.
Kasai Fontanez (2022) 6’4 guard, West Oaks Academy (FL) - Fontanez has long been a gifted and natural scorer. Very creative, crafty, agile, fluid and physical. Ultra competitive and confident in his abilities. Great off the dribble and in transition. He is very good using ball screens and is improving in his ability to play off the ball. Now that he has matured, growing a few inches and filling out his frame, he has added the dimension of playing above the rim. His game as expanded accordingly. He is also becoming a much better defender, rebounder and playmaker. According to Coach Milton, his ability to be a combo guard at his size will make him more attractive to college coaches. Coach Milton definitely thinks Fontanez has Division 1 potential. If he continues to develop at the pace that he has, including improvement in his outside shooting, he should achieve that.
Elijah Bailey (2022) 5’10 point guard, Vision Academy - Bailey is lightning quick, fast, agile, crafty and intelligent. He has superior ball handling ability, nimble footwork and great vision. He is versatile in his abilty to score. He can to shoot the 3 with deep range. He also is great shooting off-of-the-dribble, including pulling up for the mid-range jumper. Coach Milton says that Bailey phenomenal in using ball screens. He finishes in multiple ways, including baby hooks and floaters. He was previously a undersized, but over-skilled type of guard. This summer he had a growth spurt (that probably is not done yet) eliminating much of the disadvantage in that package. His late growth is by definition making him a late bloomer, as his body will still be in catch-up mode for awhile. Milton feels that Bailey’s combination of skill, IQ, feel for the game and maturing body will make him D1 worthy. Bailey also extremely hard working and dedicated to the game. He also gets it done in the classroom, easily clearing the NCAA academic minimums.
Alijah Lovelace (2022) 5’10 point guard, Suffield Academy (CT) - Coach Milton says that he feels that the “heart over height” slogan is used for too many undeserving players who are just vertical challenged. This is not the case for Alijah Lovelace. Milton says term actually fits perfectly. Undersized but over-skilled. He plays with a fire and passion on both ends that one wouldn’t expect lies under his babyface and million dollar smile. But he is a killer. Leader, competitor and work horse. Plays with an infectious joy. A professional tin his craft and has no issue out-working the next guy. Incredible floor general, great finisher at the rim for his size, Great mid-range game, clutch player and he loves the big moments. He is also an annoying gnat defensively, whether he is on the ball applying pressure, playing passing lanes or being disruptive as a help defender. Good rebounder for a guard and a very vocal on the court. There is no back down in his DNA. A guard whi can score just as easily as he can play-make. Milton sees him as a low to mid level division one player. He reminds Milton a lot of another Team Mega Wildcats player, former Suffiled Academy standout and Lehigh University freshman, Jalin Sinclair. Lastly Aljiah Lovelace gets it done in the classroom which will make him even more appealing as a recruit. He been getting D1 interest since his sophomore season.