2025 New Haven Heat-Made Hoops17u Player Profiles
The New Haven Heat is a highly regarded developer of college-bound talent in the basketball rich Greater New Haven, CT region. Doc Kennedy runs the program and coaches their 17u Made Hoops circuit level team. He is assisted by He is assisted by Craig Wilson, Jr. a current player at Rhode Island College.
Below is the New Haven Heat Made Hoops 17u roster for this season:
(Clicking on the player’s name pulls up their profile)
#0 David Smith (2026) 6’3 guard St Thomas Moore School (CT) - Super athletic 2 guard who thrives getting downhill, improved Jumpshooter and defender. Super effective and transition. 3.4 gpa
#1 Jonovan Bracey (2026) 6’6 small forward, King School (CT) - 2024-25 All FAA. An athletic wing guard who can knock down shots from outside, attack the basket for crafty finishes, or come down the lane for a poster dunk. True 3 level scorer who can run the point as well. Guards 1-4 efficiently and has a smooth shooting stroke. 3.3 gpa
#2 Julian Dent Jr (2026) 6’6 small forward, MacDuffie School (MA) - Dent has a smooth shooting stroke. He rebounds at a high level and can get to his spots on the floor. He has the potential to be an elite defender as well 3.4 gpa
#3 Jared Butler (2025) 6’6 small forward, Wilbur Cross High (CT) - Butler is a very physical big guard. He loves the getting to the midrange but also extends his game out to the three point line. He is very valuable in transition and can be a defensive menace on or off ball. 2.9 gpa
#4 Amyre Gray (2026) 6’0 point guard, Bridgeport Prep (CT) - 2024-25 GametimeCT All State First Team last winter at ST Bernards High (CT). 2024-25 Eastern Connecticut Conference Player of the Year. He is a high IQ shifty point guard with limitless range. He also attacks downhill and can easily get to an mid-range pull up or drop a floater over bigger defenders. He is a creative finisher at the rim and a pitbull on the defensive end. 3.5 gpa
#5 Xavier Goode (2027) 6’2 point guard, Millbrook School - Goode is a shifty point guard who can go and get a bucket whenever it’s needed. He is an improved defender and jump shooter from beyond the arc. He loves to get to the mid-range 3.5 gpa
#6 Trew Kitson (2026) 6’3 point guard, East Haven High - Kitson is another high level athlete that takes the challenge of guarding opponent’s best player. He can knock down jumpers from anywhere on the floor and can finish over bigger defenders at a high level. 3.0 gpa
#8 Amare Marshall (2025) 6’6 small forward, Bridgeport Prep (CT) - 2024-25 All State CIAC at St Bernards High (CT) last winter. He is a high level athletic wing. He guards 1-5 very effectively and has a very improved jump shot. He is a mismatch nightmare, because he posts up smaller guards and get past a big trying to guard him on the perimeter. 4.1 gpa
#21 Jake Morton (2026) 6’11 forward, Thomaston High (CT) - This physical big man has a nice touch around the rim. He is an elite shot blocker. He is currently getting into the best shape of his life and becoming a true “bully” in the post.
3.6 gpa
#23 Sam Watson (2026) 6’1 guard, Premier Prep (MA) - Watson is renowned for his getting downhill and using his functional strength to bully through defenders. He gets to his spots and knocks down the mid-range jumpers at a high level. He plays at the speed he wants the game to go, doesn’t get sped up.
#33 Makysm Shepel (2026) 6’8 forward, Putnam Science Academy (2025) - Shepel is a big man with elite footwork. He is a work horse on the glass and is a great rim runner. 3.8 gpa
#34 Rauan Rodrigues (2025) 7’1 forward, Putnam Science Academy - A very springy big man with soft hands and good touch around the rim. He is a high level shot blocker. He likes to be a rim runner and catch lobs for easy dunks. He is a PNR nightmare for any opposing team. If they switch a guard onto him, it becomes an uncontested alley oop. If they don’t switch, he’s at the basketball too quickly to catch him. 3.0 gpa