2025 Riverside Hawks 16u Player Profiles
The Riverside Hawks, one of NYC’s most storied programs, was founded by the historic Riverside Church in the early 1960’s. The program’s mission is still to help students and families use basketball to pursue academic opportunities and to promote their character development.
Their 16u team is coached by the veteran Dermon Player and Karriem Memminger. Dermon Player is a well-known figure in New York City basketball, serving as a coach for the Riverside Hawks youth basketball program for over 30 years. He has also coached many professional athletes including Stephen Marbury, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Rafer Alston and God Shammgod. The Riverside Hawks was inducted Coach Player into their Hall of Fame. He has coached in the Big East Conference, including four years as an assistant coach at Seton Hall University and six years at St. John’s University. He also served as a scout for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. Coach Memminger has been an important figure at Riverside for years in helping them develop much of NYC’s top talent. The Hawks named him their 2022 Coach of the Year.
Their 2025 16u roster is as profiled below.
#0 Josh Charlot (2027) 5’11 point guard, Notre Dame-Fairfield High (CT) - Charlot earned CIAC All State honors as a sophomore. He brings stifling on-ball defense and commands the floor as the lead guard.
#1 Hector Almodovar Jr. (2028) 5’10 point guard, Cardinal Hayes High - Almodovar sees the floor and can distributes it artfully. He shoots mid-range jumpers and can drive to the basket. Defensively, he sticks to his man and plucks steals.
#2 Christian Brown (2027) 6’4 guard, Cardinal Hayes High - Brown is an athletic off-guard who can defend multiple positions and play above the rim. He’s tough, not afraid of contact, can rebound and competes non-stop.
#3 Myles Duckett (2027) 6’4 guard, Greenwich Country Day School (CT) - Duckett is a twitchy athlete. He can score in bunches. His quick release jump shot draws over-played close-outs that he blows by with a quick first step. He is also a active and disruptive defender. 3.7 gpa
#5 Shawn Mclean (2027) 6’6 small forward, Avenues the World School - Mclean has a smooth shot and can handle the ball when needed. He put up big scoring games as a varsity sophomore. He can hit the pull up jumper or a make tough drives through the paint. 3.3 gpa
#10 Johnny Magna (2027) 6’4 guard, Christ the King High - Magna has already made a big splash and has racked up high major offers as a sophomore. He has a polished 3-point range and can create space with elusiveness off the dribble.
#11 Jhalil Owuso (2027) 6’3 point guard, Bergen Catholic High (NJ) - Owuso He has good positional size for the lead guard spot. He is a scorer and has a quick step when he is on the attack. He can score from 3. He gets to the foul line.
#3 Myles Duckett (2027) 6’4 guard, Greenwich Country Day School (CT) - Duckett is a twitchy athlete. He can score in bunches. His quick release jump shot draws over-played close-outs that he blows by with a quick first step. He is also a active and disruptive defender. 3.7 gpa
#12 Baron “Sonny” Batchelor (2027) 6’5 small forward, Westminster School (CT) - Batchelor is a versatile weapon. He sees the floor and exploits the defense where its vulnerable as both a score and a passer. He plays clinic level defense, in a stance, with his hands up and communicating to his teammates. 3.9 gpa
#15 Ben Ayugi (2028) 6’9 forward, Trinity-Pawling School - Ayugi is a lengthy rim protector and solid 18-20 foot jump shooter. Plays above the rim. As a rebounder, he is a ball tracker who snares boards outside of the box. He is an excellent rim runner as a big.
#20 Vuk Zelic (2027) 6’8 small forward, Christ the King High - Zelic has great size as shooter. He is a knock down three point shooter, who also uses his craftiness to get into the paint and make plays. He is a high IQ basketball player.
#21 Jeffrey Brooks (2027) 6’10 forward, Hudson Catholic High (NJ) - Brooks uses his strong frame to get position down low and has a nice touch around the basket. He sets strong screens. He is tough to boxout for offensive rebounds. He is imposing on the defensive end.
#23 Stra Zelic (2027) 7’0 forward, Christ the King High - Given his massive size, Zelic is mobile That makes it tough to keep him off of the boards. He uses his length to clean the glass and impact shots at the rim.