2026 HG Pitt Jam Fest Top Performers

By Dave Cordova

This past weekend, April 18-19, we made it to the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA for the annual Pitt Jam Fest hosted by Hoop Group. The event had hundreds of teams from the East Coast, including several teams from New York City and the New England areas. In this event, some talented gems came out to showcase their talents. Below are the standouts:

Flory Kuminga 6-7, Forward, The Patrick School (NJ), New York Rens 15U, Class of 2029 - A forward that has a lot of length and athleticism in his game and is very active when it comes to rebounding. Is fearless when going to the basket and is known for making explosive moves when going up for two. Has a nice shooting touch from the perimeter.

Evan Seitz Forward, 6-8, St. Luke’s School, New York Rens 15U, Class of 2028 - A forward with a good skill set and is a true force in the post. Has the ability to obtain rebounds on the defensive end and is able to run in the fast break. Has a penchant for putting the ball on the floor and can muscle his way to the basket and can finish in transition.

Avian Rodriguez 6-0, Point Guard, Cardinal Hayes High School, New York Rens 15U, Class of 2029 - A guard that is known for being active on both ends of the court and uses his quickness to his advantage. Has the ability to find his teammates when they’re open and can put them in position to score. Has the ability to get loose balls and will go all out for rebounds. Is known for being a great finisher at the basket.

Antonio Pemberton, 6-1, Point Guard, Masters Academy International (MA), Mass Rivals 17U, Class of 2027 - A guard that is a true leader on the court and has excellent court vision. Is a solid defender and is great at forcing turnovers and getting steals, which lead to offensive opportunities. Is a player that can shoot at a high-volume and is able to get to the basket with ease.

Ladanion Payne, 6-2, Shooting Guard, Brimmer & May School (MA), Mass Rivals 17U, Class of 2027 - A guard that has the ability to be an offensive threat when on the court. Is known for dishing the ball out to his open teammates and is known for slicing and dicing his way to the basket. Has a nice shooting touch, as he is known for pulling up from the top of the key.

D.J. Hawkins 6-7, Forward, St. Thomas More School, BABC 17U, Class of 2027 - A forward that has plenty of skills and is able to play as a wing. Has plenty of athleticism and is able to obtain rebounds and blocked shots. Has a penchant for driving to the basket and is a great finisher when going to hole. Has a nice shooting touch and can hit mid-range shots.

Jaylen Hunter-Coleman, 5-11, Point Guard, Newman School (MA), BABC 17U, Class of 2027 - A guard that provides plenty of leadership and court vision for his team when he’s on the floor. Has the ability to make his presence felt, as he has plenty of athleticism and is known for obtaining blocked shots or getting steals on the defensive end. Is able to find teammates for passes and can give them opportunities to score. Is able to hit midrange jumpers and likes to drive to the basket, where he is a good finisher.

Anderson Diaz 6-1, Point Guard, Cold Hearts Overtime Elite (GA), New York Rens 17U, Class of 2027 - A guard that is a true playmaker every time he steps on the floor. Has a penchant for creating for himself on the offensive end, as he is able to hit jumpers from plenty of spots on the floor. Is able to find his teammates and help give them the ball so that they score. Is able to drive to the basket to score.

Caleb Ourigou 6-10, Forward, Cold Hearts Overtime Elite (GA), New York Rens 17U, Class of 2027 - A forward that has plenty of strength and is a formidable presence in the low post. Has the ability to dominate on both ends of the floor, as he is able to block shots and obtain rebounds on the defensive end. Is able to muscle his way into the paint area. Has the ability to finish efficiently around the rim.

Jelani Middleton 6-4, Shooting Guard, St. George’s School (RI), New York Rens 17U, Class of 2027 - A guard that has the ability to make plays as the two-guard in more ways than one. Has the ability to make clutch shots, whether it’s hitting jumpers from mid-range or from three and can also showcase his athleticism and finishing at the rim. Has the ability to obtain steals or get after loose balls when he’s on the defensive end.

Shawn Remplet, 6-7, Forward, Binghamton High, NEPA Elite 17U, Class of 2027 - A forward that is very mobile and is very solid on both ends of the floor. Has a penchant for attacking the glass for rebounds and also getting blocks. Is able to move around off the ball, as he is able to set screens so that his teammates can drive to the basket. Has the ability to dominate on the offensive end, as he is a great finisher.