SEPA Summer Grassroots Report – Week II
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[player_tooltip player_id="1136566" first="Kaydin" last="Ford"] (C/O 2024) from Philly Pride Select. This past week the July circuit kicked to high gear as a significant number of the top grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania hit the courts at multiple events in a…
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Continue ReadingThis past week the July circuit kicked to high gear as a significant number of the top grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania hit the courts at multiple events in a five day span. Teams from southeastern Pennsylvania participated in marquee tournaments all over the country with most of the squads playing ball from Wednesday through Sunday of this past week. The Atlantic City Jam Fest (NJ); the Adidas 3SSB Gold Gauntlet (AL); Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest (PA); Big Shot Myrtle Beach Live (SC) and UA Association-Session I (GA) were just a few of the events where SEPA teams hit the hardwood recently.
Below is a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who played well on the summer grassroots circuit from Wednesday through Sunday of last week.
17U (2022)
Jaden Workman – 6’0” / Pope John Paul / PSB Philly / Combo Guard: Workman is an exciting backcourt prospect who has flourished on the grassroots circuit as a No. 1 / No. 2 option on offense. His ability to score at all 3-levels is complimented by his slick (but always under control) handles and his next level court vision. His unselfish approach and high basketball IQ make Workman a high level point guard we will be keeping an eye on here in July. This past week he pushed PSB Philly (2-1) to the Summer Jam Fest (Nook division) semifinals.
Wisler Sanon, II – 6’3” / Phelps School / Philly Pride National / Combo Guard: Wisler is coming off a very strong performance with his new high school squad (transferred from Paul VI in NJ) at June’s Mid Atlantic Showcase and now his July live period has gotten off to a great start. Sanon continues to be one of the best transition finishers you will ever lay eyes on. At the UA Association-Session I (GA), his ability to weave through traffic and absorb contact at the rim was second to none. His three point shooting was a bona-fide weapon as well (drained 5 threes in one game). At the other end, Sanon is an excellent on ball defender.
Blake Smith – 6’5” / Germantown Academy / K-Low Elite / Wing: Last winter Smith earned his way into GA’s starting lineup and had a very solid high school season. He used that momentum to post an excellent spring circuit and he shows no signs of letting up here in July. Down in Alabama at the adidas 3SSB Gold Gauntlet he posted two excellent runs — 23 points and 9 rebounds vs. Team Loaded (NC) as well as 13 points and 4 rebounds against the Arkansas Hawks. Smith showed he is a skilled and versatile scoring wing who because of his excellent court vision is also a high level passing big man. As a nice bonus to Smith’s interior scoring game and passing ability, this past weekend he reached into his bag and drained several spot up threes.
16U (2023)
Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA – 6’4” / Devon Prep / SJ Hoops Elite-Grey / Wing: From last Wednesday through Sunday, the SJHE-G squad participated in the Atlantic City Jam Fest (NJ) as well as the Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest (PA) and ran up an 8-1 record. They hit the 16U jackpot in AC (so to speak) and made it to the ‘chip game at the Summer Jam Fest. Orchard was outstanding over the five days of action averaging 18 points and 8 boards per game. This past winter Orchard proved to be one of the most well rounded prospects in the Philadelphia Catholic League. Now early in the July grassroots circuit, Orchard has really found his scoring touch. On offense Orchard he scored at all 3 levels and was excellent at finishing in transition. He also displayed solid court vision and was a willing passer.
Adam “Budd” Clark – 5’10” / West Catholic / BW Elite / Point Guard: In his first ever action with BW Elite, Clark received minutes with both the 16U and 17U teams during the Atlantic City Jam Fest (NJ). His floor general style of play was phenomenal all weekend and he pushed BW’s 16s to their division title at that event. An elite on ball defender, Clark scored repeatedly this weekend by stripping his man of the rock then racing down the floor for contested lay-ins. The undersized lead guard also hit some jumpers in the half court and used his drive and kick skills to set up teammates for wide open scoring opportunities. Clark is the type of point guard who makes every player around him better and over the first 5 days of the live period he guided BW Elite 16s to a 5-2 record.
Ruben Rodriguez – 5’11” / Reading / Tem Final EYBL / Point Guard: Rodriguez and the Team Final 16Us “played up” in the 17U division of the Summer Jam Fest (PA) and assembled a respectable 2-1 record. On a roster chock full of players who can score, Rodriguez is a rock steady floor leader who avoids mistakes, plays with a fearless energy and can provide a scoring punch when needed. At the Summer Jam Fest he moved to space very well so that he was open for 3PAs. Once he catches the rock, he is nearly automatic from behind the arc. Rodriguez can also slash to the cup for a bucket and is a solid on-ball defender as well.
15U (2024)
Reid Belcher Reid Belcher 5'11" | PG Friends Central | 2024 State PA – 5’11’’ / Friends Central / K-Low Elite / Combo Guard: We rarely start a prospect profile at the defensive end of the court, but after Belcher averaged 4 steals per game at the Summer Jam Fest and was a complete on-ball menace, it seemed to make sense here. Belcher defense helped K-Low Elite win the 15U platinum division title at that event. In addition to his defense Belcher hit shots from all three levels as he posted several double digit scoring games. His ability to score the rock in transition was noteworthy as well.
Kaydin Ford Kaydin Ford 5'10" | PG Abington Friends | 2024 State PA – 5’7’’ / Abington Friends / Philly Pride Select / Point Guard: Philly Pride Select has posted a 6-3 record over their 9 games recently and Ford’s play has been a huge reason for their success. Over a five game stretch of stellar play by Ford, he averaged 21.8 ppg. and 5 apg. A 25 point game and a 31 point effort certainly grabbed the attention of college coaches. When he has the rock, Ford plays with a great deal of pace which means opposing defenses are constantly under pressure. His quickness and ability to blow past defenders with the dribble allow him to score at the rim frequently. His 3-point shot is respectable enough that defenders cannot sag off him which plays right into Ford’s high level dribble-drive skill set.
David Fridia David Fridia 6'6" | PF Allentown Central Catholic | 2024 State PA – 6’7” / Allentown Central Catholic / Team Final Red / Power Forward: After a monster spring season during which he held down the interior for a Team Final Red squad that was missing several bigs because of injuries, Fridia tipped off the July period with a monster week and helped push TFR to a 6-2 record. In addition to scoring the rock inside (14 ppg.) via slashes to the basket or post ups, Fridia served a as a fantastic rim protector and cleaned the glass at both ends (14 rpg.). Fridia also displayed a solid perimeter shot.