How Naasir Cunningham’s Move Impacts the Garden State
The April live period is freshly over, but the biggest news of the day had nothing to do with the life period. Naasir Cunningham Naasir Cunningham 6'7" | SF Southern California Academy | 2024 #41 Nation CA-S , the top…
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Continue ReadingThe April live period is freshly over, but the biggest news of the day had nothing to do with the life period. Naasir Cunningham Naasir Cunningham 6'7" | SF Southern California Academy | 2024 #41 Nation CA-S , the top prospect in the 2024 class, announced today that he would be joining Overtime Elite. He will still be eligible to play in college because he is not taking a salary, but his move is significant on the Garden State.
Cunningham creates a hole on the perimeter for Gill St. Bernard’s as coach Mergin Sina has to replace him along with Georgetown signee Denver Anglin Denver Anglin 6'0" | PG Gill St. Bernard's | 2022 State #120 Nation NJ and Brown commit Drew Kania Drew Kania 6'7" | SF Gill St. Bernard's | 2022 State NJ . Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako Mackenzie Mgbako 6'8" | SF Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #5 Nation NJ returns for the Knights and should repeat as a First Team All-State performer. The 6’8 wing had a good week of practices at the Nike Hoop Summit, which should translate into a strong senior campaign.
Geancarlo Peguero Geancarlo Peguero 6'5" | SF Gill St. Bernard's | 2023 NJ had a big weekend with the Jersey Force after a solid debut season for the Knights. The athletic 6’6 wing attacks the basket strong and finishes above the rim with authority. Peguero has a nice release on his jump shot and he will need to be more confident shooting the ball from behind the arc.
Peter Mauro Peter Mauro 5'10" | PG St. Rose | 2025 NJ is the last returning starter and he will have the ball in his hands more in year 2. The 5’10 guard has a good handle and is not rattled by on-ball pressure. Mauro can finish around the basket through contact and can make opponents pay for giving him space on the perimeter.
Nick Losada Nick Losada 6'2" | SG Gill St. Bernard's | 2023 State NJ and Samir Thomas Samir Thomas 6'3" | CG Patrick School | 2024 State NJ have both been key players off the bench this season and they both have the opportunity to make a big impact next season. The former has a good shooting stroke and sets his feet before he shoots. Thomas is a strong guard who can beat his defender off the bounce and make plays in the lane.
The 2024 class is set to change as Elliot Cadeau Elliot Cadeau 6'2" | PG Bergen Catholic | 2024 MO claims the top spot. The 6’2 guard is a play-maker with the ball in his hands with a tight handle and the ability to find open teammates in the halfcourt. Cadeau is a crafty finisher around the basket and can finish above the rim with authority.
The wing class is intriguing with Roselle Catholic’s Tarik Watson Tarik Watson 6'7" | PF Hillcrest Prep | 2024 State AZ and Don Bosco Prep’s Dylan Harper Dylan Harper 6'6" | SG Don Bosco Prep | 2024 State #3 Nation NJ at the top of the list. The latter has the potential to play either the 3 or the 4 as Watson has a physical frame which he uses to draw to contact around the rim. Watson is a strong finisher around the basket and has a solid face-up game.
Harper plays with confidence on the perimeter as he is able to get to his spot on the floor and rise up over smaller defenders. The 6’5 lefty has a good handle and can finish in a variety of ways around the basket. Harper recently picked up an offer from Indiana and should continue to pick up offers throughout the course of the spring and summer.
Cunningham’s move to Overtime Elite has a big change on the 2024 class with multiple players getting the opportunity to rise up the rankings.