SEPA Spring Grassroots Report: Week 6
Amir Hite of We R1 Select 17. Photo: Andre Hammond (@hh_visions) Over the weekend grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania traveled up and down the east coast from Albany, NY to Scranton, Pennsylvania to Hampton Roads, Virginia to participate in tournaments…
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Continue ReadingOver the weekend grassroots teams from southeastern Pennsylvania traveled up and down the east coast from Albany, NY to Scranton, Pennsylvania to Hampton Roads, Virginia to participate in tournaments boasting extremely competitive fields.
Below is a review of several prospects from southeastern PA (and beyond) who impressed with their outstanding play on the grassroots circuit this past weekend.
17U (2023)
Nolan Gilbert Nolan Gilbert 6'4" | PF Cumberland Valley | 2023 State PA – 6’4” / Cumberland Valley / York Ballers / Power Forward: Gilbert is a high-level prospect flying under the radar. He runs the floor extremely well and can finish a break with authority. Additionally, Gilbert has a smooth, high percentage jump shot with range beyond the arc. At the HG Southern Jam Fest, he scored a tourney high 14 points against 6th Man Warriors HGSL and grabbed a truck load of rebounds in every game. Gilbert is a prospect to watch this spring/summer.
Jackson Hicke Jackson Hicke 6'5" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA – 6’4” / Radnor / Prim3Tim3-PA / Shooting Guard: Hicke has been impressive all spring and his outstanding performances at the HG Southern Jam Fest will continue to push his recruiting stock upwards. This high IQ wing scored a weekend high 28 points vs. Team Rio UAA. Across Prim3Tim3’s four games, Hicke drilled 14 triples. In addition to splashing threes, Hicke’s length and creative finishing skills enable him to score in transition.
Amir Hite – 5’10” / Dover (DE) / We R1 Select 17 / Combo Guard: A speedy floor general with tight handles, Hite proved at the HG Southern Jam Fest that he can score at the rim or via floaters. His perimeter jump shot also proved to be a legitimate perimeter weapon He posted 15.6 ppg. and scored a tourney high 18 points vs. Corey Graham Elite UA. As a distributor Hite can use the bounce to penetrate the lane and when the help defense collapses on him, Hite will drop a dime on an open teammate. He also excles in pick-n-roll action.
Earle Greer Jr Earle Greer Jr 6'7" | SF Rocktop Academy | 2023 State PA – 6’6” / Abington Friends / Philly Pride National UAA / Small Forward: West-Ingram is one of the best kept secrets in SEPA. This athletic slasher style wing has improved his offensive skills drastically and is now much more than just a transition scorer. His 3-point shooting has taken a giant step forward. Additionally, his ability in the half court to put the ball on the deck and get to the rim has developed immensely. At the defensive his long wingspan and instincts make him an elite rim protector and rebounder.
16U (2024)
Kamani Healey – 6’3” / Cheltenham / Philly Pride Select / Wing: Healey is a taller guard who plays with enough of a physical edge to his game that he can also burn at the small forward spot. Healy has excellent offensive instincts. So, he moves without the ball well, finds space and then hits the open shots. Healey also possesses a high motor and excellent length. That combination enables him to be a work horse on the glass at both ends.
Larenzo Jerkins Larenzo Jerkins 6'5" | PF Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA – 6’5” / Chester / SK Elite 17 / Small Forward: Jerkins is a 2024 prospect “playing up” with SK Elite’s 17U squad. This wiry athlete with hops has shown he can score in transition and on second chance opportunities. In both situations Jerkins does a tremendous job of finishing through contact. Still, this past weekend at the Southern Jam Fest he displayed an improved mid-range game. Jerkins was effective operating from the elbows, getting buckets via jumpers or two dribble lay-ins.
Nelson Lamizana Nelson Lamizana 6'9" | PF West Chester Henderson | 2024 State PA – 6’8” / WC Henderson / Philly Pride National UAA / Power Forward: For years now Lamazina has been a long, athletic interior prospect with intriguing upside. Well, this spring Lamizana’s skills have taken a significant step forward and he is close to realizing his potential as a DI prospect. He still runs the floor well and can finish a fast break with authority. However, Lamizana is now a serious threat in the half-court too. At the KYDA Invitational (Scranton, PA) he displayed an improved mid-range game as well as the ability to grab an offensive rebound, go up in traffic and dunk the ball. Lamizana’s outstanding play helped Philly Pride National to a 3-1 record at that event.
Sam Wright – 6’4” / Lower Merion / Philly Pride 302 / Combo Guard: At the HG Southern Jam Fest; Wright proved once again that he is the prototypical “three and D” player who would be a welcome addition to any college program. His tremendous feel for the game and non-stop off ball movement allow Wright to find the open spots on the floor. Once he has found space, Wright is a high percentage catch and shoot 3-point ace. Wright is also a lockdown defender who guards for all 94 feet. A rarity on the grassroots circuit.
15U (2025)
Bradey Bass – 6’0” / Pope John Paul II / Gibbs Elite / Combo Guard: With his outstanding play at the HG Southern Jam Fest, Bass continued his breakout spring. Thanks to his ability to play in transition and drain the occasional triple, Bass posted 10.6 points per game down in Hampton Roads, VA. In transition and in the half court, he has an attacking style to his game. Lastly, Bass has a bit of an old school nature to his game, as he can score off the glass from numerous spots on the floor. That is a lost art among today’s prospects.
Riley Buzby – 6’2” / Appoquinimink (DE) / Philly Pride 302 / Combo Guard: Buzby is a muti-sport athlete (Also is an accomplished soccer goalkeeper.) who excels on the court through his ability to knock home three balls and score off his pull up game. At the HG Southern Jam Fest Buzby drained threes of every variety — catch & shoot threes, off the dribble threes, transition threes and threes off pick action. When a defender got up under him, Buzby used a ball fake, then a couple of dribbles to create space for his mid-range jumper.
Ben Rill Ben Rill 6'8" | PF Central York | 2025 State PA – 6’7” / Westtown School / York Ballers / Wing: This versatile lefty with length helped push the York Ballers 15U squad to a 4-0 record and their division title at the ZG MidAtlantic Coaches vs. Cancer tourney. His height, wingspan, good foot speed and shooting touch make Rill a matchup problem. On the interior, he can score over most guards with either hand. Because of his quick first step, serviceable handles, and smooth jumper with 3-point range, Rill is a daunting challenge for bigs to guard. As Rill adds bulk to his frame and further refines his shooting, he should develop into a DI stretch-4 prospect.