SEPA Spring Grassroots Report: Week IV
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[player_tooltip player_id="1382973" first="Alex" last="Seidman"] of PSB Philly-Ferrick. Photo: PSB Philly Last weekend’s grassroots circuit featured a small number of southeastern Pennsylvania teams in action. Most squads in the area took off to rest and prepare for this coming weekend’s much…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend’s grassroots circuit featured a small number of southeastern Pennsylvania teams in action. Most squads in the area took off to rest and prepare for this coming weekend’s much anticipated Big Shots-Philly Pride Tournament.
However, this past weekend there were a few grassroots teams on the court, and we have a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who played well for those grassroots squads.
17U (2022/2023)
Amaury Hunter – 6’3” / Junior / Imhotep Charter / Baker Hoops / Combo Guard: Hunter is an eye-popping athlete who can play above the rim. At the ZG Mid-Atlantic Championship, he ended several fast breaks with thunderous dunks. This lefty can also splash threes from all over the court and rebounds well at both ends. He possesses elite quickness and good anticipation skills. On defense those assets produced numerous steals and the occasional chase down block.
Seamus Rodgers – 6’2 / Junior / Archbishop Carroll / PSB Philly-Ferrick / Combo Guard: Rodgers is a lefty who owns a college ready physique and can score at all three levels. He is especially skilled at using the bunce to get to his mid-range pull up jumper. He can also facilitate for teammates off the dribble. Rodgers is high percentage three-point shooter, so defenders cannot sag off to prevent his dribble drives. At the other end, Rodgers’ can use his speed and physicality to lock down the opponent’s best perimeter player. Rodgers was one of the keys to PSB Philly-Ferrick (4-0) capturing 17U title at the ZG Mid-Atlantic event.
Alex Seidman Alex Seidman 6'3" | SG Haverford | 2023 State PA – 6’3” / Junior / Haverford / PSB Philly-Ferrick / Combo Guard: Seidman continued to display “logo range” on his elite jumper while hitting on 10 of 14 threes across two games during Saturday’s action at the ZG Mid-Atlantic Championships. As we have discussed previously, Seidman is one of the most consistent long-range snipers in SEPA. He is especially lethal as the trail shooter on the fast break. Plus, Seidman is an underrated athlete who can play in transition and score at the rim with crafty finishes. Seidman helped lead PSB Philly-Ferrick (4-0) to the 17U title at the ZG Mid-Atlantic event.
Mike Varallo – 5’9” / Senior / String Theory / Baker Hoops / Point Guard: Varallo is coming off a tremendous high school season — 12 points and 5.5 assists per game. He has used that momentum to open the spring circuit with several great performances at the ZG Mid-Atlantic Championship. Varallo is a coach on the court style point guard with the bonus of being a super-fast athlete. That speed along with his filthy handles enable Varallo to get into the paint for floaters or lay-ins. If the help defense slides in time to cut off Varallo, he will drop a dime to the open teammate.
16U (2024)
Nick Chapman Nick Chapman 5'10" | CG Reading | 2024 State PA – 6’2” / Reading / Reading KTB / Combo Guard: This lightening quick guard with elusive handles continues the family legacy of producing standout prospects (His older brother Joey is already a star at Reading). The younger Chapman scores the rock at all three levels, but he is especially lethal when he is out in transition. He scored 18 points in the championship game of the Crossover Hoops East Coast Regional (PA) event, which enabled Reading KTB (3-0) to pick up yet another trophy.
William Littles, Jr. – 6’1” / Shipley School / PSB Philly-Bosler / Combo Guard: Littles is an elite scorer who posted several double digits throughout last weekend. He can use the dribble drive to navigate his way into the paint for a finish at the rim. Little also does an excellent job of using ball / shot fakes to get to his spots on the court. This high-level backcourt prospect owns a jumper with range out to the arc, so opponents must guard him tightly. Littles pushed PSB Philly-Bosler to a 4-0 record and the 16U title at the ZG Mid-Atlantic Championship.
Jackson Parker – 6’3” / Governor Mifflin / Reading KTB / Wing: Parker is an extraordinary athlete (also plays football) who glides up and down the court. He can finish in transition with authority and converts on offensive rebounds at a high percentage. His long wingspan, quickness and solid grasp of team defense concepts made him an excellent rim protector at the Crossover Hoops East Coast Regional tournament (PA) as KTB won the event.
15U (2025)
Jahi Curtis – 6’2″ / Strath Haven / Media Mustangs / Small Forward: Curtis is a physical prospect who is effective at scoring the ball in the mid-range and at the rim. He does extremely well with scoring through contact on the interior. When that contact produces a foul call, Curtis steps to the line and knocks down his freebies. Last weekend at the May Mayhem Classis (Spooky Nook, PA), Curtis averaged 13 points per game. At the other end of the floor Curtis is not afraid to step in and take a charge. Additionally, he possesses quick hands, good anticipation skills and solid basketball instincts, so he typically records a couple steals each game.
Jakob Harken – 6’1″ / Perkiomen Valley / PSB Philly-Harken / Combo Guard: Harken is a prominent three-point shooter who posted 17 points (4 threes) and 5 dimes in the 15U championship game at the ZG Mid-Atlantic Championship. That outstanding performance propelled PSB Philly-Harken (3-1) to go home with the 15U hardware. Harken excels at draining triples on the fast break. In the half court he moves well without the ball and finds the holes in the defense for open shots. This past weekend Harken also recorded a 16-point (3 treys) game.