Live from Providence: Day 3 of the NPSI

Story Highlights Include:

• Friar Recruits Excel in Front of PC Coach, Player
• Wilbraham & Monson Loaded with Talent
• Brewster over St. Thomas More in the Game of the Day

Saturday marked Day 3 of National Prep School Invitational at Rhode Island College and Friarbasketball.com was again on hand to catch some of the action. Below are some quick hits from Saturday’s action, along with a preview of Sunday’s key games

PC Recruits Make Impression

In the 12:00 game Cushing Academy pulled away from Blair Academy and cruised to an 84-66 victory. Providence Associate Head Coach Andre Lafleur was in attendance to catch the action as well as current Friar Carson Derosiers.

Friar recruit and Mass Rivals guard Kaleb Joseph had 15 points for Cushing and continued to demonstrate the all-around floor game that makes him one of the elite prospects for the 2014 class. Fellow Mass Rivals guard Jalen Adams chipped in 13 points and had a couple of pretty assists late in the game that were eye openers. Adams could wind up as one of the top local prospects in the 2015 class and PC is in on him early. Both of these players are key recruits for the Friars. I have been to several Cushing games this year and there has been a strong Friar presence at every single one.

In the 3:00 game Northfield Mount Hermon blew out St. Andrew’s 94-61. This game was over early, but Mass Rivals center and Friar recruit Josh Sharma was still able to demonstrate the skills that should make him one of the top players in the entire 2015 class.

As a legit 7 footer, what separates Sharma from other big men at this stage of his career is his great athletic ability. He moves well laterally, has great hops, and a nice outside shooting touch –  as he made a three pointer late. His upside is tremendous.  Check out this highlight video courtesy of Ballas TV:

PC has been recruiting Sharma hard.  He was on campus for both PC’s Late Nite Madness and for their Elite Camp. He figures to be one of their key targets for the 2015 class.

In the 1:30 game Worcester Academy beat St. John’s Northwest Military Academy 69-64. Friar recruit and Mass Rivals forward Matt Cimino continued to impress with with his fine outside shooting touch and overall basketball skills. He is a classic face up four player who could cause matchup problems at the next level.

Check out his highlights courtesy of PrepHoops TV:

It should be easy for the Friars to follow these four players this summer as they all play for the Mass Rivals AAU team. It was a nice touch that Mass Rivals alum Carson Derosiers was in attendance for all of their games on Saturday.

Wilbraham & Monson Loaded with High Major Talent

In the 6:00 game Notre Dame Prep outlasted Wilbraham & Monson 58-51 behind the play of BABC alum Jaylen Brantley who was MVP. The striking thing about this game however is the sheer amount of young, uncommitted high major talent on the roster of W&M. They were led by Goodluck Okonoboh who very well may be the top shot blocker in high school basketball. The 2014 center is an incredible defensive presence who will have an immediate impact on the defensive end in college. He does not just block shots, he sends messages. Goodluck continues to list the Friars in his list of schools, so Friar fans can continue to hope.

Several other players on Wilbraham & Monson will wind up at high major programs including Mustahpa Heron (a 14 yr old 6’5 freshman point guard) Luis Monteiro (6’6 sophmore SF from the Dominican Republic who Kentucky is watching) and 6’6 Rhode Islander Marcel Pettaway who is also a sophmore. The sleeper of the group however, may be D-Jery Baptiste a 6’9 physical specimen from Haiti. Baptiste is only a sophmore and is playing behind Goodluck, but he is already built like Kadeem Batts and can jump higher. He is a player to keep a close watch on.

Game of the Day

The game of the day was between Brewster Academy and St. Thomas More, with Brewster pulling away very late winning 72-66. Brewster had all the stars (Kyle Washington, Ron Patterson, Kevin Zabo, Chris McCullough, Ron Patterson, Elijah Macon, and Jared Terrell are all either high major signees, or will be) but St. Thomas More hung in there with them every step of the way. Brewster was led by Syracuse commit (and former Friar recruit) Ron Patterson who took home game MVP honors while scoring 26 points.

The Action Continues on Sunday

The action continues on Sunday at 9:00AM. Key matchups on Sunday include Vermont Academy vs. Brewster Academy at 12:00 and the Tilton School vs Northfield Mount Hermon at 1:30. Plenty of time to head down and catch some action before the Super Bowl.

 Email Craig at craig.leighton@friarbasketball.com

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