The 2017 NY2LA Sports Summer Jam continued from Mequon Homestead High School on Thursday. Day two featured pool play in a loaded 17U Division and a loaded pool of college coaches including Head Coaches Sean Miller, Tom Izzo, Mike Hopkins, John Beilein, Brad Underwood, Dana Altman, Andy Enfield, Greg Gard, Bobby Hurley Jr., Matt Painter, Scott Drew, Mike Boynton Jr., Dave Leitao, etc.. Looking like the favorites, DreamVision ran through another top challenger thanks to their 1-2 punch of J’Raan Brooks and Kyree Walker.
Top Performers
Ignas Brazdeikis – 2018 – SG – CIA Bounce
Brazdeikis is such a difficult matchup because of his size and versatility. The 6-foot-8 guard almost has to be checked by a forward, but Brazdeikis is far too skilled as a ball handler for any bigs to stick with him. A terrific transition presence, Brazdeikis goes coast-to-coast all game long and just tires out a defense. He didn’t always finish at the rim well, but still drew a lot of fouls and gave his team second chance opportunities. Although CIA Bounce fell to DreamVision on Thursday, Brazdeikis had himself a strong performance.
J’Raan Brooks – 2018 – PF – DreamVision
Really like this pick up for USC. Brooks is a long, skilled forward with really good size and strength. He’s very comfortable on the block or facing up from the high post. Brooks as a good looking jumper from 12-18 feet and can put the ball on the deck if defenders try and crowd him. When he gets 1-on-1 looks down low, Brooks has a nice jump hook and fade away jumper. Brooks has been sitting back outside the top 75 in the class of 2018 rankings. This is a kid that I think will surprise people in college and have a better career than most expect of him with a solid chance of playing the NBA given his combination of physical tools and skillset.
Carlos Curtis – 2018 – PG – Playground Elite
Curtis hit the game-winner with 11 seconds remaining to help Playground Elite knock off MBA Hoops Elite. While it probably wasn’t the correct decision to shoot it that early, Curtis was hot in the second half and his decision paid off. Known more for his slashing ability, Curtis continues to improve his jumper and knocked down a number of consecutive outside shots on Thursday. The 6-foot-3 senior relentlessly attacked the rim, as usual and put a lot of pressure on the defense. Able to play on or off the ball, Curtis does a nice job of getting his shots, but also getting others involved. He finished with a game-high 16 points in the win.
Sasha Dukic – 2019 – PG – DreamVision
Dukic was the catalyst in a win over CIA Bounce Thursday morning. A hard-nosed floor general, Dukic scored against contact at the rim, made hustle plays, and created for his teammates. Willing to make the extra pass, Dukic passed up a lot of good looks of his own in order to give others a great one. Dukic was fearless going to the rim and challenge bigs around the hoop – which he generally won by absorbing contact and going right into the chest of the defender. Dukic has a great feel for his teammates and always keeps his head up on the dribble. A crafty, high IQ floor general, Dukic should be coveted at the Division 1 level as a player who can provide leadership and run a team by making those around him better.
Tyler Herro – 2018 – SG – Playground Elite
When Herro gets hot, it lasts for quite a while. The Wisconsin commit had another stretch in the second half where everything was going down and Playground Elite was able to distance themselves a bit from MBA Hoops. Herro thrives going 1-on-1 and forcing a defender to either take away his jumper or his drive. Off the pick n’ roll, Herro forces a lot of switches and makes people uncomfortable trying to defend him when the floor is spaced. The mid-range game is flat out special. Herro has gotten more explosive on the ball and is able to create so much space for himself to operate. Working hard to be a complete player, Herro’s defense has also turned up a notch this week. The 6-foot-5 guard has been getting after people, getting his hands on passes, and making plays on that end as well. In two games on Thursday, both wins, Herro scored a combined 35 points.
Jake Kyman – 2019 – SF – DreamVision
Kyman was a problem for the opposition on Thursday. A 6-foot-7 swing man, Kyman can handle the basketball and made some outstanding passes in traffic. Kyman gives the impression that he’s looking to score, only to drop dimes to his long, athletic front court players. Kyman is a deadly sharpshooter from 3-point range and also has a nice one-dribble jumper when defenders fly out at him. A sniper with deceptive athleticism, Kyman can do some things above the rim if he gets space.
David McCormack – 2018 – C – Team Loaded VA
Because of McCormack’s size/strength, officials will let defenders beat up on him around the rim. It doesn’t always look like a lot of contact because the 6-foot-10 center absorbs it and plays through it so well. McCormak has really reshaped his body since last year and gets up and down the floor as well as any big man in the country. A high motor kid, McCormack works his tail off on the glass on both ends of the floor and punishes opponents with a bruising style of play. In a win over REACH Legends, McCormack set the tone on the offensive glass and with his shot blocking ability. Arguably the nation’s top center, the scary thing about McCormack is he can still get a lot better when it comes to his post skills and being comfortable away from the basket.
Kyree Walker – 2020 – SG – DreamVision
It’s hard to believe that Walker is only going into his sophomore year. Walker has the body of a college player and if you didn’t know better, wouldn’t be able to tell that he’s playing two levels up. At 6-foot-5, 200-pounds, Walker has an explosive first step off the bounce and loves to attack the rim. He wasn’t fazed by a big front line of Team Loaded, going for 19 points in a win. Walker absorbs contact very well and is able to power through defenders to score. Walker also has a chance to be a stud defensively and he’ll get after people and break their confidence to score. Long story short. This was a very good pickup for Arizona State.
Torrence Watson – 2018 – SG – Ramey-Jets United
Watson came out hungry on Thursday. The Ohio State commit scored the first nine points for Ramey-Jets in a loss to Playground Elite. The 6-foot-5 wing was a relentless slasher and finished strong against multiple bodies. A high motor prospect that doesn’t take plays off, Watson went after just about every offensive rebound. Watson is never just standing around and watching, he’s always a part of the action. An explosive athlete, Watson didn’t have any big highlights Thursday afternoon, but used his length and quick feet well on the defensive end to fluster opponents. He finished with a game-high 24 points in the loss.
Stock Boosters
Christopher Burnell – 2019 – G – Illinois Stars
Getting up for an 8 a.m. game can be a tall task after playing the night before. Burnell was ready to go, leading the Illinois Stars to a win over MBA Select. A 6-foot-3 junior, Burnell handled the point guard duties on Thursday. He was solid in the pick n’ roll, forcing switches and getting to the rim or pulling up from mid-range. Burnell is a solid ball handler that lived in the teeth of the defense. He did a nice job of drawing defenders and finding shooters on the wing. Also a solid rebounder for a guard, Burnell rarely leaked out in transition, but was doing the dirty work on the interior and taking the load off the bigs.
Perry Cowan – 2019 – SG – Illinois Wolves
He’s got a ways to go, but you can see why a lot of Big Ten programs are tracking Cowan. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard is long and strong with some deceptive explosiveness. He’s already a terrific defender and has the desire on that end to shut his man down. Offensively, Cowan looks better shooting the ball than he did in the spring. His release is a little funky, but looks effective from 12-15 feet. He’ll have to finish better, but does have the hang time and length to improve that part of his game. Most of all, the kid is never too high or too low during a game. In fact, he missed a breakaway dunk during a loss to Ray Allen Select, busted his butt back on defense, and collected an offensive rebound for a put back on the next possession.
Ryan Davis – 2018 – C – Wisconsin Playground Warriors
A mid-major program could be getting a steal here. A big, active body, Davis had a nice double figure scoring effort in a win over AUSA Hoops. You don’t see a lot of guys with this size who can move their foot like Davis. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound senior also possesses some intriguing post skills on the block. Defensively, Davis never seems to be a liability when he’s caught up in switches on the perimeter and forces guards into difficult shots or to give the ball up. One of the hottest mid-major prospects in the country right now, Davis continues to generate new offers and interest in July.
Yassine Gharram – 2020 – PG – DreamVision
Gharram is a wizard with the basketball. Only going into his sophomore year, Gharram has a unique bag of tricks in the open floor and delivers tough passes with pinpoint precision. A prospect that makes those around him better, Gharram can weave between the defense and simply probe until he finds an open teammate. Gharram can also score the basketball and isn’t afraid to attack the paint and challenge bigger defenders. He shot the ball well from all over the floor was particularly good off the dribble, rising and firing with a hand in his face.
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe – 2020 – G/F – CIA Bounce
Moncrieffe is going to be a special player in the 2020 class. Already 6-foot-6, Moncrieffe looked unstoppable during a loss to the Playground Warriors. He’s a three-level scorer, but right now, can get to the rim whenever he wants. Moncrieffe has a do-it-yourself kit where he’ll just size up his man and go through even two, three defenders to get to the rack. He doesn’t rely on his outside shot, but he knocks down perimeter jumpers at a high enough rate where opponents can’t leave him open. Also a strong shot blocking and rebounding presence, Moncrieffe may develop into one of the most complete prospects in this class by the time things are all said and done.
Jamari Sibley – 2020 – F – Wisconsin Playground Warriors
Sibley has a chance to be a top 100 prospect when all is said and done. You can’t teach the length this 6-foot-8 combo forward. Sibley was very effective from mid-range in two wins for the Playground Warriors. He can also play with his back-to-the basket and has some nice finesse moves down on the block. Sibley can handle the ball in transition and does a good job of making himself available to teammates. Defensively, Sibley times shots very well and often blocks/alters shots without fouling. If he can build on a raw frame, develop more toughness around the rim, and improve the consistency of his 3-point shot, Sibley could take off as a prospect in the coming years.
Dwayne Walker – 2018 – SG – Kevon Looney Rebels
There’s a reason 10-plus Division 1 coaches were watching Walker Thursday night. The rising sleeper has been putting up big numbers since April. Walker is a flat out bucket getter and can get them in a variety of ways. The 6-foot-2 guard has a sweet stroke and is comfortable from just about anywhere on the floor. He even flashed the ability to play down in the post and hit fall away jumpers on Thursday. A big reason why Walker puts up points is he works. Always moving without the ball, Walker just hunts open shots, fast break opportunities, and is always willing to clean up misses on the offensive glass.
Rashad Williams – 2018 – SG – REACH Legends
All Williams has been doing in July is putting the ball in the basket. Yet another huge performance on Thursday, Williams exploded from the outside versus Team Loaded VA. Williams has a quick, effortless stroke that makes it hard to contest. He doesn’t need a lot of space feel comfortable shooting the ball. Knocking in six triples in Thursday’s loss, Williams displayed unlimited range. A week ago, Williams hit 10 triples in one game on just 12 attempts. Shooting unbelievably well in July, Williams should be racking up the mid-major offers.
Recruiting Notes
Jake Kyman has offers from Pepperdine, Utah State, and UC-Santa Barbara. He listed interest from UCLA, Arizona, Utah, and Gonzaga.
Ryan Davis has offers from Milwaukee, UAB, Southern Illinois, Wofford, Drake, Wright State, UC-Davis, Bucknell, Kent State, New Hampshire, Western Michigan