Goodluck Okonoboh 6'10" C Wilbraham and Monson (MA)
(2014)
My intention is to order these profiles by class and that's
why Okonboh is at the top of this list but if I were ordering it by who played
the best Okonoboh would occupy the top
position as well. He put together an impressive 10 point 15 rebound double
double while adding 6 assists and 3 blocks. All of that was accomplished
against a Phelps team that did not have a center who could match his length but
had two exceptionally quick and active forwards in Terry Larrier and Mustapha
Traore. He has exceptional timing
rebounding and shot blocking and his lateral movement allows him to cover the
entire basket area. The UNLV's body type is similar to a healthy Amare
Stoudemire but he's a less polished offensive
player and a more diligent defender at this stage of his development.
Terry Larrier 6'6" PF/SF
Phelps School (PA) (2014) The former Bronx JFK standout came home for the
Martin Luther King holiday and gave the fans at Baruch a virtuoso performance.
And he did it in a way that fans who follow local basketball are familiar with.
His game has always been marked by toughness and hustle and he did that Monday
to the tune of 30 points and 11 rebounds. I've given him both forward positions
here because I think his quickness and athleticism will allow him to defend
both positions but offensively he's still an inside guy and his best offensive
skill remains rebounding. Terry also wins this blog's unofficial award for
"best fit between a player and system " because he'll fit nicely into
VCU's pressing and transition style. If he can become a 3 point shooting threat
in that system look out, he'll be an all league performer in the Atlantic 10.
Rpbyn Missa 6'9" C Long
Island Lutheran (2014) Don't be fooled by Missa's modest numbers in LuHi's
two wins this weekend. Missa, a native of Germany who spent last season at
Montverde (FL) Academy did good work first against Luis Santos of St. Ray's and
Quadri Moore of Linden High. He proved to be a very good low post defender
using footwork to "three quarter" or front opposing centers and make
it difficult to enter the ball to them. His playing time was limited by fouls
mostly because the refs had a hard time officiating bigs. Trust me that happens
a lot at the high school level. He's wide and doesn't jump high and has a
pretty good but not great hands. He's a solid mid-major prospect as a center.
Nathan Ekwu 6'7" PF
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (2014) Foul
problems limited him in Saturday's win over Pope John XXIII but he still began
the game by hitting a contested free throw line jumper over 6'9" Mustapha
Diagne and get a couple of terrific in traffic rebounds among the 6 he
collected in just 18 minutes. His foul problems in this game and a few others speak
more to his learning curve than his ability as he must learn to make better
decisions going for shot blocks. His feet and lateral movement are however
quick enough to make him a switch defender against face up PF's and some SF's.
That plus his great nose for the ball running ability and skill set make him
recruitable at the highest level.
Mustafa Jones 6'7" PF
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (21014) I have already written in this blog how I
think Mr. Jones' early commitment to Central Connecticut is one is a great
recruiting coup for an NEC program. In
last Monday's game vs. Pope John XXIII he showed not only the speed hustle and
finishing ability that make him a terrific prospect but he and the other Hayes
seniors showed a tremendous will to win. He finished with 18 points and 9
rebounds but the rebounding numbers are even more impressive than they look
because many of them came with both of Hayes' other bigs, Nathan Ekwu and
Akintoye OJo on the bench with fouls. Jones did a terrific job competing on the
glass against 6'9" junior center Mustapha Diagne and 6'7" Florida State
football recruit Ryan Izzo. Jones
captured game MVP honors by coming through when his team was on the ropes and
helping preserve an unbeaten season.
Quadri Moore 6'8" PF
Linden (NJ) (2014) The Cincinnati commit finished with 16 points on 6-12
shooting so the numbers were OK here but Lutheran had some success limiting him
because they were physical with him and their center Robyn Missa did a nice job
denying him the ball and getting him off his spot. He showed a good shooting
touch and decent hands but was limited to just 4 rebounds in 30 minutes. He'll
need to get stronger for college basketball but being physical is about
attitude as much as ability and while he's demonstrated that edge in other
games it wasn't present in this game.
Mustapha Diagne 6'9" C
Pope John XXIII (NJ) (2015) Mustapha is already one of the top big men in
his class nationally and in an intense
and physical game against Hayes he showed why many college coaching staffs,
including Tony Chiles from St. John's were there to see him. He scored 21
points in a variety of ways including a lefty jump hook move. He snared 16 rebounds,
12 on the defensive end, and showed not only a quick second jump but an ability
to jump straight up in the air which may not always carry him to the rim for dunks
but really helps him rebound in traffic. His game still has plenty of growth in
it thanks to good tools and work ethic but he's already recruitable at the
highest levels of college basketball.
Marvin Prochet 6'6" SF
Long Island Lutheran (2015) The Boys & Girls transfer was very good in
both games here particularly with a 17
point 12 rebound 4 assists effort against Linden. Perhaps the most surprising
thing though was just one 3 point shot
attempted in two games. That may still become a part of his game but for now it's good to see Marvin, whose
length and quickness are excellent play with energy and around the basket. When
the triple becomes a consistent part of his game it will be the last piece of a
very good all around game.
Luis Santos 6'8" PF/C St.
Ray's (Bronx) (2015) Although the Ravens' struggled at times trying to get
him the ball in good scoring spots he was solid in two games here, especially
in a 15 point 10 rebound effort against
St. Maria Goretti (MD) and 6'8" Notre Dame recruit Marty Geben. On
Saturday he struggled shooting the ball against LuHi and Robyn Missa he still
managed 12 boards. He's a big bodied player with a terrific motor and soft
touch who should continue to get better.
Mustapha Traore 6'6" PF Phelps School
(PA) I2015) Traore had a 10 point 13 rebound double double against
Wilbraham and Munson. He's a versatile energy guy who is recruitable primarily
by CAA and MAAC programs. He's a great rebounder and pretty good finisher and
switch defenders who struggles to shoot the ball. If he can improve that area
his stock will rise.
Jesse Govan 6'9" C Wings
Academy (Bronx) (2015) Unfortunately I did not get to see all of Wings'
69-67 win over Gonzaga High (DC) but based on what I did see and the numbers
Jesse played as well as any big man
here. The numbers say 38 points 15 rebounds 6 blocks and no turnovers. What the
eye test says is that he's improved in every area a big man needs to for
success at the next level. He's catching the ball better and learning how to
play in pick and roll situations with speedy point man and 2015 classmate
Desure Buie. He goes hard to the rim and finishes hard. His rebounding and shot
blocking are better because improved quickness has made him an out of area
rebounder and given him the ability to cover the whole basket area at the rim.
To me even as he struggled as a freshman and soph there were signs of progress
and now he's put everything together and become an elite prospect . And he'll
only get better as he gets stronger and better conditioned.
Akintoye Ojo 6'9" C
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (2015) While he showed good tools and athleticism
the game against Pope John XXIII got a little fast for Ojo who will likely make
a big jump in production in his senior year once he has a full summer to work
and more court time created by the graduations of Ekwu and Jones. Even though
he struggled here he should stay on the radars of D-I schools at all
levels because his size and athleticism
are things no one can teach.
Rojaye Campbell 6'10" C
Long Island Lutheran (2016) The
report for Campbell is essentially the same as for Ojo. He's a kid with great
size who can run but needs skill development. In the game against Linden he was
brought in essentially to give Missa a rest and use 5 fouls and he used them
quickly. It's great that he's not afraid to mix things up but he needs lots of
work. With his height, girth and length skill work could take him a long way.
Chris Coalman 6'6" F St.
Mary's (LI) (2017) Chris played
varsity basketball last season as an 8th grader for North Babylon High School
and showed flashes of skill and quickness. He showed those things here for St.
Mary's also in a loss to Boys & Girls on Saturday but he shot just 2-7 from
the floor in part because he did not have the strength to finish plays against
a Kangaroo team that did not have much height but had plenty of strength and
toughness. There are few players in any high school class with better skills
and feel for the game than Chris but strength and agility work are more
important for him than playing games this summer.
Nicholas Richards 6'10" C
St. Mary's (LI) (2017) Clearly Mr.
Richards' best attributes are his size and length but he already has one
essential skill for basketball success; he pursues the ball. He had 15 rebounds
and three blocks doing just that in that loss to Boys & Girls and unlike
many kids his age who grow early he fearlessly threw his body around even
though he lost his footing a few times. He's got lots of work to do in the gym but
limitless potential if he gets there and works hard.
I
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