ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest: Evans' Friday Takeaways

TAMPA – The final leg of the ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest hit Tampa on Friday evening, hosting some of the very best from the Sunshine State and a few others from outside of the area. Jermaine Couisnard showed why he is one of the more talked about names in recent weeks, Jaemyn Brakefield continued his break out sophomore year, his teammate, and Selton Miguel looks ready to emerge from the 2020 class.

The 2018 class has all but signed their fate as to where they will be playing their college ball next season. However, as always, programs continue to remain on the lookout for potential late bloomers, one of which being Jermaine Couisnard. A wired to compete, 6-foot-4 scoring guard, Couisnard recently took his first official visit to South Carolina but a number of others have come calling.

Hosting Louisville head coach David Padgett and two assistants, along with a UMass assistant on Friday evening, Couisnard played the part of a shot maker and playmaker. Finishing his day with 18 points, Couisnard has come around to enjoy his blooming high-major recruitment, one where he is valued for his wealth of abilities in the backcourt.

Following his team’s win, Couisnard stated that he is hoping to make a college decision rather soon. When asked who has been in touch the most often, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Illinois, Louisville, UMass and South Carolina were the six that he could recite.

Look for a few visits to be scheduled and taken before February rolls around with a college decision not too far off.

In today’s game where multi-positional prospects, whether it be on the wing or in the frontcourt, have become the rage, Jaemyn Brakefield could not have grown up at a better time. A 6-foot-8 sophomore that can play either forward position but might be best served as a small ball power forward, Brakefield showed tremendous poise, playmaking abilities and pristine upside in Tampa.

Capable of leading the break, facilitating for his team within the half-court setting, or finishing through contact, Brakefield is a walking mismatch. The lefty also showed a much more confident jumper on Friday nailing two perimeter attempts while finishing his evening with a game high 25 points.

A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Brakefield moved to Mississippi three years ago before enrolling at Huntington Prep this fall. His recruitment is just beginning to take place but Kentucky has already laid out the appropriate groundwork with the five-star sophomore. He has been on UK’s campus three separate times since last January as the Wildcats might be the early favorite for the new age forward that is Jaemyn Brakefield.

A member of the Rivals75, Cashius McNeilly made a rather tardy transfer into Huntington Prep in the fall. It has taken some time for him to get his bearings straight but on Friday, the Canadian guard looked his best yet, displaying a peerless jumper, a shot that he converted on seven times from behind the arc.

Displaying great length and a picture-perfect jumper, McNeilly has been primarily coveted for his playmaking skills in the backcourt. In Tampa, the four-star guard showcased the ability to be used off of the ball, something that could bode well for his future at the college level.

McNeilly has never been one that has lacked for college interest or visibility. He played up on the 17-under level as an eighth grader and already holds offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech. If there were bets being placed, the Hokies would have to be the early favorite thanks to the employment of Jamie McNeilly, a Virginia Tech assistant and uncle of the sophomore, and current enrollment of his cousin, star freshman guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Regardless of where McNeilly may land as he still is just a sophomore, the 2020 guard’s value becomes better by the day, proof being his much-improved jumper and ability to wear many hats for his team on the perimeter.

Having spent time playing with his native Angola national team at the FIBA U19 World Cup, Selton Miguel still remains more of an under the radar name on United States terrain. A 6-foot-4 wing with a college ready body, Miguel, who is playing his sophomore season at West Oaks Academy, displayed immense upside on Friday, though his recruitment has yet to take off.

A versatile defender that can contain three positions in the half-court setting, Miguel was one of the top eye-opening performers in Tampa. Wired to compete and a much-improved jump shooter since we last saw him a year ago, Miguel has begun to tap into his large reserves of talent.

James Madison is the lone program to have offered Miguel to date. He looks every bit the part of a four-star prospect and one that a majority of power conference programs throughout the south will track in the not-so-distant future. Whenever you can defend more than one position, make shots and boast quality athleticism, things are in the cards for a high-major recruitment; hence, Miguel’s stock is due to soar.