1/20/2015 football Edit

Hoop Hall Classic: Sunday

Eric Bossi

Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst

THERIVALS150:2015|2016

SPRINGFIELD,Mass.--OnSunday,actionattheHoopHallClassicshiftedtowardsmorePrepSchooltypeprograms.ThesonofanNCAAlegend,MalikEllison,carvedouthisownnamewhileBrewsterAcademy'sbackcourtwasdominantandmanyothersmadenoise.

Ellisonmakinghisname

BeingthesonofanNCAAlegendandNBAplayerlikePervisEllisoncansometimesbeadouble-edgedsword.Thenamerecognitionistherebutsoaretheinevitablecomparisons.Inthatway,MalikEllisongetsalittlebitofabreakbecauseheisawingandnotabigmanlikehisdadsotherearenocomparisonstomake.Plus,astheyoungerEllisonshowedonSunday,heissomebodywhosenamewouldberingingoutregardlessofwhohisfatheris.

A6-foot-4shootingguardatBurlington(N.J.)LifeCenter--wherehisfatheristhecoach--whomissedmuchofthesummerandearlyseasonbecauseofabrokenleg,Ellisonlookedtobebacktoformandthensome.

EllisonopenedupLifeCenter's64-50winoverOrangevillePrepsmokinghotfromdeepandwentontofinishwith28points,threereboundsandfoursteals.Heshotjumpers,hehitfloatersoffthedribbleandheusedhisbodytoacceptcontactandfinishattherim.

Ellison,whowilldefinitelybeinthediscussionfor2015'sfinalRivals150,saidthathisconfidenceiscurrentlythroughtheroofandthathe'sexcitedaboutwherehisgameis.

"I'mexcitedbecauseI'vecomebackstrongerthanbeforeandI'mjustgoingtokeepworkinghard,"EllisontoldRivals.com."Iwasn'treallynervousbutIwasdefinitelyrusty.NowIfeelgreat."

Ontherecruitingfront,EllisonwrappedupanofficialvisittoMinnesotaearlierinthemonth.HewouldliketotakesomemoreofficialvisitsbeforemakinganAprildecisionandalsomentionedoffersfromCreighton,Indiana,TempleandMaryland.Georgetownhasalsojumpedinbuthasyettooffer.

Brewsterguardsdominantinwin

HeadcoachJasonSmithofWolfeboro(N.H.)BrewsterPrepreallyhasanembarrassmentofrichesatguardin2014-15.ComboguardsJalenAdams,JustinSimonandDonovanMitchellallrankamong2015'stop31players,whileshootingguardDavidCrispisalsoaRivals150prospect.DuringSunday's98-69winoverMontverde(Fla.)Prep,thatquartetwaswaytoomuchtohandle.

CurrentlyrankedNo.25in2015,Adamswastheleadingscorer(23),assistman(5)andsecondontheteaminreboundswithsix.TheConnecticutboundAdamsisahardcharging,offensivelyaggressive,athleticplayerwhoiscraftywiththebounceandisastreakyjumpshooter.Mostofall,heplayswithconfidenceandtoughnessandlookslikethekindofkidthatcandevelopintoaleaderduringhisdaysinStorrs.

TicketedforLouisville,MitchellchecksinatNo.31andhasproventhathishugesummerwasnofluke.Anextremeathleteandbig-timedefender,Mitchellmakespull-upjumperstogoalongwithhisassaultsontherimandheseemstobeanaturalforRickPitino'sstyleofplay.

Simon,whoisactuallythehighest-rankedofthebunchatNo.21overall,isa6-foot-5Arizonasigneewhocomesoffthebench.Projectedbysomeasapointguard,Rivals.comseesSimonasautilityguardwhocanplayallaroundtheperimeter,slashalongthebaselineandhandleavarietyofdefensiveassignments.Hedidn'thavehugenumbersonSundaybuthechippedinacrosstheboardasarebounder,setupguy,defenderandtransitionfinisher.

Finally,thereisCrisp.SittingatNo.149intheRivals150,theWashingtonboundguardisdefinitelyashootingguardinapointguard'sbody.Heissix-feettall(atbest)andheisalwaysthinkingoffense.Crispisaverygoodshooterfromdeepandasneakyathlete.TheHuskiescouldusesomemoreconsistentoutsideshootingandhefigurestohelpoutinthatregard.

ThoughMontverde(Fla.)PreptookaprettythoroughthrashingfromBrewsterPrep,afewoftheirguysdidstandout.Inparticular,forwardsKouatNoiClickMoreSundaynotesfromHoopHallHeretoviewthisLink.andSilvioDeSousaClickMoreSundaynotesfromHoopHallHeretoviewthisLink.caughtoureye.A6-foot-7juniorforward,Noiwasproductiveoffensively.Hesteppedoutandmadeathree-pointer,playedwellinthelaneandlookedlikehecoulddosomedamageintransitionwhilescoringateam-high19.Justafreshman,the6-foot-7DeSousahasabodythatmanycollegeseniorswouldbejealousofandhecouldeasilypassfor25yearsold.Heisveryathletic,doesn'tmindplayingphysicallyandhasgoodtouchonjumpersandadecentfeelforthegame.Heisonethatwillhavetobewatchedcloselyintheclassof2018becauseofhisoffthechartsphysicaltraitsandseeminglygoodskill.

IftherewasanyquestionaboutwhetherornotTraciCarterClickThonMakerClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sfinallineof23pointsand11reboundswasn'ttoobad.Afterbeingrelativelyquiet--andstrugglingwithturnovers,hehad8--forthefirsttwo-thirdsorsoofthegameandhoveringaroundtheperimeterasOrangevillePrepfellintoabighole,thecurrentNo.1in2016didturnthingsuplate.Makerstartedcrashingtheglass,ranthefloorwithabandon,madeplaysoutofthehighpostanddidwhathecouldtocontestshots.Thathighlyactive,attackingMakeristheonewhoearnedaNo.1spotcomingoutofthesummer.ButthisseasonithasseemedlikeRivals.comhaswitnessedmoreofthehoveringaroundtheperimeterversionofMakerthatdoesn'thavenearthesameimpactonthegame.Thoughnotyetofficial,amovetotheclassof2015islookingquiteimminent.Where,exactly,Makershouldberankedasa2015prospectwillbeinteresting.Ifhestaysin2016,JoshJacksonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,HarryGilesClickHeretoviewthisLink.andevenJaysonTatumClickHeretoviewthisLink.allfiguretocontestforthattopspot.HeretoviewthisLink.wouldmakeanappearanceinthefinalRivals150fortheclassof2015,helockedituponSunday.Thesix-footeratBurlington(N.J.)LifeCenterwasmarvelousonbothendsofthefloorintheirwinoverOrangeville.Arelentlessontheballdefender,Carterhoundsopponentsalloverthefloor.Ontheoffensiveend,helikestoshootpull-upjumpersandhewillattacktherimwithabandon.He'sprobablynotevergoingtobeahighpercentageshooterbutheplayswithanenergythatteammatesfeedoffof.Hehad18points,10assists,sevenreboundsandfoursteals.CartersayshecurrentlyhasinterestfromLouisvilleClickThonMakerClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sfinallineof23pointsand11reboundswasn'ttoobad.Afterbeingrelativelyquiet--andstrugglingwithturnovers,hehad8--forthefirsttwo-thirdsorsoofthegameandhoveringaroundtheperimeterasOrangevillePrepfellintoabighole,thecurrentNo.1in2016didturnthingsuplate.Makerstartedcrashingtheglass,ranthefloorwithabandon,madeplaysoutofthehighpostanddidwhathecouldtocontestshots.Thathighlyactive,attackingMakeristheonewhoearnedaNo.1spotcomingoutofthesummer.ButthisseasonithasseemedlikeRivals.comhaswitnessedmoreofthehoveringaroundtheperimeterversionofMakerthatdoesn'thavenearthesameimpactonthegame.Thoughnotyetofficial,amovetotheclassof2015islookingquiteimminent.Where,exactly,Makershouldberankedasa2015prospectwillbeinteresting.Ifhestaysin2016,JoshJacksonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,HarryGilesClickHeretoviewthisLink.andevenJaysonTatumClickHeretoviewthisLink.allfiguretocontestforthattopspot.HeretoviewthisLink.,Indiana,BostonCollegeClickThonMakerClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sfinallineof23pointsand11reboundswasn'ttoobad.Afterbeingrelativelyquiet--andstrugglingwithturnovers,hehad8--forthefirsttwo-thirdsorsoofthegameandhoveringaroundtheperimeterasOrangevillePrepfellintoabighole,thecurrentNo.1in2016didturnthingsuplate.Makerstartedcrashingtheglass,ranthefloorwithabandon,madeplaysoutofthehighpostanddidwhathecouldtocontestshots.Thathighlyactive,attackingMakeristheonewhoearnedaNo.1spotcomingoutofthesummer.ButthisseasonithasseemedlikeRivals.comhaswitnessedmoreofthehoveringaroundtheperimeterversionofMakerthatdoesn'thavenearthesameimpactonthegame.Thoughnotyetofficial,amovetotheclassof2015islookingquiteimminent.Where,exactly,Makershouldberankedasa2015prospectwillbeinteresting.Ifhestaysin2016,JoshJacksonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,HarryGilesClickHeretoviewthisLink.andevenJaysonTatumClickHeretoviewthisLink.allfiguretocontestforthattopspot.HeretoviewthisLink.,Creighton,Temple,Indiana,LaSalle,SetonHallClickThonMakerClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sfinallineof23pointsand11reboundswasn'ttoobad.Afterbeingrelativelyquiet--andstrugglingwithturnovers,hehad8--forthefirsttwo-thirdsorsoofthegameandhoveringaroundtheperimeterasOrangevillePrepfellintoabighole,thecurrentNo.1in2016didturnthingsuplate.Makerstartedcrashingtheglass,ranthefloorwithabandon,madeplaysoutofthehighpostanddidwhathecouldtocontestshots.Thathighlyactive,attackingMakeristheonewhoearnedaNo.1spotcomingoutofthesummer.ButthisseasonithasseemedlikeRivals.comhaswitnessedmoreofthehoveringaroundtheperimeterversionofMakerthatdoesn'thavenearthesameimpactonthegame.Thoughnotyetofficial,amovetotheclassof2015islookingquiteimminent.Where,exactly,Makershouldberankedasa2015prospectwillbeinteresting.Ifhestaysin2016,JoshJacksonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,HarryGilesClickHeretoviewthisLink.andevenJaysonTatumClickHeretoviewthisLink.allfiguretocontestforthattopspot.HeretoviewthisLink.andDePaulClickThonMakerClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sfinallineof23pointsand11reboundswasn'ttoobad.Afterbeingrelativelyquiet--andstrugglingwithturnovers,hehad8--forthefirsttwo-thirdsorsoofthegameandhoveringaroundtheperimeterasOrangevillePrepfellintoabighole,thecurrentNo.1in2016didturnthingsuplate.Makerstartedcrashingtheglass,ranthefloorwithabandon,madeplaysoutofthehighpostanddidwhathecouldtocontestshots.Thathighlyactive,attackingMakeristheonewhoearnedaNo.1spotcomingoutofthesummer.ButthisseasonithasseemedlikeRivals.comhaswitnessedmoreofthehoveringaroundtheperimeterversionofMakerthatdoesn'thavenearthesameimpactonthegame.Thoughnotyetofficial,amovetotheclassof2015islookingquiteimminent.Where,exactly,Makershouldberankedasa2015prospectwillbeinteresting.Ifhestaysin2016,JoshJacksonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,HarryGilesClickHeretoviewthisLink.andevenJaysonTatumClickHeretoviewthisLink.allfiguretocontestforthattopspot.HeretoviewthisLink.andthathefeltlikeallbuttheCardinalsandHoosiershaveoffered.

AlsoturninginaniceeffortforLifeCenterwasseniorforwardDennisTunstall.At6-foot-7hehasaprettygoodlookingshotthathelpsspacethefloor.Heisn'tacrazyathletebyanymeans,butheissmartanddoesn'tmindalittlephysicality.Midmajoroffersshouldbecomingforhimbeforethespringsigningperiod.

ComboguardCurtisJonesClickHeretoviewthisLink.ofHuntington(W.V.)PrepcontinuedaverygoodjuniorcampaignonSunday.The6-foot-4scorerwasscorchinghotfromdeepasheconnectedon7-10threepointattemptswhilescoring27points.HEalsohandedoutapairofassistsandgrabbedfiverebounds.Jonesisabitontheleansideandmorenaturalasatwoguard,buthehashelpedoutattheoneanddoneagoodjobindoingso.AtNo.89intheclassof2016,heislikelydeservingofabumpwhenthingsgetreshuffledinMarch.

Makenomistake,CheickDialloClickFromtheclassof2015,Huntington's6-foot-10bigmanThomasBryantislikelyduearankingsbumpaswell.CurrentlyrankedNo.36,Bryanthasputhimselfintotheconversationforfive-starstatuswithafantasticseniorcampaign.He'svisitedSyracuse,MissouriandIndianaandafterafewunofficialtripstoKentuckysaysthattheWildcatsareinthemixandaplacehewouldliketovisitofficially.He'sabigkidwhoreboundswell,canblockshotsandhasreallyimprovedoffensively.HeretoviewthisLink.isbacktofullstrength.Histeamtookatough75-57decisionatthehandsofHuntingtonPrep,butthe6-foot-9bigmanwasaverybrightspotforOurSaviorNewAmerican.There'snorealsurprisethathedidthingsbyrunningthefloor,usinghislengthandpostingupstrong.Hefinishedwith24pointsandninereboundsandplayedthewayyouwouldexpecttheNo.6playerinthecountrytoplay.IowaStateClickFromtheclassof2015,Huntington's6-foot-10bigmanThomasBryantislikelyduearankingsbumpaswell.CurrentlyrankedNo.36,Bryanthasputhimselfintotheconversationforfive-starstatuswithafantasticseniorcampaign.He'svisitedSyracuse,MissouriandIndianaandafterafewunofficialtripstoKentuckysaysthattheWildcatsareinthemixandaplacehewouldliketovisitofficially.He'sabigkidwhoreboundswell,canblockshotsandhasreallyimprovedoffensively.HeretoviewthisLink.,KansasClickFromtheclassof2015,Huntington's6-foot-10bigmanThomasBryantislikelyduearankingsbumpaswell.CurrentlyrankedNo.36,Bryanthasputhimselfintotheconversationforfive-starstatuswithafantasticseniorcampaign.He'svisitedSyracuse,MissouriandIndianaandafterafewunofficialtripstoKentuckysaysthattheWildcatsareinthemixandaplacehewouldliketovisitofficially.He'sabigkidwhoreboundswell,canblockshotsandhasreallyimprovedoffensively.HeretoviewthisLink.,Kentucky,PittsburghClickFromtheclassof2015,Huntington's6-foot-10bigmanThomasBryantislikelyduearankingsbumpaswell.CurrentlyrankedNo.36,Bryanthasputhimselfintotheconversationforfive-starstatuswithafantasticseniorcampaign.He'svisitedSyracuse,MissouriandIndianaandafterafewunofficialtripstoKentuckysaysthattheWildcatsareinthemixandaplacehewouldliketovisitofficially.He'sabigkidwhoreboundswell,canblockshotsandhasreallyimprovedoffensively.HeretoviewthisLink.andSt.John'sareinthemixbutmorerecentlytherehasbeenalotofbuzzabouttheCyclonesandJayhawkschances.

Thingsarestartingtocometogetherfor6-foot-9juniorpowerforwardTerrellBrownClickHeretoviewthisLink.fromBarrington(R.I.)St.Andrew's.Athree-starprospect,Brownhasgoodlength,isprettymobileandshowedthathecanstepoutsidetomakejumpers(4-6fromthree).Heisstillrelativelyweakphysicallyandhastobemoreofanimpactplayerontheglass,butthetoolstobeahighmajorprospectandmakearunatthe2016Rivals150arecertainlythere.

PriortofoulingoutoftheTiltonSchool's80-72losstoNorthfieldMountHermon,FloridaStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.boundTeranceMannClickHeretoviewthisLink.wasprettysolid.The6-foot-5wingcontinuestoaddstrength,washandlingtheballmorethaneverandshotprettywelltogoalongwithhisathleticism.Hewasgoodfor21points,fourrebounds,fourassistsandthreesteals.Hewillendupastrong,athleticandversatilewingwhohasthetoolstobeprettyproductiveinTallahassee.

Duringthesummer,UConnsigneeSteveEnochClickHeretoviewthisLink.wasarevelationasheseeminglycameoutofnowheretocatapulttoNo.60inthenationalrankings.TheninNovember,helookedprettybadwhiledebutingforOakdale(Conn.)St.ThomasMoreattheNationalPrepShowcase.OnSunday,though,Enochlookedmuchmoreliketheguyfromthesummer,andthensome.The6-foot-9powerforwardwasaforceonbothendsashescored18points,grabbedsevenreboundsandblockedapairofshotsinSt.ThomasMore's83-76victoryoverVermontAcademy.Hecanplayalittlebitofpickandpop,hasanalreadystrongbuildthatwilleasilycarrymoremuscleandasarelativenewcomerisreallyjustlearningthegame.No.60in2015'sRivals150lookslikeitmightbealittlelowifEnochcontinuesplayingthewayhedidonSunday.

Finally, Vermont Academy suffered a loss but it wasn't because of lack of effort on the part of shooting guard Bruce BrownClick Here to view this Link.. The No. 58 player in the class of 2016, Brown has settled for the jumper in the past while ignoring his first step and bouncy finishing. On Sunday he was all about attacking the rim and putting pressure on defenders. He finished with 23 points on 9-12 shooting and could have had a truly monstrous day were it not for struggles from the free throw line (just 5-12). Brown indicated that he could consider entering college with his natural class of 2015 instead of spending a fifth year in prep school as originally planned.

Click Here to view this Link.