2012 Hoop Group Philly Jam Fest

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. – Plenty of talk points after a long weekend at the Hoop Group Philly Jam Fest at the Competitive Edge. The Illinois Wolves won the U17 Division and D.C. Assault took the U16 championship on Sunday.

The live period, which allowed college coaches in the building to view prospects, created a highly-charged atmosphere. There were several empowering events scattered throughout the nation but the Under Armour sponsored championship series conducted by the Hoop Group provided something for everyone.

Here are few tidbits that stood out this weekend:

Upon arrival at the facility in suburban Philadelphia, several coaches were crowing about J.C. Snow, a rising junior 6-foot-2 guard from Abington Heights (Pa.), who plays with JBHoops of Scranton, Pa. Snow is drawing comparisons to Gerry McNamara, Scranton’s favorite hoop son. As a sophomore sharpshooter he averaged 17.1 points, had 130 rebounds, 83 assists a d 70 steal helping Abington Heights win the Class AAA District 2  title. Schools such as Bucknell, Siena, Cornell, Hofstra and Penn State are interested but more will hop aboard after this weekend.

Kamall Richards, a 6-6, 200-pound wing from St. Benedict’s in Newark, N.J., said he will reclassify to the Class of 2013. Richards, who previously attended Pocono has not ruled out returning to the Newark school  but is considering Vermont Academy, St. Thomas More and Brewster Academy. He also said Temple, Drexel, Miami (Fla.), Saint Joseph’s , Rhode Island, James Madison, Florida International and Florida Atlantic have shown the most interest. He plays for We R-1 (ECE/NJABC).

The New Jersey Roadrunners, coached by Sandy Pyonin, features one of the nation’s top incoming freshman Assante Gist. At 5-9, he’s just an eight-grader who attends Lake Community Middle School in West Orange, N.J. He showed plenty of poise and skills for a player who balled with rising seniors. Gist isn’t sure where he’ll high school but Roselle Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) are likely destinations. “Sandy is saying he might be the most talented player he’s ever coached. Time will tell,” one college coach said. Among the players that Pyonin has coached include NBA lottery picks Al Harrington and Kyrie Irving.

On Saturday, it was surprising to see head coaches Dave Rose of Brigham Young and  Dave Rice of UNLV — both of the Mountain West — here. When the Utah Reign U17 took the court, Rose was baseline to watch his backcourt of the future Nick Emery and T. J. Haws, and 6-9 center Eric Mika. The trio guided Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) to the Class 5A state title in March. Emery and Haws have brothers who play at the Y. Rose was trailing the Las Vegas Prospects U16, mainly 6-3 guard Darryl Gaynor of Palo  Verde (Las Vegas), 6-2 rising junior point Shaquille Carr of Canyon Springs (Las Vegas)and 6-5 wing Justin Burks of Arbor View (Las Vegas). Gaynor is a flat-out scorer and can hit the deep ball and Burks is an all-around, athletic wing. Carr is the prototypical floor general and can score in the clutch.

Kansas coach Bill Self must have been intrigued by man-child Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.). Lawrence, 6-9, transferred from New York City powerhouse Cardozo (Bayside, Queens) earlier this year for academic purposes. The rising senior brought his A-game for the New Rens 17U, dominating both ends of the floor and flashing ball-handling skills. … Teammate Shamiek Sheppard, a 6-6 forward from South Shore (Brooklyn) is being pursued by Drexel, Iona, Hofstra and Kent State, with larger schools monitoring his progress. Right now Drexel is the leader.

The biggest buzz on Friday was the play of Rysheed Jordan of Vaux (Philadelphia). The 6-5 point guard plays for the Philly Pride and is a priority for Villanova. He’s a long, physical 1-man, who will attack the rim but questionable creating off lateral moves and at time careless with the ball. Syracuse, North Carolina State and Maryland are also involved are Saint Joseph’s and Temple.

Kendall Stephens, Nate Taphorn and A.J. Riley are three reasons why the Illinois Wolves won the 17U championship Sunday. All three rising seniors instate prospects and Riley and Taphorn must be priorities for new Illinois coach John Groce. The Purdue-bound Stephens, a 6-6 wing from St. Charles East, was constantly in motion and scoring with regularity. Taphorn, 6-7 forward from Pekin, was undersized in the paint but held his own and rebounded admirably. Riley, a 6-3 post from Peoria Manual, is a gutty point guard who can penetrate any defense and will finish consistent. 

Speaking of the We R-1, Jerome Frink of St. Anthony (Jersey City) and big man Julian Moore of Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) performed well. Frink, a 6-6 unsigned senior, is narrowing his scope of destinations to Robert Morris, Quinnipiac, Hofstra and Iona. Florida International is also in the mix. He’s a rugged inside player, who would flourish at any of these mid-majors. At 6-10, Moore is a work in progress and seeking a school with high-end academics such as Patriot or Ivy League. Right now Bucknell, Navy and Penn are in pursuit but with a few big weekends and he’ll be ticketed for bigger things. … Andre Horne, a 6-3 guard from Newark (Del.) High, is another unsigned senior who said he’s going to prep school, likely St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Conn. … 6-8 rising junior Ben Bentil, a Philadelphia kid who attends St. Andrews School in Delaware, turned a few heads this weekend. He’s an Atlantic 10 or Big East caliber power forward.

Isaiah Whitehead, a 6-4 rising junior from hoop factory Lincoln of Brooklyn, N.Y., confirmed offers from Connecticut, Iowa State and Georgetown. Whitehead already had offers from Syracuse, Rutgers, St. John’s, Arizona, Pittsburgh and Florida State. Whitehead of the Juice All-Stars said he’s leaning towards Syracuse but has not committed. The All-City guard will be busy this summer attending the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas and the NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va. He’s also been invited to the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Training camp June 5-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Another player from the Midwest who stood out was Dominique Collier of the KC Run GMC 17U. He’s a national team players and has good bloodlines: his uncle is Sidney Moncrief, a former NBA All-Star with the Bucks. Collier, a 6-2 point from East (Denver, Col.) who averaged 19.1 points this past season, teamed in the backcourt with Kansas-bound, scoring-machine Conner Frankamp of Wichita (Kansas) North. Collier likes Iowa, UNLV, Kansas, Colorado, Alabama, New Mexico and Georgetown. Travis Jorgensen, a 6-foot Missouri recruit from Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.), also plays for Run GMC.