Hoop Group Spooky Nook Jam Fest Report Part 1

* Any college coach seeking additional information on any players, including projected collegiate level, may make an inquiry at necorridorhoops@gmail.com

*All class of 2022 prospects unless listed

Crown Basketball-HGSL vs NEPA Elite-HGSL (Crown Basketball-HGSL Win 57-54)

Jaden Kealey 6’5 Power Forward (Crown Basketball-HGSL/Canterbury School): Kealey is a reliable scorer around the basket, scoring layups effectively on drives in the paint, offensive rebound putbacks, along with drop-offs from teammates. Had a strong drive from the foul line for a finish around the rim after his team beat the opponent’s press, in addition to scoring an offensive rebound putback off his own miss. Also drew a shooting foul on a layup attempt after a teammate dumped the ball off to him. Kealey is never rushed when making his moves around the rim. Took a jump stop before using a shot fake when the ball got pushed ahead to him in transition, getting an opponent up in the air which allowed him to finish a layup. Finished the game with 16 points. Defensively, he is a solid rim protector when coming over from the help side. Had a nice play blocking an opponent’s layup attempt when rotating over from the weak side. While Kealey only pulled down 3 boards in the contest, he has shown over the course of his high school career to be a volume rebounder. Does a good job using his strength and physicality when getting position to rebound the ball at a very good rate. Averaged an impressive 16 rebounds per game this past high school eason.

Jason Shields 6’5 Shooting Guard (NEPA Elite-HGSL/Scranton HS): Shields is a sniper from long range, making three-pointers at a very good rate when spotting up, on the move, or off the bounce. Hit a spot up three on the break after a steal by a teammate, a long ball when popping out to the top of the key, in addition to taking one dribble after a teammate set a screen for him to nail a third trey at the first half buzzer. Shields had four threes in the contest. He moves well without the ball. Had a nice backdoor cut for a layup when his defender was not playing with his head on a swivel. Finished the game with 16 points. While he did not make any mid-range pull-ups in the game, this shot was an integral part of Shield’s offensive arsenal during the past high school season. Showed some playmaking upside, finding a teammate rolling off a ball screen for an and-1 layup.

Middlesex Magic-Lambros vs VA Premier-Brody (Middlesex Magic-Lambros Win 62-58)

Wesley Gailliard 6’0 Combo Guard (Middlesex Magic-Lambros/Match Charter): Gailliard has good burst off the dribble, getting into the paint at a solid rate to create for himself and others. Had a nice left handed layup in transition, getting by an opponent with a straight line drive, as well as finding a teammate spotting up for a three when coming off a ball screen. He is an unselfish player who is willing to pass up a good shot for himself to give it up to a teammate for a better one. Made a good extra pass to a teammate spotting up for a trey in the halfcourt. Gailliard can space the floor from deep, making threes at a solid percentage when spotting up. Drained a spot up trey in the second half when a teammate swung the ball to him in the halfcourt. He is also active on the offensive glass, creating easy second chance points for himself. Had a pair of offensive rebounds for putback layups. Scored 19 points in the contest. Defensively, Gailliard creates steals at a solid rate. Had three thefts in the contest, including taking the ball away from an opponent from behind after they beat him off the dribble, along with intercepting a lazy pass which he took the other way for a layup.

Ryan Blakey 5’7 Point Guard (VA Premier-Brody/Fairfax Christian School): Blakey is a threat from long range, making three-pointers effectively off the bounce or when spotting up. Drained a long ball using a step back move to create separation, in addition to hitting a spot up trey when an opponent gave him too much space. He gets to the basket and finishes at a good rate with his explosive first step, creative ball handling moves, along with a crafty layup package to score over taller players. Had a pair of nice drives to the basket, including a layup off a straight line drive, along with getting by an opponent with a through the legs move to finish an and-1 at the rim. Finished the game with 17 points. Blakey is a good playmaker, finding teammates well on drive and kicks for open threes, as well as push ahead passes in transition for high percentage layups. Had six helpers in the contest, including coming off a pair of ball screens to find teammates for open treys, in addition to hitting two teammates ahead of him on the break for finishes at the rim. Blakey is quick laterally, making opponents have to work hard to get by him when defending on the ball. Also uses his size to his advantage, taking the ball away from opponents for steals when they put the ball down. Had a nice play coming from behind to pluck the ball away from an opponent after they pulled down a rebound, along with swiping the ball away from an opponent when they were going up for a layup.

Middlesex Magic-Tell vs NOVA Cavaliers-GC (Middlesex Magic-Tell Win 64-61)

Trevor McDonald 6’5 Combo Forward (Middlesex Magic-Tell/Canterbury School): McDonald is a swiss army knife on the court, making contributions in various ways. He is a solid passer, finding teammates effectively on cuts to the basket for high percentage layups, along with quickly swinging the ball to open teammates for three-pointers. Found a pair of teammates for layups on backdoor cuts, in addition to finding two other teammates spotting up for treys when moving the ball swiftly to them while they were open. Had five assists in the contest. McDonald can space the floor from long range at a good rate when spotting up. Drained two long balls in the game. He can create for himself and others when posting up. Drew a shooting foul after using a drop-step on an opponent in the paint, as well as kicking the ball out to a teammate for a trey when posting up. McDonald makes his presence felt on the offensive glass as well. Pulled down three offensive boards in the contest, including one that was from his own miss which was put back for an and-1 layup. He is effective on the defensive glass too, consistently getting good position on opponents to come down with crucial rebounds. Corralled 8 rebounds total for the game. McDonald has solid instincts moving quickly to the ball when an opponent telegraphs their pass. Had two steals in the game, including intercepting a lazy pass that was thrown in his area. While he did not take any in this particular game, he showed this past high school season the willingness to put his body on the line for charges when opponents make illegal contact on him with their elbow when posting up.

Omar Chambers 6’0 Point Guard (NOVA Cavaliers-GC/West Springfield HS): Chambers is a solid shooter from beyond the arc, making three-pointers at a good rate when spotting up. Hit two spot up treys in the contest on a drive and kick from a teammate, along with a teammate kicking the ball out to him from the post. He has a soft floater in his scoring arsenal. Had a nice play pushing the ball in transition to hit a floater in the lane, in addition to finishing a contested tier drop in the halfcourt. Chambers has good burst off the dribble, getting to the rim effectively where he draws shooting fouls well. Drew a pair of shooting fouls on layup attempts at the basket after a nice blow by drive on an opponent in the halfcourt, as well as getting all the way to the rim in transition after pushing the ball when corralling a rebound. He can make his teammates better with his passing as well, finding teammates effectively for open threes on drive and kicks, along with high percentage layups on drop-offs in the lane. Defensively, he is quick laterally which helps him to be an effective on ball defender and limits opponents from getting dribble penetration on him. Had a nice play when defending on the ball, moving his feet swiftly to not allow an opponent to get by him which caused them to throw the ball away, in addition to another play forcing an opponent to make an errant pass from his ball pressure.

Pro Level Titans vs Jersey Force-Select (Pro Level Titans Win 53-50)

Dorian Paki 6’6 Power Forward/Center: Paki is continuing to develop his game in the post. Had a nice drop-step on the block to score a layup, along with facing up after catching the ball on the block and taking one dribble to draw a shooting foul on a layup attempt at the rim. Has solid mobility for his size, using this to outrun opposing forwards in transition for high percentage layups. Paki had a nice play sprinting the floor hard for a layup after a rebound by a teammate. He is active on the offensive glass following his own shot, creating second chance scoring opportunities for himself. Had three offensive rebounds in the contest, including scoring putback layups off a missed free throw and layup by himself. Scored 10 points in the game. Defensively, Paki does a nice job using his size and length to force opponents into lower percentage attempts around the basket.

Amir Lynn 6’3 Shooting Guard 2021 (Jersey Force-Select/Gill St. Bernard’s HS): Lynn has a smooth stroke from long range with compact form, making three-pointers effectively on the move or when spotting up. Hit a pair of on the move treys in the contest, including one coming off a handoff at the top of the key, along with popping out beyond the arc for an NBA range three. While he did not make any spot up treys in the game, he has shown over the course of his high school career to make them at a solid rate. Lynn creates high percentage layup opportunities for himself by running the floor hard in transition. Drew a pair of shooting fouls on the break sprinting the floor after steals by teammates. He is a reliable shooter at the foul line. Made 6/7 free throws in the contest. Finished the game with 17 points. Lynn showed some playmaking potential out of ball screens, making a nice read hitting a teammate rolling to the bucket for a jump hook in the paint. Defensively, Lynn creates steals at a good rate, understanding the right times to jump into passing lanes. Had three thefts during the contest, including stealing a lazy post entry feed, in addition to intercepting a telegraphed pass that was thrown near him.

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