Bay State Magic Showcase - Event Recap

by Christian Bradley | Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Bay State Magic’s College Showcase at Brandeis University drew in dozens of local college coaches on Wednesday night. Following full-court lay-up and 11 man drills, players went through several games in which they could showcase their skills. Some of the top players in eastern Mass were in the building and out of the 50 or so players in attendance, here’s who stood out.

Jacquil Taylor, Beaver Country Day – A menacing shot-blocker with an improved offensive game, the younger Taylor brother was superior in every facet of the game. He’s done a great job of developing his offensive game; he will make himself even tougher to stop as he continues to improve his right hand. Plays with an admirable amount of intensity every time he takes the floor.

Omar Orriols, Charlestown – Orriols has clearly been working since the winter season. Known mainly as a sharpshooter for a Charlestown squad that was one of the best in Massachusetts last year, he showed off his ball handling and finishing ability today. Omar’s gotten much more athletic and quick off the dribble, and that will certainly help him in leading another talented Charlestown squad this upcoming season.

Maurice Taylor, Beaver Country Day – He’s added a lot of confidence to his game, Taylor really exceled tonight with the ball in his hands as a slashing wing. His game around the rim is strong, he can finish with either hand, and he has a variety of different moves with his back to the basket.

Marcus Middleton, Stoughton – With such an emphasis on showing off your offensive game, most players typically play a lot harder on offense than they do on defense at showcases. Such is not the case with Middleton, he never seems to run out of energy. He’s an explosive finisher with a quick first step, and will be a major contributor for Stoughton this year.

Jamari Hall, Dennis-Yarmouth – In terms of overall offensive output, Jamari may have scored more points than any other player at the event. He runs the floor well, plays hard at all times, and rebounds at a high rate. Hall has a lot of different post moves, his upper body strength enables him to be able to finish anything at the rim-despite the fact that he is a bit undersized for a power forward.

Phil Levine-Caleb, Newton South – Phil is a very strong outside shooter; he has a high release and tight backspin.  He’s still got plenty of high school ball left, so as he continues to work out and improve his handle, he’s going to be a serious perimeter threat.

Joseph Bunce-Grenon, Stoughton – Another Stoughton product displays a great amount of explosiveness, toughness, and athleticism. Bunce-Grenon never takes plays off, doesn’t fear contact, and did a great job of sharing the ball.

John Crawley, St. Bernard’s Central – A crafty wing with a solid outside shot, Crawley was the leading scoring on the St. Bernard’s squad who made the Division 2 state finals last season. Whether it’s ball handling, shooting, defense, or rebounding, Crawley

David Stewart, Madison Park – Stewart was a pest defensively and scored non-stop at the rim. He’s a slasher who is excels on the fast break where he can drive and kick or draw contact and finish.

Jael Letang, Dedham – He can play either guard position, but Letang is at his best when running the point. He needs to add strength and raise his release on his jumper, but overall he’s a very underrated player who could end up being one of the top young guards in the MIAA next year.

Curtis Howe, Cathedral/Avon Old Farms – A strong, build guard who does a great job of distributing the ball, Howe was constantly setting up easy baskets tonight for his teammates.

Joseph Connelly, Beaver Country Day – Connelly is a really athletic kid with a quick first step and strong outside jumpshot; the prototypical two-guard. He uses a hesitation dribble, spin moves, and has no problem making plays at the rim.