CT Open Gym ‘25 Backcourt Standouts pt. 1

Wednesday, October 29th, 2025

The group of guards we saw take the court last Friday was chock-full of talent. Some players will play themselves into scholarships; to some, that will be instant impact players at the Division III level.

Stay tuned as we go through the group for the rest of the week.

Patrick Sagna, Macduffie: The senior point guard is getting scholarship interest due to the level of energy and skill he brings to the court. Sagna locks in defensively, using his length to get in passing lanes while overall playing with a high motor. His ability to facilitate in the half-court led to a lot of scoring for his team, while he got to the basket and showed his pop finishing dunks. 

Markus Maxwell-Grimes, Suffield: There’s no lack of shooting when Grimes is on the court. The senior guard offers versatility in that aspect as he can create for himself off the dribble or get right into shots off the catch. He often needs little room to get his shots off and has an impressive ability to knock down tough shots. D1’s have been showing interest in him due to his strong play in the summer and fall open gym sessions. 

Ricky Abelard, Newman: The incoming Newman school senior had a really good night at the open gym, showing off how he can impact the game in different facets. Abelard was able to get to the room, finishing pretty consistently, as well as offering rebounding in the back court. His ability to impact the game on and off the ball defensively was eye-catching in his showing, and he could be a steal at the Division three level. 

Jermelle Cotton, Salisbury: Cotton is an under-the-radar, senior guard coming out of the Salisbury School in Connecticut. A native of Rochester, New York, Cotton will see his ability to score the basketball operating off of it translate to the next level. He can make things happen with the ball, not forcing his dribble and getting to his spots, or by finishing athletically in the lane.

Jenson Green, Comberton (UK): The sophomore point guard coming over from the United Kingdom played well on a team full of familiar faces. Green showed off his quickness off the dribble and was able to create space from his defender. His ability to make the right reads out of PnR’s stood out as well. 

Nathanael Martelly, Kingsford Community: The makings of a sound Division three prospect out of the UK, Martelly showed off his floor general skills. He consistently made strong reads, directing traffic and jumpstarting transition opportunities with his passing. 

Kahil Bell, East Catholic: Entering his senior season under Coach Luke Reilly, Bell figures to factor into an EC squad poised to contend once again. Throughout the night, he was able to use his quick, tight handle to penetrate the lane and score at the bucket. He’s scrappy and can really get into the body of opposing ball handlers on defense, making big strides since our last viewing two years ago. 

Jaden Schwenebraten, Salisbury: Entering his junior season, Schwenebraten will be a contender for all NEPSAC Class A. The 6’3” guard has picked up D1 interest based on the size and pure scoring ability he brings to the floor. He's efficient with the ball, getting to his spots in both the mid and long range, while also showing good control in the lane to play off two. 

Keyshon Joyner, Macduffie: Joyner played very well in his outing at the Elite 75, continuing to show growth as a lead guard on a promising Macduffie team this winter. The Worcester native runs the show when he’s on the floor, directing traffic and possessing a pass-first mentality. He gets aggressive on the defensive end, playing with high energy and giving opposing ball handlers a tough time.

Justin Robinson, Frederick Gunn: A focal point of the scoring for what will be an interesting gunnery squad this year, Robinson played very well on Friday night. The junior has a very developed upper body that he uses to his advantage to push defenders off their spot and get to the basket repeatedly. He can beat you off the dribble with his crafty handle as well as get right into pull-ups from multiple levels of the floor.

Samir Johnson, Lincoln (RI): An up-and-coming guard in the Rhode Island freshman class, Johnson will be one to watch for at Lincoln HS. The 2029 can score in a variety of ways, often getting to his spots off the dribble and showing some strong shot creation skills to continue to build off of. He may play a pivotal role as just a freshman in his first RIIL season.

Corey Hill, Salisbury: Another under-the-radar guard at the Salisbury school, Hill has high-level playing experience in England under his belt as well. The point guard will be expected to handle the reins of the offense this winter, showing off his strong floor vision and ability to make smart passes. His scoring will be important to the squad, and he can do so at multiple levels.

Salathiel Simon, Jackson Township: A sophomore guard out of New Jersey, Simon did well competing against different competition in New England. In his game sets, he showed off how he can score the ball as both a long-range shooter and a slasher, getting to the basket. His length and motor on defense were assets for his squad in his games as well.

Michael Ervin Jr, Berkshire: The guard out of New York City really had things going for him on Friday night, showing off how he can score the ball at a high clip. In his game sets, he made shots efficiently from both long and mid-range. His ability to use his speed to fly past defenders made him a matchup nightmare, and he will look to once again be a pivotal piece for Berkshire this winter. 

Jayden Johnson, New York Military: A postgraduate from Leominster High School, Johnson is looking to put together a strong year and continue to build his college interest. He’s quick with good size in the back court and beats defenders off the dribble. He thrives on jumpers in the mid-range while extending it out to the three, or using his threat to shoot to get to the basket. 

Jordan Suiter, Berkshire: A senior transfer from Alabama, Suiter is an intriguing player to watch. He stands at 6’5” with a great handle and overall guard skill set, while being able to play at the wing as well. He showed that he’s able to score the ball especially well as a shooter and also gets really gritty on the defensive end. His versatility on both sides of the ball has earned him a lot of scholarship interest. 

Jaylen Johnson, Brunswick: A returner to Brunswick this winter, Johnson has a big role ahead of him once again. He’s a smooth lead guard who excels at getting in the lane, playing with composure, and converting through contact. He shoots the ball well, defends with high energy, and often makes strong passing reads. 

Aiden Holliday, Westfield: The Western Mass-based senior came out and put himself on the map with his showing the other night. Holiday has some strength and toughness, as he showed his ability to consistently get into the body of defenders and get to the basket. Entering his junior year, the next step for him would be being able to impact the game more as a lead facilitator and becoming more of a threat to shoot the ball.