Five Names to Know Ahead of #NEHF pt. 1

Dylan Thayer | Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025

The annual Northeast Hoops Festival Zero Gravity Tournament will be taking place this upcoming weekend at numerous sites in the state of Massachusetts. This event brings out hundreds of teams from all over New England and surrounding states, serving as an “unofficial start” to the grassroots season.

 

On a yearly basis, this is the place to be. Questions about who’s playing with which program, and new names to know across all of the age brackets are always revealed, speaking to the allure the event provides.

 

Leading up to the weekend, the New England Recruiting Report’s scouting staff will be releasing more names we will be looking for when play begins. 

 

To kick things off, here are five names to know heading into the grassroots season who have a shot at making real noise in their respective age brackets.

 

Joustin Reyes, Rhode Island Elite 17U

 

The Dominican native just finished up the high school season with a bang at DNA Prep, with reported scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Louisiana, and Northern Illinois. Reyes is a sizable shooting threat out on the wing standing at 6’6”, and knocks down shots particularly well off the catch. He plays at his own tempo, making playmaking reads with his floor vision, and getting to his spots. 

 

Looking to build off a growing reputation, Reyes will be running with Rhode Island Elite on the PUMA PRO16 Circuit.

 

Dywane Chess, Middlesex Magic 17U

 

A versatile scoring threat at guard with the ability to really change the game, Chess was a massive piece to St. George’s ISL winning season. The native of Pennsylvania has put a lot of hours into building up his body, and uses his developed strength to overpower defenders across the court. The speed and defensive energy that Chess brings will serve as a spark plug to the Middlesex Magic UAA squad this season, as he is on my radar for a breakout spring.

 

Chess holds seven Division I scholarships and may see that number spike should all bode well for him this grassroots season.

 

Vincent Osazee, BABC 17U

 

The Reason Prep 6’8 forward has had a ton of attention come his way over the past couple of years, and will be running on the 3SSB circuit this season with the BABC. Osazee has gotten rave reviews out of practice sessions for his athleticism and ability to pressure the basket as a secondary creator. His ability to catch entry passes in the post has been noted and will be something he will do often with Amir Jenkins running the offense.

 

Osazee has had reported recruitment at multiple levels of Division I, and will have an opportunity to increase that playing on the Adidas circuit.

 

Derek Swartz, Mass Rivals

 

The Portsmouth New Hampshire wing has certainly put himself on the radar across New England for his big time play as a freshman, and will be running on the 3SSB circuit with the Mass Rivals. Swartz is a 6’4” guard with an advanced skill set for his age which allowed him to bring his Portsmouth squad to a #2 seed in Division I of the NHIAA, where they lost in the semifinals of the postseason tournament. 

 

With tons of bounce, crafty guard skills, and length/defensive prowess, Swartz is a name to watch in the class of 2028.

 

Massa Toure, Expressions Elite 15U

 

Eighth grader Massa Toure made an early appearance at the Frosh/Soph Elite 75 this past September, and followed that up with a sensational season at Hamden Hall Country Day School. The guard has a very smooth looking shooting stroke from outside that allowed to excel as a three-point threat at the varsity level this season. Toure’s athleticism and ability to shake defenders with his quick twitch and balance are notable.

 

Massa is the younger brother of Abdou Toure, a blue blood college prospect that just won his second consecutive state championship at Notre Dame West Haven.

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