HoopHall Prep Showcase Recap - The Class of 2027

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

The sophomore class left their mark on the HoopHall Prep Showcase this past weekend, with a number of standout performances. With a lot of time left for them to develop and take their games to the next level, these are some guys we will be monitoring as they continue their high school careers.

Nicolas Mitrovic shined on Monday as the mix of size and shooting he brings to the table led to 20 points. He was able to space the floor as a shooting threat and knock down shots off the catch. Going down the lane, he threw down some dunks and also hauled in 14 rebounds. 

Despite the loss, Triston McDonald’s upside flashed for the Skill Factory in their Saturday morning contest. McDonald had 32 points on 50% shooting from the field. He’s quick and keeps the ball on a string. While he made a ton of layups, his ability to stop on a dime for pull-ups is impressive. McDonald ran with Jamaica’s U17 squad this summer where he was the youngest player in that age bracket.

Rhode Island’s Elijah McNair has assumed a leadership role with his St. Andrew’s squad this season as he averaged 16 points per game, and played the most minutes on his team. McNair has consistently made strides in his game and has noticeable upside. 

This past weekend was the first opportunity we’ve had at catching DJ Hawkins with St. Thomas More as he dealt with an injury. Hawkins played a complementary role in STM’s win over SPIRE as he went 4-4 for 10 points. His potential is glaring as he showed his athleticism on dunks, and stepped out for some threes.

The steps Reece Ayala has taken to assume the reins of the Milton offense this season are well noted. As part of an impressive tandem with Ryan Mclaughlin and Spencer Booth, Ayala’s name has taken off. In a four point loss, his quick shifty game at the point guard spot led him to 22 points. 

Kamsi Awaka has been a focal point for Cheshire since he arrived on campus last year as a freshman. The 6’9 big man is mobile, strong and gets physical. In his lone outing of the weekend, he posted a double double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. On the defensive side of the ball, Awaka’s shot tracking skill stood out as he managed to block six shots. 

6’4 guard Anthony Vick has built a lot of momentum for himself over the past calendar year, and it showed as he exploded for 37 points in an overtime victory. Vick’s been the go to option for his Tilton squad this year, allowing him to show off his full arsenal. He’s arguably one of the best shooters in the regional class at the moment, creates shots for himself, and doesn’t need much space to let it fly. 

In a smaller amount of minutes for his Brewster Prep team, Tayden Langdon’s shooting skills were on display as he knocked down multiple three’s in both games. He’s got a clean release to his shot and can get them off pretty quickly. 

Keyshon Joyner had a strong outing on Sunday as Macduffie took down Golden State Prep Black by seven. Joyner’s ability to captain the offense stood out as he consistently made the right plays. He finished the contest with a line of 17-5-5, as well as three steals. His upside as a point guard is well noted, despite turning the ball over a handful of times. 

Greyson Pierce has really elevated his game this season at Loomis-Chaffee, and proved to be the deciding factor in their win over Milton with 28 points. The 6’7 wing looks bound to see his name take off in the near future as he’s continued to improve. Pierce can guard multiple positions, make tough shots and is very athletic. 

Theo Edema undoubtedly has potential as a seven foot big man who really opened college coaches eyes in the fall open gym season, and he turned some heads once again. In Cushing’s first game at the event, Edema went for 16 points and seven rebounds, asserting his presence in the paint. 
 

While in the class of 2028, Isaac Olaniba is a name that has jumped out to us over the past month. The 6’8 forward oozes athleticism and uses it to his advantage. He’s got a ton of length as well which allows him to really rack up the rebounds. He finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday night.