HoopRootz Sophomore Series Part 1

New England Recruiting Report | Thursday, February 5th, 2015

With the Freshmen Focus Series now completed, we will now take a look at prospects Class of 2017 Prospects a handful at a time and in no particular order. Check out Part #1 below.

Since exploding on the scene as a 7th Grader back in the Spring of 2012, Jermaine Samuels has done nothing but continue his rise. He is the #1 Ranked Sophomore in New England by NERR and ranked #24 in the United States of America by ESPN. Despite seeing a healthy share of junk-defense geared towards slowing him down, Samuels is averaging 26 points on the season for a Rivers ball-club which is 7-6 and on the rise heading into February as they look to make a run towards defending their ISL Title from a year ago.

Tomas Murphy - The Train is getting a great experience playing on the region's top native-New England front-line at Northfield Mount Hermon and has produced on the interior throughout the season before he went down with a leg in jury last two weeks ago and has missed the past half-dozen games. Murphy is currently the #2 Ranked Sophomore in New England.

Kimani Lawrence - Sophomore swing-man Kimani Lawrence possesses real-deal talent and there aren't many prospects more enticing when he has his all-around-game clicking on all cylinders. Lawrence has been a feature-player for a 10-4 Cushing Academy Squad. Lawrence is currently the #8 Ranked Sophomore in New England.

Rivers freshman guard Azar Swain has been a significant level-riser this season as he's scored and distributed the ball consistently and efficiently throughout the course of the young season. He's averaging 20 points and about a dozen dimes as the feature-guard for a Red Wings squad which is 7-6 and on the rise as they look to make a run towards defending their ISL Title from a year ago. Swain is currently the #25 Ranked Sophomore in New England.  

Led by the Zegarowski Twins, Marcus Zegarowski and  Max Zegarowski, the Hamilton-Wenham Generals have taken the Cape Anne League by storm as they have sprinted out to a 12-0 record on the season while winning the high-majority of their games in blow-out fashion. Marcus has been electric at the point as a high-volume dime-dropper and explosive scorer. He's had a schlew of 30+ point-games and like the favorite for the POY Award in the CAL. Meanwhile, Max has been a real level raiser over the last eight-months as he has stretched out to 6'5" and started to fill in his long-frame while distributing and scoring from the perimeter in a crisp manner. Has shown a very nice stroke from long-range and has had multiple 20+ point-games.

Kevin Fernandez - After ending the first-half of the season with a record of 3-7, for the time in more than 25 years, it looked possible that Central Catholic may not qualify for the MIAA State Tournament. But since falling to St Johns Prep on January 10th, the Red Raiders have completely turned the tables, reeling off six-straight wins  largely behind one of the best young back-courts in the MIAA in Kevin Fernandez and Tanahj Pettway. Now that the Raiders are right back in the thick of things, it will be interesting to see where they take it from here.  During the six-game run, Fernandez has been terrific scoring and distributing the basketball for HC Rick Nault. He had 20 points in a huge-win over Lawrence last week and has been in double-figures consistently throughout the season.  Winter Riser.
 
Geo Baker - In his first season at Pinkerton Academy after transferring from BB&N, sophomore point guard Geo Baker has been outstanding through nine games as he's led the Astros out to an 8-1 record, averaging 16 points and  double-digit assists while wreaking havoc in the steals column. Look out for the Astros in the second half of the season as they chase their ultimate goal of a New Hampshire D1 State Championship.
 
Sophomore wing-scorer Ryan Reagan has had a big season for Duxbury High School, scoring right around 16 points/game with his pure long-range-stroke and savvy ability to get into the lane for bucket opportunities in the paint. The Dragons are 7-5 on the season and have every intention on working towards their potential and making a run in the MIAA D2 State Tournament.