National Prep Showcase - Day 2 Recap
![National Prep Showcase - Day 2 Recap National Prep Showcase - Day 2 Recap]({filedir_21}semaj_christon_wide.bmp)
Day two was a marathon at the National Prep Showcase with over 14 hours of action at Albertus Magnus College. St. John’s head coach Stevin Lavin headlined another long list of college coaches in attendance as players competed from dawn to dusk to further their team’s status and individual recruitment.
St. Thomas More (CT) 83, Fork Union Military Academy (VA) 71
6’9 senior Stuart McEwn made big shot after big shot for St. Thomas More in a game that was back and forth the whole way. McEwn was the game-high scorer with 22 points in all, and he impressed many in attendance with his spot-up jump-shot (4-9 3FG). Meanwhile Manhattan bound guard Curtis Jones showed one of the best mid-range games of the day, driving hard to stop on a dime for his pull-up. Fork Union’s 6’8 senior Kion Brown displayed a variety of movies inside and used his length to his advantage when showing off his standout jump hook with either hand.
Hargrave Military Academy 90 (VA), Bridgton Academy 86 (ME)
Codi Miller-McIntyre (27 points), Ryan Taylor (26 points 11 rebounds), and Montrezl Harrell (18 points on 9-11 shooting) combined to score 71 of Hargrave’s 90 points in their victory over Bridgton. Taylor and Harrell were able to dominate inside on both ends of the floor, and each had a few drunks that left the crowed in awe. St. John’s-bound stars Amir Garrett and Darrick Wood scored 20 and 17 points, respectively, both scoring on a variety of crafty dribble drives and outside shots. Malik Nichols poured in 17, while Markus Crider had 18 points on 7 for 10 shooting for Bridgton.
Notre Dame Prep (MA) 113, New Hope Academy (MD) 103
William Howard continues to impress for New Hope. After his double-double last night against Winchendon, he came back today to score 30 points on 8-13 shooting and 10-10 from the free throw line, including four three-pointers, in addition to pulling down 14 rebounds and dishing out four assists in a losing effort. Notre Dame got outstanding performances from Sam Cassell, Jr, Adonis Filer, and Myles Davis. The trio combined to score 76 points and shoot 69% from the field. Outside of Howard’s performance, Cassell’s five three-pointers had to be the highlight performance of the game.
Brewster Academy (NH) 91, Fishburn Military Academy (WI) 75
Heavily-favored Brewster came out with a bang, but Fishburn was able to keep it close behind 21 points on six three-pointers from sharpshooting Winthrop-commit Jackson Trapp. NC State-signee TJ Warren led the way for Brewster with 22 points on 10-12 shooting from the floor. Semaj Christon completely controlled the tempo of the game; he finished with 17 points while taking just eight shots, and also had five assists. Jakarr Sampson continued to show off why he is considered one of the most gifted athletes in the country; he had 20 points in all to go along with five rebounds. Former Andover High star Joe Bramanti was his usual scrappy self on both ends of the floor: diving for loose balls and standing out as a perimeter defensive stopper.
Maine Central Institute (ME) 106, La Jolla Prep (Ca) 86
With Xavier head coach Chris Mack looking on, future Musketeer forward James Farr turned in an impressive 23 point 7 rebound performance to lead the way for MCI, showing a versatile offensive arsenal that included jump hooks, elbow jumpers, and strong finishes inside. Strahinja Gavrilovic and Darrell Bowie led the charge for La Jolla, finishing with 23 points each, but it was Sean James who seemed to deliver a big shot for MCI every time they came close to surrendering the lead. James finished with 16 points going four of four from behind the arc.
La Lumiere School (IN) 84, Lee Academy (ME) 57
La Lumiere jumped all over Lee early on and never let up. Refusing to take their foot off the gas, they were all over passing lanes forcing turnovers to spark their transition run-outs. Complicating matters were Lee’s struggles from behind the three-point line, as they shot just 4-20 from that range with those long rebounds leading to further run-outs. Purdue-commit Raphael Davis had 27 points on 11-17 from the field for La Lumiere rolled over Lee while 6’6 forward Roddell Wigginton added 16 points and eight rebounds for Lee.
New Hampton (NH) 86, Kiski (PA) 73
Sophomore star Noah Vonleh dominated the glass for New Hampton on his way to an exceptional 15 point, 19 rebound performance. Kiski was able to keep the game close until the end thanks in part to their outside shooting. They were led by Jesse Reed, who was 4-5 from long range and amounted 28 points in all. Oliver Hanlan was a threat from everywhere on the floor for New Hampton, he finished with 20 points while Jared Terrell showed his supreme playmaking and body control in the open floor.
South Kent (CT) 84, St. John’s Military Academy (WI) 76
Those coaches and fans who survived the entire day were rewarded with an epic battle as South Kent established a commanding first half lead only to see St. John’s come storming back in the second half. Chris Thomas went to work in the first half, rattling off 14 points in only 8 minutes, while the backcourt of Jacoby Davis, Jeremiah Jones, and Quinn Williams led the comeback for St. John’s. Ricardo Ledo and Isaac Freeman both came up with key buckets down the stretch for South Kent while Freeman was equally clutch on the defensive end, securing every big rebound.