RI Coaches All-Star Game - Event Recap

Steve Enright | Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

On Wednesday night, the top 48 players in the Rhode Island Inter-Scholastic League were gathering for a two game all star event. The first game featured most of the states best sophomores with some juniors and a few scattered seniors, while the second game featured mostly seniors and the states best juniors.

Game #1 GRAY vs. RED – 83-80 RED OT

The first all star game featured the red team against the gray team. After a slow first half, the game picked up for an entertaining second half and an overtime finish. Here is who stood out to us:

Gray Team

MVP - Charles Correa – It was clear to onlookers that Correa was a step faster then every other player on the court. Despite arriving late, he made his presence felt immediately after he checked in the game with pinpoint passes, acrobatic finishes and pull ups in transition, and deep 3’s, including a 28-footer to send the game to overtime. Fresh off being named the State Championship Games Most Valuable Player, Charles put on a show in this year’s all-star game, making his case as one of the best guards in the state.

Ryan Lawton — Lawton was solid all season with his West Warwick high school team, churning out double-doubles on a nightly basis. In the all-star game, he was solid around the rim finishing with both hands, has a very nice face up range, and can shoot the ball out to three. He ran the floor well and was rewarded by his teammates, receiving the ball for easy transition finishes.

Evan Hole – Hole was solid, scoring the ball in multiple ways and using his length on the defensive end to pick up lots of deflections. He caught our eye with two strong moves in the second half, finishing in traffic on one and with a crafty reverse layup on the other. His biggest asset is his ability to hit the long ball, and he buried a few deep ones over the course of the game.

Red Team

MVP - Josh Jones – Like Correa, Jones is a very promising sophomore point guard playing in his first all-star game. Jones, right after entering the game, picked up a steal with an acrobatic finish at the other end. He continued to make plays throughout the night, beating his defender with a lightning quick first step to get into the teeth, then either finishing in traffic or finding an open teammate. He also showed his ability to shoot the ball, dropping in a contested buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half and hitting two more in the second half.

Connor Bouchard – Bouchard is a smart guard who plays within himself. He showed his consistency and range, hitting five 3 pointers in the game.

Evan Hopson – Hopson is a power guard, who uses his strength and toughness to bully around the rim and finish in traffic. He’s quick off the bounce and was able to use his solid frame to absorb contact and finish.

Game #2 Blue vs. White – 108-102 BLUE

The second game of the day was much more action packed then the first game, and had more of an “all-star game type feel. The players made big plays throughout the game and kept the crowd entertained with dunks, deep 3’s, blocked shots, and fast-paced transition basketball.  Here’s who caught our eye:

White Team

MVP - Rob Hazard – Hazard showed Wednesday why he is regarded as arguably the most dynamic scorer in the state. He started the game off with a deep three, and seemed to be able to score at will throughout the night. He also had four impressive dunks, including one which he took off on the left side from outside the block. At 5’11, Hazard is an impressive athlete

Patrick Marchand – A wide bodied big who showcased his ability as a versitle scorer, Marchand was crafty around the rim and active on the glass at both ends. He also showed the ability to step out and shoot the ball, knocking down two three pointers.

Kyle Morvan – The Smithfield high school center is a solid back to the basket player who plays a physical game and isn’t afraid to mix it up inside. He did a good job on the offensive glass, cleaning up misses and finishing despite contact.

Cesar Mejia – Mejia is a tremendous athlete who is at his best playing in transition and attacking the rim. He took a while to get it going, but had a strong and one finish toward the end of the first half and put together a nice second half of strong moves to the rim.

Mike Ferrante – With Austin Van Bemmelen, Ferrante forms a dangerous duo of junior guards for North Providence High School. Ferrante is a pure scorer, who attacks the rim hard and finishes well in traffic. He is a streaky shooter, but can get hot at any time from deep.

Gunner Bjornson – After carrying his Tiverton team to the state chip, Bjornson was back at it in the all-star game showcasing a nice mid range game to go with his ability to hit deep triples and attack the rim and score.

Blue Team

MVP - Isaac Medeiros- Medeiros was clearly the best post player at the event, and was dominant scoring the ball in a variety of ways. No opposing big man could keep him off the offensive glass, as he routinely ripped down rebounds and finished for and ones. He is also dynamic off the bounce on the wing, going right and left and finishing with a soft touch. In transition, Medeiros showcased great ball handling ability for a big man, gliding by guards attempting to swipe the ball away.

John King – King is a heady player, a great shooter, and a versatile scorer. He is at his best when he can sit on the perimeter, catch and shoot. He buried a couple jumpers with a sweet stroke but also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and pull up over defenders.

Bryan Yarce – Yarce, the best pure point guard in the state, showed off his ability as a distributor, routinely slicing through the defense and finding his teammates for good shots and easy scores.

Austin Van Bemmelen – Van Bemmelen, a small but crafty scoring point guard, showcased his lightning quick release and ability to score the ball from anywhere on the court. He did a great job using the dribble to get separation, and once he gets separation, the shot goes up and always looks like it has a great chance of going in.

Robert Lewis – Coming off a breakout senior season for Central High school, Lewis is a tremendous athlete and wowed the crowd with acrobatic transition finishes and emphatic blocked shots throughout the night. If he improves his shooting, he has the athleticism to become a dynamic scorer.

Joe Carnevale – A pure shooter with deep range who knocked down several NBA range three pointers

Derryck Kilgore – Derryck is a rugged forward who took a while to get it going, but he rebounds very well, does a great job getting to the free throw line and is capable of knocking down the mid-range jumper.

Event Rosters

RED Team: Ismael Batista 5’8 PG Classical High School Class of 2013; Austin Cilley 5’7 PG Westerly High School Class of 2013; Christian Cancel 5’11 SG Rogers High School Class of 2011; Josh Jones 5’11 PG Hope High School Class of 2013; Evan Hopson 6’2 SG/SF Juamita Sanchez HS Class of 2013; Tom Hunt 6’0 SG Lasalle Academy Class of 2013; Austin Silva 6’1 SF Shea High School Class of 2011; Connor Bouchard 5’10 PG Smithfield High School Class of 2012; Steven Rush 6’4 SF/PF Cranston West High School Class of 2011; Sam Payette 6’3 SF/PF East Greenwich High School Class of 2011; Scott Peterson 6’2 SG/SF Ponaganset High School Class of 2013

GRAY Team: Charles Correa 5’9 PG St Raphael Academy 2013; Clifton Johnson 5’10 PG Central Falls High School 2011; Benjamin Bradley 5’10 PG Cumberland High School 2013; Ryan Anderson 6’1 SF Johnston High School 2012; Josh McCourt 6’0 SF Lasalle Academy 2012; Jovel Beckford 6’2 SG Mount Pleasant High School 2013; Cody L’Heureux 6’0 SG Woonsocket High School 2013; Marc Washington 6’1 SG/SF Rogers High School 2013; John Peterson 6’4 SF/PF Ponaganset High School 2011; Evan Hole 6’4 SG Portsmouth High School 2012; Eli Wiggins 6’2 PF Tolman High School 2011; Ryan Lawton 6’4 PF West Warwick High School 2012

BLUE Team: Bryan Yarce 5’10 PG Cranston West High School 2011; Austin Van Bemmelen 5’11 PG North Providence High School 2012; Max Motroni 5’7 PG West Warwick High School 2012; Robert Lewis 6’3 SG/SF Central High School 2011; Garret Douglas 6’0 SG Coventry High School 2012; Joe Carnevale 6’2 SG East Providence High School 2011; John King 6’5 SF The Prout School 2011; Ben Bergandy 6’4 C Tiverton High School 2011; Tim Lyons 6’4 C Bishop Hendricken 2011; Isaac Medeiros 6’5 PF Johnston High School 2011; Derryck Kilgore 6’4 PF North Kingstown High School 2011; Rory McCentee 6’3 PF South Kingstown High School 2011

WHITE Team: Nate Stichell 5’8 PG Coventry High School 2011; Dayvon Heard 5’10 PG Central High School 2011; Mike Ferrante 6’0 SG North Providence High School 2011; Rob Hazard 5’11 PG/SG North Kingstown High School 2012; Andrew Levy 6’3 SF/PF Cranston West High School 2011; Connor Fiske 6’1 SG Barrington High School 2011; Gunnar Bjornson 6’3 SG Tiverton High School 2011; Zach Wells 6’4 PF Westerly High School 2011; Michael Dublin 6’2 SF Portsmouth High School 2011; Patrick Marchand 6’6 PF/C Cranston East High School 2012; Kyle Morvan 6’5 C Smithfield High School 2011; Cesar Mejia 6’3 SG St. Raphael Academy 2012