#S16 All-Tournament Team - 10th Grade Division

New England Recruiting Report | Thursday, June 2nd, 2016

The 10th grade division was arguably the deepest and most talented of this weekend’s Super 16 Showcase and resulted in a trio of champions.

The PSA Cardinals took the championship in the Diamond Bracket of the American Division. A flagship EYBL program out of New York City, they are absolutely loaded with talent and steamed through pool play accordingly. They knocked off an impressive Stamford Peace Club in one semifinal while the Mass Rivals pulled out a dramatic comeback victory over the New York Jayhawks on the other side of the bracket. PSA went up early in the final, but the Rivals refused to go away. Ultimately though, they just couldn’t get over the hump as the Cardinals claimed the championship.

In the Platinum Bracket of the American Division the final came down to Real Christian Athletes and USAD, two programs that played inspired basketball throughout the weekend. Ultimately, the size and depth of the RCA frontline proved too much for USAD to overcome as RCA took the championship.

In the National Division, C4 Blue won three different bracket games, first knocking off TMT 67-58 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 49-43 win over All For One in the semifinals and then a 57-50 decision over Derry Spartans Elite in the finals.   

Super 16 Team

Bryce Wills, PSA Cardinals – A long lefty guard with a world of upside, Willis was a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He handled it to both sides equally well, snapped passes in the open floor and showed an instinctive feel for the game. He also made news on Wednesday announcing he was moving back to the class of 2019, a decision that is sure to make him a national priority with so much obvious ability.

Jake Forrester, PSA Cardinals – He may not be the most celebrated prospect on the team, but he was certainly one of their most impactful players this weekend. Forrester is a hybrid type forward with broad shoulders, long arms and an active motor. He makes plays around both rims, changes ends of the floor and finds ways to impact the game without having to be the focal point of the team’s offense.

Arashma Parks, PSA Cardinals – In an era where the lack of big bodied post players who enjoy contact and want to bang is as evident as ever, Parks recognizes what makes him unique and takes advantage of it each time he steps on the court. His body is beginning to cooperate as well, allowing Parks to finish above the rim with authority off quick drop steps or one-dribble power moves. He was simply a man among boys for long stretches at a time.

Isaiah Mucius, PSA Cardinals – When it comes to long-term potential, Mucius just oozes of it. A true wing who stands 6-foot-8 with long arms and possesses legit perimeter tools, he provides flashes of sheer brilliance, and on both ends of the floor as well. Give him a year or two to put it all together and he could be scary good.

Taelon Martin, Mass Rivals – There was a stretch this weekend where we saw Martin turn from prospect into producer in front of our very eyes. His offensive package is still in the developmental stages but he’s starting to shoot the ball with more consistency and has the type of playmaking tools that can’t be taught. Add in his ability to be a lockdown defender and he can contribute to any team right now.

Akok Akok, Mass Rivals - Akok has become accustomed to the physicality needed to thrive in the paint against high level competition. He uses his length and elite motor to rebound out of his area and finish around the rim while showing newfound confidence on his face-up jump shot out to about 18 feet.

Matt Corey, Mass Rivals – The Rivals run looked to be ending in the semi-finals, but one second was all Corey needed to rewrite that script. When the first potential game winner came off the back of the rim, this forward was there to tip it up just as the final buzzer sounded. The skilled forward also showed a nice stroke and the ability to stretch the floor throughout the weekend.

Samba Diallo, NY Jayhawks – The Jayhawks introduced another Diallo to the area this weekend. Samba Diallo packs a lot of explosive athleticism into a 6'7" frame along with good size, speed, and strength in a half court setting. Diallo is mostly a slasher and finisher right now but all of the tools are there for him to develop into much more. All of his movements are natural and he looks comfortable handling the ball, finishing at tough angles, and pulling the trigger from deep.

Frankie Policelli, NY Jayhawks - Policelli gives the Jayhawks a big athlete who can create for others from the wing but also battles for rebounds inside and has an extremely smooth 3-point stroke from the left side. Policelli was at his best working off screens without the basketball before gravitating to the short corners where he effortlessly hit shot after shot.

Cantavio Dutreil, Stamford Peace – Dutreil is a Hatian big man with a lot of bounce and a natural athlete's movements. He’s active on both ends and becoming more comfortable around the basket. Dutreil already makes an impact as a rebounder, shot blocker, and scorer around the basket but his skillset will undoubtedly expand over time.

Bernard Kouma, Real Christian Athletes – The 2019 big man gives tremendous effort every time he steps on the court.  He is a rock on the defensive glass and battles hard for every offensive rebound.  Kouma's soft hands enable him to finish inside, but he also displayed an ability to finish through contact, as well as get his shot off quickly in the paint with a quick second jump off an offensive rebound.

Christian Adams, USAD – The Hillhouse swingman did double duty this weekend playing with both the Varsity and 10th Grade teams. Whenever he was on the floor with his own peer group, his talent was clearly at another level as his smooth athleticism allowed him to slash to the rim and gives him equivalent potential on the defensive end of the floor as well.

Max Chartier, C4 Blue - One of the best on-ball defenders of the weekend, Chartier forces ball-handlers to rethink their every move. His defensive IQ is off the charts and he knows where to be to make the big play. Offensively, he showed off a solid midrange game and an ability to step-back and nail long 2’s.

Tayler Mattos & Cody Graham, Rim Spartans Elite – Mattes may still be raw but he’s also a 6-foot-8 big man who enjoys contact, work hard and is coachable. Mattes effects the game with his physical presence in the paint. He blocks and alters shots, gives his teammates a big target and has pretty good footwork for a young big. His teammates constantly encouraged him to be aggressive offensively and in that type of environment he is sure to make strides. Graham leads the way on the periemter where he is the team's top offensive scoring threat.

Thomas Shaughnessy, Middlesex Magic – He’s been the engine that makes the Magic go in recent weeks. He has handles, gets to the rim to score, buries the three and is a terrific defender. He went for 25 points or more each time he took the court this weekend and even moved up to spark the varsity team before it was all said and done.

Tyler Burton, Mass Elite - Burton continues to evolve into a dynamic scoring threat and is on pace to be one of the most improved players in the New England area heading into next year's prep season. While Burton is far from a finished product physically, his game is maturing at a rapid rate. He showed off a smooth mid-range game throughout the weekend and has realized that his length allows him to wreak havoc on the defensive end.

Second Team All-Tournament

Doug Alves, Boston Bobcats – A playmaker who can both score points himself and also make plays for those around him, Alves creates tempo on demand and plays with great pace. He’s skilled and crafty with the ball in his hands, able to pull quick released jumpers off the dribble or utilize a full assortment of tricks en route to the rim.

Eric Beavin, CT Stars – The Montville HS product is an undersized forward, yet a sneaky-good athlete.  He provided great energy all day for his CT Stars squad.  He is active whenever he is in the game, making it impossible for defenders to take a play off when he is out there.

Jackson Benigni, CT Cobras – Benigni has a strong body and he uses it to carve out space en route to the rim. He’s far from one-dimensional though. He can knock down the open three on the perimeter and even slide over to the one in spurts with his ball-handling, poise and passing attributes.

Cole Britting, New England Storm – A second Londonberry product on the all-tournament team, Britting looked the part of a true floor general and hard-worker with leadership tools. He’s said to have made great strides in his game in recent years and his work-ethic and positive approach to the game were evident all weekend long.

Danny Campbell, CT Roughriders – He’s an impressive all-around athlete who gets his elbow up by the rim in space. His leaping ability suited him well as he put-back missed shots around the rim and finished over length. He can also win footraces in the open floor, which only further opens up opportunities for him to finish.

Ryan Clarke, CT Stars Jackson – A pure shooter with a feathery release from behind the three-point line, Jackson has a niche that translates to the next level and range all the way out to 25 feet. He runs to the corner in transition and does a great job of relocating on drives for his point guard to find him.

Bryan Consivine, CT Apex – The wing out of St. Paul’s Catholic in Bristol was one of Saturday night’s bigger surprises. He has deceptive speed and can shoot the three with consistency. Under the basket he’s a space eater who can pass out of the post and rebound with the big boys.

Mykel Derring, New Day – The Brighton HS guard has made shots in bunches all spring.  Although he didn't have his best shooting day, he has a short memory and is not afraid to take big shots.  He hit a couple big ones late, including one in which he stopped on a dime and pulled up from two feet beyond the arc.  Derring gets very good elevation on his jumper, and combines that with a high release so he can make contested shots.

Tom Donoyan, Mass Elite White – Joining the Lim brothers in Belmont HS's sophomore class, Donoyan can play inside and block shots.  He was all over the place on the boards, as well.  His defensive positioning & recognition allows him to be in the correct position for rebounds and weak side blocks.

Connor Dougherty, Philly Freedom Stars - The Southern Lehigh High School big man didn't necessarily score the most points but his impact was a constant throughout the weekend. He was a force inside, leading the team in rebounding and also stepping up to block shots on the interior. Offensively, he's a willing screener and solid finisher given the chance inside.

Eric Famiel, Mig’s Team Valez – He’s only 5-foot-7 but is an incredible athlete and ball-handler. What his game lacks in flash he compensates for with his poise against pressure. He can also rise up to grab rebounds over bigger guys and has a “wow factor” to his game with a potential 40 inch vertical and the ability to throw down dunks.

Melvin Floyd, CBC – A strong and athletic forward with a blue-collar mentality, Floyd can assert himself physically in and around the paint but also distinguishes himself with his motor. He’ll run the floor, crash the glass and win 50-50 balls so his impact typically exceeds his stat line.

Jalen Graham, Dream Elite – The Norwich Free Academy guard gets up and down the court in a hurry.  Mainly playing off the ball enabled him to display his athleticism on a couple high-flying dunks.  Keep an eye on Graham as he gets older and his skill level catches up to his athleticism.

Jay Gunn, Syracuse Select – A lengthy driver, Gunn gets to the basket using his speed and tight handle to blow past perimeter defenders. On the opposite end of the floor he sticks to his man like glue and can be disruptive jumping into passing lanes.

Jay-Juan Hayes, RI Elite – The sophomore from St. Raphael's is a true point guard who gets his teammates involved in the scoring.  All while controlling the tempo of the game, Hayes' shooting range has drastically improved, as he nailed several deep 3's over the course of the tournament.  His on-ball defense makes him a guard who can control the tempo on both ends of the court, a trait that is valuable at the next level.

Elijah Hemingway, All for One – He’s deceptively quick and incredibly strong. He plays with great aggression and bullies his way to the basket at every opportunity possible. He can also defend the length of the floor and has the quick hands to pickpocket lesser ball-handler’s along the way.

Kyle Henderson, BSS – He personified his team’s relentlessness all weekend. Whether it was battling bigger players in the paint for loose balls or barking at a higher profiled opponent after a made layup, the crafty lefty was the spark behind two BSS wins on Saturday and their admirable run on Sunday before bowing out to the eventual champion PSA Cardinals.

Darius Hypolite, NE Playaz Academy Red – The shooter from Bridgewater-Raynam did what shooters are supposed to do: shoot and make shots.  His monster first half helped lift his team's energy level, as he was on fire from beyond the 3-point line.

Jonas Itner, Tri-State Thunder – Itner is a long 6-3 perimeter player who can literally see time at all five positions at this level. He’s typically at the point or on the wing but also has the length and athleticism to play in the paint if needed. He possesses a solid perimeter game with the ability to pass out of the corners and knock down open 3’s. He uses his length to rebound and get to the rim in transition.

Dayvon Jones, GHPA – The 6-foot-7 forward is an intimidating defensive force. He officially recorded 4 blocks in his game against Mig’s team but affected at least 20. He also used his length to deflect passes and get on the glass on both ends to create extra possessions for his team.

Alec Kinder, CBA – A lanky 6-foot-4 pure athlete, Kinder can explode to the rim or post-up on the offensive end where his wingspan helps against bigger defenders. He is also a beast on the boards scoring off of put-backs and grabbing rebounds over kids 2-3 inches taller.

Donatus Kupsas, NY Jayhawks – One of the most naturally talented players in the division, Kupsas possesses a great combination of size and skill. He can take the ball off the defense glass and start the break with his own dribble as well as pose a major mismatch problem in the half-court with his 6-foot-8 frame and three-range skill set.  

Ismael Massoud, PSA Cardinals ’19 – Mammoud has elite size and vision for a point guard and made some passes this weekend that make you believe the sky's the limit for his potential. In a 10-minute span on Saturday night, Mammoud hit three 3's, grabbed a couple rebounds, pushed the ball end to end, threaded a 25-foot bounce pass to a streaking teammate on the break, and dropped a dime to a teammate for a dunk in a half court setting.

Dimitry Moise, Stamford Peace – A long lefty wing, Dimitry arrived in the U.S. earlier this year via the PEACE exchange program. He plays an aggressive attacking style on both ends, both getting to the rim and getting after it defensively, but also shows the soft touch to develop the three-point game to match down the road.

Jason Ortega, Boston Warriors Select – A constant double-double threat, Ortega was the pinnacle of consistency for the Warriors throughout a strong weekend showing that included wins over Syracuse Select and Spartans Elite with only a narrow loss to runner-up Mass Rivals. Ortega went for 11 points and 11 rebounds in the opener, had 13 points Saturday afternoon and then 17 points and 12 rebounds in the nightcap.

Dante Pena, New England Storm - The Methuen High product was lights out from long range and scored 32 in his team's opening game. Pena uses his speed to find open spaces on the floor and can knock it down from up to around 23 feet. He also showed off an ability to control the game tempo and see open lanes.

Dan Porcic, Central Mass Swarm Elite – The 6-foot-3 guard is really the complete package at his age offensively. He puts the ball on the floor to score at the rim, pull-up or kick-out to shooters. The Swarm really ran their entire offense through him and rightfully so. He’s gifted athletically but also has the skill and basketball I.Q. to make plays and already claims division I interest.

Andrew Puzone, CBA – A two-sport star who also stands out on the lacrosse field for Notre Dame (West Haven), Puzone has all the signs of a budding star. The sophomore guard has strength and a tight handle and was great at finding space, slashing to the basket and throwing down dunks.

Brandon Redendo, CM3 Elite – Quick guard with a tight handle, the Lee Academy product helped his CM3 team reach the semifinals. Redondo can shoot from long distance when given time and has a playmaking flair with the ball in his hands.

Josh Schibby, Avon Aviators – The 6-foot-5 forward was playing up a level with the Aviators this weekend but you would think he was playing down with his enormous frame and physique. He overshadowed his defenders and used his muscle to gobble everything off the glass. He is also an impressive rim runner as he would finish a lot of fast breaks and recover to block shots.

Rashwan Smith, WBA – An elite rebounder who pulled down 20 boards in a single game on Saturday and is the type of guy who can change a game without having to score a point. He is also an excellent subscriber to the Roy Hibbert school of defense where he didn’t get into foul trouble throughout the game and was still able to block and contest shots.

Gerald Strums Jr., CT Knights – Extremely athletic with a tight handle, Strums was definitely a spark for the Knights this weekend. He brings great energy and enthusiasm with him to the floor that immediately lifts those around him. He attacks the rim, can rise up in traffic and make physically explosive plays.

Chase Thompson, Avon Aviators – What the Hall High School sophomore may lack in size, he more than makes up for with the quality of his play. He uses his athleticism and quickness to make moves in the post, was an adept wing/post passer and used his vision to open up the floor.

Matt Veretto, Drive4Stardum – His motor is his calling card as he was constantly diving for loose balls, winning rebounding battles and running the floor. He is an aggressive defender who moves his feet well laterally, knows when to gamble and has great shot-blocking timing. He’ll score at the rim but also mix in an uncontested three from time to time and even take the ball off the glass and start the break himself.

Travell Washington, D.C. Blue Devils – The 6-foot-7 big man had a great showing this weekend. Washington anchored the Blue Devils’ defense and blocked numerous shots throughout the weekend. On offense, he showed a little range on his face-up game while displaying advanced post skills with his back to the basket.

Jimmy Yfantopulos, Mass Rivals – The southpaw sparkplug is both quick and fast with the ball, able to get into the lane north to south as well as east to west, and has the instincts and leadership ability to mature into a true floor leader down the road. He played a leadership role for the Rivals all weekend long.

Shane Young, CT Elite – Young’s aggressive attacking style, ability to score at the rim and from beyond the arc might lead some to label him a "score-first lead guard" after watching Young in a given 5-minute stretch. Extended looks prove otherwise. Young is also adept at creating for his teammates and has better shot selection than what you would expect from a player with his ability to score. Young probes the lane without giving up his dribble and takes what the defense is giving him at any particular moment.