#S16 All-Tournament Team – Varsity Division

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, June 3rd, 2016

With over 60 teams in the varsity division, the challenge of being crowned a #S16 champion required consistency and perseverance. The Middlesex Magic set the standard in both, coming out of pool play unscathed and then utilizing a deep rotation to stay as fresh as possible down the stretch of Sunday’s bracket play.

By the time it was all said and done the Magic had gone a perfect 7-0 on the weekend, winning their latest Super 16 championship in the process.

It was also a tremendous weekend for Real Christian Athletes, who made an inspired run to the finals, knocking off the likes of Shotdoc Nation, Boston Warriors and Middlesex Magic Cochrane all by double-digit margins before running into Coach Crotty’s boys in the final.

The LI Rough Ryderz took the championship in the National Division, opening bracket play with a 69-55 win over AFB Freedom before knocking off Spirit Lake Warriors 75-62 in the final.

Super 16 Team

Cormac Ryan, Middlesex Magic – Simply put, Ryan may have been the best player to take the court this weekend. He made an impact on both sides of the ball, fits into Mike Crotty's system perfectly, and showed off his wide array of offensive weapons. Ryan's game is mature in the sense that he trusts his teammates and doesn't force anything offensively. At no point this weekend did he seem content to take a few plays off while his teammates went to work. Instead, he seemed to realize his job at different points in games and willingly moved without the basketball, set screens, and made extra passes without hesitation. When he was the focal point of the Magic's offense he was lethal. Ryan handles the ball well, has the required length/strength/athleticism combo to finish at or above the rim, can stroke it from distance, and is also a creative and pinpoint passer, which explains some college coaches' desire to play him as a big point guard at the next level.

Matt DeWolf, Middlesex Magic – His size and now chiseled frame, combined with the highest level motor, make him as impactful of a paint player as there was in the field. He rebounded in high volume from start to finish, followed his own misses and impacted the game as much defensively as he did offensively. He constantly battles in the post, encourages contact and plays through it without so much as a grimace. Meanwhile his mid-range stroke is improving, as too is his confidence, while he’s gradually learning to slow down as well.

Matt Donahue, Middlesex Magic – The Connecticut College gym has been a favorite spot for him over the years and 2016 was no different as the last in the long line of Donahue family snipers connected on multiple threes each time the Magic took the court. When he’s in a zone like that, he’s got the ability to instantaneously change the complexion of a game and make shots in bunches.

James Mortimer, Middlesex Magic – A glue-guy of sorts who plays hard and is often content to do much of the dirty work without the reward of quite the same accolades, Mortimer’s contribution to winning basketball is nonetheless just as significant as anyone else on the roster. He defends multiple positions, rebounds bigger than his size and is even stretching his offensive game out to the arc.

Joel Bailey, Real Christian Athletes – A smooth guard, Bailey can really push the tempo of a game by getting the ball up the court with either the pass or the dribble.  He took it coast-to-coast past five defenders on several occasions.  He’s always been a naturally talented passer of the basketball with great floor vision, but his poise & control of the pace in the half court is something that he has improved upon this spring.

Willesley Butler, Real Christian Athletes – An absolute beast inside the paint, Butler’s frame is powerful and chiseled. He plays with a ton of force, initiates contact and can explode straight through it. As athletic as he is powerful, he’s a menace both on the glass and finishing around the rim. Add to that the motor to maximize his physical tools and he dominates for stretches.

Ethan Wright, New England Playaz – Wright has a lot of fast twitch movements in his game and moves fluidly on both ends of the court. His stroke is pure and he has the ability to rise up and finish above the rim both in traffic and transition. Wright was comfortable pushing the ball up the court after a defensive rebound and is a scoring threat at all three levels. Wright is a young player to keep an eye on heading into his junior season and could be a major breakout performer this summer.

Tyler Aronson, New England Playaz – A natural floor leader who has good vision and controls the pace of the game, Aronson also showed a great motor. During one sequence over the weekend he tracked down a long rebound, made a quick outlet pass to a teammate who raced down for a layup, and when it rimmed out Aronson was there for the putback dunk in traffic.

A.J. Reeves, Mass Rivals – With his recruitment jumping to unprecedented levels, Reeves seems to be playing with loads of confidence right now. His strength and bounce allow him to finish at the rack regardless of who may be in front of him while he has also developed a respectable jumper out to 3-point range. He mixes a stable base with a high release and loose wrist action to give him yet another weapon in his arsenal.

Azar Swain, Mass Rivals – While the Rivals used this weekend to get some of their bench contributors major minutes, Swain still scored in bunches and when the Rivals needed it the most. Once opposing defenses collapsed, Swain would simply swing it or create off the bounce. That sounds simple but shooters with Swain's skills sometimes have a justifiable tendency to let it fly even when they're covered. Swain's intelligent discipline is one of his biggest assets.

Brandon Kolek, Middlesex Magic Cochrane – He’s coming off a big high school season and had a fantastic showing this weekend to propel his team into the semifinals. He seems to have grown an inch or two in the past year and is the type of big shot-maker who can put his team on his back for stretches at this level and has a niche that translates to the next level.

Sloan Seymour, NY Rens - Seymour's stoic demeanor contrasts with his ability to change the complexion of a game at any given moment. His ability to consistently hit shots from beyond the arc was on full display. He shows a good understanding off how to get himself open by slipping away from bigger defenders in the post and uses a mature approach to his floor game.  

Josh McGettigan, The System - McGettigan became "The Big Red Dagger Machine" on Saturday, hitting two game-winners. He’s thin right now and needs to pack on some pounds in order to become even more dangerous on the wing, but already has a consistent stroke and subsequent ability to put it on the deck when run off the floor. Combine that with his “clutch gene” and he could be a sleeper prospect.

Josh Serrano, LI Rough Ryderz – The lead guard can get into the lane off both the catch and the dribble. He makes plays off the bounce either going through his legs or with a basic crossover and is equally adept at lifting defender with a shot-fake before springing forward. He is physical and looks for contact, and was able to get to the line quite a bit. Only a rising junior, he has a bright future.

Sebastijan Skoko, Boston Warriors – He appears to be in the best shape of his career to date and so it is no surprise that he also seems to be playing the best basketball we’ve ever seen from him. He’s cut-up and a step quicker off the bounce, yet still able to over-power defenders and assert his will to make plays for himself and others.

Eddie Volkerts, Spirit Lake Warriors – The unsigned senior should be a priority coming out of the weekend.  The Fitch HS (CT) product is a great athlete who can score on all three levels.  He is relentless in pursuit of rebounds on both ends, and it is easy to see Volkerts is a high-energy player.

Second Team All-Tournament

Devonn Allen, Boston Warriors – A well-built guard who is known as much for his prowess on the defensive end of the floor as for his offensive attributes, Allen has made clear strides in the consistency of his shooting range while maintain the two-way floor game that has always been his bread and butter.

Jeff Allen, Shot Doc Nation – Allen exploded in the 8 am game on Saturday finishing with 35 points including three 3’s. The 6’6 forward did most of his damage in transition and in the post. He has continued to show he is a multi-positional player. Allen has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down.

Vincent Baker Jr., CT Playmakers – The recent Bryant commit had a great showing in the final game Saturday night showing a wide range of skills. Baker sees the court like a point guard but his skill set fits more on the wing or down low. Baker is also a high level athlete with a chance to play the 2, 3 or 4 in college.

Joey Belli, Wayne PAL – Belli was one of the more entertaining players to watch over the weekend. The New Jersey product has a ton of swagger and doesn't hesitate to make bigger defenders look foolish when they get stuck guarding him on the outside. Belli uses a slick handle, high basketball IQ, mature vision, and clean jumper to get where he wants to go and slickly runs his team with a ton of confidence.

Kyle Bennett, Evo Elite MT 2 – Bennett is a tough floor general who was productive this weekend despite playing up two divisions.  His game has improved each time we've seen him this spring, and should only be getting better in the future.

Thomas Binelli, Wayne PAL - A skilled 6-foot-8 forward originally from Italy, Binelli is a high level three-point shooter with unlimited range, outstanding interior passer and solid ball-handler to match. Defensively, he's a capable shot-blocker inside the lane who alters as many as he blocks.

Dan Brocke, Wins 4 Life – A true big man in the middle for Wins 4 Life, Brocke gives them a sturdy anchor on both ends of the floor. He’s a developing threat with his back to the basket, also possesses enough touch to stop out to the mid-range area and is a defensive deterrent inside the lane with his big body.

Damon Burgess, Team Not Even Famous – Burgess has serious range on his jumper.  He put on a clinic late in the game with his deep (and timely) shooting, with two defenders running at him every time he touched it.  Burgess also possesses a college-ready body.  He will be a great late pickup for some school.

Brandon Cama, GSA – He brings great energy with him to the floor and is a master of 50/50 balls. His motor is infectious and both sparks his own team while wearing opponents down, both of which translate to W’s. He rebounded extremely well for a smaller guard, maintained active hands, and was a very dangerous shooter when his feet are set.

Luis Cartagena, PTT Black – Cartagenal is a thick guard who plays tough.  The southpaw who will prep at Trinity Pawling next season and can finish through contact on his drives.  He played hard throughout the tournament, no matter the score or time.  His competitiveness & physicality at the guard position make him intriguing moving forward.

Nick Casiano, CT Elite – A scoring wing/guard who is fixated on putting the ball in the basket at all times, Casiano is a slippery slasher who was especially impressive along the baseline and still able to show his range with his jumper. He’s also a new member to the class of 2018 following his transfer to Kingswood-Oxford.

James Coffey, BV Chaos – Coffey had a strong showing on Saturday & Sunday.  Playing inside against bigger competition, he battled hard all weekend and got his hands on a high number of basketballs.  His toughness and willingness to do the dirty work will greatly benefit his Westborough HS team next winter.

Jake Coleman, New England Storm – Coleman shot the ball very well this weekend, making shots both spotting up within the offense or off his own dribble.  His defensive intensity was also noticeably amped; he read passing lanes very well that lead to run-outs for his team.

Jeff Coulter, Syracuse Select – A good sized wing with a nice shooting stroke, Coulter is a fundamentally sound guy who knows how to play. Just as importantly though, he gives a good effort, seems very receptive to coaching and a positive influence with his teammates.

Dajour Dunkley, Beantown Bulls – A playmaking guard for the Bulls, Dunkley was a constant threat to create offense for both himself and his teammates. He went for 12 points and 12 assists in a single game and also mixed in some high level plays as he streaked down the paint and finished above the rim on more than one occasion.

Zyhaire Fernandes, The System - Fernandes is built like a tank and uses his strength to get to the basket at a high rate. His athletic movements are free, easy, and explosive, allowing him to play through contact at the rim. As good as he was offensively, Fernandes was even more valuable as a defender. He used his linebacker's build to gain leverage in the post when necessary and got to loose balls with ease.

Nate Freeman, Evo – A fundamentally sound and heady player, Freeman did a little bit of everything and just seemed to always make the right basketball play. He passed well, both in the open floor as well as the half-court, showed his normal stroke from long-range and put the ball to the deck to attack close-outs.

Tyjon Gilmore, Albany City Rock Orange – A scoring guard who just completed an impressive high school career in upstate New York, Gilmore is bound for the New England next year as a post-graduate at St. Thomas More School. He’s capable of playing on and off the ball, can create his own offense on demand and is gradually becoming a more consistent shooter from behind the three-point line.

Levi Gosslin, C4 – The 6-foot-5 Gosslin was one of the best rebounders to come through the gym this weekend. His activity on the offensive glass proved to be one of the reasons for C4's success.  He also blocked multiple shots from the weak side, helping prove his value moving forward as an undersized 4-man.

Josh Gougon, Synergy Hoops – A 6-foot-2 forward from Westerly (RI), Gougon plays bigger than his size inside the paint. He’s physically tough, more than willing to bang inside and often matched up with the opposition’s best interior scorer. A lunch pail and hard hat type of guy who provides loads of intangibles.

Riley Griffiths, Simsbury Spartans – The 15 year-old displayed a variety of nice finishing moves, including an up-and-under move between two defenders.  Competing against some players that are three years older than him, Griffiths impressed over the course of the tournament.  

Josh Hightower, 6th Man Warriors – A big combo-guard who is equally capable of playing on or off the ball, he has great size, good shooting range and a well-rounded game. He’s under-the-radar right now but has the type of game that translates to the next level and is a name for coaches to know heading into this summer.

Dallas Hoffman, Wayne PAL - Hoffman is an athletic forward and big wing for Wayne PAL. He owns a productive two-way game, has a consistent shooting stroke from the outside and is a relentless defender and rebounder. Combine all of that with his effortless ability to play above the rim and he's a prospect on the rise.

Doug Hostetler, CT Premier – The Somers sniper is a silent assassin who lulled defenses to sleep before hitting them unexpectedly at crunch time this weekend. Hostetler would pick his spots throughout the first half of games, many times deferring to his teammates, before making shots in bunches. He has a smooth pull-up and quick release but also isn’t afraid to mix it up for rebounds or loose balls.

Tyrell Hudson & D’Marius McKnight, CT Knights – This frontcourt duo proved to be a great compliment to each other. McKnight is a wide-body inside the lane who creates space and moves people to be a force inside while Hudson is more of a long and wiry hybrid athlete type who can run, cover the court and play up at the top of the key in high-low action.

Alonzo Jackson, New England Playmakers – Jackson has the physical tools to compete at a very high level and while he was solid from start to finish all weekend long, what was perhaps most impressive was watching the way he was capable of elevating his game against a loaded NY Rens squad. Whether it was scoring, rebounding or blocking shots, Jackson showed he was capable of hanging with the big boys.

Omar Jules, Team WHEELS – While most all-tournament selections distinguish themselves offensively, Jules’ impact on the game resonated most on the defensive side of the ball. He’s long and cut-up with a good body to make plays around the rim and in passing lanes but he also gets low and moves his feet to both pressure the ball and contain opposing drivers. He’s unique because he can completely change a game without having to score a point.

Spencer Kendall, Middlesex Magic Kedner – The Lexington HS product is a player who uses his size very well at 6-foot-3.  His post defense is solid, as he stays straight up and tries to contest shots, not block them.  He is a good passer inside and outside, as well as showing some nifty up-and-under moves.  Kendall also proved he can take what the defense gives him with his array of post moves.

Jason Lim & Ryan Lim, NE Playaz Academy Red – The twins who star for Belmont HS not only work well together, but work within a team setting.  They are similar in that they play the right way and look for their offense within the team’s schemes.  Jason is a true point guard who handles pressure very well with his back-up dribble, always having his eyes up.  Ryan's timing in looking for his own offense within the flow of the game has improved, as well.

Allen Maceno, CT Stars – Maceno showed his athleticism by being able to score over several defenders on Saturday.  He has a solid all-around game.  He shoots it well from the perimeter, but doesn't always look for his own shot on his drives, as he does a good job of getting his teammates involved.  

Tom MacLean, Mass Premier – A long but slender wing with a good looking shooting stroke from downtown, MacLean is a good scoring threat amidst a balanced Mass Premier line-up. Collectively, the team showed great spacing, ball movement and balance en route to a spot in the championship bracket.

Andrew Marcelino, New England Storm – The Methuen HS guard was able to go by his defender consistently and score from inside (and through contact).  A good athlete, Marcelino is patient and picks his spots to attack.  When he does, he has a quick crossover and good first step.

Malik Martin, NY Rens - The brother of URI’s Hassan Martin, Malik blends his 6-foot-4 frame and above average athleticism with a similarly tenacious defensive approach to give the Rens one of the toughest young wing defenders in the area. While his offensive package is still developing, Martin makes an offensive impact creating from the wing and finishing in transition.

Max Mattson, Black Bear North – At 6-foot-7, Mattson can play above the rim.  He is well-suited to play in a fast paced game as he covers the court and finishes in stride.  He’s also productive in a crowded lane because he isn’t afraid of contact and rebounds with two hands at the peak of his jump.

Tayjaun McKenzie, New England Storm – The Kipp product is a dangerous two-way player oozing with potential. At 6’3 he can guard all 5 positions on the court and aggressively attacked the basket with some nice finishes. McKenzie also knocked down a few threes showing his full skill set.

Matt Morrow, Central Mass Swarm – The Swarm had a very successful weekend, coming out of pool play and advancing to the gold bracket and Morrow was right in the middle of their success, literally and figuratively. A big body inside, he rebounds the ball consistently on both ends but is skilled enough to be able to step to the perimeter to handle and pass within offense.

Colin McNamara, Middlesex Magic – McNamara is a pure point guard who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder yet still has the basketball I.Q. and presence to make those around him better. He has a nice stroke and is a hard-nosed defender.

Michael Medlin, AFD Freedom – Medlin is a great athlete who showed it on Saturday.  His long arms make him dangerous on the offensive boards and on the defensive end of the floor.  He also knocked down several outside shots.  The well-rounded 6'6 athlete is a good prospect with intriguing potential.

Mike Reed, CM3 Elite – The Brooklyn native had the gym buzzing on Sunday morning at Connecticut College with a 30 point performance as CM3 came into New England for another big showing this weekend. A well-built guard with a strong body, Reed can absorb contact en route to the rim and impose his will on a game.

Mike Palmieri, CT Passion – Palmieri capped his great high school season for St. Paul Catholic with a scoring barrage early on Saturday morning as his shot was falling from the outside with ease. His scoring freed up his teammates to get involved offensively as well as he was happy to spread it around once becoming the primary objective of the opposing defense.

Spencer Patenaude, Mass Elite – The Concord-Carlisle wing has a good looking stroke with clean mechanics and equally impressive results. He's a smart and crafty player that knows how to play the game.  Coaches should keep tabs on Patenaude as the spring and summer progress.

Tyreek Perkins, USAD – A long southpaw guard, Perkins is gradually becoming more comfortable with the ball in his hands and even played the point for long stretches at a time this weekend. He’s a playmaker, especially in the open floor, who has also become an improved shooter and has a ton of tools to utilize on the defensive end as well.

Ahmod Privott, CT Defenders – Coming off a huge junior season for Middletown High School, punctuated by a run to the state final, Privott continued to impress here. A burly wing, the southpaw attacks off the dribble, can make plays for others and also has the potential to defend multiple positions.

Tyairus Sands, CT Select – A strong and physical wing who is known for his ability to put the ball in the basket, Sands did what he often does best this weekend. He was always in attack mode, going straight to the rim in the open floor and even able to carve out his angle in the half-court as well.

Trajan Simpson, Farmington Blue Devils – Simpson is a bigger guard and well-rounded athlete. He uses his length effectively on the glass, pulling in rebounds over bigger players, and runs his lanes hard in transition to pick up easy buckets in the open floor.

Shiv Seethepaloi, Central Vermont Warriors – The 6-foot-5, 180 pound Seethepaloi is a good shooter with deep range.  He can get his shot off in tight spaces.  With the way the game at the next level is being played, he is someone who's best days are ahead of him.

Joe Sekator, CT Force – The Coventry HS (RI) senior has always been known as a good athlete, but he showed a nice pull-up jumper on Saturday as well.  Already a threat in transition, Sekator will be even more dangerous with being able to run to the 3-point line.  He also buried several shots under pressure.

Jeff Stockmal, PTT Elite – The Shelton HS guard is a sneaky athlete who can not only play, but finish around the rim.  The 6'3 wing crashes the offensive boards hard.  He also gave consistent effort all weekend on both ends of the floor.

Tyler Sweeney, High Rise Elite – He just has a way of making productive plays, whether it was coming up with key rebounds, scoring of put-backs or deflecting passes. His combination of raw athleticism, toughness and sheer desire allows him to make a deceptive impact. He even showed some nice bounce early Sunday, timing a missed layup perfectly and flushing it home from the wing.

Javon Taylor, Evo – When he streaks through the lane, spins off contact and then shovels off a beautiful no look pass to his big man for an easy lay-up it’s not hard to see the increasingly consistent flashes of his upside. Players with his size and build don’t typically make plays off the bounce with such frequency or ease and his progressions has been a steady process all spring.

Austin Tchikatilov, Wayne PAL - The Kinnelon High School product is a versatile 6-foot-6 forward who can score effectively in the post or from the outside. He's also a wealth of intangibles with an obviously high basketball I.Q., good communication skills and a strong work ethic.

Jade Tse, LI Lightning –The Cardozo product is a physical guard who embraces contact when driving into the lane.  He has a strong upper body.  For someone who looks for contact on his drives, he is under control and does not get sped up outside.

Ty Thomas, PTT Elite – One of the breakout stars of the weekend, Thomas opened with a 22 point performance over CT Passion and closed with 20 points in the first half of Sunday’s playoff game.  A 6-foot-3 guard, Thomas gets his offense in the flow of the game.  He hit 12 three-pointers on the weekend, but is a good athlete and is very crafty in getting his shot inside the arc, as well.  The future is bright for Thomas.

Liam Viviano, RIM Spartans Elite – On a well-coached team that runs good action on the offensive end and shares the ball effectively, Viviano impresses by his ability to help set that tone and then thrive within that type of style. His individual offense comes out within the flow of the team concept and in that way he’s uniquely qualified to have a far quicker transition than most upon reaching the next level.

Dakota Wheeler, Dream Elite – A big wing with a smooth shooting stroke, Wheeler has the ability to catch fire at any given time. While his jumper is the most consistent part of his offensive arsenal, he displayed increasing versatility this weekend with his ability to handle and operate off the dribble.

Calvin Whipple, New England Playaz – Whipple is a strong bodied wing who has great mechanics on his jumper and is a constant threat from beyond the arch. He plays with great energy and doesn't hesitate to do the dirty work his team needs at times. He does things he right way and is highly productive as a result.

Myles Williams, 6th Man Warriors – A slightly undersized point guard who compensates for his lack of size with unbelievable speed and defensive impact. He creates tempo, is a constant pest on the defensive end, is a great passer and has good range on his jumper.

Jack Zimmerman, New England Storm – The steady point guard was able to get in the lane consistently and once he forces the defense to collapse, Zimmerman is very good at finding the open man for a shot.  He is especially effective playing with shooters who can benefit from his court vision.