Some Takeaways From The 2024 National Prep Showcase

Dylan Thayer | Monday, November 25th, 2024

The 2024 National Prep Showcase once again delivered on its reputation as one of the nation’s premier prep basketball events. Held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, the event showcased high-level competition, with scouts from both collegiate and professional organizations packing the gym to evaluate the immense talent on display. By the time the weekend wrapped, several players had firmly established themselves as stars on the rise, while others reinforced their status as elite prospects.

Some Players Who Won the Weekend

Cheick Sylla, Bridgton Academy’s dominant big man from Mali, made an enormous impact throughout the weekend. In his two games, Sylla’s physical presence in the paint resulted in averages of 22 points and 14 rebounds per contest. One of the weekend's most memorable performances came Saturday morning when he racked up an incredible 28 points and 22 rebounds, earning the attention of every scout in the building. His rebounding instincts and ability to just completely brush off contact make him a name for college programs to watch.

Amir Jenkins left no doubt about the impact he is going to make at Worcester Academy. The talented point guard with offers from the Atlantic 10 and Providence College displayed innate court vision, dynamic playmaking, and creativity that kept defenders guessing. Jenkins’ ability to blow past defenders with pace and control, combined with his full-court defensive pressure, left an indelible impression on those watching. I myself, was no stranger to seeing this out of the Worcester native.

Panagiotis Pangonis delivered one of the showcase’s standout performances on Sunday. The 6’9” wing from Greece scored 33 points, displaying his smooth outside shooting and ability to get to the rim. His professional experience was evident in his poise and efficiency, and there seems to be a lot of upside to like in his game.

Jaden Rogers of Sunrise Christian Academy emerged as one of the breakout stars of the weekend. The unsigned postgrad out of Iowa impressed by averaging 18.5 points per game and shooting efficiently from three. With his combination of size, playmaking ability, and self-creation, Rogers made a strong case for being a top target for programs looking for a dynamic wing.

Link Year Academy’s Bhan Buom brings length, athleticism, and versatility to the floor. The 6’7” wing demonstrated his ability to get to the rim, often drawing contact and earning trips to the free-throw line. Buom’s defensive effort and his knack for creating opportunities on both ends made him stand out, with mid-major programs already showing interest.

Timo George, an unsigned forward from the Netherlands, turned heads with his strength and finishing ability. George averaged 18 points across his outings, showing why he’s a valuable roll man in pick-and-roll situations while also contributing on the boards. His physicality and international experience make him an intriguing prospect for the next level.

For Hargrave Military Academy, Jhett Carter and Shane Pendergrass showcased their potential as rising stars in the 2026 class. Carter’s explosiveness resulted in highlight-worthy dunks, while Pendergrass displayed improved perimeter skills and consistent inside scoring. Both players helped Hargrave secure a key win and kept them competitive against a strong Putnam Science team despite being shorthanded following an injury.

Louis O’Keefe of the Newman School bounced back in a big way on Sunday after a slow start on Saturday. Against Massanutten, O’Keefe showed his full offensive arsenal, finishing 9-for-13 from the field for 23 points, while also grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. His teammate, Lucas Morillo, a versatile 2026 wing, averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds over the weekend. Morillo’s smooth, well-rounded game continues to project significant upside for his future.

A Few High-Major Prospects Who Stood Out

Anthony Thompson of Western Reserve Academy came into the showcase with offers from blue-blood programs, and he did not disappoint. The 6’8” wing used his size and shot-making ability to lead a comeback effort on Friday. Although his team ultimately fell short, Thompson’s scoring prowess was on full display. While scouts continue to admire his offensive tools, questions remain about his ability to defend well at the next level. However, he's very young for his grade and has tons of time to fill out his body and work on his lateral movement. 

Deron Rippey Jr. led Blair Academy to an emphatic victory on Sunday. Rippey’s game management and defensive pressure stood out as he crowded passing lanes and forced turnovers. On the offensive end, his sharp shooting—including five three-pointers—and his seven assists powered Blair to a rout. His continued ascension in the National Prep Showcase has been fun to watch, and there's a lot more to come it seems.

Leo Curtis made his much-anticipated debut for the National Prep Championship Series, anchoring the interior for his team with tough shot-blocking and rebounding. On offense, Curtis ran the floor well, filling lanes for dunks and making smart plays out of the post. With a ton of offers starting to come his way, he played a good game.

Committed Players Who Performed

Chris Jeffrey of Mount Zion Prep is no stranger to the National Prep Showcase, and he continued to standout above the rest averaging 27 points across two games. The Maryland commit played with toughness, speed, and an edge that epitomizes New York City basketball. His teammate, Emmanuel Kanga, dominated the interior, recording two double-doubles. The George Mason commit’s strength and physicality in the paint led to dominance, which we had not felt watching a Mt. Zion game last year.

St. Thomas More relied on the tandem of Shuto Sakihama and London Jemison in two close contests, pulling out a win on the weekend. Sakihama controlled the pace at the point guard spot with impressive vision, including hitting a game-clinching teardrop in their opening game. Jemison’s secondary creation and ability to finish through contact gave St. Thomas More a valuable offensive spark. The Merrimack and Alabama commits will help power a very strong St. Thomas More team this season.

New Hampton demonstrated why they are considered favorites for the National Prep Championship. Behind the efforts of Cincinatti commit Keyshuan Tillery, Penn State-bound Mason Blackwood, and Wyoming signee Naz Meyer, the team showcased an unmatched balance of scoring threats. Tillery averaged 22 points per game, Blackwood 18.5 and Meyer 21. That type of scoring power from a trio in this setting is going to be one to watch once the bright lights come on down the line.

Other Notable Performances
 

Collins Chidera Onyejiaka picked up an Iowa offer with his dominant rim-running abilities in front of head coach Fran McCaffery.

Hunter Te Ratana was the winner in a blowout for the Darrow School. The New Zealand native knocked down three’s and had some high-level flashes that jumped off the page. With another year to play, there’s a reason to keep an eye on his growth.

Despite a somewhat lopsided game, Bryceson Dobie’s defensive intangibles caught my eye. He grabbed three steals and scored 12 in the final game set.

Ryan Sullivan had a near double double with 7 points and 12 rebounds, kicking the game off with an emphatic dunk.

Dwayne Williams’ was a bright spot for Central Florida as the wing had impressive stretches scoring the ball. His blend of physicality and speed got him to the cup, while he also knocked down pull-up’s.

Frederik Jellum backed up the hype around his name with a solid 15 points and seven rebounds against Link Year. The big forward from Denmark converted from inside the arc and showcased some potential to like.

Tommy Vaughn Jr. helped Phelps to victory in a strong second half, barely missing a triple double as he compiled a line of 12-9-9. His energetic, table-setting play for the offense was key and helped him in front of those watching.

Tim Walker came up big for South Kent in the first game on Sunday with his scoring ability off the dribble and on cuts to the basket while making hustle plays throughout.

Daye Kaba’s scoring punch and dexterity when getting downhill turned heads in both of Vermont’s games.

Jordan Clayton had some moments for Fork Union, but the squad as a whole had trouble getting things going.

Sha’yah Goba, Abdou Yadd, Dom Sprague, Luke Brown, Chris Birden, Maxx Thorpe, Sam Dada, Teshaun Steele, and Ryan Moesch had their moments as well. 

While there ultimately is just too much that went on in 21 game sets and over 36 hours of our time at Albertus Magnus, the National Prep Showcase once again lived up to the expectations! Next up on the National Prep Championship Series is the Scholar Roundball, taking place at Holy Cross in Worcester Massachusetts on December 13th-15th.