by Alex Schwartz

I went to Hoop Group Headquarters/Rebounds in Neptune, New Jersey this past weekend for the Hoop Group Jam Fest Spring, which featured U16 and U17 age divisions. The older division was won by Sports U/Team IZOD out of New Jersey. The Team Philly 16s placed second despite playing up a year.

While there, I collected a number of school lists and talked to many players in addition to watching a great deal of games. Below are the lists that I received from members of the class of 2011.

School Lists

Davontay Grace ’11, Thomas Jefferson (NY): When I spoke with Grace on Saturday, he said that he was “as of right now” still committed to St. John’s, adding, “I’ll probably have a full decision by the end of the month if I’m gonna continue or not. I really want to, but I’m gonna make the best decision for me,” on whether he is a solid commit. Well, the day after we spoke, reports indicated that Grace had decommitted from St. John's. For more on my talk with Grace, though he has since switched his stance, click Here.

Luke Piotrowski ’11, Atlantic Christian (NJ): Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Boston University, Richmond, Maryland, Florida, and Providence
                            Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Boston University, Richmond, Maryland, and Providence
                            Favorites: “Right now I think it’s pretty even.”
                            Note- For my full article on Piotrowski at NBE Basketball Report, click Here.

Lucky Jones ’11, St. Anthony’s (NJ): Colorado State, George Mason, Marist, and Wagner
                          Offers: None
                          Favorites: None
                          Dream School: Duke
                          Notes- Jones, who plans to make his choice “before or after the high school season,” talked about what he thinks St. Anthony’s can accomplish next year. “I think we are capable of accomplishing a state championship. I think we should get bigger, stronger, and better.

Blaise Mbargorba ’11, St. Benedict’s (NJ): Boston College, Providence, Virginia Tech, and Rutgers; “[There are] a bunch of them, some of them I don’t know.”
                                Offers: Rutgers
                                Favorites: “I’m not worried about colleges now. I’m just working on my game . . . to get better.”
                                Note- For my full article on Mbargorba at NBE Basketball Report, click Here.

Jordan Wejnert ’11, Worcester Academy (MA): New Hampshire, Yale, Bucknell, Lafayette, Army, UMass-Lowell (DII), Bentley (DII), and University of Sciences in Philly (DII)
                              Offers: Yale, UMass-Lowell, and University of Sciences in Philly; he added that “Bentley said they want to”
                              Favorites: “It’s hard to say a favorite, but I’d say New Hampshire has been looking at me since I have been at Point Beach [after transferring for senior year]. Assistant Coach Ken Dempsey has been [a coach] for like 20 years and . . . I could see myself there, but there’s not a leader of the pack, a school like New Hampshire.”
                              Notes- Wejnert, currently at Point Pleasant Beach (NJ), will be doing a PG year at Worcester Academy next year. “Coming out of high school for my class, I didn’t have as many looks. I know I’m a Division I mid-major player. I met with [Worcester Head Coach Ed] Reilly, he came to a few of my high school games and he said I could reach that level. I looked at a few prep [schools to go to], but Coach Riley is who I felt most comfortable with,” said Wejnert of how he decided to PG and how he picked a school. He also gave some insight on where his recruitment stands overall. “Just from transferring to Point Beach, I got a lot more interest and New Hampshire has been on me since they have had a good relationship with Coach Reilly for 20 years. I picked up [the equivalent of] an offer from Yale based off how well I did at the Providence [Jam Fest]. They want me to take the SAT a few more times. Bucknell is looking at me, Lafayette has asked about me. A few schools I didn’t even know were interested have called since I announced I was going to Worcester, like West Point called.”

Kameen McPleasant ’11, Newark Central (NJ): no recruiting interest
                                      Offers: None
                                      Favorites: n/a
                                      Dream School: “No, I just wanna go somewhere.”
                                      Notes - McPleasant said he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds in the high school season and carries a 2.9 GPA. He said that this is his “first year ever playing AAU” and that he does want to play at the next level.

Jordan Dickerson ’11, Lincoln (NY): has gotten letters from Providence, Fordham, Penn State, and Michigan State
                                  Offers: None
                                  Favorites: “I really like Providence and Michigan State, but I really wanna go to Georgetown though. I gotta work hard.”

Sean Grennan ’11, Monsignor Donovan (NJ): “Seton Hall, Michigan, Boston College, and Davidson are the top ones right now as far as my interest. Then there’s others like Bucknell, Fordham, Holy Cross, New Hampshire . . . and Lehigh.”
                             Offers: Davidson, Bucknell, Fordham, Holy Cross, New Hampshire, and Lehigh
                             Favorites: Seton Hall, Michigan, Boston College, and Davidson; “Pretty much [those four are] all even. Seton Hall would be the lower of the four. Michigan, BC, and Davidson are the three that I’m really thinking about as long as they’re there for me.”
                             Notes- Grennan, who said he has a 3.3 GPA, needs to improve his SAT score “a little bit” for Davidson, and that he will be rescheduling a visit there that he was recently unable to take. “June 18th I’m going to BC, June 25th I’m going to Michigan,” said Grennan of upcoming visits. Regarding scholarships, Grennan remarked, “As far as offers, BC I don’t know [if they will offer]. Michigan, I might [get an offer]. They had a guy transfer, so I may get lucky. They said they’ll follow in July and Seton Hall [did so] as well.” Grennan also said, “I talked to [new BC Head Coach Steve] Donahue. He was real cool about it, he said they’ll follow me.”

Travis Gill ’11, Xaverian (NY): “A little bit from Drexel, but . . . that is all I know of.”
                      Offers: None
                      Favorites: n/a

Pat Cole-Brinson ’11, Newark Central (NJ): Lafayette and Colorado State
                                 Offers: None
                                 Favorite: None
                                 Dream School: Wake Forest
                                 Note- Cole-Brinson said that he would like to make his college choice “after the high school season”.

Player Notes

Lucky Jones, a 6'4 wing, posesses good length and superb athletic ability. He does not shoot the ball much, but he is definitely a talented player. He has a frame that makes it seem like he could turn into a lockdown defender if he puts in the necessary time and effort.

Jordan Wejnert is a player that really came on during his senior year after transferring from Ramsey (NJ) to Pt. Pleasant Beach (NJ). A 6'6 combo forward, Wejnert is probably best suited at the 4 because he does not really shoot the ball, but he is active and moves like a 3. In addition, he has superb athletic ability, which he demonstrated when he threw down arguably the best dunk of the weekend. Wejnert came from the left side, went baseline, came around the hoop in the air and thrw it down with one hand, drawing a foul to turn it into a three-point play. With a year of prep school, he will have a shot to wind up at a lower level mid-major school, or possibly a bit higher if he can improve his jumper.

Kameen McPleasant is one of the players that really caught my eye this weekend. He will not wow you, but he works hard and has a big frame. A power forward who can step out a bit, Pleasant is a guy that DII and DIII schools should look into. If he were 6'6, he would likely be a low DI player, but at 6'4 he is certainly still a college level player.

Jordan Dickerson was a guy that it was hard to get a feel for on this weekend because he really did not play all that much. Standing 6'11, though, one has to like his upside. Though he might not be the most skilled player out there and does need to work on his strength, based on size alone, Dickerson should have DI looks.

Sean Grennan is a knockdown jumpshooter, but he is only about 6'1 and does not play the point. While he has some athleticism and cand handle well enough, his size might end up holding him back from being a high-major player. In the right system, such as Michigan's, Grennan could flourish though, as he has a silky smooth stroke.

Travis Gill definitely passes the looks test as a 6'4 wing. While an inch or two shorter than one would like, he is long and and has a nice build. A stellar athlete who gets to the cup, Gill is tough and plays hard.

Pat Cole-Brinson might have been the biggest surprise of the weekend. He was absolutely outstanding in his team's semifinal victory, dishing out dimes, getting to the cup with ease, and also knocking down shots. Cole-Brinson was superb again in the championship game, which his team won. A 6'2 point guard, Cole-Brinson has the look of a definite Division I player, though it would be nice to see him somore more.

Now, for some guys that I did not get school lists from:
According to the roster booklet, AJ West is listed as a 2011 prospect at Ocean Academy (NJ). A 6'7 power forward with a nice frame and solid athleticism, West does not have a great overall skill set, but he uses his body to his advantage in the paint.

Dakwan Simmons, a 5'7 point guard from Newark West Side (NJ), is definitely undersized, but he does not let that stop him from driving to the cup. While he did not really shoot the ball much, he got the rack a number of times, and usually was able to finish and put points on the board.

Small forward Eric Anderson out of Newark Tech (NJ) has the look of a major player. Standing 6'6 on the wing, he has a great length, but his skill set needs some work. He settled for jumpers and did not attack the basket all that much. Nonetheless, his has a frame that could still add weight and if his game comes around, he may end up with a DII scholarship.

Mario Moody is a fantastic athlete, there is no way around it. The 6'7 forward from East Orange (NJ) has the length and leaping ability to be a Division I prospect, even though he does not really shoot the basketball. Should he develop his perimeter game, he could become a great slasher from the wing. Otherwise, he could be a solid 4 down low.

Jayson Johnson out of St. Anthony's (NJ) had a great weekend. A strudy, 6'0 guard, Johnson continuously got to the hoop and finished. It seemed like almost every time he came in off the bench he scored. Johnson attacks the basket well and has stellar athletic ability, which allows him to finish in traffic.

Note- photo of Jordan Wejnert is from http://allshoremedia.net/