National Prep Stars Hit Rhode Island
Thursday, February 02, 2012
The event will feature 31 prep schools from three different countries, but just the list of prospects from New England is a proverbial “who’s who” of national recruiting. New England prep schools will send five seniors to the event that have been given Rivals.com’s coveted “five-star” rating, and the field will also include arguably the nation’s top junior prospect. Here are some of the top players to watch over the next several days.
Mitch McGary, Brewster Academy: Already considered a tremendous player from his days playing high school ball in Indiana, McGary has blossomed into an elite prospect at Brewster. The 6’10’’ Michigan commitment is widely regarded as a top-5 player, and is one of the few true big men in the class of 2012.
Steven Adams, Notre Dame Prep: Unlike McGary, Adams is a highly skilled big that uses his length and athleticism to create open shots. While the New Zealand native still needs to adapt to the way the game is played in America, Jamie Dixon and the Pitt Panthers appear to be getting a unique blend of size and shooting that does not come around all that often.
Ricardo Ledo, South Kent: Ledo thrilled PC fans when he announced he would be staying home and playing for the Friars next season, but even more exciting is the 6’5’’ shooting guard’s game. As an above-the-rim type athlete with excellent ball handling skills, Ledo is one of the premier perimeter scorers in the class.
Nerlens Noel, Tilton: Though only a junior, Noel may be the most talented player in the field. The 6’10’’ center has gone toe-to-toe with elite prospects like McGary, and more than held his own, particularly on the defensive end. Earlier this season, Noel helped Tilton push Brewster to the brink of defeat with a 22-point, seven-block performance.
Individual players like these are fantastic to watch by themselves, but what really makes this event special is the chance to see several Division I caliber recruits battle each other in multiple games a day. Here is one game to keep an eye on each day of the invitational.
Thursday, February 2nd- Notre Dame Prep(MA) vs Wilbraham and Monson(MA)
On paper, this should be a mismatch in favor of Notre Dame, but the historical prep giant has struggled with chemistry this season, and Monson junior point guard Jaylen Brantley gets to the basket with blistering speed. Still, it will be difficult for a young Monson team to match up with Adams, along with Clemson-bound guard Adonis Filer and Xavier commit Myles Davis.
Friday, February 3rd- Worcester Academy(MA) vs Phelps School(PA)
Neither one of these schools is incredibly well known in recruiting circles, but Worcester Academy is coming off a huge win over Rhode Island’s former top team, St. Andrew’s, and Phelps features one of the more intriguing players in the entire event. Norvel Pelle, formally of Compton, California, is a five-star true center that will present a ton of problems for Worcester’s front line. Guarding the 6’10’’ star will be a tall order(pun intended), but Worcester Academy’s point guard Rene Castro should give Phelps all it can handle on the perimeter.
Saturday, February 4th- Bridgton Academy(ME) vs Northfield Mt. Herman(MA)
Each of these team feature a trio of seniors that will be playing Division I basketball next year. The main difference is, Mt. Herman’s bunch knows where they will be, while Bridgton’s trio is entirely undecided. Look for a battle of formidable front-courts, with the winner of the rebounding battle likely taking the game.
Sunday, February 5th- Tilton School(NH) vs REDA(Ontario)
Another game that appears to be a mismatch on paper, but foreign teams usually give prep schools tons of trouble. While Tilton’s Noel is a defensive force against penetration based American offenses, foreign squads are usually built around motion offenses featuring big men that can shoot. It will be interesting to see how Noel adjusts, and how four-star Iowa State commit Georges Niang’s power based offensive game works against a contrasting style.
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