Playaz Spring Fling at Hoop Group. May Be of Interest to RU Fans

[Hoopcat]

Saw Scottie Lewis/Bryan Antoine/Others this Wknd.
10:06 PMLast edited 10:08 PMby Hooopcat

Full disclosure: just posted this on 'Nova Scout Board.

Playaz Spring Fling was played this wknd at the Hoop Group in Neptune NJ. Opening AAU Tourn for the really high level players. No coaches because it's not the live period and they're all in Phoenix anyway. My son's team played in it. Some of the players I saw up close;

Moses Brown 7'0''. Archbishop Molloy Jr/New Heights. Surprised I haven't read more about him. Incredible size. Good feet that can get better. Can finish with both hands. An NBA player if he doesn't screw up.

Paul Mulcahy 6'5" Gill St. Bernard HS Soph/Paterson Playaz. Played up with the 17s and started which shows you where he's at. Crafty, Tough, strong, great handle in traffic. Draws bigger players away from the hoop. Scores in variety of ways. Great passer

Markquis Nowell 5'7" Archbishop Molloy Jr/New Heights. The most fun player to watch in many ways 'cause of his height. Picture a 5'7" Allen Iverson. Incredible scorer. Unlimited range. Needs to become a true pt guard at next level

Scottie Lewis 6'6" Ranney HS/Team Rio. Great shooting stroke. Quick release. Great elevation on his shot. Not just great athleticism. Surprised at how much of a pure shooter he is. Plays so focused. Looks like a future NBA 2 Guard to me

Bryan Antoine 6'5" Ranney HS/Team Rio. Freakishly athletic (sorry for the cliche). Reminds me of the 1st time I saw Kerry Kittles up close in a game at St. John's. Numerous deflections some of which resulted in high flying dunks

Jalen Carey 6'3" Immaculate Conception HS/ Playaz. Led his team to the Tourn win. Another high flyer/elite athlete. Has improved his shot a ton since I saw him last yr. Can play both guard positions. Similar to Lewis might be a bit quicker/faster

I had a nice chat with Pervis Ellison who was sitting next to me. Called him Coach 'cause I know he coaches Life Center Academy. Told him I remembered where I was 31 Yrs ago tomm night when he beat Tommy Amaker, Jay Bilas, Johnny Dawkins, and Mark Alarie. He got a kick outta that.

Final note. Mike Rice coaches Team Rio. I guess the redemption continues

 

[Ray6232010]

Saw Scottie Lewis/Bryan Antoine/Others this Wknd.
10:06 PMLast edited 10:08 PMby Hooopcat

Full disclosure: just posted this on 'Nova Scout Board.

Playaz Spring Fling was played this wknd at the Hoop Group in Neptune NJ. Opening AAU Tourn for the really high level players. No coaches because it's not the live period and they're all in Phoenix anyway. My son's team played in it. Some of the players I saw up close;

Moses Brown 7'0''. Archbishop Molloy Jr/New Heights. Surprised I haven't read more about him. Incredible size. Good feet that can get better. Can finish with both hands. An NBA player if he doesn't screw up.

Paul Mulcahy 6'5" Gill St. Bernard HS Soph/Paterson Playaz. Played up with the 17s and started which shows you where he's at. Crafty, Tough, strong, great handle in traffic. Draws bigger players away from the hoop. Scores in variety of ways. Great passer

Markquis Nowell 5'7" Archbishop Molloy Jr/New Heights. The most fun player to watch in many ways 'cause of his height. Picture a 5'7" Allen Iverson. Incredible scorer. Unlimited range. Needs to become a true pt guard at next level

Scottie Lewis 6'6" Ranney HS/Team Rio. Great shooting stroke. Quick release. Great elevation on his shot. Not just great athleticism. Surprised at how much of a pure shooter he is. Plays so focused. Looks like a future NBA 2 Guard to me

Bryan Antoine 6'5" Ranney HS/Team Rio. Freakishly athletic (sorry for the cliche). Reminds me of the 1st time I saw Kerry Kittles up close in a game at St. John's. Numerous deflections some of which resulted in high flying dunks

Jalen Carey 6'3" Immaculate Conception HS/ Playaz. Led his team to the Tourn win. Another high flyer/elite athlete. Has improved his shot a ton since I saw him last yr. Can play both guard positions. Similar to Lewis might be a bit quicker/faster

I had a nice chat with Pervis Ellison who was sitting next to me. Called him Coach 'cause I know he coaches Life Center Academy. Told him I remembered where I was 31 Yrs ago tomm night when he beat Tommy Amaker, Jay Bilas, Johnny Dawkins, and Mark Alarie. He got a kick outta that.

Final note. Mike Rice coaches Team Rio. I guess the redemption continues

Did you get a chance to ask Coach about he's son transferring from St.Jonhs???

 

[Hoopcat]

Did you get a chance to ask Coach about he's son transferring from St.Jonhs???

I did. I asked him is he leaning toward any particular place? Said, "He has no idea right now what he's gonna do. Looking around"

 

[shields]

Want Jalen Carey for RU.

 

[RUJMM78]

Want Jalen Carey for RU.

There are plenty of talented players in the NY/NJ Metro area.My main criteria is their ability to create and make shots off the dribble which is sadly missing at Rutgers.The higher the talent level the more likely the elite basketball programs will be involved .Rutgers must start winning some of these recruiting battles.

 

[knights1212]

Carey would be one great addition. I have seen him and he can do it all.

 

[higgins3]

Thanks for the analysis.


Out of all players in the group, Paul Malcahy stands out the most.

If I am a coach, I want to bring in a player who I won't have to transition to another spot. The mindset from scorer to passer can be a tough one seemingly.

I think Malcahy is in good standing with RU at the moment, too. He re tweets a lot of stuff, and obviously has an eye on the program. Either him or Scottie Lewis.

Nowell seemingly is like an Aquille Carr.

 

[rutger80]

the one thing that stood out for me in the above descriptions would be for Scottie Lewis: "Pure Shooter" WANT

 

[higgins3]

Gotta be realistic here. I think Malcahy will be our best chance to get.

I would be surprised if it were different.

 

[TDIrish27]

No comparison between Mulcahy and Lewis or Antoine.

Good player no doubt but those 2 are elite .

 

[Hoopcat]

"No comparison" is a strong statement. And what about this; Mulcahy stays 4 yrs the other guys are 1 or 2 and done, who is better for your program?

 

[RUJMM78]

"No comparison" is a strong statement. And what about this; Mulcahy stays 4 yrs the other guys are 1 or 2 and done, who is better for your program?

Who is better depends on team won /loss record in this hypothetical comparison.I will take shooters over just about every other type player because the 3 point shot has changed the way basketball games are played.

 

[TDIrish27]

Just an opinion that's all-------but have seen all of them.

Mulcahy IMO not a Big Ten player-----good player but at this point I wouldn't call him a kid you can win in the Big Ten with.

 

[higgins3]

Just an opinion that's all-------but have seen all of them.

Mulcahy IMO not a Big Ten player-----good player but at this point I wouldn't call him a kid you can win in the Big Ten with.

A tall kid that can pass, not turn the ball over, shoot a little(still has two years to improve it), is needed on every team.

There is a reason Seton Hall and Rutgers have offered the four star. Also, villi nova visiting him.

 

[TDIrish27]

We'll see----like I said it's an opinion.

Would be very surprised if Nova offered him.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I've seen Mulcahy live twice this past winter.....he's as smart and aware of a player for his skill set, that I've seen in awhile (he's still a sophomore and part of the ranking is projecting forward 3-5 years from now).....he's not the most explosive athlete/scorer, but in this age of people wanting shooting, shooting, shooting, he may not be your future NBA guy....but he impacts your program by being a capable scorer, ball handler and playmaker....He would contribute immediately at any B1G/ACC or Power 5 program from day one.....Lewis and Antione are national recruits figuring to be ranked as high as Top 25-30.

My only concern is whether Mulcahy can find another step of footspeed, because people are going to attack him defensively at the next level and gets away with floating on the defensive end in HS.......High caliber players, made clear attempts to get him in foul trouble, so can he avoid getting isolated on defense and becoming a liability, where coaches are forced to play hybrid defenses to try and hide his defense.

He reminds me of part Bryant McIntosh from Northwestern and part Gordon Hayward (just not nearly as athletic as Hayward was in college at Butler....). Mulcahy with a weight training program that doesn't alter his fluid game, will be an excellent college player.

 

[shields]

Good analysis. Would love to get an idea of who we are recruiting in Jersey. And not just looking at the offers.

 

[knights1212]

I also have seen Mulcahy play. For a soph he is very good. I firmly believe he can be a player in the BIG.

 

[TDIrish27]

" He would contribute immediately at any Big 10 , ACC , Power 5 Program "

IMO he wouldn't which is why he has limited offers

As noted good player but he's slow

Gordon Hayward ? Wow !

 

[higgins3]

[

" He would contribute immediately at any Big 10 , ACC , Power 5 Program "

IMO he wouldn't which is why he has limited offers

As noted good player but he's slow

Gordon Hayward ? Wow !

He has limited offers because he is a 2019 player. Part of it.

Give him a strength coach and he will be able to hang.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

" He would contribute immediately at any Big 10 , ACC , Power 5 Program "

IMO he wouldn't which is why he has limited offers

As noted good player but he's slow

Gordon Hayward ? Wow !

How about you reach out to the national recruiting analyst for Rivals who I spoke to directly after one of the games at Kean about a month or two ago, when he was there along with Calipari, Pikiell, Boeheim, most of the Seton Hall staff and countless others and gauge what he told me directly about the player in comparison to other 2019 kids around the country??

It's a very easy concept....you type in the person's name on the screen under "conversation".....you type up the analyst you want to ask that covers that region a question about a player....typically he responds back with some details that helps frame the answer in a way that can help figure out whether the feedback is accurate or not.....it's not very difficult to do at all....

The sad thing about recruiting is based on kids getting offers because they don't want to appear to have "missed the boat" on a player.....and there are players whose entire college careers are fueled because they didn't get more offers, as a level of "disrespect" or wanting to prove the experts wrong.....There are players that have upwards of 10-15 offers and none of them can be acted upon, because a school would not accept that commitment, until they have finished an evaluation of another player that may be ahead of that player in years (or a 2017 decommitment or 2018 kid).

I have no idea or guarantee that a 15 year old kid will turn into a 19-20 year old multi-year starter at a Power 5 school, but there were 15+ D1 Head Coaches and assistant coaches there and there wasn't anyone that walked out of the gym saying anything but future starter and contributor for Mulcahy. There wasn't any aspect of his game that needed significant work, he's well -coached and has excellent court-awareness, which is something you cannot teach.

Again, that doesn't mean he's at the Antione or Lewis level of player/athlete or shooter, but I also think you don't want to compare a pretty much lock 3-4 year starter at a Power 5 school, to a national recruit that some project as a one or two and done, as some sort of indication or lack of talent. Add to it the ability for Mulcahy to pretty much fit into anyone's system as a SG/Point Forward and willingness to pass and he's easily a Top 50-75 kid for 2019 today....

I don't work for Rivals, Scout, 247 or ESPN, but all 4 places among others all have him as a Top 100 prospect for his class.....and yes kids "bust" all the time or don't immediately match their rankings.....A school like Villanova can gauge a kids interest through people and determine earlier in a recruiting process, whether they can land a kid, regardless of whether they offer now or in a year. It doesn't mean the player isn't talented, it just means a staff may feel that that particular player is very similar to 4 or 5 other regional prospects and there is no point in offering one, without offering all of them.....HS coaches and AAU folks take offers seriously in some aspects and not so much in others.

 

[RUissy]

Just an opinion that's all-------but have seen all of them.

Mulcahy IMO not a Big Ten player-----good player but at this point I wouldn't call him a kid you can win in the Big Ten with.

Most people here didn't think Farrell was a Big Ten level player either. IMO Mulcahy is well ahead of where Farrell was at this stage. Mulcahy makes the players around him better more than any HS kid I've watched in a long time. Great vision.

 

[TDIrish27]

I don't either----just someone who has watched HS kids for 50 plus years.

Wrong as often as I'm right.

I just don't think he's athletic enough for a high end Power 5 team

RU , BC , GW , Richmond----all good fits IMO.

Comparing him to Gordon Hayward an NBA All Star is to be kind--------a reach.

 

[higgins3]

I think as far as point guards go for 2018, Atiba Taylor might be the best one to focus on. Or just my favorite as far as what he gives you.

The competition to gets bigger for Carey. Bigger than it already is.

I like Taylors game. He actually passes and doesn't do it in the air(Huge flaw of modern day pgs)

I think Shandon Brown is a safety, but even his recruitment picks up.

The best thing about our 2018 prospects is that the staff is fishing in the right point. Kids that can take the program to middle of the pack, and out of the deep depths of the Atlantic. The Raritan at its deepest is 25 feet. Around New Brunswick, something like eleven feet.

 

[rubaseball78]

"No comparison" is a strong statement. And what about this; Mulcahy stays 4 yrs the other guys are 1 or 2 and done, who is better for your program?

For right now, probably the 4 year guy.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Mulcahy is the type of recruit who would historically end up spurning RU and becoming a star somewhere else.

Given the high unlikelihood of Pike being able to sign a top 25-50 wing, he should hone in on Mulcahy and make him a priority.