Hoophall Classic Live Blog

The Hoophall Classic is back in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball and we are set for a fun, long weekend.

60 ranked players in the On3 Consensus will be attending the event. That includes six of the top-10 prospects in the 2022 class to go along with seven of the top-10 in the 2023 class.

MORE: PLAYERS TO WATCH AT THE HOOPHALL CLASSIC

Link Year Academy gets a tough win over Prolific Prep behing Walsh, Reed, and Green

In the final game at the Hoophall Classic, Link Year (Mo.) Academy was able to get the win over Prolific (Calif.) Prep. Let’s start with the two big men who impressed me the most. For Prolific, it was Adem Bona. At 6-foot-9, the big man flies around the court with long strides and is so disruptive on the defensive end. He is also capable offensively and will blow your mind with his vertical ability while catching lobs. I’ve seen plenty of players play hard, but not many quite like Bona. His energy is contagious and UCLA is going to love him. He finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. The stats aren’t eye-opening, but his impact was much bigger than what the stats show. As for Link Year, Tarris Reed came out ready to play. The future Michigan big man had nine points (including a three-pointer), and seven rebounds in the first half alone. At 6-foot-10, and over 250 pounds, Reed moves well for a player of his stature. He ended the game with a team-high 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Now for guard play. MJ Rice and Tre White led the way in scoring for Prolific Prep. Rice is a big-bodied guard, that uses his strength and physical presence to bully his way to the rim. He also uses his size to his advantage when crashing the boards. The Kansas signee also showed he could score it from the perimeter and finished with 23 points. My only knock on him was being smarter with the ball, as he had six turnovers. White had himself an impressive game. What stood out to me the most was his ability to playmake, as he finished a game-high nine assists. The USC signee also had an efficient game scoring the ball, finishing 50% from both the field and three. He finished with 18 points.

For Link Year, uncommitted junior guard Trey Green and Arkansas signee Jordan Walsh were the two primary ball handlers for Link Year. Green impressed with his ability to create and make shots, despite being undersized. He finished with an efficient 15 points (5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from three), and also added six assists. Green holds offers from Nebraska, Clemson, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, and others. Walsh is so versatile playing the wing position at 6-foot-7. He’s wirey strong, with long arms, and handles the ball well. His ability to get to the rim is the most impressive. He also finished with 15 points.

IMG gets hard-fought win over Montverde

As a high school basketball fan, you can’t really ask for much more than a matchup between Montverde (Fla.) Academy and IMG (Fla.) Academy. Alabama signee Jaden Bradley came out and scored a few, quick buckets before passing the reigns to Jett Howard who did his job, knocking down a couple of threes. Jarace Walker threw down a monstrous inbounds lob, before swishing an impressive deep-midrange shot. Dariq Whitehead and his loaded MVA squad kept their composure and were only down three at the half. The third quarter was somewhat troublesome for both teams as they each struggled from the field. In the fourth, things picked back up and it was a three-point game with just under three minutes left. Things really came down to the wire. Between a put-back dunk from Dillon Mitchell’s own missed floater, a poster from Jarace Walker, and some tough, clutch shots from Jalen Hood-Schifino, the ending to this game was entertaining, to say the least. IMG led the majority of this game, but never by an overbearing lead. They were able to finally pull out a hard-fought win over Montverde.

Jalen Hood-Schifino was Montverde’s MVP in this one. He struggled from the field early but got things going in the second half, especially the fourth quarter. The Indiana signee has a nice touch and is a great rebounder for a guard, as well as a passer. He’s the ultimate floor general and handles ball pressure with so much composure. He finished with a team-high 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

Keyonte George led his team in scoring, finishing with 17. The Baylor signee continues to show off his scoring prowess and his ability to stop on a dime and pull it.

The battle of two 5-star guards did not disappoint

Camden (N.J.) High looked to redeem themselves against Milton (Ga.) High after suffering a tough loss Saturday night to Calvary Christian. No. 1 ranked Dajuan ‘DJ’ Wagner Jr. came out in the first and knocked down back-to-back three-pointers. Milton’s five-star combo guard Kanaan Carlyle returned the favor as he swished his own pair of shots from deep. Both players were the two most impressive in this matchup. Things were rocking and rolling early but slowly shots stopped falling, with both teams struggling to put the ball in the hole as the first half came to a close. The gameplay started to improve in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter for Camden as their fans roared with each made shot. Their fanbase made the four-hour trip down to Springfield and this Camden squad did not want to disappoint its crowd. Milton didn’t want to go away, but Camden was able to get the win.

Wagner came into this game with a newfound sense of confidence and looked much better on Monday. He has a great feel for the game, knows how to make the right play, and puts himself in the right position to score the basketball in a variety of ways. Wagner isn’t the player who puts dudes on posters, but he will beat you off the dribble with his elite quickness. The way Wagner floats and glides through the air with his running jumper and floaters is a rare sight. He also knows how to split the D and make the right read to a teammate. The No. 1 ranked guard finished with 21 points, but his teammate, Cian Medley, led the Camden squad in scoring with 22 on an efficient 81% from the field.

Aaron Bradshaw didn’t do a whole lot offensively as that part of his game is still expanding, but he did communicate on defense and rebounded well for his team. The seven-footer will need to add strength to be successful at the college level. He does, however, get up the down well for a player of his size, but the junior center is still pretty raw, but it will be exciting to see how he progresses and he’s definitely a name to keep your eye on.

For Milton, Kanaan Carlyle was HOOPING. The Stanford commit looked the part as a five-star recruit. Carlyle is the type of guy you want on your team, a real go-getter on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he was particularly effective from three, connecting on six of his 11 attempts. The junior guard flat out knows how to score the ball, and his one-dribble pull-up is a thing of beauty, with his high release point. He finished with 25 points and five rebounds.

Duke signee Kyle Filipowski dominates in easy win

Wilbraham and Monson (Mass.) Academy was as close to a ‘home team’ as can be in this matchup against Life Christian (Fla.) Academy. Their school is conveniently located just 10 miles away and brought in a nice crowd, filling the bleachers with support. However, on the opposite side, social media superstar and human highlight reel, Hansel Enmanuel, brought out his ever-expanding fan base. Despite calling Florida home, and formerly the Dominican Republic, Enmanuel’s influence made its way 1,200+ miles away to New England. The crowd cheered as Enmanuel made impossible shots look possible. The one-armed hooper left the crowd eager for highlights as we got a taste of his shotmaking and playmaking ability in the first half. Unfortunately, that did not occur as Kyle Filipowski and Wilbraham and Monson Academy (WMA) floored the gas and took a large lead in the third and carried it for the rest of the game, getting the easy win over Life Christian.

Kyle Filipowski was absolutely incredible WMA. At 6-foot-10, he can bring the ball down the court in transition and looked comfortable with the rock on the perimeter. He moves well laterally, especially for a guy of his size. The Duke signee also impressed by knocking down the catch and shoot three. He also uses his size to get to the rim. His versatility is what separates him and makes him unique. Filipowski is not your traditional big man and Jon Scheyer will love his ability to do a little bit of everything. He easily looked the part as a top-10 prospect in the senior class, finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, five blocks, and two steals.

The fans here at Springfield College patiently waited for Hansel Enmanuel to get going in this one but he struggled from the field. The uncommitted senior holds offers from Bethune-Cookman and Tennesse State. He managed to finish with 14 points.

Elite sophomore Naasir Cunningham catches fire

Westtown (Pa.) School and Gill St. Bernard (N.J.) School were two very evenly matched teams heading into the second to last game of the evening. At the half, Westtown held a five-point lead. Dereck Lively didn’t take a single shot attempt until halfway through the second quarter, knocking in a three-pointer at the top of the key. Sophomore Naasir Cunningham put on a clinic during the third quarter and Gill St. Bernard headed into the fourth with a six-point lead. They were able to solidify that lead and finish this game with a win over Westtown.

Let’s make something clear: Naasir Cunningham was the star of the show. The elite sophomore looked incredible. The 6-foot-7 wing showed off his impressive athleticism and saw success from beyond the arc and got to the rim effectively. He will need to add strength and continue to improve his shot off the bounce, but Cunningham has plenty of time to progress. He finished with a game-high 23 points on nearly 80% from the field and five-of-six from three-point land.

On3 recently talked with Cunningham about his early recruitment. You can read that conversation here.

Mackenzie Mgbako had a much better game after struggling Saturday morning. He was able to bang down low and finish through contact, but also step out and knock down the three. The five-star junior finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Quin Berger led his Westtown team in scoring with 21 points. Duke signee Dereck Lively finished with five points with only three attempts from the field, and a single made three-pointer.

Duke signee Mark Mitchell brings Sunrise a hard-fought win

In the first quarter, Sunrise (Kan.) Christian jumped off to an early lead on Wasatch (Utah) Academy and carried it into halftime. Mark Mitchell was the leader for Sunrise, pouring in 13 first-half points. His physicality down low also got him to the free-throw line and he was efficient from the stripe. Wasatch struggled to hit shots, but it was their floor-general and leader Willie Lightfoot who helped keep them in this game. Wasatch was able to come into the third quarter and fourth quarter and do some damage thanks to Lightfoot and Chris Bunch. A clutch three from Ohio State signee Roddy Gayle made this a one-point game with 30 seconds left. Unfortunately for Wasatch, they weren’t able to pull off the upset, and Sunrise scraped by with the win.

Mark Mitchell and Gradey Dick were the two most important players for Sunrise in this one. Mitchell was tremendous. His teammates were able to find him at the right time, but he can also create on his own. The Duke signee is a little bit of a do it all player. He can play on the wing, down low, or wherever he pleases. He’s a high IQ player that makes the right play a high percentage of the time. The future Blue Devil finished with a game-high 27 points on 68% from the field and grabbed 12 boards.

Dick’s shot was up and down in the first half but was able to get things flowing in the second half. What’s most impressive about him is his ability to affect the game, without his shooting ability. Defensively, he moves well laterally, gets in passing lanes, and he’s always willing to draw a charge. He’ll surprise you with his athleticism and leaping ability and had a couple of put-back dunks in this one. The Kansas signee finished with 17 points.

For Wasatch, Willie Lightfoot was the man. He might be undersized but he’s got the heart of a lion. He’s hard-nosed driving to the rim, and also capable of knocking down the catch-and-shoot three. The Bowling Green commit finished with a team-high 20 points. Bunch shot the ball poorly in the first half, but came out in the second half and caught fire. The Syracuse signee finished with 16 points.

Calvary Christian too much for No. 1 ranked junior DJ Wagner

Calvary Christian (Fla.) Academy jumped on Camden (N.J.) High early and took a sizeable lead and held it for the entirety of the game. Camden struggled to get things going offensively all night, and the opposite occurred for Calvary as they were cooking with grease.

Camden finished this game on 31% from the field, whereas Calvary completed nearly 50% of their attempts. Here’s another stat… Calvary shot an incredible 58% from three, pouring in seven of their 12 attempts. Camden’s three-point percentage? 17%.

LSU’s newest commit, Marvel Allen, led his Calvary Christian squad with 22 points. Taylor Hendricks also had a tremendous game and really showed off his versatility. The UCF signee finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. I also really liked junior guard Carl Cherenfant, who finished with 15 points and a team-high four steals.

Despite the loss, I thought Aaron Bradshaw was an intriguing prospect. He has long, slender frame and will need to add muscle, but moves extremely well for a 7-footer and capable of hitting the mid-range jumper. The top-20 junior also makes a huge impact on the defensive end, and finished this one with five blocks.

Montverde gets a well-rounded win

Powerhouse Montverde (Fla.) Academy came ready to play against DeMatha (Md.) Catholic. MVA’s deep squad had it rolling on both sides of the ball. Both Montverde and DeMatha shot the ball well from three in the first half, including MVA’s Skyy Clark. The Kentucky signee connected on three of his four attempts, paired with a few field goals, and entered halftime with 11 points. It was nice to see him play well now that he’s fully healthy. Tyrell Ward was terrific in the first half for DeMatha, keeping this a close game. Unfortunately for DeMatha, Ward’s efforts weren’t enough and Montverde was able to pull away in the second half.

It might’ve been the Skyy Clark show in the first half, but it was Dillon Mitchell’s game in the second. His athleticism is jaw-dropping and he has nowhere near reached his potential. The Texas signee is going to sell seats in Austin with his high flying dunks and by sending blocked shots into the stands. He finished with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-12 from the field. Dariq Whitehead came alive in the second half and finished with 14 points, as did Malik Reneau.

Jalen Hood-Schifino was also terrific for Montverde. He’s got a knack for playmaking and knows how and when to get his teammates involved. The Indiana signee posted a triple-double: 12 points, 11 rebounds (team-high), and 13 assists.

Oak Hill gets a hard fought win

The matchup between Oak Hill (Va.) Academy and La Lumiere (Ind.) School did not start off particularly well, at least on the offensive end. Both teams shot about 35% from the field in the first half. On top of that, La Lumiere shot 0-of-6 from three-point land, and Oak Hill was a whopping 1-of-9.

However, a positive first-half takeaway I had was Jeremy Fears is a leader for this La Lumiere team. Leadership is an attribute that doesn’t show in the stat sheet but is needed for a team to be successful. Fears has that knack for leading. Whether that’s communicating on the defensive end, picking them up when they’re down, or getting a bucket when his team needs it.

The second half was a lot like the first, but Oak Hill shot the ball particularly well in the fourth quarter and pulled out a win over La Lumiere.

Judah Mintz was the guy for Oak Hill in this win. He continued to show off his shotmaking ability, seemingly from each spot on the court. The uncommitted senior posted 22 points on an efficient 60% from the field. Xavier, DePaul, NC State are in the mix for the four-star prospect. Mintz says he will take an official visit to Xavier on January 25th-27th. He’s currently working on dates for DePaul and NC State.

Despite the loss, JJ Starling led his team 20 points. The Notre Dame signee has a quick first step and showed the ability to finish in traffic and through some contact. He struggled a bit from three but was effective in getting to the rim. Aden Holloway also had a solid game and finished with 16 points.

Someone else I want to mention is Chisom Okpara. He struggled a bit from the field, but I love how hard he plays and always has a head full of steam going to the rim. Best as a slasher, the Harvard signee is a physical specimen and was definitely one of the stronger players in the senior class. He also knows how to use that strength and his body to get to the rim effectively.

Elite sophomore Naasir Cunningham shows tremendous upside

Despite the loss, sophomore wing Naasir Cunningham was the most impressive long-term prospect on the floor as Gill St. Bernard (N.J.) School took on Simeon Career (Ill.) Academy. The 6-foot-7 pogo stick will be a star long-term if he continues to improve. He has nice defensive instincts, is quick off the bounce, and rebounds well despite his slender body. Cunningham is still a young prospect and he shows that at times, but this guy is a hooper. He will need to add muscle but has fantastic length, allowing him to block shots and get in passing lanes. He also handles the ball fairly comfortably and says he would like to transition into a point guard in time. The numbers he put up in this game weren’t jaw-dropping by any means, but you can see that he has the tools to be great. It’s important to note that On3 has not yet begun ranking the 2024 class but expect to see Cunningham’s name near, or at the top.

On3 recently talked with Cunningham about his early recruitment. You can read that conversation here.

Mackenzie Mgbako didn’t have the best game, getting in foul trouble, and sat most of the third quarter. The highly-touted prospect struggled from the field but remained optimistic throughout. Despite the game not going well for the 5-star junior, you could still see him cheering on his teammates from the bench. He is a bit of a tweener and is still trying to figure out who he is as a player. At 6-foot-8, Mgabko has great size and is an interesting prospect but it’s unclear what position he will play at the college level. For Gill St. Bernard, he acts as a point forward and handles the ball well for his size. I’d love to see him improve his quickness and overall footspeed. Mgbako doesn’t do one thing great, but his overall versatility and his long-term potential is what’s intriguing.

For a Mackenzie Mgbako recruitment update, click here.

On the other side of the court, Jaylen Drane and Miles Rubin were the stars of the show for Simeon. Drane led his team on the offensive end, scoring 22 points, while Rubin was the gatekeeper defensively, with an impressive six blocks, to go along with 14 points on an efficient 7-of-9 from the field.

Drane, an unsigned senior, holds offers from Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Siena, among others.

I’m really intrigued by Rubin long-term. He’s a long, 6-foot-9 four-man with a nice touch and defensively he’s got great timing. The junior holds early offers from Southern Illinois, Akron, Western Illinois, and Northern Illinois but I would expect high-majors to enter the mix in the future.

Mikey Williams and Duke bound big man put on a show

In the main event Friday night, Mikey Williams and his Vertical (N.C.) Academy squad went up against Westtown (Pa.) School in a sold out matchup and it did not disappoint.

Let’s start with Westtown. Duke signee Dereck Lively was incredible. He clearly showed why he’s the No. 1 ranked prospect in the class of 2022. Jon Scheyer is going to love this kid. He runs the floor like a gazelle, cleans up the glass with ease, finds his teammates, plays with effort, and communicates with his team on defense. He’s everything you want in a player and as a teammate. At 7-foot-2, Lively’s upside is endless. The future Duke Blue Devil finished with 22 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks, and four assists.

Now for Vertical Academy: Mikey Williams… You’ve heard the name. You’ve seen the highlights. It’s safe to say he lived up to the hype. Williams is a multiple level scorer with a smooth shooting stroke and a knack for playmaking. He’s got a stronger body for a junior and enjoys getting his teammates involved. An underrated aspect of his game? His passing ability. Williams is also extremely athletic and capable of knocking down the catch-and-shoot three. He finished with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, and six steals in the win over Westtown.