East Mania has long served as one of the launching points for the Spring AAU season in the Northeast and beyond. Now, with the MADE Hoops Circuit entering its third season this fall, the depth of talent across the field only continues to grow. Day two brought plenty of tightly contested games, high-level matchups, and standout individual performances. The MADE Scouting staff highlights some of the top storylines and superlatives from Saturday.

BBD Picks Up Two Big MHC Victories

Through its first two MADE Hoops Circuit stops, the Florida program remains unbeaten at 5-0. A highly anticipated matchup with the NJ Beasts lived up to expectations, but it was BBD and star guard Quincy Douby Jr. who came out on top in the end. Backcourt partner Anthony Walcott hit timely shots, while the frontcourt trio of Kingston Smith, Francesco Borio, and Sean Jones all made their presence felt on both ends. That group continues to be an ideal complement to BBD’s explosive scorers.

Next up is a matchup with K-Low Elite 3SSB, followed by a trip to New England for the New England Warmup.

The Maine Thing

Team Maine may be new to the MADE Hoops Circuit this season, but there was already plenty of buzz around the program coming into the weekend. Led by former Winter League standouts Oli Higgins, Lincoln Malcore, Carter Brathwaite, and Khaelon Watkins, Team Maine has a quartet of versatile prospects who all look capable of becoming scholarship-level players.

A dominant Friday night victory was followed by another double-digit win before Team Maine fell to Scholars Elite EYBL, 66-59. With Malcore and Higgins both standing at least 6-foot-8 and possessing real face-up skill, they present difficult matchup problems. Brathwaite’s polish and ability to play either guard spot stood out once again, while Watkins remains an intriguing long-term prospect because of his defensive ability, slashing style, and upside.

Basketball in Maine has continued to trend upward in recent years, and this Team Maine group has a chance to become the state’s most talented collection of prospects since the Maine United teams that featured the Flagg brothers.

Anderson Puts On a Show Against Team Iverson

With more than 40 ranked prospects in the field at East Mania this weekend, there was little doubt that some special individual performances would emerge. Atlanta Celtics guard Nasir “Rudy” Anderson delivered one of the best of the day against Team Iverson on Saturday afternoon.

The explosive southpaw got wherever he wanted on the floor and finished exceptionally well around the basket, highlighted by a self alley-oop that still stands as one of the most impressive plays I’ve seen in more than 13 years covering the game. A dynamic 6-foot-3 lead guard, Anderson is incredibly tough to keep out of the lane, and he paired that downhill force with strong vision and decision-making as the Celtics jumped out early and never looked back

Team Durant Overcomes Team Iverson In The End 

 

Team Durant 17U vs team Iverson 17U was a thriller all the way to the end. Both teams played with high energy, attention to detail, and real passion. In a back and forth matchup, Nick Harken and Korey Francis were the early catalysts for Iverson. Durant’s offense was a little stagnant to start off, but as their defensive intensity increased, so did their confidence and the fluidity within their offensive flow. By the end of the second half, Durant would go on to get a few consecutive stops which gave them the opportunity to come out victorious. Lefty point guard Makiah Gray called game on a pull-up three at the end of relegation to ensure Team Durant would win with a 51-48 final score. 

The Hidden Gem – Dre Steele, 2027 Point Guard, Uptown MHC

Fresh off a 1,000-point milestone and a state title, Steele carried that same winning presence into East Mania. He controls the game with pace, gets his team organized, and knows when to take over. Strong getting downhill, creates separation when he needs it, and competes on every possession. He values winning above all else, and that shows. Steele looks like he’ll be one of the top decision-makers on the MHC all season.

Most Impactful Forward – Donovan Clement, 2027 Forward, BCRI

Clement was one of the more impressive prospects in the gym all weekend and continues to trend in the right direction. A legitimate 6-foot-8 with both skill and athleticism, he checks a lot of boxes. He plays hard, defends, and impacts winning. Coming off a NEPSAC MVP season, he looks poised for a big summer, and expect Division I programs to stay locked in.

The Floor General – Micah Gordon, 2027 Point Guard, PSA Cardinals

Gordon showed why he’s considered one of the top point guards in the country. He’s extremely skilled with the ball, makes the right reads, and can score it when needed. Shifty, quick, and tough to stay in front of, he puts pressure on defenses in a number of ways. What stands out just as much is his approach—he works, he competes, and he clearly loves the game. Gordon looks like one of the most sought-after playmakers in the 2027 class.