East MSA: Saturday Standouts
June 4, 2023 by Tony McNiff
Queens, New York: Our 2023 East Middle School Academy made it’s way to Queens College in New York City. The first day was action-packed between the energetic environment and competitive atmosphere. Read more for a collection of some standouts from Saturday’s action.
2027 guard Tyler Sutton was highly impressive throughout Saturday’s action in New York City. The dynamic lead guard scored from multiple levels while flashing his advanced vision as well. Smooth pull-up scorer with extensive range and a diverse shot profile. Produces paint touches with ease between his blend of counter moves & burst while playing at a composed pace. The Philadelphia native continues to produce and show growth in his game.
2027 wing Greyson Pierce has truly transformed his game in the past year or so. The positional size and disruptive length pop at first glance, yet he’s a versatile scoring threat. Improving shooter who is a reliable spot-up threat that continues to enhance his pull-up prowess inside the arc. Physical rim finisher with functional touch, plus he’s a legitimate grab & go threat who can push the ball himself. Excited to track the Connecticut native at the next level.
2027 wing forward Andrew Kretkowski flashed improving athleticism in the open floor during Saturday’s slate of scrimmages. The New Jersey native is a skilled & versatile scoring threat who continues to prove that he can score inside-out. Showed glimpses of his advanced & quick processing by finding cutters or shooters. Bouncy finisher in the lane who threw down multiple emphatic finishes above the rim. One to keep tabs on at Rutgers Prep (NJ) next season.
2027 guard Jacob Canton was another backcourt headliner who played well during Saturday’s action. Quick-twitch & physical athlete who can get downhill with ease. Potent space-creator who proved that he could create advantages in numerous ways with the ball in his hands. Athletic, flexible, & bouncy finisher at the rim who can throw down dunks when given a runway. Reliable spot-up scorer who is capable of hitting self-created jumpers as well. The New Jersey native is another notable prospect headed to Rutgers Prep (NJ) next year.
2027 swingman Troy Tomlin put together a strong day between station sets & scrimmage play. Bouncy & rangy wing guard that is loaded with vertical pop and aggression as a rim finisher. Reliable spot-up shooter who possesses range that extends out to the three-point line. Instinctual & laterally quick defender who flashed his switchability on that end of the floor as well.
2027 wing Malachi Jordan is a two-way specimen who was a mismatch nightmare during Saturday’s set of games. Physical ball handler at the point of attack who leveraged his toughness when slashing to the rim. Aggressive and hard-nosed rim finisher who certainly doesn’t shy away from contact in the paint. Scrappy and laterally quick on-ball defender who showed off his defensive versatility as well.
2027 wing Joshua Rivera is a long, fluid, & rangy athlete with a prominent spot-up shooting prowess. Smooth shooter off the catch, plus he continues to flash his touch around the rim. Showed glimpses of his switchability on the defensive end, plus he was a productive rebounder throughout the day as well. The versatility and physical upside were certainly on full display in Queens.
2027 guard Johnny Magna is a highly skilled backcourt prospect who was able to score at a high volume during scrimmages. A smooth & fundamentally sound prospect who is a potent mid-range scorer. Flashed some playmaking chops by delivering accurate passes through traffic or in the open floor. The PSA Cardinals product garnered plenty of buzz throughout Saturday.
2027 guard Jayden Johnson was another backcourt prospect who popped on Day One. Shifty space-creator with a potent pull-up game & extensive shooting range. Flashed some high-volume scoring as he was able to heat up quickly after seeing a shot or two fall through the net. Wasn’t afraid to push the ball in transition and he was able to provide paint touches at a high volume as well.
2027 guard Josiah Adamson-Hardwick was one of the most productive campers during Saturday’s action in Queens. High-level athlete who leveraged his physicality to create angles downhill. Hard-nosed & rugged rim finisher who overpowered smaller defenders in the lane. Forceful point of attack handler who truly excelled in the open floor. Tough on-ball defender that was difficult for opponents to beat off the bounce.
2028 guard Skylar Ragoo was a prominent scorer who caught fire during the scrimmage action in Queens. Long & fluid athlete who proved he was a multilevel scoring threat to opposing defenses. Smooth pull-up shooter who was able to create separation from defenders with tight crossovers & quick bursts of speed. He put up some big scoring numbers and he’s certainly on the radar moving forward.