New York Preview Standouts Part 1

September 25, 2023 by Max Feldman

Top high school programs from all over the Tri-State area poured into the Big Apple this past weekend to compete in MADE's New York Preview. Here, I'll zoom in on a collection of standouts.

Alex Massung

2024, Hudson Catholic (NJ)

Didn't take long to take note of HC's 6-3 guard, controlling the pace and picking apart defenses from the jump. The senior guard's game is heavily predicated on craft and cadence on the ball inside the arc. He's a handful to keep out of the paint and seemed to make the right read more times than not, even as defenses began to tilt his way quicker and quicker. Unafraid to bump and score in traffic, he brings plenty of what you look for in a trigger man and pure combo threat in the backcourt. Buffalo and Manhattan offered this summer. 

Halon Rawlins

2025, Nazareth (NY)

Fresh off of a nice spring and summer with New Heights, Rawlins looks primed for a big junior campaign. At 6-6 with mature ball skills, he's a mismatch machine and has a deep collection of counters off the bounce. At his driving closeouts and scoring out of the mid-range, he has impressive physicality inside the arc and had his way bumping defenders off their line to create space. He's continued to grow more consistent firing off the catch, only opening up the rest of his game. Oklahoma State offered on Saturday.

Kingston Wheatley

2026, West Catholic (PA)

The tools jump off the page with Wheatley, standing at 6-6 with plus length and the motor to match. The Philly native makes his mark most heavily on the defensive end, covering ground and impacting shots around the rim. Athletic, twitchy, energetic, rebounds and unafraid to mix it up in traffic. Lot to like looking ahead with the West Catholic forward.

Josh Powell

2025, Molloy (NY)

Fresh off a very strong Peach Jam showing this summer, Powell is well on his way to a big sophomore campaign. Long been a gifted bucket-getter with functional athleticism and pull-up shot-making ability, but he's grown more consistent and steadily more efficient in his approach and shot diet. Strokes from beyond the arc at a high level with strong elevation on his jumper and doesn't need a ton of time or space to get it off. Texas A&M offered this weekend.

Jayvon Rampersant

2026, Hudson Catholic (NJ)

Came away intrigued by the upside of Rampersant, standing at 6-7 with physical upside, athleticism and soft touch around the rim. The Hudson Catholic sophomore made his presence felt most primarily as a rim runner, cleaning up extra chances on the glass and stifling drivers with his length and instincts. Brought an energetic approach and seems to have plenty more upside to tap into in time. 

Toribola Babs-Ogundeji

2025, Brooklyn Collegiate (NY)

Very strong few games in NYC for Babs-Ogundeji. The 6-5 wing has a unique blend of length and quick-twitch athleticism, thriving as a versatile defender generating deflections and turning defense into offense in transition. Seemed to always be in the midst of the action given his motor and willingness to bump in traffic. Big flashes offensively driving closeouts, shooting off the catch and making plays for others in odd-man opportunities. High upside wing to keep tabs on in NYC.

Micah Waters

2025, West Catholic (PA)

On a West Catholic roster with a number of different weapons, Waters heavily impressed as the group's primary shot creator and trigger man. Slick and crafty with mature pace on the ball, he's at his best attacking downhill out of ball screens and wastes no time finding the open man off a live dribble. Soft touch from deep and adept shooting it off the pull. Talented 6-3 guard out of Philly with a strong blend of scoring and playmaking.

Tyler Francis

2024, Nazareth (NY)

The overall activity level and makeup of Francis left an impact for Nazareth. 6-7 with plus length, he brought a versatile impact on the defensive end. Switching out in space, smothering drivers around the rim and disrupting half-court offense by shooting passing lanes. Offensively, Francis had a number of timely cuts and follow up's around the rim. Manhattan offered the senior forward a few weeks ago.

Tariq Jennings

2024, West Catholic (PA)

Strong weekend for Burrs' wing Tariq Jennings. At 6-6 with a rangy frame and quickness side-to-side, he popped rather quickly as on-ball defender. Picking up handlers early, disrupting with his length and sliding in space without fouling. Came away impressed by his overall energetic approach, while mixing in impressive flashes offensively throughout the weekend. Capable shot-maker with time and space, aggressive driving closeouts and productive getting out in transition to fill the lane. Toolsy, athletic rising senior in Philly.

Yaw Ansong

2025, Union Catholic (NJ)

Hard to miss the appeal with Ansong as a near seven-foot rim runner with impressive mobility and flashes of touch. Unique for his size, but Ansong rarely seems to get blown by in space and has a strong feel defending in rotation to not just swat shots, but also impact rim attempts that seem out of his area. Still adding strength and growing more physical, but he's shown promising touch out of the dunkers spot and as a roll man. Intriguing rim runner out of Jersey tracking at a high level.

Jaziah Luckie-Carter

2025, Brooklyn Collegiate (NY)

Flavio Jean

2025, Brooklyn Collegiate (NY)