Marquette Recruiting, Matt Whitfield, Notre Dame Recruiting, Providence Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting

PROVIDENCE JAM FEST: OPENING NIGHT

by Matt Whitfield

The Hoop Group saw their annual Providence Jam Fest get underway Friday night in a couple gyms on the Rhode Island College Campus and local high schools. On Saturday much of the top action will move to Providence College as well with top teams such as the NY Celtics, Albany City Rocks, NE Playaz, NY Panthers, Unique All-Stars, Team Phenom and Boo Williams in the 17-U field that are on the NBE to-do list to check out before the weekend is through.

On Friday night, the Mass Rivals were the main attraction to check out and their talented trio of Carson Desrosiers, Evan Smotrycz and Matt Brown certainly showed why they are expected to play deep into the weekend as one of the team’s to beat.

Stay tuned to the NBE Basketball Report this weekend for updates from Providence where Matt Whitfield is stationed all weekend and from Indiana, where Dough Ferguson is checking out the Nike Spring Showdown (here is his first report from there: Dority, McCall Have Big East Interest).

Matt Brown
Son of former Providence hoopster Donnie Brown. Good physical size for a high school junior, lots of lean muscle. Broad shoulders for his age, you see why he is a wanted player on the football field, too.

Has a good looking shot, but looks to pass almost as much, if not more, than he shoots. Good footwork and handle. Takes it hard to the hoop when he wants. By far the best athlete and possibly the best prospect on the floor. Got a good amount of air on a block of Jonathan Merceus’s shot.

Providence, Notre Dame and Marquette are showing him interest from the Big East for basketball. The Irish, along with Stanford and Miami have expressed an interest in him playing both football and basketball in college as those, along with Boston College are just some of the schools recruiting him for football.
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Carson Desrosiers
Good basketball length, but the big man needs to hit the weights and GNC to reach full potential in college. Decent footwork and speed, which is not quite that common for a man his size (6′10). Adequate defense now, but in time could be a defensive monster with the added weight. Had several blocks in this game and is very skilled for size and age.

Syracuse and Providence have been among many to make trips to see him workout already this spring at Lawrence (MA) Catholic.
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Evan Smotrycz
Good height, but needs to get physically stronger before the Big 10. His size and skill away from the basket makes it look like he was made for John Beilein’s system and he should get the most of his strengths at Michigan. Showed ability to slash to the basket, but needs to finish more often once in the paint, as evidenced by failing to convert on an easy lay-up. Added strength will help.
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This week’s featured sports ticket links:

NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Tickets: Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (Game #6) April 26 2009


New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Tickets April 25 2009


New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Tickets April 26 2009

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