Louisville Recruiting, Matt Whitfield, Notre Dame Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, Seton Hall Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting

IS8 SEMIFINAL PLAYER REVIEWS

by Matt Whitfield

Here are some notes on individual players from Saturday’s action at IS8 where the semifinal games took place. It was the NJ Playaz (Sophs) edging out RISE while the NY Panthers got past the New Heights (Jrs) to set up the Sunday finale between the NY Panthers and Playaz. The loaded Panthers squad would take the 2009 IS8 Spring title on Sunday. Here are some player reviews and a couple recruiting notes…

Isaiah Stokley (RISE/2009)
Average build for a senior. Scoring a lot of his team’s points early on. Is not overly noticeable, as for the most part he is having trouble battling the Playaz big boys inside. Nice lay-up off a turnover in the 3rd. Got somewhat hot in the 4th quarter helping lead his team to the lead. Missed a last second layup that would have given RISE the game. Finished with a team-high 19 points.

Stokley has some interest from Seton Hall on the recruiting front, but the senior from Edison Vocational and tech is looking at prep schools and JUCO options for next season.
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Myles Mack (Playaz/2011)
Flashy looking lay-up to start things off. Nice give and go from Charles Oliver soon there after for an easy lay-up. Elite speed in transition, very aware of his surroundings and easily glides by defenders nearby. Made both free throws with less than 10 seconds left to pretty much ice the game. Finished with 16 points.
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Derek Randall (Playaz/2011)
Was not overly effective early on. Then on one play, however, Randall had two blocks as the Playaz came away with possession. Is not a docile big boy in the paint, fights hard for the rebound. went up high for another block on a Rise player as the half expired. Very good in the paint, a fair amount of blocks, rebounds or points scored there today. Finished with 6 points.
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Kyle Anderson (Playaz/2012)
Juat a freshman starting against a team of juniors and seniors. Good at distributing the ball. Nice block on Stokley who tried a put in under the rim. Speed could be slightly better, but were talking about a freshmen here. Finished with 2 points.
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Myles Davis (Playaz/2011)
Had a fair amount of buckets in the 1st half. Nice looking lay-up from Myles Mack in the 1st half despite contact. Proficient jump shot today. Three-point basket near a minute left to give the Playaz the lead. Also had a lay-up to give the Playaz a one point lead with eight seconds left. Finished with a game-high 23 points.

The class of 2011 St. Peters Prep guard stated to NBE this past season that he has already attracted attention from Louisville, Memphis, Notre Dame, Villanova, Kentucky, Seton Hall, Rutgers and St. Joseph’s. Today he informed NBE that you can add Wake Forest to the list.
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Desmond Hubert (Playaz/2011)
Two nice plays in a row in the first half with a dunk off a missed shot and soon there after a putback off another missed shot. Finished with 8 points.
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Lance Stephenson (Panthers/2009)
Nice strip and pass to Lamar Patterson for the easy bucket in early on. Not as dominant as usual in the first half though. Nice off balance pass to another teamate for the easy basket. Not on his A game today. Nice athletic drive to the hoop to start the fourth quarter. Also a nice falling jumpshot in the middle of the fourth put his team up 5. Finished with a team high 22 points, but we have still seen him provide much, much more.
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Devon McMillan (New Heights/2010)
The Hofstra-commit was relatively quiet today compared to the last time NBE saw him. Nice steal and athletic looking lay-in early in the early 4th quarter. Nice and-one lay-up where he blew by Lance and another defender late in the fourth quarter. McMIllan has a handle that is really strong, as he always looks to take it hard to he rack. Tom Pecora has a terrific player headed his way. Will be an impact in Hempstead. Finished with 10 points.
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Ashton Pankey (New Heights/2010)
Nice lay-in off an inbound pass early on. Was an animal under the boards today as well. Stuffed by a Panther player looking for a lay-up, but got the rebound and went right back for the easy put in. Finished with 11 points.
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Jayvaughn Pinkston (New Heights/2010)
Nice play early on where the 230 plus pound Pinkston showed off his agility as he blew and flew by ‘Born Ready’ for a dunk attempt. Followed that up with a nice looking lay-up. Looking like a raging bull on the court early on, moving swiftly and with authority. Good under the boards as well. Nice off balanced one handed put back. Everything about Jayvaughn aka ‘Manchild’s’ game looked great today; i.e. his speed, handle, rebounding ability, just everything. Got in a little bit of a war of words with a Panthers player in the third quarter. Another play in the game where despite being the games biggest player he blew by the defense for the easy layup. Followed that up with another jumper. Soon followed that up with another easy put in. Took a hard spill going after the ball and eventually left the game late with cramps, but would return within a minute. Manchild outshined Lance today. Had a game and day high 30 points.

Following the game, NBE caught up with New Heights coach, former St. John’s assistant Kimani Young for an update on Pinkston.

“I would say he is a Big East player,” Young remarked.

Young informed NBE that Pinkston has been on several unofficial visits to St. John’s and the Redstorm would likely be considered a strong leader for his services. Villanova and a ‘bunch of others’ are also involved.
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