By ARTHUR WARNER-KAMSLER
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – While Vermont Academy might have lost to South Kent Sunday at the National Prep Showcase, that did not stop two juniors from impressing.
Bruce Brown, the No. 47 player in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports composite rankings, and Tyrique Jones (No. 101) both stood out due as much to their impressive athleticism as to their production on the court.
Brown, a 6-foot-4, powerfully built guard, scored 20 points while adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a 66-61 loss to South Kent. Brown was as athletic of a guard as their was at the Showcase and at times his athleticism helped him destroy South Kent’s offensive while also showing the ability to guard three positions. Brown is still putting it together offensively but was able to hit two 3-pointers, an encouraging sign for a guard with his athletic ability.
According to Brown his recruitment has really picked up recently as he just received an offer from Indiana to go along with the offers he already had from Wake Forest, Boston College, Miami, Arizona State, Auburn, and Manhattan.
Indiana probably will not be the last school to offer him as a number of high profile schools have recently been in contact with Brown.
“Arizona, UCLA, UConn, and Michigan have all shown interest.” Brown said but also noted that he has no plans to visit any schools until his senior year.
Jones’ numbers were not quite as impressive but he did display some serious rebounding prowess and elite athletic ability for someone who is listed at 6-8, 235 pounds.
Jones has already received offers from Charlotte, Xavier, UMass, Kansas State, Rhode Island, and Cincinnati. He also said that Indiana, Oregon, Arizona State, and UConn have shown interest recently and he was still waiting for a couple offers.
The Connecticut native was able to Visit UConn for Midnight Madness and said, “I like UConn a lot, I like Kevin Ollie’s system,”
Jones said that his mom will be key in helping him pick a school and while location is not essential.
“If she can get out to games that would be good,” he said.
FREE THROWS
One of the most intriguing prospects going into the final day of the Showcase was 6-11, British center Samuel Japhet-Mathias. While Japhet-Mathias did show some of the tools that make him so intriguing, such as decent mobility, strength, and touch for someone his age (Class of 2017) it was actually the man guarding him who truly impressed.
Jovan Grujic, a 7-1 2016 center from Pancevo, Serbia, was extremely impressive on both ends of the floor. Grujic is a good rebounder and defender while displaying decent athleticism and touch around the basket. Grujic showed his defensive ability by limiting Jones and Mathias to eight points in the game on a combined 2-for-8 shooting from the field. As good as he was defensively, Grujic showed just how good he could be in the second half when he calmly hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and then scored on a nifty post move a couple of possessions later.
Grujic only arrived in the United States in August and already has an offer from Fordham, according to South Kent coach Kelvin Jefferson. However, if his performance Sunday was any indication of his talent level and potential, it won’t be long before colleges are lining up outside of Grujic’s door.
Terance Mann, a Florida State commit, was the most impressive lead guard at the Showcase on Sunday. Mann has elite size at 6-4, athleticism for the point guard position and displayed extremely impressive vision in setting up his teammates. Mann’s biggest weakness right now is his lack of a jump shot, he missed all four of his 3-point attempts, but if he ever learns how to shoot he will be extremely difficult to stop at the next level.
