ROSELLE, N.J. — Trevon Duval’s return to New Jersey was the dominant storyline of the weekend at the Tom Richel Memorial Hoopfest at Roselle Catholic High School, but Silvio De Sousa put on the most impressive performance on Sunday.
The 6-foot-8 Class of 2018 forward put up 27 points as IMG Academy handled a Nick Richards-less Patrick School team, 75-66, in the marquee game of the weekend. With the Kentucky-bound Richards suspended for two games after an altercation on Saturday night, De Sousa was free to wheel and deal in the paint and he was simply too athletic, strong and motivated for the Patrick School bigs, who included the Tulane-bound duo of Bul Ajang and Buay Koka and uncommitted junior Valdir Manuel.
“He played amazing today and he’s been playing like that the last couple games,” Duval said. “Really with him it’s just consistency because he can go out there and dominate.
“If he keeps working and keeps playing hard and keeps the right mentality, he’ll be really, really good.”
Trey Duval crazy find to Silvio De Sousa ? @DatGuy_Trey @SilvioDeSousa5 @IMGABasketball pic.twitter.com/XPS34h0uCi
— Overtime (@overtime) February 5, 2017
De Sousa, a native of Angola, listed Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky as the schools working the hardest. He holds offers from Louisville, Maryland, Florida and Syracuse, among others.
“I haven’t taken any visits yet,” he said. “I might next year.”
IMG Academy coach Vince Walden a former college coach, said De Sousa has a huge upside.
“He’s doing really well,” he said. “He’s got a great body. He’s teachable, coachable, unbelievable human being. It’s fun to coach him.”
De Sousa has a terrific motor and wants to keep improving his fundamentals.
“[I can] rebound, score, I’m really good at scoring the ball,” he said. “All I have to do is improve on my handle, my jump shot and everything else will come after that.”
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