N
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Putnam Science scored the last 13 points of the game to edge Montverde Prep 81-80 in the nightcap of the third day of the National Prep School Invitational.
UConn recruit Mamadou Diarra made two free throws with five seconds remaining to cap the furious rally. 6-7 Australian Kouat Noi scored 17 second-half points to lead Montverde to a late 15-point lead that was relinquished in the final four minutes of play. Noi finished with a game-high 28 points. Montverde’s starting backcourt of Fard Muhammad (22 points) and MaCio Teague (15) played strongly again. Both appear very under-recruited at this point. Hamidou Diallo, the highest rated 2017 recruit at the event (#14 ESPN) led the winners with 17 points while Diarra contributed 16 points.
Bruce Brown scored 22 first-half points on the way to a game-high 28 points to lead Vermont Academy to a 89-65 victory over Proctor Academy. The 6-3 Brown doesn’t appear to have a weakness to his game and will be an immediate contributor for the Hurricanes. 5-10 point guard Marcus Floyd continued his excellent play scoring 21 points, including three three-pointers, as Sunrise Christian ran away from Bridgton Academy 88-45. Floyd is another under-recruited 2016 player, currently sporting only low-major offers.
The Helsinki Basketball Academy competed well, but faded late in a 90-73 loss to a very strong St. Thomas More team. St. Thomas More has seven players committed to Division 1 schools for next fall. Villanova signee 6-10 Omari Spellman led the winners with 15 points. 7-0 Arizona signee Lauri Markannen led Helsinki once again, this time with 22 points while 6-3 Fiifi Aidoo has his best game on the event with 20 points, including an impressive dunk on a dribble drive.
The Czech Republic’s GB Academy won their second game of the event, topping Thetford Mines of Canada 70-54 behind 17 points from 6-8 Matej Drgon and 6-4 Milos Jovic. Jovic has impressed during the event and appears to be a MM+ recruit. Makai Ashton-Langford (2017, #33 ESPN) scored 21 points as Cushing Academy beat Hill Academy of Canada 80-66. Ashton-Langford scored 21 points in both of his games at the event.
Penn recruit AJ Brodeur had 18 points to lead Northfield Mt. Hermon to an easy 87-59 win over St. Andrew’s. Tanner Johnson, headed to Bryant, hit four three-pointers and scored 17 points as Worcester Academy topped Bill Crothers Secondary School of Canada.
Notre Dame Prep topped Scotland Performance (PA) 80-60 as 6-5 Travis Atson (Tulsa) has his second strong game with a game-high 24 points. Atson is a tough player and will be a “glue-guy” in college. 6-11 Cheickna Dembele of Mali led Scotland Performance with 16 points and showed high major potential.
The event concludes today with five games.
Carl Berman is Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball.
