The National Prep Showcase brought some of the best talent throughout the east coast to the campus of Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. There was a bevy of top-tier talent on display, quality coaching being done, and loads of college coaches in attendance. I was able to learn a good amount these past few days up in New England which included just how good Bruce Brown and Deriante Jenkins are and will be at the next level, along with the quality amount of talent within the 2017 class in the prep ranks.

BRUCE BROWN DISPLAYS ALPHA TRAITS

The first major event following the early signing period, sometimes some of the recently committed tend to lay off the gas pedal but with Bruce Brown, the Vermont Academy star never fails to show up in the biggest of stages. With Brown, I am beginning to come around to the fact that he isn’t just a facilitating secondary ballhandler, but now more of a point guard. He has never shot the ball great and I don’t believe that he ever will, yet it doesn’t take away from his primary strengths on the floor and what he does for his squad. The Boston native is an elite competitor who rebounds the ball at a very high rate. Athleticism sure isn’t much of an issue with him either where he nearly threw down a handful of highlight jams over defenders in the lane. A quality passer with a burst to him, there were some slight Russell Westbrook comparisons being thrown around with him. While it may be a bit of a reach in achieving those types of standards, there is no doubting Brown’s potential at the next level, something that bodes very well for his future destination at Miami.

DERIANTE JENKINS HAS STAR POTENTIAL

Right along with Brown, Deriante Jenkins had two great showings on Friday and Saturday and the South Carolina native displayed a progressing skillset and a frame that he has continued to nurture as he has knocked off some of the bulk and seems a lot longer, quicker, and more athletic at the basket. Two years back, Jenkins was more of a small-ball 4-man. Now, while the Hargrave senior can still play that particular spot, Jenkins has developed his ball skills and gotten better at making open jump shots that should enable for him to be used anywhere from the 2-4 on the playing floor. Headed to VCU next fall, versatility is the name of the game with the Havoc culture that new head coach Will Wade and his staff has kept intact in Richmond. With this being said, expect for Jenkins to be a lethal, immediate presence in the backcourt and someone that could be a star early on for the Rams as a guy that can impact the game on both sides of the floor.

YOUNG TALENT NOT LACKING

Most of the time, the prep ranks are filled with seniors that are using their final year to get more ready for the college level the following year but now it seems that the  talent is heading to the New England region a lot earlier. Whether it is the new academic standards that are in place for incoming college freshmen or that the talent throughout the region is becoming more willing to play for a prep program compared to their local high school, the facts are there that the 2017 class within the region looks quite enticing.

On Saturday evening, UConn head coach Kevin Ollie and Kentucky head coach John Calipari both made their way in for one contest. However, they weren’t in attendance for an unsigned senior but for Hamidou Diallo, a 2017 guard at Putnam Science. The New Yorker is quite the explosive athlete and his current rate of development is beyond impressive as he definitely is worth being pursued by the best of the best. However, things just don’t end there.

Northfield Mount Hermon showcases five capable high-major guys in the 2017 class with Kellan Grady, Tomas Murphy, Jerome Desrosiers, Matt DeWolf, and Andrew Platek. One of the most entertaining and well-coached bunches, NMH always competes for the prestigious NEPSAC championship and relying on so many non-seniors speaks volumes about the depth and upcoming talent that the program maintains.

Blair Academy is highlighted by three of their own 2017 class members led by Kodye Pugh, Deng Gak, and Matt Turner. Pugh and Turner already hold a handful of high-major offers while Gak is a relative unknown to most at the current time, but by the spring, the Australian might be able to pick any school that he would want to attend.

Christian David, a 6-foot-6 wing at Vermont Academy, already holds a handful of high-major offers where the junior has the chance to be a top-75 recruit by this time next year.

Cushing Academy throws out a handful of quality juniors along the lines of Wabissa Bede, Jarrod Simmons, and Makai Ashton-Langford. All three hold high-major offers and the trio seem to be the catalysts for the successful bunch out of Massachusetts.

The list can go on even further but the fact that the 2017 class is already pretty promising throughout the prep ranks displays that the talent won’t be running out anytime soon within the New England region.