This past week, the regions top young players ascended on to the campus of Mount Ida College to take part in Hoops Elite Academy Elite Week 2013.  With almost double digit scholarship offers in hand, the class of 2016 prospects did not disappoint.  Here is a look at who stood out throughout the session.

Class of 2016

Christian Vital – 6’2″, Guard, Vermont Academy – Vital was unstoppable throughout the session using his strong frame and shooting ability to rise above defenders for midrange jumpers and deep threes.  Vital has a strong handle on the ball, sneaky athleticism, and the ability to find creases in the defense to get to the rim.  The New York native displayed a strong work ethic, and took home All-Star MVP honors while at Elite Week 2013.  Vital holds offers from BU and Holy Cross, while garnering interest from VCU.  Look for Vital to build off the momentum he gained running with Team SCAN over the summer, as he heads off to Vermont Academy in the fall.

Unique McLean – 6’1″, Guard, Hoosac School – McLean showed off his human highlight reel athleticism throughout the session, on his way to earning HEA Elite Week 2013 MVP, and leading his team to a camp championship.  McLean also demonstrated the ability to consistently breakdown his defender off the dribble going either direction to get to the hoop and finish at the rim with either hand.  The lefty used his quick first step to create space for midrange pull-ups, and flashed the potential for a consistent jumper out to three-point range.  McLean holds offers from BU, Detroit, Sienna, and Saint Francis.

Ellis Christmas – 6’2″, Guard, Suffield Academy – Christmas is a long combo guard, who has the ability to break his defender down off the dribble to consistently get into the lane to either finish, or make plays for his teammates.  As a result for his knack for getting others involved, Christmas took home Most Outstanding Playmaker.  Christmas has a steady midrange jumper in his offensive repertoire, and uses his strength and length to get to his spot and rise up over defenders.  Christmas will be attending Suffield Academy in the fall.

PJ Tucker – 6’3″, Guard, Beaver Country Day School – After missing all of last season due to injury, Tucker has come back with a vengeance.  Tucker is a strong wing player, built like an outside linebacker, who uses his strength and speed to get to the rim.  Tucker has the ability to knock down shots from deep, and utilizes a fundamentally sound up fake to lift defenders in the air.  Tucker is also dangerous in the open floor, as he is always running hard to fill the lanes.  Tucker is a tough on ball defender as well, using his length and foot speed to keep his opponent in front of him at all times.  Tucker ended a productive session as an All-Star selection.

Brendan Hoban – 6’1″, Guard, Watertown High School – Hoban found his stride late in camp, knocking down deep threes, running the floor for easy buckets, and using a quick first step to get to the hoop in the half court.  Hoban has solid athleticism and leaping ability, finishing with a number of put backs either on the break or in the half court, ending the session with an All-Star selection.  Look for Hoban to be a major contributor for Watertown High School in the fall.

Devonte McCall – 6’4″, Forward, Amherst Regional High School – McCall was active all session, especially on day 2, where he used his high motor, great hands, and athleticism to finish through contact in the paint off offensive rebounds and dump offs from the guards.  McCall runs the floor exceptionally well, and displays the necessary footwork and speed to make the move out to the wing.  McCall also demonstrated the ability to guard multiple positions throughout the session.

Dealency Butler – 6’2″, Guard, Middletown High School – Butler is a long wing prospect who asserted himself throughout the 3 day session as someone who can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court.  Butler knocked down mid range jumpers, played solid defense, and was a willing rebounder.

Ben Murphy – 6’4″, Forward, Newton North High School – Murphy is a lunch pale forward, who uses his strength and high-level motor to crash the boards on both ends of the floor.  Murphy is a physical presence on defense, and anchored his teams back line of defense.  Murphy was one of the hardest workers at camp, and brought a professional demeanor to everyt drill and game throughout the session.

Janard Jones – 5’11”, Guard, The Newman School – Jones displayed the ability to knock down shots from deep, and consistently made the extra pass in order to create open shots for his teammates.  Jones played solid on ball defense throughout the session.

Michael Dubose – 6’0″, Guard, New Missions High School – Dubose is a tough, athletic guard, who played tremendous on ball defense throughout the session.  Dubose used his speed and quick first step to slash to the hoop, where he displayed the ability to consistently finish through contact.  Dubose is a willing rebounder out of the backcourt, and can knock down midrange jumpers.

Class of 2015

Patrick Jackson – 6’1″, Guard, St. Mary’s High School – Jackson can flat out shoot the ball, and has in the gym type range.  He knocked down shots consistently throughout the session, while also demonstrating the ability to get to the rim in the half court.

Isaiah McLeod – 6’2″, Guard, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School – McLeod is a natural born leader, earning the Elite Week 2013 Leadership Award.  The captain helped pace his team with steady backcourt play throughout the session, doing whatever his team needed to win basketball games.  McLeod has a tight handle and blow by speed, where he can finish through contact at the rim or over the defender with a floater.  McLeod was an All-Star selection.

Paris Norwood – 6’4″, Forward, Amherst Regional High School – Norwood is an absolute monster on the glass, and plays the game with reckless abandon.  Norwood has gained considerable muscle and athleticism since we first saw him as an 8th grader, and used that added strength to finish everything around the rim.  Norwood’s relentless motor set him apart from anybody else at camp.  Norwood was an All-Star selection.