Bryce Aiken - PG - Pope John XXIII - Randolph, NJ - HARVARD

Yup that's bryce

A 5-8 freshman dynamo, Bryce Aiken started at point guard from day one and improved every step of the way, averaging 16.3 points and 7.1 assists per game this season. Aiken scored every which way, as evidenced by his 50 3-pointers and 142 free throws. He led Pope John to a record of 20-8 and the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament championship.

Hasson had a feeling about Aiken because he knew his two older brothers were high school standouts currently playing in college. Kyle Aiken, who was at Seton Hall Prep and Randolph, plays at Lincoln, while Julian Aiken plays at Assumption. Julian led the state in scoring last year at Randolph.

“Tony said Bryce was interested in coming because of the academics,’’ Hasson said. “He loved the school when he visited. It’s probably the closest to his home in Randolph, so once he decided, I went to see him play at Good Shepard Academy.

“After seeing him play, I had a good feeling he was going to be special. Then in a summer league game with the Hoop Group, he scored 48 in a game. I had an idea he would be our starting guard.’’

When 6-9 Jermaine Lawrence, the state's top senior recruit, had his season cut short by an injury, Aiken was asked to lead a team that consisted of five underclassmen.

Not only did he do that, he was at his best in the big games.

“That was the thing,’’ Hasson said. “The bigger the game, the better Bryce played. He was just unreal.’’

As for next year and the future, Hasson said the sky is the limit.

“When the season ended, I told the kids to take a week off,’’ Hasson said. “But Bryce said no, he wanted to get back into the gym right away. He’s already working on getting bigger and stronger.

“His family is very tall, so if he grows to be 6-0 or 6-1, who knows how far he can go. When I was an assistant at St. Anthony, Myles Mack (Rutgers) was one of my favorites. Bryce has the potential to be as good or better than Myles.’’

“@BryceAiken: POY! http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boysbasketball/index.ssf/2013/03/west_jersey_boys_basketball_season_in_review_2012-13.html”

Bobby Hurley workIng NJ;
“@TheRecruitScoop: Buffalo offered 2016 PG Bryce Aiken, who is playing AAU with Team Scan (NY).”

Third Team, some other familiar names;

“@MaxPreps: 2012-13 Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team http://t.maxpreps.com/17N7wPM Featuring @TheReal_HG3 @EronGordon1 @SeventhWoods @Thon_Maker”

“@PopeJohnBball: Penn State and Ohio State were at Pope John open gym last night to see 2015 PF Moustapha Diagne and 2016 All American @BryceAiken #PJBball”

2h 

Adam Zagoria ? @AdamZagoria

I guess this is old news but 2016 PG Bryce Aiken has transferred to St. Pat's

“@TheBBallDiary: Here at Providence College. Some high schoolers are already inside. One familiar face from NJ is Bryce Aiken. More to come...”

“@TheRecruitScoop: Seton Hall offered 2016 PG Bryce Aiken of The Patrick School (NJ).”

Dino with some praise for Bryce with UCLA reference & Lav favorite;

“@trigonis30: 5-10 2016 Bryce Aiken (The Patrick/Elizabeth NJ) is smart and crafty PG ala @TyusEdneyUCLA #PangosAllEast”

@TheRecruitScoop: Rhode Island offered 2016 PG Bryce Aiken of PSA Cardinals (NJ) tonight, he says. First reported by @ASlater247.

@courtcred: PSA Cards only had 6 players in uniform 2night. Bryce Aiken (21) Omari Spellman (20) and Christian Vital (15) scored 56 of the team's 62 pts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tkoe37bHNs

Man this is a point guard right here. Thats from his sophomore year and as a small kid he will on;y get better just from strength and maturity alone.

Anyone who's seen Bryce play within the last year who can speak on his game?

@GiveNGobball: Bryce Aiken, a Class of 2016 G playing for PSA Cardinals (NY), announced that he has picked up an offer from Florida State.

@EvanDaniels: Bryce Aiken has big spring + discusses recruiting | Story: http://t.co/iVohVFBcFd http://t.co/p1oQDqkvQS

@EvanDaniels: Bryce Aiken has big spring + discusses recruiting | Story: http://t.co/iVohVFBcFd http://t.co/p1oQDqkvQS

No mention of SJU. Maybe coach likes bigger pgs.

@JeffRabjohns: PSA Cardinals (NY) 2016 guard @BryceAiken offered by Butler tonight. https://t.co/EZmbJ8Wvzb

Hope we are next

Sounds like he is really academic oriented.

I thought he was destined to play with one of the Hurleys.  Bobby was on him early and it now at a school that is the appropriate level for a guy like Aiken.  Danny was on him early as well.  I haven't seen anything about either Hurley showing interest recently. 

I like him. Smart kid, tight handle, good shot, and a rare pure PG in the area for 2016...combo city.  A little undersized but his brothers were bigger and he looks young physically. 

Pangos All-American Camp

per Rivals.com:

Often times the guy feeding Leaf the ball was point guard Bryce Aiken. The No. 130 player in the class of 2016, Aiken might even be a bit smaller than his listed 6-foot and 160 pounds, but he doesn't play like somebody who lacks size. He's a tough kid who shared the ball and knocked home open looks.