Hoop Group New York Top 100 Showcases Bright Future

College basketball is a game of youth, and what better way to find out about the stars of tomorrow than by getting a look at the future?

Fordham University provided that opportunity Tuesday night when it played host to the Hoop Group Top 100 Elite skills camp, showcasing prep stars from across the Northeast for scouts, media, and coaches at the Division II and Division III levels. A total of 125 prospects auditioned for what could very well be their future a few years from now; and while most aren’t at the “can’t miss” prospect level just yet, the majority of these aspiring hoopsters showed off their massive potential for some of the national landscape to see firsthand for themselves. Here’s a brief scouting report on some of the boys that provided some lasting impressions in the Bronx as they continue to chase their dreams:

• Kyle Williams (6-8 Fr., West Islip, NY – St. John The Baptist HS)
Kyle is an athletic young big man that bears a slight physical resemblance to St. John’s rookie Dwayne Polee, but his game is a little more physical inside. Already measuring 6-8 in just his freshman year of high school, Williams demonstrated a Charles Oakley-esque ability to chase rebounds and go after the ball on the defensive side; offsetting his raw offensive game.

• Isaiah Velez (6-3 Jr., Parlin, NJ – Old Bridge HS)
Isaiah’s on-court speed and ability to finish in transition is the most impressive facet of his game. He is a slasher that can attack the basket just as well as he can spot up to shoot from mid-range. In other words, think a poor man’s Jerel McNeal; but less aggressive defensively. Covering the Northeast Conference personally, I can definitely see a player like Velez getting offers from NEC schools in a year’s time if his game improves just a little more.

• David Hardy (6-1 Jr., New York, NY – John F. Kennedy HS)
Same last name and high school as a St. John’s star of the past, but no relation. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any similarities between David Hardy and Dwight Hardy, though. David has a shooter’s touch the same way the Johnny that shares his surname does; but the younger Hardy needs to develop more confidence in his shot when he puts it up. There were many times in which David looked hesitant when under in-game situations, but his determined nature inside is what will endear him to college coaches. A true work in progress that could be a bigger boom than bust for whomever recruits him.

• Chris McCullough (6-9 Fr., Bronx, NY – Salisbury HS)
McCullough was one of the first players that stood out from the moment the camp got underway, blazing through drills and warmups before showing his true potential in competition. A tall and lanky Long Islander that is already rumored to be receiving interest from Connecticut and Pittsburgh, McCullough could be the prototypical Big East power forward/center if he fills out over the next three years. Currently, Chris’ skills are similar to former UConn swingman Stanley Robinson; but he could blossom into a Jeff Adrien/DeJuan Blair type with the proper conditioning.

• Robert Rossiter (6-2 Fr., Staten Island, NY – Xaverian HS)
From the family that gave us oldest brother Steve (former Davidson reserve) and middle child Ryan (the Monsignor Farrell product who went on to dominate at Siena while setting the school rebounding record) comes the latest big man in Richmond County. What you’ll find most impressive about Robert is his ability at such a young age. He plays very much like his brother on both ends of the ball, and even does Ryan one better with his instinctive tendencies to take charge wherever he is on the court. The youngest Rossiter could be ticketed for a mid-major like both of his brothers before him; but being a freshman who will eventually play for legendary Xaverian varsity head man Jack Alesi, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Robert develop into a Luke Harangody-type big man in one of the BCS conferences.

• Jarrel Marshall (6-6 Jr., Mount Vernon, NY – Mount Vernon HS)
Jarrel is the type of player Bob Cimmino has become notorious for churning out at Mount Vernon: A swingman that could play guard and forward with equal proficiency. What Marshall needs to expose further is his outside game, as he didn’t get many chances to prove himself from beyond the arc. Currently, he looks like fellow Cimmino product and Rutgers star Jonathan Mitchell; but needs to develop his three-point shot a little more to really draw comparisons to “J-Mitch,” or even outgoing St. John’s senior D.J. Kennedy.

• Mike White (6-6 Sr., Staten Island, NY – Lincoln HS)
Of course, when one thinks Lincoln, they think PSAL elite the likes of Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. White is proving that Tiny Morton doesn’t just give the NBA great guards, and the best part about that is that he does it gradually. You won’t see flash and sizzle right away from White, but at the end of the day he’s a grinder that won’t leave anything on the court. If he were more of a scorer, he would be a lock for a Big East or ACC squad; but don’t be surprised to see him at a mid-major the likes of George Mason or Hofstra, where his style fits right in with the nature of play in the CAA.

• Jordan Fuchs (6-6 So., Rockville Centre, NY – Christ The King HS)
Jordan was probably the biggest diamond in the rough last night, and will no doubt add his name to the Who’s Who of Christ The King basketball players. It’s not easy to make a name for yourself when you’ve played alongside household names like Omar Calhoun and Isaiah Lewis, but Jordan showed a little bit of everything when put to the challenge by the Hoop Group staff. The best thing about him is that he’s got two more years in Middle Village. Already measuring 6-6, it wouldn’t be surprising to see coach Joe Arbitello use him as a big man at the varsity level, which is something that will naturally attract Big East coaches to him if he develops the right way. Just remember: Chris Taft (Xaverian/Pitt) and Curtis Sumpter (Bishop Loughlin/Villanova) were both CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens products too, and Jordan has the potential to outshine both.

• Isaiah Whitehead (6-3 Fr., Brooklyn, NY – Lincoln HS)
The last name on the list is another Lincoln product, but one who hasn’t taken full advantage of what he could bring to the table yet. Only a freshman, Isaiah still has the time to turn himself into a PSAL stud. Already playing for Team USA, Whitehead is a point guard from an institution famous for their exports at that position; and his skills that earned him a spot on the national team should improve over time to the point where even if he doesn’t take his talents to the NBA, he’ll at least be a recognizable name in Division I and/or maybe even overseas as well.