(Sheridan Sharpe turned in a strong performance.)

 

The 2021 NY2LA Sports Spring Extravaganza came to an end Sunday with a full day of basketball. Indiana Basketball Source details nine players that stood out.

 

In one of the final games of the day, George Hill All-Indy’s 16U group was going through the motions against Yanders Law. Ben Davis point guard Sheridan Sharpe (2023) stepped up to give GHAI a shot in the arm. With his superb lateral quickness, Sharpe forced turnovers on the defensive end and converted them to points. He finished a few plays at the rim. Sharpe also knocked down a three-pointer in the first half to ensure a comfortable lead. Also, Sharpe created off the dribble for others and found passing lanes to get the ball to them.

 

Overall, Xavier Booker made great strides this weekend. He was fantastic against the Illinois Wolves and battled a big, tough All-Ohio Red team. Today, he let off the gas a bit. He was more engaged in the second half and made a few great plays as he racked up points at the basket and free throw line. The next step for the high-potential prospect is playing with a competitive edge in each game. Over the last two years, he has improved in this area but as today showed, Booker is still a work-in-progress.

 

In a loss to Sharpe and Booker, Yanders Law guard AK Rael showed promise. At 6’4”/6’5”, Rael is a big guard/wing. He made plays for himself and teammates off the dribble. Rael’s outside shot also looked solid as he knocked down a couple of catch-and-shoot threes. He helped Yanders Law stay competitive in the game.

 

The Louisville Legends-Mac Irvin Fire turned out to be a chippy, competitive game. After a back and forth first half, Mac Irvin Fire started to pull away in the second. Players like Jaylen Drane, Sincere Malone, Trey Pettigrew, and Danny Wolf were running and scoring. Jeffersonville’s Kobe Stoudemire helped the Louisville Legends mount a comeback. The undersized guard beat the Mac Irvin Fire defenders off the dribble consistently. He also was perfect from the line. He scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

 

Floyd Central’s Wesley Celichowski also plays for the Louisville Legends. He started the game with a couple of early dunks. They were both after drop-off passes. Throughout the game, he did a good job on the glass against the big, athletic Mac Irvin Fire frontcourt. He continues to improve.

 

At the end of the Mac Irvin-Louisville Legends game, Pettigrew stuck a come of daggers. Pettigrew is a Chicago native transferred to Gilbert Eduprize (Arizona) this year. He is a 6’3” guard with a plus wingspan and plenty of athleticism. His threes were big to Mac Irvin’s win.

 

In 17U action, George Hill All-Indy-Smith had a few players stand out. Omari Ferguson and Jaiden Malachi had the biggest games. Ferguson is an athlete that caused problems once he was downhill and in transition. The Pike guard also looked good on a couple of outside shots. He has the talent to have a breakout spring and summer. Malachi was finishing everything in the first half – after drop-offs, in transition, on the offensive glass. He also showed that he can score through contact and while off balance. It was a great showing for the Cathedral forward.

 

On the other side, Chris Mutebi of the REACH Legends made a handful of head-turning players. He is a bigger guard with insanely long arms. Mutebi is an explosive athlete. He had a monstrous transition dunk where he jumped from the middle of the paint and cocked it back. Mutebi looked good with the ball in his hands, too. Additionally, his jumper had solid form. He is currently hearing from D1s with a D2 offer from Ferris State. He should see that increase soon.

 

C2K Elite’s Danny Young made an impact with his smooth jumper. He splashed a few threes against EG10, and they looked pure from the moment it left his hand. Young is a good athlete, too. His tools – shooting form, length, athleticism, feel – made him stand out quickly.