NHSHF: Westtown vs. Putnam Science
It's Pennsylvania vs Connecticut when Westtown goes against Putnam Science this Saturday in the National High School Hoops Festival. Tip-off is 545p. For general game information, the flyer at the bottom of this page has it.
Now, enjoy this match up rundown:
Westtown (PA)
Skinny: Head coach Seth Berger’s take on his team: “Super talented, super tall and super together”. It’s not an exaggeration.
Schemes: Offensively “We try and run first of all” said Berger, “get as many possessions in the game as we can”. In half court situations the Moose keep it simple, since “due to our talent, we just get kids in the right spaces”.
Defensively, Berger shared “we play a combination of man and zone”, designed to “use our length”.
A few players of note: Speaking of long players, go no further than senior Mohamed Bamba; he’s 6’11”, weighs 220 pounds and has a 7’9 wingspan. Bamba, one of the most highly recruited players in America is much more than his physical presence, being a guy Berger called “position-less” due to his “Size, coordination, intelligence and athleticism”.
Cam Reddish is another Moose to look for. A 6’8”, 215 pound point guard, Reddish, in the Class of 2019, “could be one of the best point guards in history” opined Berger. The coach was referencing basketball history.
Duke has already offered him, as have UVA, Villanova, Kentucky and others.
Another top player nationally dressing in Westtown silks is Brandon Randolph. Standing 6’6” and scaling at 180 pounds, Class of 2018 member and swingman Randolph, headed to Arizona “might find his way to pro ball and is probably the best scorer in high school” Berger’s seen.
X-factor: Berger believes Jake Forrester, a 6’9”, 210 pound ’18 forward fits that bill, per Berger. Temple and Penn State have already offered him. “He’s a really good offensive rebounder, runs the floor, effort level is always 10 out of 10” said the coach.
VS.
Putnam Science (CT)
Skinny: Coached by Thomas Espinosa, Putnam Science Academy (CT) is a high powered, perimeter player driven squad, one that last season experienced great success. The Mustangs are not to be trifled with.
Schemes: Per Espinosa, Putnam Science doesn’t “run a motion offense”, instead choosing “quick hitters, two-man game, ball screens”. Ultimately “Our best offense is get out and go” said Espinosa, where observers can expect his team to “shoot a lot of threes in transition” as well as attack the tin.
Defensively the Mustangs pressure, including deploying “Press, man” defenses according to their coach. “Even in zone, we run traps” he added.
A few players of note: Putnam Science is led by all everything shooting guard, Hamidau Diallo. The 6’6”, 175 pound senior shooting guard is a dynamic finisher who has worked hard on his handle. Diallo’s outside game has improved.
His final six schools; Kentucky, Syracuse, Arizona, Indiana, UConn, Kansas.
Eric Ayala, a junior point guard standing 6’5”, 180 pounds is not blindingly quick, nevertheless gets to his spots using strength and moxie. Alaya drives, finishes, finds and spots up.
Many schools covet him, including Arizona, Syracuse and Maryland, all of whom have offered, as have additional colleges.
X-factor: Espinosa dapped Jaheam Cornwall as the guy who “keeps everyone involved”, the team’s “leader”. The coach identified, “He’s the key” to Mustang success.
A slew of Northeastern based mid-majors have offered this 6’1”, 175 floor general, including Fairfield, Robert Morris, Maine and St. Frances (NY).
