By Pat Dallahan
Today was day one of the 2024 Prep National Championship presented by NERR. In this article, I will highlight a player or two that stood out from each team in the games I broadcasted and watched for the opening rounds.
Vermont Academy - Chike Ndefo, Towson commit (C/O 2024)
Tonight, Chike Ndefo was tasked with having to replace the offensive output of Joson Sanon, a five star recruit in the class of 2025. Although, #1 seed Vermont Academy fell to #16 seed Phelps School, Ndefo was impressive for all forty minutes. He was an issue for Phelps on the glass, grabbing six offensive rebounds and thirteen rebounds total. He got to the rim at an impressive rate, having 10 shot attempts inside the paint. Overall, Ndefo shot seven of fourteen from the field, finishing with an effecient fifteen points.
Newman School - Khalil Badru, uncommitted (C/O 2024)
Heading into today's game vs #15 Western Reserve Academy, I had not heard much about Khalil Badru. Following the game, I was left confused as to why I had not hear much about him. Badru was all over the floor this afternoon for #2 Newman. On the offensive end, Badru was efficient, shooting eight of twelve (one of four from deep). I was extremely impressed with how athletic he was and how well he rebounded outside of his area, grabbing thirteen boards. Badru also tallied four deflections and a steal. Holds offers from Central Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Sunrise Christian - Maz Pikaar, uncommitted (post-graduate) and Makhi Myles, uncommitted (post-graduate)
On the statsheet, Pikaar did not have a good game. Pikar shot one for eight from the field, did not make a three on three attempts, and had four turnovers. It was clear today was not his day. However, I am very intrigued by his upside as a prospect. He stands six-foot eleven and two-hundred pounds and moves extremely well for someone his height. He spaced the floor incredibly well for the Sunrise offense and it is very clear that college coaches see his upside as well. Holds offers from Penn State, College of Charleston, Bowling Green, Sam Houston, and UC Santa Barbara.
Yes, it is easy for me to say that the three star recruit was impressive, but when someone scores seventeen points on seven for ten shooting, hauls in eight boards, and tallies four steals and a block while being the first man to dive on the floor for five loose balls, it is hard to ignore their performance. Makhi Myles played a massive role in #3 Sunrise Christian's 78-71 victory over #14 Hargrave Military Academy. Holds offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Wichita State, Louisiana Monroe, and Southern Miss.
Fork Union Military Academy - Jaden Johnson, uncommitted (post-graduate)
Jaden Johnson was the most physical guard I watched today. He craved contact all game long, drawing a game high six fouls, and absorbed it incredibly well as he drove to the basket. In the scoring category, Johnson finished with a game high twenty-six points on ten of eighteen shooting. Not only would Johnson drive to score, but he did a great job of driving to create and playing off of two feet, a habit that college coaches cannot get enough of. He finished with 5 assists on the afternoon. Holds offers from New Orleans and Radford.
St. Thomas More - Justin Menard, Iona commit (C/O 2024)
When you watch Justin Menard play basketball, it is abundantly clear as to why he was one of the first players offered by Tobin Anderson when he was hired at Iona. Menard is an extra coach on the floor. He runs the STM offense like a well-oiled machine. Although, the man affectionately known as "Boogie" finished with only two assists today, Menard impressed me with his scoring ability. He showed off his crafy finishing ability on two layups and knocked down two mid-ranges after creating space off the dribble, finishing four for five from inside the arc. He also knocked down a deep three on his way to one for three shooting from three-point land, finishing five for eight from the field. I have followed Menard since his days at Xavier high school in Middletown, Connecticut and I look forward to seeing what he does in his time at Iona.
Mt. Zion Prep - Godslove Nwabude, uncommitted (C/O 2024)
I am not sure I have ever seen a prospect try to dunk everything as much as Godslove Nwabude did against #7 St. Thomas More this afternoon. Any, and every, time he caught the ball in the paint, he would go up with bad, bad intentions. Of his nine made field-goal attempts, four of them were dunks. He had two putback dunks and had a game high nine rebounds. Physically, I would say he was the most developed prospect on the floor in the 7/10 game. Holds offers from Missouri, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Eastern Michigan, and Radford.
Link Year Prep - Nilavan Daniels, uncommitted (post-graduate)
Few players at the 2024 Prep National Championship know their role better than Nilavan Daniels. The St. Louis native and Chaminade alum attempted nine field-goals against #4 Fork Union. EIGHT of them were from beyond the arc. Daniels made FIVE of them. On top of drilling 63% of his threes, Daniels went a perfect four for four from the charity stripe. Simply put, the kid can shoot at an incredibly high level. Was one of five Link Year players to finish with double digit scoring. Holds an offer from the Naval Academy.
Hargrave Military Academy - Ralph Akuta, uncommitted (post-graduate)
"Big Ralph" found himself in foul trouble early for Hargrave, which limited how much time I saw of him. But, in the 22 minutes Akuta did play, I saw enough to understand how big of an impact he makes for Hargrave, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let's start here: Akuta stands at seven-foot one and 245 pounds. He does an incredible job of forcing opponents to hesitate when shooting inside and altering shots when his opponents do, unwisely, decide to shoot when he is patrolling the paint. Offensively, there is some work to be done, but his defensive impact cannot be ignored. Holds offers from St. Bonaventure, Eastern Kentucky, Rice, and North Alabama.
Western Reserve Academy - Royce Parham, Marquette commit (C/O 2024)
The term "big guard" is overused in today's basketball world. If Royce Parham were to call himself a "big guard," I would not have any issues with it. The 82nd ranked player in the class of 2024 stands at six-foot nine and 210 pounds, yet possesses the handle, footwork, and the shooting ability of a shooting guard, while still being able to score in the post. Parham brought the ball up in fast break situations multiple times today. He had multiple plays drawn up for him to shoot threes after using off ball screens. Finished with a game high 34 points, nine of sixteen from the field (five of eight from downtown), and six rebounds. Will be a fixture in Shaka Smart's offense for years to come.
The Phelps School - Jacob Hudson, uncommitted (C/O 2024) and Justin Houser, uncommitted (C/O 2025)
Tonight, The Phelps School was without 2025 top twenty-five ranked Will Riley, 2024 South Carolina commit Lance Piper, and 2026 Nyce Bakare, who received an offer from the University of Washington before the season. Head coach Trey Morin needed a huge game from Jacob Hudson, who delivered with 30 points on twelve of twenty-two shooting and an impressive four of seven from three. Hudson scored effortlessly, but the most eye popping part about his game tonight? His defense. Hudson tallied a game high five steals and was all over Vermont Academy's passing lanes. Holds offers from Iona and Siena (which he received right after the win).
Justin Houser was the most impressive inside force I saw of any player in any game today. The seven footer reeled in NINETEEN rebounds tonight in a sixteen over one upset over Vermont Academy, who was without five star guard, Joson Sanon. Houser sealed off defenders nearly perfectly, keeping them on his hip extremely well. He drew four fouls and nearly all of his shot attempts came inside of the paint. Houser showed great touch from the line, shooting a perfect five for five. I'm expecting a big summer for the Team Final big man. Holds offers from Penn State, Richmond, Temple, Saint Joe's, and Delaware.