Chris Clover (right) impressed with a 31-point outing on Saturday. (Photo: Josh Verlin)
Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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A few notes from this weekend’s Big Shots event, hosted by Team Final. Took in games at Archbishop Carroll (17Us) and Shipley School (16Us) on the first day of competition:
*All stats courtesy of Big Shots*
–If the way he’s been playing lately is any indication, St. Joe’s Prep fans are in for quite a season from rising junior Chris Clover (2015/Philly Pride). After spending two years as a contributing part on a team dominated by Miles Overton (Wake Forest) and Steve Vasturia (Notre Dame), Clover is showing this summer just what he’s capable of.
The 6-foot-4 wing had likely the best game I’ve ever seen him play on Saturday, dropping 31 points in a win over Team Final Black, hitting 9-of-18 from the floor and 11-of-11 on free throws. He showed a willingness and ability to attack the basket that he didn’t have just a few months ago, and looks ready to be the offensive focal point for Speedy Morris this year.
“Just been working out, playing a couple of games with the Prep, and AAU’s going well for me this year,” Clover said. “I’ve been working on my handles, because I think I’m going to be a guard–I don’t think I’m going to grow any more, so I’ve got to prepare for college as a guard.”
Clover said that coaches from Drexel, Xavier, La Salle, St. Joe’s, Holy Cross and some other local schools have been in contact with his AAU and high school coaches; college programs aren’t allowed to directly contact rising juniors until June 15.
–One of the most athletic kids I’ve seen all summer, Donte DiVincenzo (2015/Team Final Black) is a high-flying guard who opened eyes all over the gym. A 6-3 sophomore from Salesianum (Del.), DiVincenzo has a nonstop motor and a massive vertical leap that caused issues on both ends of the court.
“I try to use my athleticism to my advantage,” he said. “If I see an advantage for me against an opponent, then I’m going to exploit that, and I try to attack the rim as much as I can.”
In a game against Philly Pride, he had 17 points, hitting 4-of-7 on threes, adding five rebounds and two blocks. No longer content to just utilize his athleticism, he’s working on his skill set to prepare for a potential Division I scholarship.
“At my height in college you’ve got to have good ball handling skills,” he said. “You’ve got to get stronger, quicker, so I’m trying to work on everything and use my head during the game.”
Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman is picking up a lot of mid-major offers. (Photo: Josh Verlin)
–One word to describe Central Catholic guard Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman (2014/Team Final) would be “smooth.” A 6-4, 175-pound combo guard, he seemed to float through the air as he glided to the basket on the break, scoring 11 points in a win over SJ Ballers.
Abdur-Rahkman claimed offers from “Lehigh, Bucknell, Harvard, VCU, George Mason, Robert Morris, Drexel and Delaware,” with added interest from “Villanova, Pitt, St. Joe’s, Xavier, and Temple.” Though he usually doesn’t much of a chance to shine on a team that has Ja’Quan Newton and Shep Garner at the two-guard spot, Abdur-Rahkman is more than capable of holding his own.
–A 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward, Nana Foulland (2014/Team Final) is a back-to-the-basket post with decent hands who’s working on his quickness and his athleticism. A rising senior at Berks Catholic in Reading, he’s certainly a mid-major power forward, capable of scoring with either hand around the basket. Foulland claimed offers from “Colonial and Patriot schools,” naming “Bucknell, Delaware, George Mason, Rider, and Boston University.” He said he’s also hearing from “Wake Forest, Seton Hall,” and other higher-conference schools, and doesn’t have a timetable on his decision.