NTSI Orlando made the laborious 14 hour trek to Scotland, Pa. with a cadre of sharpshooters and an unheralded interior cog in Bradley-bound 6-foot-6 forward Stephon Gabriel.
Gabriel, he of the man-child build, flashed a commendable inside-outside game and an ability to run the floor and score and embrace contact at the rim.
The Class of 2019 wing is physically imposing and has incorporated a guard’s skill set behind his instinctive scoring (31 points against Findlay Prep, 22 points against Veritas Prep, including the game-winning 3-pointer).
Marlon Brown’s program features an emotional leader in combination guard Gary Robertson, a gritty 5-foot-9 Class of 2019 prospect. Robertson fuels NTSI with his range and knack for hitting momentum-bolstering 3-pointers.
The Washington, D.C. native plays with a layer of fiery swagger and flash, attributes which were thrust to the table during his 14-point first half during NTSI’s thorough 106-88 pummeling of Scotland Campus White yesterday. As was evidenced during this performance, he’s got a leadership factor and a fearlessness that his teammates tend to feed off.
Brown has a certifiable knockdown threat in Miguel Ayesa, who is absolutely lethal from the corners and has shown an ability to create his shot off the dribble and with minimal space.
He was able to pioneer the perimeter game against Scotland Campus’ 24-0 and no.1 nationally ranked Prep Red team, sticking a game-best five 3-pointers last night. The program contains a steady supply of international potential through both teams, with sources such as Yussof Elmaday (12 points) showing promise.
NTSI has seen a rapid transformation in Ryle Burley, who has added an explosive finishing aptitude and a more consistent mid-range game to enhance his overall package. He turned in 17 points, 12 boards, and four assists during a recent 114-98 win over Potter’s House Prep, a performance indicative of his ability to leave his stamp on multiple components of the stat sheet. He’s become more of a heady scorer as well, understanding how to exploit mismatches and create necessary space to score.
Brown was eager to cite 6-foot-2, 210-pound guard Keshaun Hobbs as the team’s most reliable defender, a guy usually summoned to apply pressure on the opponent’s primary scorer.
“He’s capable of guarding 94 feet, smaller and slimmer guards struggle against him due to his body frame,” said Brown. “Offensively, he’s got a knack for absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line.”
Brown, known for his boundless energy and entertaining sideline theatrics, has been a revelation with the second year program.
He’s taken a patchwork lineup that had minimal expectations heading into the 2018-19 campaign and morphed them into a 12-4 team with a number of fringe and sleeper caliber recruits.
Previously at Scotland Campus Sports, the outspoken coach known for his infectious personality earned the ‘B’ Division Coach of the Year award last season, guiding the Knights to an 18-10 record.
