Joey Chammaa, Southern California Academy –The 5-foot-11 guard is a gritty, scrappy defender who plays with an engine of relentlessness.
Chammaa is a deadly shooter with range and a quicker release. He’s able to disappear into the corner and spot up and knock down the 3-pointer and also hit transition treys. He’s added a nifty pull up to his game as well.
With the pace he plays at and the toughness he applies to atone for his lack of size, the Los Angeles native is a sleeper. He’s comparable to former Kentucky point guard Patrick Sparks of nearly 20 years ago, with his ability to hit dagger shots and disrupt the passing lanes and utilize his IQ.
Like Sparks, he doesn’t look the part but he sure does produce.
Chammaa is a low major+ prospect who would be an ideal fit for a Northeast Conference level school. He would be an absolute steal for high level and high academic Division II programs.
Alex Hawkins, Hargrave Military Academy: The 6-foot-3 guard brings the experience, IQ, and poise that results from leading a team to a Maryland state championship as a 23 PPG scorer.
At now No.1 Hargrave, flanked by high end talent, Hawkins has sacrificed individual shine for team glory. He’s been able to catalyze the team defensively, leading in charges and guarding both backcourt positions. He’s also a cerebral passer who knows how to make timely reads.
As a knockdown mid range shooter with significant elevation on his shot, Hawkins provides another leg of scoring as well. He’s developed a college ready build and plays with the mental moxie and poise of a 1990s NBA guard, playing the right way without emphasis on flash and pizazz.
Hawkins played his usual intriguing role in Hargrave’s 118-100 trouncing of Scotland Campus during the annual military circuit challenge.
He provided supplementary scoring with 12 points (including two 3-pointers) and provided blanketing defense all across the floor, coming up with a pair of steals. Indiana State-commit and 6-foot-7 left handed man-child Jaden Daughtry was the engine which propelled Hargrave, to the tune of a game-best 33 points and 11 rebounds.
Hawkins has gone unsung despite an illustrious high school career in which he was named DMV Elite All Area First Team. Ranked No.43 and No.8 among combo guards throughout Maryland according to Prep Hoops’ rankings, Hawkins continues to generate buzz as a role player on a prep superpower.
A high academic prospect, Hawkins has generated interest across the Ivy League, Patriot League, Mountain West and MEAC.
Christian Bliss, George School (PA): As a high scoring guard, Bliss brings an all around game with intriguing positional size as a 6-foot-4, 205-pound point guard.
Bliss is a seasoned playmaker a knack for hitting difficult shots.
He’s shouldered the role of closer at the George School, turning in opportunistic buckets and delivering during crunch time.
With his well rounded game on full display, Bliss recently turned in a performance of 23 points (7-for-16 FG, 4-7 3FG), nine boards and seven assists en route to a 74-68 victory over national power St. Frances (MD) last month.
Villanova is the most recent program to offer Bliss, who will play for coach Terrance “Munch” Williams with the PSA Cardinals on the AAU circuit.
Recently offered by Villanova, Bliss is hearing from St. John’s, Virginia, and DePaul, among others.
Xavier is also among Bliss’ recent offers.
Trey Rezendes, East Providence–Not as highly courted as some of the more acclaimed recruits he played alongside this summer, Rezendes is a traditional and high IQ point guard who has developed into a knockdown shooter from range.
The Class of 2024 guard also plays at a consistent pace and is able to get everyone around him involved, picking up on tendencies and delivering timely reads.
Rezendes scored 20 points during East Providence’s thorough 77-54 throttling of Westerly back on Jan. 24.
A high academic prospect with stout on ball defense, Rezendes first caught the attention of Georgetown assistant Kevin Nickelberry over the summer. He’s heard from the likes of Rutgers, URI, Coastal Carolina, Sacred Heart, Bryant, and several others.
Dave Gaeten, North Florida Prep–The Jacksonville, Fla. native is a physical 6-foot-8 forward. Workmanlike on the offensive and defensive glass, Gaeten is a late bloomer who moves fluidly at his size.
He brings versatility as well, becoming proficient with his elbow jumper while simultaneously displaying a knack for corner 3-pointers. He’s adjusted to a souped up attack at the prep level while emerging as a tough, reliable defender who blocks and heavily contests shots.
Deron Rippey, Blair Academy–
Rippey Jr. is a high level guard with quickness and confrontational defense. He’s showed nary a tinge of freshman jitters while authoring a quick hit impact at Blair under Joe Mantegna, with multiple games of 12+ points and three steals or more as they entertain a national schedule.
Rippey was recently offered by St. John’s.
The 6-foot-2 2026 prospect first showed major upside this past summer during Nate Blue’s Real Scout event. He carved his way to the rim, stuck pull up jumpers, and finished with a full head of steam.
His play has continued on some elevated national stages, as Rippey Jr. put together a 12-point, three steal showing against Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) during the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, Conn.
The Brooklyn-bred guard has opened up an outside shot and has displayed a knack for corner 3-pointers this season, including during a promising all around performance during Blair’s 51-50 over Ramapo (NJ) back on January 22nd.
Rippey Jr. also has a notable bloodline.
His father, Fort Green native Deron Rippey Sr., starred at Cheshire Academy before going on to play guard at East Carolina University.
