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Donofrio Classic Report: Tuesday, April 7

04/07/2015, 11:30pm EDT

By Josh Verlin & Jeff Neiburg

Tucker Lescoe (above) in action at the Donofrio Classic on Tuesday, April 7. (Photo: Josh Verlin)

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Jeff Neiburg (@Jeff_Neiburg)
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Here’s a report from Donofrio Classic action at the Fellowship House (515 Harry St., Conshohocken) on Tuesday, April 7:

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Game One: Old School Cavaliers 105, Yellow Jackets 88
The Old School duo of 2016 wing Lamar Stevens and 2018 point guard Cameron Reddish had the Cavaliers out to a 13-point lead in the first half, and then things got worse for the Yellow Jackets with the late arrival of UNLV-bound Derrick Jones (2015/Archbishop Carroll) and his high school teammate Josh Sharkey (2016/Archbishop Carroll). Stevens (29 points) and Reddish (28), who both played at The Haverford School last year but are headed elsewhere this upcoming season, led the way, with Tucker Lescoe (2016/Cocalico) adding 15 points on five 3-pointers. Yellow Jackets were led by 28 points from Nick Giordano (2015/Marple Newtown) and 19 from Tim Guers (2015/Germantown Academy).

Game Two: LVBR Rebels 101, Keystone Blazers Red 99 (OT)
In what could be labeled an upset in the Round of 16, the LVBR Rebels got a late 3-pointer from Shawn Witherspoon (2015/La Salle HS), who finished with a team-high 24 points, to come out on top against a talented Keystone Blazers group. Witherspoon also tied the game late in regulation with a layup. Keystone had a chance after forcing a turnover with 1.1 seconds left in OT, but weren’t able to execute. Karl Charles (2015/Rutgers Prep) joined Witherspoon in double figures with 18 points. Zay Jennings (2016/Allentown Central Catholic) knocked down five 3-pointers in scoring 17 points for LVBR while Dashon Giddings (2015/Del-Val Charter) added 15. For the Blazers, Jon Lawton (2015/Friends’ Central) scored a game-high 27 points, hitting five treys. Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (2017/Neumann-Goretti) scored 18 points, Kitt Najee Walls (2015/La Salle HS) added 17 and Matt Penecale (2015/Abington) tallied 13 in the losing effort.

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Lawton hoping live period success earns D-I offers
Just last summer, Friends’ Central point guard Jon Lawton was picking up his first Division I offer from Radford University in July.

Almost a year later, Lawton is hoping the April live period can bring any sort of D-I offer, as Radford’s open scholarships were filled and Lawton is still without a home to play his college ball.

Lawton, who scored just under 15 ppg in Friends League play this year, said he has a pair of Division II offers from the University of the District of Columbia and Wilmington University.

On the Division I end, he said he’s hearing from NJIT, St. Francis (Pa.) and Robert Morris.

The first April live period is this weekend, and Lawton will be playing up at Spooky Nook in Manheim, though he said he’s not sure who he’s playing with yet.

“I have to go out and play hard in this first tournament,” Lawton said. “There’s a lot of coaches that said they’re looking. They see my film and they’re interested in me. I just have to come out and play hard and hope to get multiple Division I offers, because that’s where I aspire to go.”

At this point, Lawton said, he has no plans of going to prep school for a year and wants to go to college.

“When it comes down to it, I’m going to talk to my parents about it,” Lawton said. “Whatever is the best opportunity for me, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“I’ve been working hard since I was about 10-years-old.”

His improved game was on display in full effect Tuesday night at the Fellowship House. Known as a great knockdown jump shooter, Lawton connected on five treys. He also served as Keystone’s primary ball handler, and made some flashy moves in the paint and showed an improved ability to get to the rim through contact.

Those are some of the things Lawton said he’s been focusing on the most over the last year.

“I’ve been lifting a lot more, being more consistent with my jump shot, being able to handle the ball under pressure, being able to use my body since I’m longer than most other players,” Lawton said. “And then defensively and being a leader, talking a lot more.”

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Kennett’s Hyland getting good advice heading into college
Jackson Hyland is talking to the right people before he begins his college career at Division II West Chester this fall.

The Kennett HS (Pa.) senior’s older brother, Spencer Hyland, is a redshirt sophomore at University of the Sciences. He happens to room with three-time All-American and two-time Division II Player of the Year Garret Kerr, who led the Devils to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 this year.

“I talked to Garret...a thousand times,” he said. “Mental preparation, which is his best [asset], his focus is amazing. He focuses a lot on rebounding, and then he’s taught me moves with his step-back, his pull-up, all that little stuff.”

The West Chester coaching staff would certainly be happy if they can get even a little bit of that to rub off on Hyland, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound wing forward who does have some of the same toughness and hustle that Kerr brought to the court every day over a stellar four-year career.

He picked the Rams “about a month” ago, picking the PSAC school over other D-IIs like Chestnut Hill and USciences as well as Division III schools; Scranton was his favorite among the D-IIIs.

Hyland also had an opportunity to go Division I, with a walk-on spot offered to him by Robert Morris head coach Andy Toole, but chose to go to a level where he could have an on-court impact and stay closer to home as well.

“It was just the perfect fit,” he said. “The size, the players, everything, it just felt right…they’re a great coaching staff.”

West Chester head coach Damien Blair is putting together a solid incoming freshman class, with Hyland joining Susquehanna Township (Pa.) guard Dejour Williams as those already committed to be Rams in the fall. Last year, the Rams 16-13 overall, with a 13-8 record in PSAC play, losing to Kutztown in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

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Lescoe looking to prove himself on big stage
One of the leading scorers in District 3, Cocalico (Pa.) shooting guard Tucker Lescoe averaged 21.5 ppg during his junior year, as the Eagles went 16-8 overall (12-4 Lancaster-Lebanon). His efforts were good enough to garner an offer from Division II American International (Mass.), but he’s hoping this summer to show he can play at the Division I level.

Plenty of Ivy and Patriot League schools have checked in on the 6-1, 185-pound guard, but none have yet extended a roster or scholarship opportunity.

He’ll get his chance to make that happen playing with Team Final on the EYBL circuit, starting this weekend with the first of five live periods this summer at the Boo Williams Sportsplex (Hampton, Va.) for the first stop on Nike’s grassroots circuit.

“It’s going to be awesome, I think it’s going to be a good eye-opener for me to see what level I can play at,” he said. “Playing with the big boys, so I’ve got to see if I can step up my game.”

On his high school team, Lescoe has the luxury of being his team’s go-to scorer. It’s far from the same on Team Final, as he comes off the bench to back up high-major targets Tony Carr, Lonnie Walker and Nazeer Bostick.

He’s been serving as the team’s 3-point specialist off the bench for the last few summers, but he knows in order to stay on the court a little longer--and draw some more attention from Division I schools--he’ll have to show he can do more. It’s tough to do sometimes when he knows his time on the court is limited.

“It’s kind of hard because you’re thinking about not messing up instead of just playing,” he said. “I’m trying to change my role a little bit, we’ll see how it goes. Try and contribute a little more instead of just being a shooter, so I can get a few minutes here and there.”

Lescoe looked more like his high school self in Donofrio play on Tuesday night, draining five triples for his 15 points, enjoying the up-and-down pace and getting more active on the floor as the game went on.

“It’s fun, because I got the play the whole time...and you can shoot whenever you want, it’s free range,” he said. “I’m a little more comfortable with that, I can get my shot going easier.”

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Germantown Academy’s Stinson has work to do this summer
Standing at 6-foot-10 with plenty of upside, Germantown Academy junior forward Joe Stinson knows this summer will be a crucial one.

Not only is he expected to take on a much bigger role on the three-time reigning Inter-Ac champions, he’s also entering his 17U summer, arguably the most important time for collegiate prospects on the AAU circuit. Stinson will play this summer with the Jersey Shore Warriors.

The most important thing, Stinson said, is getting in the weight room. After having the flu for a brief period last season and missing a week or two, Stinson said he lost 10 pounds.

"I need every pound I got right now,” he said. “That was a big blow. I had to come back and work my way back slowly, it was tough.”

Now, the focus is on getting those pounds back on in the form of muscle to add to his lengthy frame.

“I’m just looking forward to getting into the weight room,” Stinson said. “I know I have to get bigger, have to get stronger. I’m already improving and getting stronger.”

Stinson said he’s receiving interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools, as well as some high-academic Division III colleges.

With the pivotal summer looming, Stinson said he’s not really concerned about proving himself just yet.

“No pressure, I just have to give it my all,” he said. “I know if I put in the work, if I do what I can do, I’ll be fine.”

Germantown Academy loses two key seniors in Tim Guers and forward Sam Lindgren, meaning Stinson has a big opportunity to step in and be the team’s go-to big man in the post.

“I’m looking forward to working with my team,” Stinson said. “It’s a new team with the seniors leaving, and we’re trying to get a fourth Inter-Ac championship. That’s the goal, to win another one.

“Coach [Jim] Fenerty told me I have a lot of work to put in this summer. If I do it, I’ll be a big centerpiece in the middle next year.”