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Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest: Day Two Standouts (July 10, 2022)

07/11/2022, 10:00am EDT
By Josh Verlin & Owen McCue

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)

MANHEIM, Pa. — The 2022 Hoop Group Summer League (HGSL) wrapped up its championship tournament on Sunday with the conclusion of the HG Summer Jam Fest, which saw several hundred of teams still in action spread across the various 14U-17U brackets. 

We were on hand to check out some of the championship games in the main 16U and 17U brackets, as well as some other local teams and talented underclassmen in action at Spooky Nook. Here’s who stood out in games we watched on Sunday:

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More coverage of Hoop Group Summer Jam: Day One Standouts | Day One Notebook |) 

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Camden Brewer (2023 | Team Loaded 434 | Blue Ridge, Va.)


Team Loaded 434's Camden Brewer, left, puts up a shot. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

It’s pretty apparent basketball isn’t Brewer’s only sport when you watch him on the court. Brewer, who also quarterbacks the football team at Blue Ridge, plays physically and tough. The 6-2 guard looked really comfortable on the floor both with and without the ball in his hands on offense. With the ball, he attacked the basket, finished strong and found teammates. Away from the ball, he worked hard to free himself up and threatened with his shooting range. On defense, the football player forced quite a few ‘fumbles’ with his tough play.

Will Groot (2023 | Rens United | Hotchkiss School, Conn.)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better passing big man than Groot, whose Rens team took down Ray Allen Triple Threat in the semifinals then trounced B2L for the HGSL 4 17U championship. The 6-8 Groot put on a clinic from the high post, setting up teammate Justas Bardauskas for a number of easy dunks, even tossing in a no-look dime. His passing ability was a real game-changer in the win. Groot didn’t have a huge game scoring wise in the semifinals, but he can put the ball in the net. He flashed a solid midrange jumper and got some tough points in the paint. 

Christian Gurdak (2025 | Team Takeover | Paul VI, Va.)

Even playing up two levels in the 17U bracket, Gurdak looked like a man amongst boys in Team Takeover’s win over Team Loaded 434. Gurdak is a 6-10 true post player who clears out space in the lane. He has a size advantage on every single player on the floor and makes sure he uses it, unafraid to throw his body around.

He dominated the class on both ends of the floor despite opponents clawing at him without the benefit of a whistle. Gurdak certainly left some points on the board with a few misses from close range, but he also showed off some great touch, tipping in a couple of offensive boards while being pulled down. 

Ahmad Henderson (2023 | Young & Reckless | Brother Rice, Ill.)

The smallest player on the court came up big over and over for Y&R’s 17U team this weekend and the championship game was no exception. The 5-9 point guard poured in a game-high 25 points, knocking down four threes in the process. Henderson appeared to win the game for Y&R with about half a minute left with a ridiculous contested lay-up that should have been an and-one. Instead after MBA tied the game, Henderson won it with a buzzer beater from half court. Henderson can certainly pass the ball as well, but his ability to score the ball is something special. There’s a reason the 5-9 guard has seven Division I offers, most recently from Canisius on Saturday.


Kevair Kennedy, left, drives to the basket. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Kevair Kennedy (2025 | Philly Revolution 16U | Father Judge)

After a slow offensive start for Revolution, Kennedy decided to start taking the ball to hole and there wasn’t much Team Final could do to stop him in Sunday’s championship game. Kennedy used his speed and quickness to get into the lane and then converted contested shots, a couple of times through contact. He scored 16 points in the championship win and also chipped in a couple of helpers as well. Kennedy finished off the overtime win with a game-winning three. Kennedy’s defense was also a game-changer as he was opportunistic in leaving his assignment to double and create turnovers, often leading to fastbreak chances. He even added in an emphatic block to his stat tline.

Dylan Mingo (2026 | NH Lightning 14U | Long Island Lutheran, N.Y.)
There’s going to be a slight theme here, as Mingo was impressive for the NH Lightning’s 2026 group as they went up against Final’s 2026s while playing in the championship of one of the better 15U brackets in the tournament. The 5-11 lead guard was terrific with the ball in his hands and getting to the rim, finishing all sorts of ways even through and around traffic. He scored all 12 of his points in the loss in the second half, including a terrific and-one finish and a smooth 3-pointer, hitting one of his two attempts from beyond the arc. A young guard with a bright future.

Kayden Mingo (2025 | NH Lightning 15U | Long Island Lutheran, N.Y.)
Didn’t we mention a theme? Yes, it was a good day for the Mingo brothers, who certainly share some characteristics in their games. The older Mingo brother, a 6-2 guard with a strong, athletic build, was also stellar when he had the ball in his hands, with a reliable pull-up jumper and ability to get into the lane and make flashy passes look easy; in a win over the NE Lightning, he finished with 12 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals, constantly breaking down the defense and making things happen on both ends. 

Victor Payne (2024 | NE Lightning 16U | Cromwell, Conn.)
The NE Lightning’s main source of offense — at times, their only source of offense — in their loss to the NH Lightning was Payne, who was plenty productive all game long. The 6-4 wing guard has a deep bucket of tricks to get to the rim; crossover, Eurostep, spin, you name it, and he was a quality finisher at the bucket as well, not afraid of contact or getting to the line, which he did seven times, going 12-13 from the line. Payne finished with 24 points on 6-12 shooting, his slashing abilities working for him all game long; he only took one 3-point shot, showing a solid form on his jumper. He also grabbed 10 rebounds (four offensive), with an assist and a steal.

Oesoemana Sacko (2026 | NH Lightning 14U | St. Francis Prep, N.Y.)
The first thing that stood out about Sacko was his physicality at the 14U level: standing about 6-7, Sacko already has a solid frame for someone his age, still with plenty of room to grow and add muscle, but without much in terms of extra bulk. And he put that physicality to good use, grabbing 15 rebounds (nine offensive) against Team Final’s 2026s in a losing effort, continually putting in great effort on the glass, even in second-chance and third-chance opportunities. Sacko added eight points in the win, as the Final defense swarmed him whenever he got a touch, making it tough for him to get an open look at the rim. More than just a physical presence, he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim from the top of the key, even with a defender on him. 

K’Mari Smith (2024 | 610 City 17U | Collegium Charter)
In helping 610 City capture the 17U ‘Eastern’ bracket with a 4-0 weekend, capped by a 59-55 victory over Tribe Starz (N.Y.), Smith put together a strong championship run. The 6-2 wing guard scored 22 points in the title game on an efficient 8-of-11 from the floor, including 5-of-6 from the foul line, with a 3-pointer (on two attempts) in the mix; he also added three assists, three steals and two rebounds. Smith excelled at getting to the rim in the open court, finishing with both hands equally well, and hit a few pull-up jumpers as well, showing good decision-making with a rim protector looming. Several D-IIIs are involved, including Alvernia, Scranton and Rosemont.

Ryan ‘RJ’ Smith (2026 | Team Final 14U | Imhotep Charter)
The smallest member of Final’s 2026 group, Smith only stands a slight 5-6 and looks like a harsh breeze might knock him down, but that’s only until he gets on the court. Smith displayed terrific foot speed and excellent ball skills, dribbling through and around pressure from the NH Lightning guards, and constantly got to his spots or broke a full-court press with ease. He contributed 12 points to Final’s win, hitting a pair of 3-pointers (his only two attempts), with form that belied his frame and looks translatable as he grows. Defensively, he was a pest to opposing ball-handlers, with quick feet and active hands. 


Caleb Williams shoots the ball. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Caleb Williams (2024 | Team Takeover | Sidwell Friends, D.C.)

The 6-7 guard/wing has a bit of a funky offensive game that is fun to watch. On Sunday, he did most of his damage in the mid-range whether that was pulling up for a jumper or pump faking and maneuvering his way toward the basket. Williams, who recently picked up an offer from Georgetown, has an uncanny ability to create space for himself even after he picks up his dribble. At his size, Williams can get off a shot pretty much any time he wants, but he doesn't rely solely on his size or athleticism on offense. They are surely an asset on defense though, and Williams locked down whoever he guarded in Sunday’s game.

Honorable Mention

Prince Adams (2023 | Young & Reckless | Evanston Twp., Ill.), Jeremy Arnum (2023 | Triple Threat | Gulliver Prep, Fla.), Stephon Ashley-Wright (2026 | Team Final | Neumann-Goretti), Justas Bardauskas (2023 | NY Rens United | Loomis Chaffee, Conn.), Dominic Commisso (2023 | Young & Reckless | The Skill Factory, Ga.), Daquan Davis (2024 | Team Takeover | St. John’s College, D.C.), Patrese Feamster (2026 | Team Final | SCH Academy), Kasey Fleming (2025 | Philly Revolution | La Salle), Jayden Forsythe (2026 | NH Lightning | Westtown School), Nate Guerengomba (2024 | Team Takeover | South Kent, Conn.), Manny Joe-Samuel (2025 | Team Final | Paul VI, N.J.), Brandon Kendrick (2022 | Tribe Starz | Christ the King, N.Y.), Phillip Lawrence (2023 | NY Rens United | Poly Prep Country Day, N.Y.), Andrew Mabry (2024 | NE Lightning | Springfield Science & Technology, Mass.), Deuce Maxey (2025 | Team Final | Archbishop Wood), Declan McIntyre (2023 | NY Rens United | Worcester Acad., Mass.), Bashir Neely (2023 | Grand Haven, Mich.), Desmond Roberts (2023 | Team Loaded 434 | Virginia Episcopal), Anthony Smith (2026 | Team Final | Salesianum, Del.), Cameron Smith (2025 | Philly Revolution | La Salle), Harrison Sorelle (2023 | Grand Haven, Mich.), Meleek Thomas (2025 | NH Lightning | Lincoln Park), Dinero Washington (2023 | 610 City | Collegium Charter)


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