The National Prep Showcase, an annual visit by the country’s top prep players and teams to New Haven, returns after a year’s hiatus.
The event, which was cancelled last November due to the pandemic, is back at Albertus Magnus College Nov. 19-21. And it will feature as impressive a field as ever.
UConn fans will be particularly interested to see IMG Academy, which has numerous top-100 recruits, including Alex Karaban, the 6-foot-8 Class of 2022 forward who committed to the Huskies this past summer.
Karaban, who on Wednesday will be signing his national letter of intent to attend UConn, isn’t the only highly-touted player at IMG. Among his teammates include Justin Taylor and Quadir Copeland, a pair of top-100 recruits and Syracuse commits, as well as A.J. Storr, a St. John’s pledge. IMG plays Northfield Mount Hermon on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. and New Hampton School on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Several other UConn recruits will be in the house, most notably Taylor Bowen of Brewster Academy, a 6-8 forward who is ESPN’s No. 23 overall prospect for 2023 and is a coveted UConn target, as well as Aaron Clark, a 6-6 wing who is Bowen’s Brewster teammate, Jayden Lemond of Blair Academy and Papa Kante of South Kent School.
The event will also be a homecoming for Desmond Claude, the Class of 2022 point guard from New Haven who plays at Putnam Science Academy. Claude, who did not have any recruiting interest from UConn, is thought to be a Xavier commit in the near future.
Among the top overall committed players at the event will be Kyle Filipowski of Wilbraham & Monson, the 10th-rated player in the Class of 2022, per espn.com, who is heading to Duke next year, and Matas Buzelis of Brewster Academy, ranked 10th in the Class of 2023. Buzelis is being recruited by UConn, though is thought to be more of a Florida State or Michigan State lean.
The event is expected to be run as usual, with no crowd restrictions, although spectators will likely need to wear a mask.
Here’s the National Prep Showcase schedule:
Friday, Nov. 19
10:30 a.m. St. Thomas More School (CT) vs. Fork Union Military Academy (VA)
Noon Putnam Science Academy (CT) vs. Western Reserve Academy (OH)
1:30 p.m. Woodstock Academy (CT) vs. Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
3 p.m. Bridgton Academy (ME) vs. Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)
4:45 p.m. Brewster Academy (NH) vs. Montverde Academy CBD (FL)
6:15 p.m. Vermont Academy (VT) vs. Massanutten Military Academy (VA)
8 p.m. South Kent School (CT) vs. Scotland Campus (PA)
Saturday, Nov. 20
9 a.m. Fork Union Military Academy (VA) vs. Brewster Academy (NH)
10:30 a.m. Hargrave Military Academy (VA) vs. Putnam Science Academy (CT)
Noon Montverde Academy CBD (FL) vs. St. Thomas More (CT)
1:30 p.m. Western Reserve Academy (OH) vs. Bridgton Academy (ME)
3:15 p.m. TSF National (GA) vs. Woodstock Academy (CT)
4:45 p.m. IMG Academy (FL) vs. Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
6:30 p.m. Mt. Zion Prep (MD) vs. New Hampton School (NH)
8 p.m. Sunrise Christian (KS) vs. Scotland Campus (PA)
Sunday, Nov. 21
9 a.m. New Hampton School (NH) vs. IMG Academy (FL)
10:30 a.m. Cushing Academy (MA) vs. Massanutten Military Academy (VA)
Noon Springfield Commonwealth Academy (MA) vs. TSF National (GA)
1:30 p.m. Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA) vs. Mt. Zion Prep (MD)
3 p.m. Wilbraham and Monson Academy (MA) vs. South Kent School (CT)
4:30 p.m. Worcester Academy (MA) vs. Blair Academy (NJ)
BIG DAY IN BRISTOL
Karaban won’t be the only UConn commit that will be signing his national letter of intent on Wednesday. Donovan Clingan, the 7-footer from Bristol Central, will do so at 3 p.m. in the Bristol Central auditorium. Karaban and Clingan (ESPN. No. 58) are the Huskies’ only two Class of 2022 commits thus far, but more slots could open up, depending on if anyone elects to go pro or transfer, or if R.J. Cole (grad transfer) or Tyrese Martin (senior) elect to use another year of eligibility.
david.borges@hearstmediact.com