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Jalen Adams won back-to-back state championships as a sophomore and junior playing at Cushing Academy. This offseason he made the decision to transfer to Brewster Academy for his senior year. The goal, according to a recent article on MassLive.com, was to work on his passing and playmaking abilities – having already established himself as a dependable scorer.
So far this season, Adams has proved himself to be a floor general, leading his team to an undefeated 17-0 record, and a No. 37 national ranking among prep schools by Maxpreps.
Adams' coach at Brewster Academy, Jason Smith, said to Mass Live that the 6-foot-2-inch point guard has shown that he is able to run an offense, create for his teammates, and make great decisions as their point guard. He said he envisions Adams playing even more of that role at UConn.
His future head coach, Kevin Ollie, and assistant coach, Glen Miller, traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts after a tough two-game road trip to watch Jalen Adams tear up the 2015 HoopHall Classic. Adams had 23 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in a 100-69 win over Montverde Academy (FL) to improve Brewster Academy (NH) to 16-0. The point guard was able to get to the rim at will, and when the defense collapsed on him he found his teammates for easy buckets.
(Video by Sam Dostaler)
After the game, Adams, the 24th ranked player (No. 3 point guard) in the class of 2015 by ESPN, told Mass Live that he and Ollie talk about how they both wish that he could be in Storrs now. He said that he is looking forward to carrying the tradition of great UConn point guards, but wants to create his own legacy at the same time.
Adams in high school has shown a big shot ability (seen here in his buzzer beating 3-pointer that won last year's Massachusetts state championship for Cushing Academy) that is eerily reminiscent of Kemba and Shabazz.
Adams wasn't the only UConn commit playing in the HoopsHall Classic, as 6-foot-10-inch, 220 pound center Steven Enoch was in action for Connecticut prep school St. Thomas More.
Enoch, who is listed by ESPN as the 99th overall recruit in the class of 2015 (No. 16 center), scored 18 points in his team's 83-76 victory over Vermont Academy.
Enoch's coach Jere Quinn told Mass Live that he still has some strides to make as he develops, in order to get used to a more physical style of play, but that that he is just scratching the surface in terms of potential.
The big man is considered a late-bloomer by recruiting standards, bursting onto the scene this summer after a successful AAU season for Team Up, and his play at summer camps like the Pangos All-American Camp in Long Beach, CA.
Quinn told Mass Live that UConn is the only school that Enoch, a Norwalk native, has ever wanted to attend.
St. Thomas More sits at 17-3 on the season, and Enoch has a teammate named Ajou Deng from London, England. I could not find if he was related to the man that Billy Packer and Dickie V said could be the best UConn player of all time, but I assure everyone that I will get to the bottom of this.
Adams and Enoch have squared off one time this season on Dec. 7, with Adams gaining the upper hand as Brewster came away with an 89-77 victory on the road behind Adam's 19 points. Enoch finished with 11.
Enoch and St. Thomas More will get a chance for revenge when they travel to take on Brewster in New Hampshire on Feb. 3.
Both of these players are huge additions for Kevin Ollie and UConn fans, and it's an added bonus that UConn was able to keep some of New England's best high school players in the area.
With Adams and Enoch already committed, and players like Diamond Stone seriously considering UConn, the immediate future is bright, with or without a power conference.