Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a look at the first-year players of the Manhattan Jaspers.
Manhattan finished 13-18 (9-11 in MAAC play) last season and fell to Siena in the MAAC quarter-finals.
Steve Masiello and his staff welcome to the lineup Na’Quan Council, Oliver Ehrnvall, Ahmed Ismail, Zavier Peart, Zavier Turner and Aaron Walker Jr.
Na’Quan Council G 6-0, 160 Blackwood, N.J./ Highland Hills/Scotland Performance Institute (PA)
Played a postgraduate year at Scotland Performance Institute under the direction of Jareem Dowling and at Highland Regional High School under the tutelage of Crythen Langhorne … Was a 1,000-point scorer for the Tartans, averaging 20.8 points per game as a senior en route to garnering FIrst Team All-Conference accolades … Notched 18.2 points each time out as a junior while earning Second Team honors as a junior … Named South County’s Clutchest Player … Played his AAU ball for Next Level under Marcus Bullock .
What they’re saying about Na’Quan Council – Jay Gomes/NJHoops.com: “An extremely under-the-radar kid. He was getting virtually zero division one offers. He took a post-grad year and worked his way up to a division one scholarship. He’s a very good athlete. His shot has improved in the last year, has a chance to play some significant at Manhattan during his career. They were probably one the few schools that went after him hard.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s pretty athletic and quick. He can shoot some on the catch. He could see time in his first year.”
Oliver Ehrnvall F 6-7, 210 Uppsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan
Played the last three years in the Sweden B League for KFUM Uppsala … Last season, averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game … Has played for the U20, U18 and U16 Swedish National Teams … Helped his club team to the Swedish U18 Championship … His squad also placed fifth at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.
Ahmed Ismail C 7-2, 285 Cairo, Egypt/ Nakhas Zagazig/Colby CC
Played two years of basketball at Colby Community College under the direction of Rusty Grafel … Helped the Trojans to a 19-13 record as a sophomore … Averaged 8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game despite playing just under 18 minutes each time out … As a freshman, notched 6.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.… Has been playing basketball for just five years.
Zavier Peart F 6-9, 270 Miami, FL/ Coral Reef Senior/Eastern Florida State
Played two years of basketball at Eastern Florida State under the direction of Jeremy Shulman … Over his two seasons, helped the Titans to a combined 56-10 record, back-to-back Southern Conference titles and two appearances in the Division I National Championship Tournament … Played his prep ball at Coral Reef Senior High School under the direction of Adam Grahm … Earned four letters for the Barracudas … Team MVP and a Miami Dade All-Star … Played AAU Ball for Gold Coast under Shaky Rodriguez … Also lettered in football and volleyball at Coral Reef Senior.
What they’re saying about Zavier Peart – Rick Staudt/SourceHoops.com: “He is a big body who gets up and down the court pretty well. He is an aggressive rebounder who can score a little bit around the rim.”
Zavier Turner G 5-9, 170 Indianapolis, IN/ Pike/ Ball State
2015-2016 Redshirt Year: Transferred from Ball State … Practiced with the team … Sat out the season per NCAA Transfer rules and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2016-2017. Played his prep ball at Pike High School under the direction of Bill Zych … Averaged 17.4 points and 6.4 assists per game as a senior … Helped lead the Red Devils to three Sectional Titles … Notched 15.0 points and 6.2 assists as a junior in guiding Pike to its first Regional Title in nine years and a trip to the Class 4A State Championship Game … Two-time All-Marion County selection … Indiana Junior All-Star pick … Assumed the point guard reigns from Marquis Teague, who played at Kentucky before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls … As a sophomore, averaged 14.0 points per game … Played AAU ball for the Eric Gordon All-Stars.
Aaron Walker Jr. G 6-2, 190 Brooklyn, N.Y./Cardozo
Played his prep ball at Cardozo High School under the direction of Ron Naclerio … Earned two letters for the Judges … Helped Cardozo to a 21-3 record and a berth in the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals … Averaged 19.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game … As a junior, the Judges advanced to the PSAL Class AA Championship Game … One of three Cardozo players to sign with a Division I school for the upcoming season … Played his first two seasons at Archbishop Molloy.
What they’re saying about Aaron Walker Jr. – Allen Rubin/Hoop Scoop: “He’s a good combo-guard who can create his own shot. He can get to the rim and pull up from midrange.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s physical. He has a knack for scoring. He is hard-nosed, tough off guard who can handle pretty well especially for his size. He’s big. He will also knock down shots.”
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