News and Notes: Jaylen Harrell and Jamier Jones updates, Oswin's emergence, no excuses at Georgetown, and more
News and notes from around Friartown…
1. Jaylen Harrell had a busy weekend with CATS Academy playing three games in Springfield, MA as part of the Hoophall Prep Showcase.
On Monday, Harrell finished with 25 points on 8-15 shooting from the field, 5-5 at the free throw line, and 4-9 from beyond the 3-point arc to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists in a 94-47 win over Winston Salem Prep.
He wasn’t quite as efficient in Friday’s 75-55 loss to Link Year Prep, making 7-20 from the field and 2-11 from three, while still finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Saturday saw CATS take an 81-65 win over the Academy of Central Florida, with Harrell shooting a sizzling 8-11 from the field, 4-6 from three, and 3-3 at the free throw line in a 23-point, seven-assist effort.
2. Meanwhile, fellow 2025 Providence commit Jamier Jones was in Missouri playing in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in what was a loaded field.
Jones and his Oak Ridge team opened the tournament with a win over Springfield Parkview out of Missouri, with Jones dominating inside with 27 points on 13-14 shooting from the field (all inside the arc). He added six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in 21 minutes. His athleticism was on full display in this one.
On Friday, Jones faced off against Christ the King — a powerhouse from New York City. Oak Ridge came out on top for the second straight game (76-65) with Jones shooting 8-15 from the field and 9-13 at the free throw line in a 25-point, six-assist, five-rebound effort.
Oak Ridge’s two victories led to a championship showdown against one of the best teams in the country in Link Academy, a team with 11 Division 1 prospects, highlighted by Houston commit Chris Cenac Jr. and a pair of SEC signees in John Clark (Texas) and Davion Hannah (Alabama), as well Ohio State pledge A’mare Bynum. This is a program that has four of the top 50 players in the class of 2025, with Cenac Jr. coming in at #10 on 247 Sports’ rankings. They also feature a pair of top 100 players in the class of 2026.
Link Academy came out on top, 67-55, with Jones scoring 12 points on 4-12 shooting.
Here’s a look at Jones against Christ the King: