The
Brooklyn Law and Tech Jets aren't the toast of Gotham.
Far from it.
Far from it.
They
lack the same fanfare, lofty expectations, the same hype and hyperbole as
traditional Brooklyn breeding grounds such as Lincoln, Boys & Girls, or Thomas
Jefferson.
The Jets
aren’t equated with the same appealing status as New York area powers such as Christ The King, Cardozo, St. Raymond's, and
Mount Vernon.
You likely won't find much on the Jets across the hoops blogosphere.
You certainly won't find Law and Tech players smothered on the rankings pages and websites canvassing "who's who" of Big East, A-10, or even NEC recruits.
You likely won't find much on the Jets across the hoops blogosphere.
You certainly won't find Law and Tech players smothered on the rankings pages and websites canvassing "who's who" of Big East, A-10, or even NEC recruits.
…
And
that's just fine with them.
Led by a humble and prolific scorer in Matt Scott, the Jets would rather move in
stealth fashion.
They did just that this summer, turning heads during a recent tournament at the House of Sports complex in Ardsley, N.Y.
They did just that this summer, turning heads during a recent tournament at the House of Sports complex in Ardsley, N.Y.
In the first-ever showcase, orchestrated by
Lincoln coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton, No.11 Law and Tech
stunned No.6 Thomas Jefferson in a thorough 67-41 trouncing.
Morton has groomed a torrent of NYC's top-shelf players at Lincoln High and Juice All Stars AAU. He extended the tournament invite to familiar foes such as Bishop Loughlin and Holy Cross.
Lincoln features a top-level recruit in combo guard Isaiah Whitehead, who has received budding interest from Indiana, Seton Hall, Arizona, and Miami.
The Jets lack that quality of star power and tradition. What they do have, is enough pieces to puzzle teams in 'A' this season.
Lincoln features a top-level recruit in combo guard Isaiah Whitehead, who has received budding interest from Indiana, Seton Hall, Arizona, and Miami.
The Jets lack that quality of star power and tradition. What they do have, is enough pieces to puzzle teams in 'A' this season.
Buoyed by an underrated 6-foot-3 guard in Matt Scott, the Jets sapped
some shine away from more-decorated programs at the event. Scott was the
catalyst, shredding defenders to the tune of a game-high 32 points.
Not
being mentioned in the same breath as top-flight Brooklyn guards never
seems to get to Scott. He doesn’t think twice about it. Throughout his career,
he’s never been hampered by it.
Under
the guidance of Brooklyn Law and Tech coach and AD Mike Levy and Lincoln assistant Kenny Pretlow, the Jets were bolstered by a rigorous summer schedule.
Scott
never keeps tabs on his personal production. You'll never find him hounding
the stat keeper, eager for a glimpse into the book. He’ll never liken his own game to
high volume scorers/playmaking guards who may be getting more ink.
He's most concerned about day-to-day progression and his team’s production.
He's most concerned about day-to-day progression and his team’s production.
“We have improved in many ways over the course
of the summer,” explained Scott, who averaged 15 points and eight assists as a
junior.
“We
learned each other’s games and know what each other can and can't do. We became
a way better defensive team, getting stops and capitalizing on turnovers. Our
biggest improvement, to me, was that in tough grind-out games we are a better
executing team down the stretch. We’re making the right plays and limiting
turnovers.”
That
poise and late-game resolve will be critical for the Jets in 2013-14. BK Law and Tech enjoys flying under the radar, even in New York City's hothouse hoops environment.
“We
take pride in being a unsung team,” Scott said.
“We
love to surprise and compete against top teams, because we do play a tough
non-league and pre-season schedule. So when we do beat top competition, we feel
we shouldn't lose when season starts. It is certainly motivation.”
A
southpaw and an honor roll student, Scott is known for his versatility.
He can
operate at all five positions on the court. He's capable of dissecting defenses with quick forays
to the bucket and strong finishes in traffic. He’s developed a dependable mid-range game
and a reliable shot beyond the confines of the arc.
Originally
a point guard, Scott’s ability to handle the ball and locate his teammates
bodes well when defenders collapse on him. If they sag off, he’ll take advantage of the deep jumper. It all renders him a unique threat to guard.
Embracing the jack of all trades concept, Scott said he patterns his game around an NBA player recognized for similar personal characteristics.
Embracing the jack of all trades concept, Scott said he patterns his game around an NBA player recognized for similar personal characteristics.
“I
like James Harden because he can do it all,” Scott explained.
“He
can shoot the three-ball, finish at the rim, he plays tough defense and gets
his teammates involved because of his ability to penetrate and kick. I favor
his game also he is very humble and doesn't talk much.”
Like
Harden, Scott initiates offense by getting his teammates involved first. Like
Harden, he's a lefty and quiet by nature. The Jets have the potential to
make loud statements this season. They hope this racket reverberates to the locker rooms of Brooklyn AA foes.
As much
as Scott has produced this summer, he’s clearly not alone.
Juan Ramos, a four-year varsity player, will assume the role of shooter. Ramos has recently shed the tag of one-trick pony, adding to his all-around game.
The Jets will also look to another versatile scoring threat in Brandon House, who has improved rapidly.
Juan Ramos, a four-year varsity player, will assume the role of shooter. Ramos has recently shed the tag of one-trick pony, adding to his all-around game.
The Jets will also look to another versatile scoring threat in Brandon House, who has improved rapidly.