Day 1 storylines from the National Prep Showcase
New Haven, Connecticut – Day one of the National Prep Showcase started with seven games with teams from ten different states. It was a great day with a lot of storylines involved. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye.
JP Estrella continues to intrigue
Intrigue doesn’t really capture the excitement it should. In all honesty, intrigue is all about perspective. Who is being intrigued, and by what? In the case of JP Estrella, we are talking about long-term intrigue, and to capture the entirety of said intrigue, you need to take a step back and look at it from a full lens point of view. Estrella started high school as a 6-foot-3 guard and was not a full-time varsity member until the end of his sophomore season. Then he grew. Estrella picked up over 25 offers from the end of his junior season to the beginning of his senior year. Now 6-foot-10, maybe 6-foot-11, he needs to be evaluated through a different lens.
Estrella is the No. 21 player in the 2023 On3 150. We bet on his upward trajectory, which he has continued to show. In this setting, Estreall finished 3-foot-5 from three. The shot was smooth and confident. He also nabbed two blocks, showcasing his instincts around the rim. Estrella moves well, both laterally and vertically, and as he continues to learn footwork, opening his hips, and angles, he will continue to grow on the defensive end.
What brings all of this together for Estrella is he competes. Despite still growing into his body and frame, Estrella is not afraid to mix it up on either end. Estrella led all scorers in his first National Prep Showcase with 15 points in the win. He was 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from three. Estrella signed with Tennessee.
Joson Sanon steals the day
This event has a lot of talented upperclassmen committed to some of the biggest programs in college basketball. However, the player I walked away most impressed with was 2025 wing Joson Sanon. For starters, he walks on the floor looking like a basketball player; he has long arms, broad shoulders, and an athletic frame. Once the ball is in the air, his pace just takes center stage. As only a sophomore, Sanon knows his spots on the floor and how to get there. He does not get sped up and has a picture-perfect jump shot from each spot on the floor.
He is currently ranked No. 32 in On3s 2025 50 and No. 43 in the 2025 On3 Consensus. Sanon finished this one with 22 points on 1-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from three. He claims offers from Boston College, Marquette, and Providence.
Mouhamed Dioubate makes winning plays
Height/Weight: 6-7/200
High School: Putnam (CT) Science Academy
2023 On3 150: No. 80
It really is just as simple as that. The long-armed, quick-twitched Alabama commit seems to thrive in the situations where things get a little tough. The 50-50 balls, the offensive rebounds, guarding the ball, it’s the little things that not many people like doing. Mouhamed Dioubate is listed as 6-foot-7. He is an excellent offensive rebounder and has natural instincts in the passing lanes. He can guard the perimeter forward or the post forward positions and can even switch up or down a position in a pinch.
Dioubate finished with another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. In a system at Alabama that enjoys getting up and down and having a lot of offensive possessions, the four-star is a connective piece that creates offensive opportunities.
Other standouts
Jaden Doughtry – The 6-foot-7 forward from Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and going 12-of-17 from the field. He signed with Indiana State.
Tyler Betsey – The 6-foot-8 forward from Oakdale (CT) St Thomas More. The 2024 On3 150 No. 19 player finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds on 6-of-12 field goals.
Seth Joba – Listed at 6-foot-9, Jobe showed explosive straight-line pop and some perimeter skills. The Bridgton (ME) Bridgton Academy senior finished with 20 points on 8-of-16 from the field with 4 rebounds and 3 blocks.