Next Play 15U & 16U HGAL Squads Bring Home the Hardware at Summer Jam Fest
Sunday, July 13th, 2025 will go down as a milestone in Next Play Basketball history. What began as a vision in 2021 took another major step forward, as both our 15U and 16U HGAL squads captured Platinum Division championships at the prestigious Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest.
A Bold Move Pays Off
In late 2024, after weeks of research, planning, and countless conversations, the Next Play leadership team made the bold decision to take the program in a new direction — joining a brand-new platform that promised both elite competition and academic alignment in the Hoop Group Academic League (HGAL).
After competing on the ZGXL circuit during the 2024 spring and summer, it was clear our elite teams were ready for the next step. But it wasn’t just about playing at a higher level—it had to be the right level.
“From the first time I heard Hoop Group was launching an academic circuit, I knew it would be top-tier,” said Program Director Jake Webster. “Hoop Group has a long-standing reputation in grassroots basketball, and having coached in their events before, I was confident they’d do this the right way and it would give our players exposure to the colleges they were striving to play for.”
After many conversations, Next Play became one of HGAL’s founding programs.
“I was extremely confident we were making the right decision,” Webster added. “This past weekend—and everything our teams have experienced this season—proved that. What Will & Eamonn have built in year one is truly remarkable. We’re lucky to be part of the Hoop Group family as we continue to grow the Next Play Program.”
16U: Grit, Growth, and a Championship Run
The 16U squad faced adversity all weekend long and responded like champions.
After a dominant opening-round win over South Shore HGAL, they ground out a hard-fought 50–39 victory against PK Flash HGSL. Key performances included Justin Dudrcik (WC Henderson) knocking down critical threes and Ryan Reing (LaSalle College HS) dominating inside with physical play, rebounding and toughness.
The semifinal matchup against Connecticut Elite HGSL tested the team’s resolve. Trailing by 17 at halftime, the group refused to quit. A second-half explosion by big man Mack O’Neill, combined with smart defensive adjustments by the coaching staff, Amar Stukes and Kitt Walls, sparked a thrilling comeback. A clutch defensive stop in the closing seconds secured a one-point victory and a trip to the title game.
In the championship against PA Hoops Academy, the NPB 16U team put together a complete, wire-to-wire performance.
Jared Velez stepped up defensively, locking down the opponent’s top scorer, while Tre Scipio delivered timely buckets as he attacked the rim. Henry Belcher iced the game with six straight free throws, securing a 53–43 win.
“I’m extremely proud of how we battled,” said Coach Walls. “We faced real adversity and never backed down. We are excited to take this momentum into the championships in AC.”
15U: A Breakthrough Moment
The 15U team has been no stranger to adversity—losing two key players to injury and another to the EYBL earlier in the season. But after finding their rhythm again at The Nook, the group proved they were ready to compete at the highest level.
Following a nail-biter in the opening round, the team delivered impressive wins over Team Fermin HGAL and NY Lightning HGSL to punch their ticket to the final. A major storyline from the early rounds was the breakout of the Walsh brothers. Colin Walsh (2029) came up huge in the opening game, with one parent exclaiming, “You saved our bacon, kid!”
Nate Walsh (2028) followed it up with a strong showing against NY Lightning, scoring key buckets and flashing the ability that will make him a major contributor for LaSalle College High School this winter.
In the championship game, they faced Middlesex Magic—ranked third on the circuit. From the opening tip, it was clear Next Play came ready. The 15U squad closed out their dominant run with a 58–37 win, capturing their first championship of the season.
Nate Walsh got things started offensively, but it was the dynamic backcourt duo of Nas Howard (SCH Academy) and Andrew Hall (AFS) who took control. Hall, a big-bodied point guard who recently transferred from Germantown Academy, ran the offense with leadership and poise. He’s poised to be a key piece for a new-look AFS Kangaroos team this season. Howard, a 6’1” combo guard, continued his breakout summer with a strong two-way performance—scoring, defending, and making winning plays. Expect him to step into the varsity rotation at SCH Academy, one of the top programs in the region coming off of a 23-8 campaign.
Looking Ahead
Both teams are set to compete this weekend at the HGAL Finals in Atlantic City, where they’ll look to finish the summer strong and, hopefully, bring home more hardware.
#NextPlay #HGAL #SummerJamFest #Champions #15U #16U #BuiltNotBorn #BasketballFamily #TrustTheWork
