NSR prospect follows in footsteps of great NYC point guards

Anybody who has played basketball in this country knows that New York City is legendary for producing elite high school point guards.

Bob Cousy, Kenny Smith, Stephan Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Pearl Washington, Nate Archibald, Mark Jackson, and countless others have landed on NCAA Division I rosters for decades. If a top-tier school wants the best of the best at the point, the Big Apple is where coaches often look.

Add National Scouting Report prospect Justin Fishman to the list. The 6-foot-2 junior point guard averages 28 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals per game for Trevor Day School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  That puts him at or near the top of the 2017 class.

Fishman excels in every phase of the game.  Sure, he has a couple of shortcomings — he does not have a powerful body — but those can be resolved with age as his body matures.

Fishman seems to be everywhere on the floor.  He can basically take over a game with his ball-handling, 3-point range, pull-up jumpers and he can put the ball into a very small space when dishing out assists. And like the rest of the long lineage of New York players, the ball seems attached to him.

After NSR New York scout Brian Rodriguez watched Fishman play, he couldn’t say enough positive things about him.

“Justin is an elite shooter who has great range and also works the floor with great vision,” he wrote in his NSR scouting report. “Defensively, he has good hands who is working to improve his speed to the ball. He is a transition player that is making rebounding more a part of his game. His ability to shoot the ball from any spot on the court is what makes him a very dangerous weapon on offense. What he needs to improve on is his speed and strength, but everything else stands out and his ability to make big shots and create for himself and others will translate well on the next level.”

Rodriguez’s opinion is supported by other coaches. Here is a sampling of their comments:

• “Above all, his basketball IQ and understanding of spacing/team concepts is as good if not better than any kid I have coached. He has an innate knack for making the right play. Justin is also a deadly shooter. Opponents learn very quickly that he is a threat to shoot the moment he crosses half court.” — Lyle Friess, Head Varsity Coach Trevor Day School, NYC and Founder, Co-Executive Director Brooklyn Youth Sports Club.
• “What separates ‘Fish’ from other college level prospects are the intangibles. He is a great leader, teammate and a fierce competitor. Justin is an extension of his coach on the floor.”  — Secrett Stubblefield, Head Coach/AG Wave AAU Team.
• “Justin is a great leader — smart, talented and clutch.  He makes me feel like we will win every close game.” — Scott Green, Head Coach Maccabi USA Team.
• “Justin Fishman is an extraordinary basketball talent. His vision, ball handling and passing are only trumped by his amazing ability to shoot the ball in both catch & shoot and off the dribble situations.” — Danny Ourian, Sports Director, 92nd Street Y, NYC.

Fishman, a 3.4 student, looks forward to finding the perfect college fit.

” I want to take my skill and my passion to play at the collegiate level,” he wrote in his personal message to college coaches. “I enjoy the role of captain on both my high school varsity team as well as my AAU team. I am a team player, leader and motivator. I have a very strong work ethic and try to take every opportunity to improve my game. I try to lead by example as well as being vocal on the court.  I have been told I am very coachable and have an exceptional basketball I.Q. My main goal is working on becoming faster and stronger. I am looking for a college that is a good fit for me athletically, academically and socially. Academics are very important to me, and I am looking for a school where I can excel academically as well as share my basketball passion and skill to contribute to a college team’s success.”