Two emerging Brooklyn Collegiate basketball stars–2024 Jayden Johnson and 2025 Toribola Babs-Ogundeji— completed their first year of varsity basketball this past season while helping the Lions to a No. 10 ranking in New York City, per NYCHoops.net.
Currently, the duo is playing AAU hoops for CM3-Elite 16U team. They have led the CM3 16U squad to a 15-2 record over four tournaments. They have captured the championship in three of four events which includes titles in the HoopGroup Long Island JamFest and a ZGXL live period event.
During the PSAL season, Johnson. a crafty six-foot point guard, averaged 13 points, four assists and four rebounds per game.
Johnson’s solid play in high school and on the AAU basketball circuit have helped him garner a measure of Division I college hoops attention, according to Assistant Brooklyn Collegiate Coach Ken Hoyte.
“Jayden is a playmaker who has the ability to take over a game,” Hoyte said. “He dropped 26 points in Massachusetts vs Expressions Elite, regarded one of the top EYBL AAU programs in the country. A number of D1 programs have since expressed interest in recruiting the young lefty. Brown, Rider, Columbia and Howard have all reached out.”
While the young Babs-Ogundeji saw limited action due to being behind on the depth chart to Zaquan Jones, he still managed to make an impact on the hardwood. He averaged two points, five rebounds and two blocks per game this past season.
“As a 14-year-old freshman, Tori played behind All-State D1 prospect Zaquan Jones and in limited minutes, Tori was able to lead Brooklyn Collegiate in blocked shots with his 6-foot-10 wingspan,” Hoyte explained. “Tori is a three-level scorer with an incredible motor who rebounds and blocks shots at a high rate. He’s widely regarded as one of the top 2025 prospects in the northeast and several colleges have been reaching out about his progress – Boston College, Austin Peay, Bryant, Binghamton, St. John’s and Rhode Island have all been in touch.”
Presently, CM3 16u squad is 2-0 with wins over the Boston Bobcats and ProSkills-Philly at the Spooky Nook, in Pennsylvania.
Hoyte believes that it is conceivable that both players will receive official D1 offers before the end of the summer.
This is all exciting not just for Brooklyn Collegiate, but also for CM3 Elite, Hoyte noted. He said that CM3 Elite has been one of the most consistent, non-sneaker circuit teams in the region and has sent over a dozen guys to D1 colleges.
CM3 Founder Charles Melone III is currently coaching the 16U squad.
— Jerry Del Priore
Photos: Ken Hoyte of Brooklyn Collegiate.
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 