BY ZACH SMART
In Back To School, ZAGSBLOG follows up on a handful of New York City-based rising junior and senior prospects who have improved incrementally in multiple facets of their game. Playing before a chock full of Division-I coaches, this young fleet subsequently raisied their recruitment this summer.
Below are recent stock risers who have come of age.
Each is flushed into a prominent role this upcoming 2025-26 campaign at their respective programs.
Moussa Kamissoko, LUHI –Now a Top-5 national recruit in the 2027 class, The PSA Cardinals’ wiry 6-foot-8 forward has blossomed with a budding three level scoring repertoire.
Sticking shots on the move with his mid range game and floor spreading aptitude, creating separation off the dribble, and levitating above the rim, Kamissoko thrived in various proving grounds and exposure-heavy events.
A vital piece on a nationally prominent Long Island Lutheran team headlined by prized 2026 recruit Dylan Mingo, Kamissoko infuses John Buck’s program with length, motor, and vertically explosive finishes.
He”s capable of turning in that momentum-rolling dunk which punctuates runs and crucial sequences of a game.
With his ability to attack along the baseline, put the ball on the deck comfortably, Kamissoko possesses the integral tools which elicit mismatch headaches.
With legitimate ball tracking skills, he rebounds outside of his area and in workmanlike fashion.
Kamissoko turned in a sublime 26-point and 17-rebound showing during Peach Jam.
The threat Kamissoko poses as a multi-positional defender was also evident last month in North Augusta, S.C..
He defends the rim, shuffles his feet on the perimter and is able to sit down on wings and guards.
Kamissoko is currently hearing from NC State, Virginia Tech, Villanova, Syracuse, Louisville, Penn State, Cincinnati, and a barrage of others.
The suddenly increased role for the rising junior will help cushion the void left by electrifying guard Nigel James (Marquette), rugged defender and shot maker Kayden Mingo (Penn State), and high level scoring threat Kiyan Anthony (Syracuse).
All three were claimed by 2025 graduation at LUHI.
Johnny Magna, Christ The King HS: The 6-foot-4, high octane guard from Queens was a revelation during the EYBL circuit.
Propelled by length, blurrish quickness, a rarefied feel for the game and deftness in picking his spots, Magna seized the leadership reins as a go-to source for the New York Lightning.
Creating space on thorough surges to the rim, swiftly changing directions, slithering into tight spaces, Magna balanced his offense with a refined mid range pull up/ consistent outside shot.
Picking apart defenses across the country on the hyper-competitive EYBL circuit, Magna surfaced as a Top-3 scorer.
Now one of the longest tenured and weathered players at CTK, Magna shouldered the burden of crunch time deliverer this summer. His production rate in crunch time helped steer the Lightning to multiple significant victories during the stretch run of the summer.
Magna’s 29-point onslaught, a game in which he added eight rebounds, propelled the Lightning to a thrilling 71-70 victory over The Family.
TCU head coach Jamie Dixon and several coaches recruiting the combination guard were on hand to see Magna in July.
He currently holds offers from La Salle, Illinois, Texas A & M, East Carolina, the aforementioned TCU, Loyola Chicago, and several others.
His stock continues to tip the high major scales, as his scoring prowess registered its presence during CHSAA Team Camp in June.
Reigning national champions Florida as well as Boston College are beginning to express interest in Magna.
He is buoyed by a style that seems tailor cut for a souped up attack, as he guards up all 94 feet and sparks the transition attack.
Josh Rivera, Stepinac HS: During Peach Jam, the 6-foot-7 Rivera displayed the attributes which make him such a unique threat at this level.
The rising junior is a mismatch threat his consistent, deep 3-point shooting stroke.
Known for reeling off points in a hurry when he catches the hot hand, the Yonkers native’s all around game is starting to blossom.
As he showed against Jet Academy during Peach Jam, Rivera now evokes space creation off the dribble and fires in mid range jumpers with a quickened release.
Utilizing his broomstick long arms and guarding multiple positions, Rivera defended the rim and disrupted the passing lanes while pressuring guards and wings.
Seton Hall, Rhode Island, and Illinois are among the most recent offers for Rivera.
The onus will again be on Rivera to spark Stepinac’s perimeter game and provide two way versatility behind a heavily recruited fleet of seasoned seniors.
Rivera turned in an efficient account of himself on during the mid week of Peach Jam, turning in a commendable 24-point and four assists performance in which he contested shots via hard close outs.
Mississippi State, St. John’s, and Northwestern, among others, have offered Rivera.
Malik Fields, Cardinal Hayes HS–The 6-foot-5 guard is a fearless, three-level scorer who can operate a high level attack and knock down big, opportunistic 3-pointers.
A 34-point performance during the CHSAA “AA” playoffs, in which Fields displayed significant elevation on his jumper and an adeptness for carving his way to the rim, was indicative of his ability to leave his stamp on a big stage matchup.
Fields had multiple games of 30 points or more during the 2024-25 campaign. The ’26 Riverside Hawks prospect, who is the son of former Iona star and former professional Courtney Fields, displayed two-way grit during UAA finals in Atlanta last month.
He boasts a quick first step, a knack for elbow jumpers, a slick passing arsenal that enables him to fire darts with either hand, and positional uniqueness with his rebounding.
Fields has played a significant role at Cardinal Hayes since his sophomore year, when he was thrust into immediate action alongside then-sophomore Jermel Thomas (who is currently at OSL and recently committed to Saint Louis) and then senior Adam Njie (who is currently at Dayton after playing a significant point guard role at Iona last season).
Fairfield, Marist, East Carolina, TCU, Temple, Albany, Valparaiso, and several others have offered Fields
The post Back To School: NY Summer Stock Risers To Keep Tabs On appeared first on Zagsblog.