Versatile New England Players on the Rise (Summer AAU Scene)

With positionless basketball at the pinnacle of all things versatility-wise, New England has become a hotbed for players who can contribute on both ends of the floor. Over the past two months, I’ve had the chance to scout several dynamic, highly scalable prospects both in the game and practice settings. Who are some names to keep tabs this scene this summer. [player_tooltip player_id="1081748" first="Isaiah" last="Sullivan"] | 6’7" | Stretch-Wing | Bassick High | New Haven Heat | 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1081748" first="Isaiah" last="Sullivan"] stood out as one of the more versatile players I’ve seen in New England this past year. Positionally speaking, I would say he is a fluid moving wing but shows a guard-like handle and did not back down from guarding up the positional spectrum. With great size for a wing, he really ran the floor with intent. He also showcased a high-level understanding of spacing as he sprinted to the corners and showcased a fluid stroke in the process. While Sullivan can elevate effortlessly above the rim, I was impressed with his ability to knock down several tough contested movement three-pointers. With the ball in his hands, he had some great flashes of playmaking and finding open teammates on several high level reads. He did a great job of picking his spots during the two games I watched. He kept a high level of defensive energy and did not lose focus. He made intelligent defensive slides and was willing to get low in his stance on the perimeter. A versatile two-way threat, I think this will be a big summer for Sullivan as he gets more reps. Trevor White | 6’6" | Stretch-Wing Capable of Playing Up | Attleboro High School | Expressions | 2023 Having watched Trevor White in both the game a practice settings his offensive versatility is something that stood out immediately. He can catch lobs, elevate in traffic, make high-level passes within the offense, and operate as a corner and above the break catch and shoot threat. He converted on at least four tightly contested catch-and-shoot 3’s with sound mechanics on his shooting stroke during a victory against NSSA at the NERR Hoopfest. In addition to his shot-making and offensive production, White also sets a great screen and has phenomenal basketball instincts rolling or popping into open space. White wasn’t just converting on his threes as he also showcased some impressive back-to-the-basket post-up game with sound and fluid footwork. Also willing to run in the open floor, White threw down some impressive open-court dunks on the afternoon. On defense, I like that White is always engaged and willing to communicate necessary switches when guarding the ball handler. He made a number of weak-side help rotations which ended in some emphatic rejections. Johnny Pierce | 6’5" | Fluid Moving Wing | Suffield Academy | Team Spartans | 2024 This being my second time watching Johnny Pierce in person in the past year, he profiles as another extremely versatile positionless type of player. His growth and aggression were on full display during a decisive victory against RI Elite. Pierce is the type of player who is willing to take on any task on both sides of the floor. I was most impressed with his improvement in handling the ball. He excelled in the open floor as he showed some very high-level playmaking flashes with his takes to the basket and his ability to find others off the live dribble. Pierce played with a controlled yet confident demeanor and also brought the same energy on defense. He collected several steals and blocks during Saturday’s victory, as I think Pierce will be yet another New England name on the rise. Mark Newell | 6’6" | Small Ball Big with Wing Potential | St. Sebastian’s | Prodigy | 2022 In a hard-fought grueling game against a top-ranked BABC team, Mark Newell showed out on both sides of the floor with his motor and touch around the rim. Newell did a great job of positioning himself in the dunker’s spot, reading, and reacting to the play at hand. Newell could also put the ball on the floor with a powerful drop-step-based game. Newell showcased a very fluid stroke off the dribble, and while he took on center responsibilities for Team Prodigy on offense, he showed that he was much more than just a small-ball big. On defense, his head was always on a swivel when guarding the post. He made some key defensive stops and was willing to dive on the floor or take a charge in crunch time. His intensity never wavered as Newell eagerly took on the challenges of guarding bigger and taller post threats. Jayden Ndjigue | 6’4" | Power Guard Capable of Playing Up | The Rivers School | Mass Rivals | 2023 Jayden Ndijgue is another player who plays well above his height. In a game last month against the Middlesex Magic, Ndijgue took opportunities guarding the much larger [player_tooltip player_id="1081841" first="Dom" last="Campbell"] and did an excellent job of holding his own during these situations. I would say Ndijgue is a high-level defender at the point of attack as he made several winning plays down the stretch and helped win possessions. He and did a great job of effortlessly switching onto different types of players throughout the game and was the first to the floor in many situations. Ndijgue also knocked down catch & shoot looks beyond the arc with fluid shooting motion and pushed the ball in transition. High-effort players go places. Ndijgue’s versatility on both sides of the floor makes him an exciting watch for the summer of 2021. Sky is the limit. Patrick White | 6’6” | Guard / Wing capable of guarding up | Apponequet High School - Tabor | Bay State Jaguars | 2023 I got the chance to watch Patrick White up close during a late-March victory over an extremely competitive Middlesex Magic squad. During this game, he made several game-winning plays to help cement this win. Yet another versatile force constantly contributing on both ends of the floor. I was really impressed with his ability to read his off-ball matchup and provide necessary levels of help on the weak side. On offense, while he primarily played off the ball, he was dynamic when running off screens going straight into his shot. White does not need much space to get his shot off as he showed the ability to catch high and release high on these looks, a very advanced skill set for a player at the high school level. That said, he wasn’t just an off-ball shooter. When the offense broke down, White also showed the ability to create off a live dribble and slash to the basket.