NERR National Prep Showcase – New England Standouts (Part 2)
This weekend I attended the Northeast Recruiting Report’s (NERR) National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College in my own New Haven, Connecticut. While the games may have been muted in importance by the impending flock of Yale and Harvard alum…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend I attended the Northeast Recruiting Report’s (NERR) National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College in my own New Haven, Connecticut. While the games may have been muted in importance by the impending flock of Yale and Harvard alum attending The Game, the showcase brought together some of the nation’s best prep school talent. And as a fairly new New England scout, I couldn’t have been more excited to finally get to see some of the region’s best teams go at it.
Now for the heavy hitters… the New Englanders! This is the second part of a 4-part examination of the best NE talent at the tournament, to be published throughout the week for your enjoyment. There was more than enough incredible Northeast kids in attendance, so with only 4 parts, I had to look hard and long at my notes to find the kids that really stood out to me. Here’s the second group:
Keenan Emmanuel, Woodstock Academy (CT), 6-1, 2022
Despite Emmanuel coming off the bench, he definitely looked like Woodstock’s best player Friday night when they lost to Hargrave Military Academy (VA). Emmanuel led the squad with 15 points on efficient 5-7 shooting. He’s got an insanely well-developed handle and is as shifty as they come, crossing defenders and being one of the only guys to effectively break the intense Hargrave defense. When the going got tough against a defensively tenacious Hargrave squad, it felt like only Emmanuel was able to continually produce and be effective. He’s a low profile hooper who I hadn’t heard of, but will definitely break out on to the scene if he can continue to produce in front of scouts at the rate he is.
Taylor Bol Bowen, Brewster Academy (NH), 6-9, 2023
Bowen is one of the country’s best talents for a reason. Even though his team lost by a hefty margin to Montverde CBD, the junior forward showed why he’s so highly touted by major scouting networks. His length is off the charts, and he uses it to absolutely eliminate shots on the defensive end (in major fashion as well). His bounce is underrated and he can contest shots all the way up to the stratosphere when he fully extends. He struggled offensively throughout the weekend, but would be a major threat if he can develop a more consistent offensive game.
Matas Buzelis Matas Buzelis 6'9" | SF Sunrise Christian | 2023 #2 Nation New E , Brewster Academy (NH), 6-11, 2023
Buzelis also was a bit off throughout the weekend, but overall, he really impressed me. His combination of size and willingness to shoot was incredibly impressive and made him a serious threat for all defenses. His length is also an asset which enables him to rebound and fight on the inside, even with more physical or stronger defenders. Handles and flash aren’t his strong suit, but they’re passable enough to make him a threat at his size. Buzelis has a way to go, there’s no doubt about that, but as only a junior with a high motor and great skillset, he will definitely get through some of the early season shakes and become a dominant force later in the season.