Bridgton Academy Open Gym Recap
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Bridgton Academy, nestled in Maine’s Lakes Region, is a must stop on any pre-season prep tour through New England. This year proved no different, as Whit Lesure enters his 26th year on the sidelines at Bridgton with a deep group…
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Continue ReadingBridgton Academy, nestled in Maine’s Lakes Region, is a must stop on any pre-season prep tour through New England. This year proved no different, as Whit Lesure enters his 26th year on the sidelines at Bridgton with a deep group that already seems to be playing with a sense of attention to detail, connectedness, and intensity. While returning big man, Mamadou Kane Mamadou Kane 7'0" | C Bridgton Academy | 2024 State New E , was out with an injury on the day we were in the gym, there were plenty of other standouts including a few locals in Kalvin Catchings and Silvano Ismail Silvano Ismail 6'2" | CG Bridgton Academy | 2024 State New E , who we’ll cover shortly in another article. Today, we’ll highlight five guys who stood out at Bridgton’s open gym last week.
A standout in the NHIAA the past few years, Chinn looks primed to have a big role at Bridgton this winter. The 6’5” wing has added noticeable muscle to his frame and shows an impressive ability to hit the glass and hold his own defensively in the post. He plays with a high IQ, is a willing ball mover, and a strong finisher at the rim. He garnered scholarship interest this summer and should continue to do so with his play throughout the winter.
Will Davis
Will Davis
The forward from Massachusetts looks like he’ll make an easy transition to the NEPSAC. Davis’s motor never seems to stop, which pays major dividends on both the offensive and defensive glass. He’s hard to guard as he’s shown the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter but also can play bully ball at the rim. He also showed off an impressive mid-range game, which should help him to draw bigger, stronger defenders away from the rim. Fully looks the part of a guy who could play in the Northeast-10 or similarly, the America East or NEC.
Returning for a 2nd season at Bridgton, the wing from New York might be the Wolverines most dynamic athlete. A multi-positional defender on the perimeter, Reed makes an impact with his athleticism and length. Offensively, he’s best in space, particularly in transition where he’s adept at finishing plays by and above the rim. Has the tools to play at the scholarship level and should have a consistent opportunity this winter to showcase that.
A newcomer to basketball in the state, Yapo was particularly impressive on the day we visited Bridgton. Playing as a small-ball five, Yapo has impressive strength and showed himself to be a dynamic vertical athlete, finishing multiple dunks off drop downs or putbacks. As he adjusts to the speed of the American game, I believe Yapo will be a guy who begins to pop onto the radar of many colleges in the region.
A pleasant surprise while we were in the gym. Yeh is quiet and unassuming, he won’t blow anyone away with physicality or athleticism, but he consistently stands out by making the right play again and again. He has good size and length on the wing and showed off a perimeter jumper that had solid mechanics. His high IQ and understanding of the game should allow Yeh to be an integral part of Bridgton’s rotation this winter. If he plays like he did the day we were in the gym, there’s no reason to believe he won’t have a handful of D3 colleges reaching out in the near future.