MIAA Playoffs Senior Guard Standouts
In this article:
We spent time covering the semifinals and finals of the MIAA playoffs, watching some familiar faces perform in crunch time on the big stage while some new heroes emerged. We’ll start with the senior guards that shined the brightest on…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe spent time covering the semifinals and finals of the MIAA playoffs, watching some familiar faces perform in crunch time on the big stage while some new heroes emerged. We’ll start with the senior guards that shined the brightest on the big stage. Let’s get into it!
19p 8r 1b 1a 1s vs Spalding| 10p 8r 4s 1b vs Glenelg
Brathwaite hits the glass insanely hard for a guard his size, securing a ton of offensive rebounds that either lead to extra possessions or FTs for his team in tight games. His offensive game has advanced from more stringent C+S or blow-by takes to the basket opportunities to creating his own offense with sidesteps and stepbacks to get into his shot. His intensity on both ends of the floor set the tone for his team whose example all of his teammates should follow. Fully expect him to hit the ground running at Yale next season as a dynamic CG that impacts winning on both ends of the floor.
Highlights
Caleb Franze
Caleb Franze
rn23p 2r 1a vs Severn School
Franze went down swinging, hitting 5 threes throughout the game–mainly off of movement or off the dribble. I couldn’t believe how often the defense went under ball screens that were set explicitly to create open looks from beyond the arc for him. Franze possesses some wiggle off the bounce too
rn12p 6a 5r 1s vs Spalding|10p 5a 1s vs Glenelg
-I think that Truitt may be my favorite utility player in the area, he just understands what his team needs from him at that point in the game and provides it without complaints. Truitt can function as a facilitator on the ball or a scorer off of it, with an improved jump shot and handle to create a very well-rounded senior guard. He made several key plays scoring the ball in the paint and serving as a defensive disruptor in both the semi’s and finals of the MIAA tournament.
Highlights
rn9p 2a v MSJ
rn-Sykes struggled to make an impact early but made several HUGE plays in the 2H that led to Spalding roaring their way back into the game. Once the senior PG settled into the game, he got himself going with a bullet pass to a big for an easy bucket under the rim while standing above the volleyball line. Sykes then hit a really tough reverse layup in traffic after blowing by his matchup, then hit a huge go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing to put the Cavs ahead late in the 4Q. His play-making, scrappy defense, and paint touches often led to runs for the Cavaliers during the regular season so it was no surprise to see the same in the title game.
rn14p 2r 1s 1a vs Glenelg
rn-Ranson has quietly had a monster sophomore season for the Gaels, winning several games for the 1st place BCL/MIAA regular season finishers with his ability to create offense for himself or for others. You don’t normally see this kind of shot-taking and shot-making moxy from a prospect this young, but Ranson is definitely not afraid of the moment and can get his shot off against a variety of different defenders. His ability to swoop in for offensive rebounds or pesky steals makes him invaluable to MSJ to either stop opponent’s runs or start them for his team.
rn10p 3r 2a 1b 1s vs Glenelg, 7p 6r 2a 1b 1s vs Spalding
rn-One of MSJ’s biggest X factors that doesn’t receive nearly as much publicity as some of his teammates, Green takes on the toughest matchup in most of MSJ’s games– guarding everyone from 6’6 forwards to shifty 6’1 guards– and he is adept at forcing really tough shots that are outside of the normal looks that his matchups usually take in games. He’s a physical defender that hits the glass hard, gets to every 50/50 ball, and is quick enough to take bigger wings/forwards off the bounce