RIIL D1 – Postseason Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've reached the semifinals of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) Division I boys basketball play-offs and while the top seeds reigned supreme in three of the four games, #7 Portsmouth sprung a big upset in their quarterfinal win over #2 Barrington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahead of this weekend's semifinals, we'll take a look at one prospect to watch from each remaining team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1106098"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Harrison is a big-time scorer for top-seeded Classical. A natural combo-guard with good playmaking instincts, it's his shooting that has really shined this year. He's one of Rhode Island's top perimeter scorers in catch-and-shoot situations and can get hot in a hurry from behind the arc. He does a good job advancing the ball in transition and can make plays off the bounce in the half-court. He's a pesky on-ball defender that generates a good amount of deflections and steals due to his high activity level. Classical is two games away from capping a storybook season with a Division I Championship.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2546943' first='James' last='Caldarella']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Bishop Hendricken","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Caldarella is next-up in a seemingly long line of terrific guards to play at Bishop Hendricken. The junior combo-guard can play on or off the ball and is known for his competitiveness, decision-making, and high IQ. One of the state's top on-ball, perimeter defenders, Caldarella is as tough as they come and does a terrific job of keeping opposing ball-handlers out of the paint. Offensively, he makes good decisions with the ball and can really take over as a scorer when needed, particularly as a shooter from behind the arc. Bishop Hendricken, a perennial power, is playing arguably their best basketball of the season heading into this weekend's showdown with Classical.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2396775' first='Liam' last='Simpson']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"La Salle Academy","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Simpson is arguably the best big-man still playing in the Division I tournament. A double-double threat every time he steps on the floor, he's adept at scoring in the low-post but is also a very good passer both from the block and at the high post. He does a great job crashing the offensive glass, finishing through contact, and drawing fouls at the rim. Defensively, he's quick enough to guard on the perimeter and is a good low post defender who can wall up and contest shots without fouling. He also does a great job of creating offense off of defensive rebounds as he's comfortable handling the ball in transition as a pusher. La Salle is a deep and well-rounded team that looks to get by upset-minded Portsmouth and into the championship game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Thomas Hurd","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Portsmouth","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Hurd, the hero of Portsmouth's upset win in the quarterfinals, is coming off of his best performance of the season. A reliable perimeter scorer, he was 7-10 from three in the win over Barrington, erupting for 28 points. Hurd is not only a good shooter, but a willing ball mover that makes good decisions in half-court settings. He's a tough defender who makes winning plays on that end of the floor with effort and intensity. Portsmouth, the underdog of the group, will need a big effort out of Hurd this weekend if it wants to move one game closer to securing a state championship.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e0e377eff8a"} /-->