Connect-the-Dots: Connectors to Keep Tabs On this Spring

In this one I focused on guys with high-IQ, immense court awareness, and the connective playstyle that'll leave a smile on your face. Drop in!   [player_tooltip player_id='2396778' first='Grant' last='Cieplicki'], 6'5 W - Rice Memorial H.S. / VT Elite Class of 2025   Real hoop-heads understand exactly how important Grant's contribution is to winning basketball. Cieplicki sacrificed tremendously for his HS team and it paid dividends as they captured the D1 crown. It's Grant's decision making, unselfishness, ballhandling, and balanced attack that bolsters any group he's with. Time after time, Cieplicki will make fantastic reads against a scrambling defense; he knocks down jumpers within 22-ft consistently, attacks closeouts intuitively, can work the post, and sees the floor exceptionally well, able to dish the ball 1-2 rotations ahead of the D. Kid could initiate the offense if called upon. High-caliber guy with fantastic feel and IQ.   [player_tooltip player_id='2396750' first='Rex' last='Hauser'], 6'6 W - St. Johnsbury H.S. / VT Elite Class of 2025   The long, athletic wing from way up in the Northeast of VT is an absolute problem. I've seen him featured in nearly every role offensively and he always shines. Hauser's ability to knockdown 3s off the bounce or the catch, score at the rim, and go defense to offense is all there. Plus, he has the instincts to read defensive schemes and pick teams apart with his over-the-top court vision and exceptional floor awareness. Add in his off-ball movement and snappy passing vs man or zone and Rex will take advantage of defensive gaps and exploit new ones as they develop. All-around game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2568400' first='Freddie' last='Bacon'], 6'1 G - Northfield Mount Hermon / Blueprint Basketball Varsity Class of 2027   Bacon proved early this winter that he's one of the most polished lead guards around and he'll bring that into AAU. Freddie's balanced attack and sharpened skillset elicits a "pick your poison" conundrum. He'll break down his defender and puncture the paint, from which he can make plays as a scorer and passer with ease, slipping sly feeds, timely kicks to shooters, or finishing the play himself with an array of lays and short-range buckets. Moreover, he's got the perimeter shooting to draw defenders out. Plays at his pace and with a PGs brain. Bacon reclassed and will begin his prep career with NEPSAC AA Northfield Mount Hermon, bringing clinical guard play to the table.   Dez Krakowka, 6'4 W - Rutland H.S. / Blueprint Basketball Varsity Class of 2025   In my time watching Dez, I've seen him operate from essentially every spot on the floor. His foundation of post play brings physical bully ball scoring and vision out of the post, proving troublesome as he'll put guys in the basket for finishes or happily dish when help comes. Moreover, he's comfortable on the wing and can initiate the transition offense. He can work from the perimeter, knock down open shots, or he'll break down bigger, slower defenders, drive, and play outside-inside. An adept playmaker in both transition and the halfcourt with an offensive skillset to attack defenses in a multitude of ways.   Clayton Foster, 6'2 G - Montpelier H.S. / Green Mountain Select Black Class of 2025   An impeccable pressure release player, Foster is someone who does damage in sometimes subtle ways. He's a combo-guard who can initiate the offense, but he's often featured off-ball. Clayton's feel is quickly obvious and he's always in the right spot at the right time. The movement often gives teammates a clean passing option to relieve pressure from which he'll attack, he'll burn you with backdoors, or hit the clean jumper. His attacks against defenses in rotation combined with his court awareness routinely create open looks and broken-down scrambles for the opposition. A clinician.   [player_tooltip player_id='2408951' first='Jack' last='Lafayette'], 6'0 G - South Burlington H.S. / NY Shockers Varsity + Green Mountain Select Class of 2027   The winter season was up-and-down as Jack worked through illness and injury and has thus reclassed. Regardless, I've seen enough of Lafayette to know the drill. Jack's a smart combo-guard who can cut a defense up with his dynamic skillset and quick processing of the defense. Lafayette can score it efficiently with his savvy off-ball movement, using cuts and screens to find open looks. Moreover, he understands those actions open up other holes and will effectively feed teammates whether he's the one coming off the screen or the ballhandler probing for the cleanest advantage. He's plug and play and will connect offenses seamlessly.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553700' first='Byron' last='Robertson Jr.'], 5'11 G - Burlington H.S. / Blueprint Basketball 10th Class of 2026   There are some players who's passing is good, and it looks like enough. But then you see a guy with advanced understanding of angles, ball rotation, and rotating defenders, and you're sitting there with your mouth half open and head tilted. Byron is the latter. He's a savvy guy in the pnr, able to slip passes to rollers or fire dimes to shooting pockets as defenders inch in from the perimeter. The lead guard can make an offense go just with the pnr as a disher and 2-level finisher, yet he's also a smart player off the rock with his well-timed cutting and spacing. An intuitive, connective guard presence.

In this one I focused on guys with high-IQ, immense court awareness, and the connective playstyle that'll leave a smile on your face. Drop in!