MIAA D2 – Postseason Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing with our preview of the Massachusetts State Tournament brings us to Division II.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more competitive divisions from top to bottom; we're now onto the Round of 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll take a look at five prospects from some of the top teams remaining in Division II.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2546769' first='Matt' last='Gaffney']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Malden Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gaffney and the Malden Catholic Lancers are not only the top overall seed in Division II, but are also the reigning state champions. A high-scoring combo-guard, Gaffney recently passed the 1,000 point mark at MC. What stands out most, outside of his ability to score, is his competitiveness and toughness. He's not afraid of the moment, has in the gym range, and is a big time shot maker in the clutch. He competes on the defensive end and is a solid communicator and leader. Malden Catholic played a tough schedule this winter and is no stranger to close games, if Gaffney can continue to be a big time closer, then the Lancers should be able to make another deep run.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2313170"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Rodriguez and the Burlington Red Devils head to Mansfield for a Round of 16 showdown with one of the Division II favorites. After recently setting the school record for career points, Rodriguez will be looking to cement his legacy with a deep tournament run. A big guard/wing, he's a big time scorer and a terrific shooter from behind the arc. His versatility comes into play on the offensive end of the floor as a creator and as someone who can take advantage of mis-matches in the post. Defensively, he does a good job of rebounding and starting the break for Burlington. The Red Devils could surpise in this tournament as not many teams left have the type of offensive weapon that Rodriguez is.","_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":"Nate Katznelson","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_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":"Sharon","_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":"Katznelson leads a Sharon squad that should have their hands full in the Round of 16 against Doherty Memorial. Another prospect that recently surpassed the 1,000 point mark, Katznelson is a mis-match forward that thrives as an inside-out threat. Not often sped up, he's a good decision maker in the halfcourt and a high-level shooter from behind the arc. He's a tough match-up for most opponents as he can bully smaller defenders in the post and is shooting threat that typical post defenders have to account for at all times. He's a good rebounder and does a good job of communicating from the back line of the defense. Sharon will need Katznelson to be at his best if they want to make a deep run in Division II.","_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":"Terrance McCormack","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_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":"Leominster","_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":"McCormack and his teammates at Leominster are poised to make a deep run in the tournament and square off next against a tough group from Scituate. McCormack, who is just one of multiple scoring threats for Leominster, might be his team's best shooter. With multiple games of 3+ made threes, he's a threat to score every time he catches it behind the arc. He's a good athlete that can really run the floor and finish in transition, but is most valuable as a floor spacer who opens up driving lanes for his teammates. Depth is definitely one of Leominster's calling cards this season, but they'll need someone to consistently hit shots in the playoffs and I think McCormack could be the guy to do just that.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jamaal McConnell","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Canton","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"McConnell and Canton will look to spring an upset when they head to Somerset Berkley for their Round of 16 match-up. One piece of terrific trio for Canton, McConnell is a terrific athlete that thrives in the open floor. He's an explosive athlete that can finish with either hand at the rim and does a great job of getting downhill with his dribble. He's the primary creator for his group and does a good job of finding his teammates in positions where they can get easy baskets. He's tough defensively as he has a great combination of athleticism, explosiveness, and strength, which allows him to guard multiple positions while making an impact on the defensive glass. Canton, if they can win this match-up, could surprise people and has the pieces to make a deep run in this tournament.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65a6bdc80f"} /-->