MIAA D3 Final Four – Players to Watch
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It’s Final Four time in the MIAA and Division III should be as competitive a division as there is with all four of the top seeds still fighting for the crown. Here is one prospect from each team to keep…
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Continue ReadingIt’s Final Four time in the MIAA and Division III should be as competitive a division as there is with all four of the top seeds still fighting for the crown.
Here is one prospect from each team to keep an eye on this week:
Jaylin Williams-Crawford Jaylin Williams-Crawford 6'7" | PF Charlestown | 2025 State New E
Jaylin Williams-Crawford Jaylin Williams-Crawford 6'7" | PF Charlestown | 2025 State New E
Williams-Crawford and Charlestown are back in the Final Four, this time in Division III, and at 21-2 are the favorite to win it all. An athletic and versatile forward, Williams-Crawford makes an impact on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s an inside-out threat that can score at all three levels. He’s an aggressive rebounder, tough rim finisher, and is hard to contain off the bounce. Defensively, he’s really active and uses his length and athleticism to cause havoc in passing lanes and around the rim. Williams-Crawford, who teams with Jaylen Hunter-Coleman Jaylen Hunter-Coleman 5’11” | PG Charlestown | 2026 State New E to form one of the state’s top duos, will be key to Charlestown’s efforts to this week as they hope to win two games and bring a state title back to the city.
Makai Shepardson Makai Shepardson 5'10" | PG Pittsfield | 2024 New E
Makai Shepardson Makai Shepardson 5'10" | PG Pittsfield | 2024 New E
Shepardson and the Pittsfield Generals are one game away from a trip to the state championship. A dynamic combo-guard, Shepardson is crafty off the bounce and does a great job of picking his spots as a scorer. He’ll utilize euro steps, hang dribbles, and hesitations to get into the paint where he’s slippery in tight spaces. He has good floor vision and is a particularly good passer off the bounce. The lefty can make shots from behind the perimeter, but really puts pressure on the defense as a driver. If Pittsfield is going to win it all, they’ll need big semi-final games out of Shepardson and his running mate, Malachi Perry.
Jamal Sistrunk
Jamal Sistrunk
Sistrunk and Taconic head into a Final Four matchup with Charlestown off a thrilling OT win over Norwell. A smooth combo-guard, Sistrunk is a three-level scorer that can really get it going when he’s on, as evidence by a 30-point game earlier this season against Amherst. He has 15 double-digit scoring games this winter and is a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands. He’s really good in catch-and-shoot situations and puts pressure on the defense every time he touches the basketball. Taconic, which has four players that average 10.0 ppg or more, will need to rely on that balance as well as a big game from Sistrunk if they want to pull off the upset and move on to the state championship.
John Butler
John Butler
Butler and ORR are back in the Final Four for the second year in a row and after coming up just short last year, they’ll look to win the whole thing this week. Maybe the most explosive athlete left in the tournament, Butler makes plays high above the rim on both ends of the floor. A big wing with solid length, he can really score in transition and is constantly putting pressure on the rim. He’s an above average rebounder and is comfortable making plays off the bounce. Defensively, he’s disruptive, plays hard, and is a solid weakside shot-blocker. Old Rochester has been here before and this group is hungry to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat; to do so, they’ll need big performances from Butler, and fellow senior, Robert Spenard.