5 Impressive 2026 RI, VT, and ME Prospects: Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The states of Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine overall have a great group of talented prospects in the class of 2025. Today, I will be highlighting five more names that have impressed me in their sophomore year! Let's get started once again!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341299"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6678c05b6bfb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2341299' first='Dwayne' last='Chess'] is an athletic forward who takes advantage of his gifts with an aggressive style of play. He is very dangerous in transition and likes to finish strong at the basket, even through contact. Chess has a pretty jump shot he uses in half-court play to make defenses guess, and has become very unpredictable for defenses to game plan against. When handling the basketball, he already has displayed passing flashes that show he can handle a main scoring load. Defensively, Chess is long and uses his arms as a deterrent on opposing drives. Overall, he is a very talented wing prospect who should get attention from programs and coaches as someone high priority to acquire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553853"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6678c05b6c0dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2553853' first='Atticus' last='Whitten'] is a guard who can shoot the ball effectively with a clean stroke. Very confident and poised, taking shots from all over the perimeter with ease. Whitten is also a very good screener and relocates well to get the open shots he needs to succeed. With the ball in his hands, the decisions he makes are very smart and lead to good things happening for his teammates. Whitten tries hard on the defensive end too, laying out steals and creating turnovers even if a bit risky at times. His shooting is the main selling point, but he's a player who I bet will break out more in the coming years. He should firmly be on your radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553812"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6678c05b6c1b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2553812' first='Adam' last='Fitzgerald'] might be small and undersized as a two-guard, but his shooting makes up for it in strides. Off the catch, he is excellent, with a steady and compact form with a wider than typical base. Fitzgerald has great relocation ability and can get his shot off quickly, especially in the corner areas. With the ball, he is already comfortable pulling up and taking shots off the dribble. Fitzgerald is hard to stop when he is clicking on cylinders. He also showed flashes of competitive rebounding and smart passing to the open man. Fitzgerald's shooting is top of the line and he should be a player heavily followed by programs and coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568389"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6678c05b6c279"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2568389' first='Sam' last='Murray'] is a bouncy guard with an untapped upside to his game. He is dangerous in the open court and can throw it down with charisma and joy. Murray is also good in the half-court, acting as a knockdown shooter from deep off the catch and cutting to the rim for easy baskets. He should be able to do more on the offensive when given the opportunity. However, the defense is what makes Murray stand out. He's got a terrific defensive stance and overall demeanor, which helps him rack up steals and create turnovers. Murray also has a feel for timing on weak-side block attempts. This is a player who is primed for a big jump soon and will be heavily monitored as a result.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2633502"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6678c05b6c320"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2633502' first='Julius' last='Searles'] is an undersized power forward who plays good fundamental hoops. His biggest strength is as a defensive rim protector, who jumps high in the air during recovery scenarios for huge emphatic blocks. Searles can move out in space and steal the ball from any opposing ball handler that faces him. On the offensive end, he is an effective roll man and a simple rim finisher who hangs his head on efficiency. Searles can hit mid-range jump shots in rhythm with the potential to stretch from deep. He is also an outstanding quick ball mover and gets the offense humming during long possessions. What Searles lacks in height, he makes up for it with smarts and should be paid more attention to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->