New England School Team Preview: Cushing Academy (MA)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the spring and summer AAU season coming to a close, sooner rather than later the 2024-25 high school basketball season will be just around the corner as we quickly approach the fall. Schools and coaches will prepare their student-athletes for the fun and competitive season ahead all over the six states in the New England area. In this School Team Preview series, I hope to highlight individual teams in the region and give insights on which players I expect to make an impact in the upcoming season. Let's get started!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Team</em></strong>: Cushing Academy (MA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach</em></strong>: James Cormier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023-24 Season Record</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The Big Dogs on Campus</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two players I expect to make a major impact on the Penguins. Leading the squad will be senior and Penn commit [player_tooltip player_id='1204660' first='Jay' last='Jones']. He looks to be handling the main scoring load for the team, using his bucket-getting skills to score at all three levels effectively while also showcasing secondary playmaking ability. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2465117' first='Ryan' last='Moesch'] also looks to bring offensive electricity to Cushing. With an outstanding ability to run an offense as the lead guard, he will be a terror in the half court with plus playmaking chops and fearless scoring at the rim and shooting off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Additional Difference Makers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three other players should be very important for the Penguins this upcoming year. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2325768' first='Jacob' last='Davis'] is the heart and soul of the brigade. Big and strong, he will be the disruptive interior force on the block and the tenacious hound on the boards. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2452949' first='David' last='Melson'] will bring two-way ability to the floor. He can shoot off the catch from deep, make smart passes within the flow of the offense, and move his feet well on the defensive end to stop opposing scoring threats. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1532464' first='Ryan' last='Ward'] will also be essential. He can play both on and off the ball well, taking stress off Cushing's higher-usage ball handlers like Jones and Moesch while also keeping the threat of efficient shooting and swift passing throughout a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen To Keep an Eye On</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a group of three underclassmen, in particular, to watch next season for the Penguins, and they are all sophomores. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2341311' first='Coley' last='Mark'] will bring three-point shooting combined with a massive seven-foot frame. Rim protection on the defensive end will also be there on the floor and should be a challenge for opposing drivers to the basket. Center [player_tooltip player_id='2470882' first='Theo' last='Edema'] will also bring rim protection on the defensive end as a seven-footer but on a greater scale. With his growing physique, athletic ability, and timing skills make him dangerous in the paint and difficult to score on. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2470887' first='Elliot' last='Erickson'] has a scoring punch that will be effective and hard to stop off the bench for Cushing. He can hit shots off the dribble and be destructive from downtown while also possessing relocation skills off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->