New England School Team Preview: St. George’s School (RI)

<!-- 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>: St. George's School (RI)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach</em></strong>: Dwayne Pina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023-24 Season Record</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The Big Dogs on Campus</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a trio of seniors I expect to make a major impact on the Dragons. Headlining the group is Rhode Island commit [player_tooltip player_id='1532431' first='Barrett' last='Loer']. The athletic wing looks to be the main scoring option for the squad, using his quick first step to create havoc on the rim and showcasing his outstanding shooting both on and off the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='2325762' first='Yancarlos' last='Cueto'] should also make an instant noise for St. George's as the lead guard. He can already run an offense to perfection with a great balance of passing chops and scoring out of the pick-and-roll. The last of the group is forward [player_tooltip player_id='1532412' first='Dylan' last='Veillette'], whose complementary style of play should pay dividends. His ability to score on the interior and be an active lob threat, space the floor from three, and compete hard on the defensive end should be precious in a glue guy role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Additional Difference Makers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two other players should be very important for the Dragons this upcoming year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325770' first='Allyn' last='Wright'] should take the reps leading the charge with Cueto playing off the ball. With a sweet crisp handle and a balanced offensive profile, he should be the steady and consistent rock of the team. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2341299' first='Dywane' last='Chess'] should also be a big help in multiple areas. Strong and well-built, he should be the defensive stopper with good footwork to boot to keep in front of opposing scorers. Additionally, his frame will also be a strength on offense as he can go through anyone up to get to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen To Keep an Eye On</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two underclassmen in particular to watch next season for the Dragons. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2470930' first='Ethan' last='Njenga'] is a speedy guard who shows skills on the offensive and defensive ends with high intensity to match. Quick with the ball, he can get to the rim at ease with a bulldog mentality while also maintaining that mindset by guarding on-the-ball on the opposite end. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2526248' first='Adriel' last='Cantave'] is another guard with passing instincts. Fearless and confident, he can make slick passes to teammates with the ball in his hands while also providing off-the-ball spacing. Both young guards should thrive off the bench and have their moments to help St. George's succeed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->