New England School Team Preview: Pomfret School (CT)

<!-- 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>: Pomfret School (CT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach</em></strong>: Ronnie Turner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023-24 Season Record</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13-8</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 Griffins. Leading the squad will be senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325889' first='Nehemiah' last='Franco']. An elite three-point marksman with a smooth left-handed stroke, he will space the floor with the gravity he provides because of his consistent ability to shoot from way beyond the arch with confidence and come off ball screens to knock down shots off balance with the best of them. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2325870' first='Yusuf' last='Dakane'] is a high-effort facilitator who makes things happen on both ends of the hardwood. He makes good kickouts on his drives, rebounds exceptionally well at his position for being an undersized point guard, and competes on the defensive end and racking up steals as a result of his grit and determination.</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 Griffins this upcoming year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2546946' first='Kevin' last='Clarke'] brings some offense from the inside and out with a well-built frame. He can stretch the floor from deep with a wide base and a solid follow-through on his jumper, get to the rim to score buckets on the interior and throw down dunks in transition that will provide a nice punch to Pomfret's offensive attack. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2452983' first='Kenny' last='Donnelly'] also brings shooting to the table which will thrive in a supporting role. He has great mechanics off the catch and maintains good balance on his off-the-dribble shots from deep, and can even take it to the rack and uses his strength to finish through contact, leading to high-efficiency results. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2465142' first='Omar' last='Robinson'] has a strong and filled physique which he uses to his advantage on both offense and defense. With a relentless motor, he is constantly punishing and pushing through defenders to the basket for layups and guarding opposing ball handlers effectively with intensity and good footwork, which will come in handy during big matchups and situations where those skills are required.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen To Keep an Eye On</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is one underclassman in particular to watch next season for the Griffins. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2568437' first='Aidan' last='Petion'] is a shifty ball handler who has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. With excellent dribbling ability, fast twitch athleticism, a soft touch floater, and a consistently improving catch-and-shoot three-point shot, his offense will be effective coming off the bench for Pomfret this year while also having a lot of untapped upside in the tank to develop in the years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->