Five NHIAA Wings to Watch this Winter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As&nbsp;<em>Thanksgiving</em>&nbsp;quickly approaches, so to does the start of the MIAA basketball season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that in mind, we wanted to spend the next few days profiling some guards, wings, and forwards to watch in the MIAA this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll start with 5 wings you should know before the season tips.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2696693' first='Anthony' last='Ferola']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferola, a hybrid wing at <em>Portsmouth</em>, is a major breakout candidate this winter after making solid contributions last season. At 6'4", he has the ability to stretch the floor with his shot-making, offers some rim protection on the other end of the floor, and isn't afraid to give up his body to take charges or secure loose balls. He's a talented offensive rebounder, shows good footwork in the post, and knows how to finish with either hand around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2553824' first='Weston' last='Hickman']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'3" wing at <em>Souhegan</em>, Hickman is a marksman from behind the arc. He does a nice job of moving without the basketball, knows how to run off screens to create openings for his shot, and does a good job of utilizing his dribble to create space. He does his work to get shot ready before the catch, explodes into his jumper, and can finish with length at the rim. Defensively, he has a good feel in passing lanes and can guard multiple positions on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2547135' first='Will' last='O'Connell']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Connell, a high IQ, playmaking wing at <em>Milford</em>, should be among the best perimeter players in Division II this winter. He has great positional size, impressive length, and good floor vision on the offensive end of the court. He does a nice job of finishing with length around the rim, has a high release on his jumper, and can get hot in a hurry from behind the arc. He's versatile, can defend multiple positions, and shows a good understanding of how to play on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2547044' first='Mason' last='Paquette']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'3" scorer out of <em>Londonderry</em>, Paquette has the ability to lead his squad on a deep playoff run in his senior season. A high IQ defender, he has the ability to guard multiple positions while creating plenty of deflections and steals. Offensively, he's a creative scorer that can get it done with the ball in his hands or while playing off the ball. He knows how to create space off the bounce, can finish through contact at the rim, and is a high level shooter from behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2568381' first='Jordan' last='Torres']</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Torres, an athletic 6'3" wing at <em>Trinity</em>, will make an impact on both ends of the floor for one of Division I's preseason favorites. Arguably the most explosive athlete on this list, Torres can rise up to finish above the rim in transition, makes a ton of plays in the open floor, and is a disruptive force on the defensive end of the floor. Only a sophomore, he has a chance to cement his status as one of the <em>NHIAA's</em> top wings this winter behind a versatile offensive game that allows him to stand out as a scorer and creator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->