End of Season: NEBL Championship Weekend

<p>I wanted to continue my end of the season articles with a variety of leagues around New England. I also wanted to discuss players I haven't yet mentioned. The following players play in the New England Basketball League with a couple of them from Cushing Academy fresh off winning the NEBL championship being huge contributors without one of their key players. The rest of the players in this league are valuable to their team and play with great tenacity. If you haven't had a chance to read my stretch of other end of the season articles click <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/end-of-season-nepsac-watch-list/">here</a> or <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/end-of-season-miaa-scorers/">here</a>.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">This kid is tough and has a heart bigger than him. Let's start with his offense, good shot making ability fadeaway, slide stepping defenders, quick release and can get the shots off with his quick release over different defenders. The offense moves efficiently when he got touches, he controls the offense with great pace and is very patient. His IQ consists of knowing how and when to utilize his energy and has great spatial awareness. The part of his game I find most amusing is how frustrated defenders get guarding him because of his play making ability forcing defenders to play tight defense and then he ends up drawing foul after foul.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayjohnson88/status/1891155689680105565 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">He can fill spots effectively topped with his footwork and snapping his hips around. He has a consistent mid-range or deep shot that will only get better. Defensively he is tagging players and understands the free man no matter the size of the opponent. I enjoy watching him play due to his mental aspect, he is a slasher at times, who unabashedly drives amongst the trees and very tough after getting knocked down hard.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayjohnson88/status/1891155689680105565 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">A solid frame that finishes through contact is a body type you need at D1. Offensively he is getting more polished, getting great position on offensive boards either inside or outside of opponents to gain an advantage. Moves well without the ball in the zone offense, he is coiled up ready to catch and shoot or to make a move. He has good footwork around the rim/paint and moves to get shots off. IQ he has a solid foundation squaring shoulders up to backboard when needed to avoid blocked shots, good use of shot fakes and can pass well to perimeter players from the paint or post area.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayjohnson88/status/1891155689680105565 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Let's start with a bang with this player, he reminds me of “White Chocolate" or "Manu Ginobili”, because of his creative, craftiness and smooth plays. His offensive dribbling is that he is quick with the ball and gets separation, unphased by pressure, takes care of the ball with his high assist to turnover ratio, hip swivels and stunt steps, the kid just has it. Like I said before with his assisting abilities he is able to get passes cleanly through his execution of pocket passes and strong flick passes. He disrupts opposing offenses by consistently getting hands on the ball through deflections or steals leading to breaks. The D1 offers for Ryan have already come but he should easily get 20-30 more by the start of next year.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayjohnson88/status/1891155689680105565 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">The UPenn commit has improved dramatically with his consistency to knock down shots, maybe that is because of his uptick in confidence I witnessed. He definitely has worked on his body strength. On the defense side of the ball great understanding of tagging players and not allowing easy buckets no matter the size difference when on or off the ball defense. He defended a guard who is a Top 50 ESPN 2025 commit and held him to 8 points.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayjohnson88/status/1891155689680105565 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">I loved his effort coming off a back injury giving it his all, hustling especially on defense. He plays with active hands/arms, denies the ball well, tags players and had a beautiful high pointed the ball block on a taller opponent who is regarded as a Top 300 player in the country. Intelligence on offense is a plus with him knowing the offensive sets/plays and him having an high IQ play by setting a box out screen to clear a path for his teammate to finish at the rim. He is a strong player who loves to crash the boards. </p>

I wanted to continue my end of the season articles with a variety of leagues around New England. I also wanted to discuss players I haven't yet mentioned. The following players play in the New England Basketball League with a couple of them from Cushing Academy fresh off winning the NEBL championship being huge contributors without one of their key players. The rest of the players in this league are valuable to their team and play with great tenacity. If you haven't had a chance to read my stretch of other end of the season articles click here or here.