MIAA State Tournament Preview - Division 3

Our tournament previews continue in Massachusetts with a look at Division 3.   Here are eight prospects to watch in the MIAA Division 3 tournament, one from each of the tournament's top eight seeds.   #1 St. Mary's (21-1)   JJ Martinez - A 1,000-point scorer at St. Mary's as a junior, Martinez has proven to be one of the state's top scoring guards. A big, physical guard, he has the ability to take over games as an isolation scorer. He uses his strength to his advantage against smaller defenders, getting into the paint and scoring with touch around the rim. He creates for himself and others off the bounce and has also improved as a perimeter shooter, one that's capable of knocking down multiple threes in a game. He's a strong rebounder that can operate as a grab-and-go initiator.   #2 Norwell (20-0)   Ronan Coffey - A bit of a jack of all trades for Norwell, Coffey is a lead guard that makes plays for others and performs well as a point of attack defender. He keeps his head up in transition and does a good job of pitching the ball ahead for to his teammates for easy baskets. He's capable of getting by the initial defender off the bounce and makes others better once he gets a piece of the paint. On top of that, he can slide off the ball and make threes in catch and shoot situations. Defensively, he's a solid on-ball defender that generates steals at a high rate.   #3 Newburyport (18-2)   [player_tooltip player_id='2716650' first='Carson' last='Gretz'] - A versatile forward at Newburyport, Gretz has the ability to impact a game on both ends of the floor. He's an athletic, 6'5" forward that can score at all three levels. He plays with a high motor, runs the floor well in transition, and is really active on the offensive glass. As a scorer, he makes plays out of the dunker spot, as a trailer while running the floor, and in catch and shoot situations on the wings. Defensively, he controls the glass and provides some rim protection.   #4 Shawsheen Valley Tech (18-2)   [player_tooltip player_id='1532455' first='Franck' last='Moron'] - A talented combo guard with the ability to make plays on both ends of the floor, Moron does a bit of everything for Shawsheen Valley Tech. A bigger guard that's already scored his 1,000th career point, he's capable of operating as an on-ball creator or sliding off the ball and being a main scorer. His strength on the perimeter allows him to get to his spots and he's proven to be really effective as a mid-range scorer. Defensively, he rebounds in space and jumps passing lanes for easy steals.   #5 Greater Lawrence Tech (13-7)   Darialdy Lara - A high motor forward that plays with great energy and effort, Lara is a big piece of the puzzle for Greater Lawrence Tech. He has the ability to finish through contact at the rim, can step out to the perimeter and knock down jumpers, and also makes plays as a straight line driver. It's his intensity on the defensive end of the floor that stands out as he can guard up and down a line-up, operates as a strong defender in ball screens, and has the ability to protect the rim as a shot blocker while also rebounding at a high clip.   #6 Taconic (16-4)   Kyle McGrath - A talented big man that has the ability to score in the paint on one end while protecting it on the other, McGrath is one of the division's top post players. At all of 6'6" with a solid base, he has the ability to score with his back to the basket, turning over either shoulder and finishing with touch inside five feet. He runs the floor well in transition, can make plays as a passer from the top of the keep, and hits 15' jump shots from the elbows and the baseline. He's a rim protector and glass cleaner on the other end of the floor.   #7 Salem (16-4)   Elian Rodriguez - A high scoring sophomore out of Salem, Rodriguez has turned heads this winter with his ability to take over games as a scorer. He's long and lean, with a great basketball frame, and has the burst needed to get by the defense off the bounce. His ability to handle, to work his way through tight spaces, and to finish in a variety of ways around the rim is next level. Defensively, he has the ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter, using his length to his advantage as an on-ball defender and also in passing lanes.   #8 Abington (17-5)   [player_tooltip player_id='2674384' first='Kingston' last='Maxwell'] - One of the state's top wing athletes, Maxwell provides Abington with a dynamic two-way performer. A terror in transition, he has the ability to finish explosively around the rim. He runs the floor incredibly well, uses his length as a finisher, and has some wiggle off the bounce to create in isolation situations. He has a good feel for the game with the ball in his hands and has proven to be a capable playmaker in the half-court. Defensively, he makes a major impact on the glass and as a shot blocker.

Our tournament previews continue in Massachusetts with a look at Division 3.