MIAA State Tournament Preview - Division 5

Today, we wrap up our Massachusetts tournament previews with a look at Division 5.   Below are eight prospects to watch in the MIAA Division 5 tournament, one from each of the tournament's top eight seeds.   #1 Pioneer Valley Regional (20-0)   Kurt Redeker - A big lead guard that plays with above the rim athleticism, Redeker has been a leader this season for Pioneer Valley. His combination of positional size, length, and strength makes him a tough cover for opposing defenses, particularly when he gets downhill off the bounce. He does a good job of using screens, turns the corner hard coming off of them, and finishes around the rim with some creativity. He makes shots in catch and shoot situations from behind the arc, runs the floor hard in transition, and has the ability to create in the half-court as an initiator.   #2 Hopedale (18-2)   [player_tooltip player_id='1532516' first='Patrick' last='Madden'] - A high scoring combo guard with deep range on his jumper, Madden has been a go to scorer for Hopedale this winter. The lefty has a quick first step that allows him to get by the initial defender off the bounce and, once in the paint, uses his strength to finish through contact at the rim. He's terrific in catch and shoot situations from three, showing the ability to quickly get into his shot and finishes it with a high release. On the other end of the floor, he can guard either spot in the back-court and is a good rebounder in space.   #3 Granby (16-4)   Gavier Fernandez - An athletic guard that is a consistent double digit scorer, Fernandez gives Granby a dynamic open floor threat. With double digits in all but one game this winter, he has the ability to consistently put the ball in the basket. He's a good athlete that can get to his spots off the bounce and finishes in a variety of ways around the rim. He can score in the mid-range and is a strong off-ball cutter. Defensively, he's a strong on-ball defender that can really guard in space due to his quick hands and ability to move laterally.   #4 Drury (15-5)   Jorge Bond - A three point marksman that can makes shots in bunches from behind the arc, Bond is a floor spacer for Drury. He moves well without the ball, showing the ability to run the floor in transition and to move into open passing lanes off drives in the half-court. He can create space with one or two bounces and is an effective shooter playing off of his own dribble game. He shows his hands, gets his feet ready earlier, and squares up to the rim on the catch, all of which contribute to his ability to make five or six threes in a game.   #5 English High (13-10)   Edgar Escano - A crafty isolation scorer, Escano provides English with a dynamic guard that can create for himself and others. The lefty has some twitchiness off the bounce, showing the ability to get a defender moving side to side and then blow by with good straight line drive burst. He plays well with the ball in his hands and knows how to come off of screens as a scorer. He moves without the ball and does a good job of consistently knocking down shots in catch and shoot situations. Defensively, he has quick hands that help him create steals and deflections.   #6 Duggan Academy (18-1)   [player_tooltip player_id='2696690' first='Allen' last='Miranda'] - A high level playmaking guard, Miranda is the engine for Duggan Academy. He's a crafty finisher around the rim, both in transition and in the half-court, that uses his length to his advantage when scoring over taller defenders. He's a quality ball-handler with good floor vision that can makes plays as a creator off the bounce, finding cutters on their way to the rim or dropping it off to a big man after drawing the help. His ability to change games in the open floor is next level.   #7 New Mission (13-6)   Craig Massiah - Only a sophomore, Massiah gives New Mission a versatile piece that can impact a game on both ends of the floor. At 6'3" with long arms, he has the ability to defend multiple positions and uses his length to his advantage in passing lanes, where he creates deflections and steals that lead to easy run outs. He can rebound in space and has quick hands as an on-ball defender. On the other end, he does a nice job of attacking the rim off the bounce and can finish plays as either a scorer or facilitator when he gets into the paint.   #8 Fenway (10-8)   Kaleb Lima - A strong combo guard with good instincts on the defensive end, Lima is a good piece in Fenway's uptempo style. He's at his best on the defensive end of the floor, where he shines both as an on-ball and off-ball defender. On the ball, he does a good job of keeping opponents in front of him and out of the paint and uses his quick hands to create steals. Away from the ball, he has good instincts in passing lanes and the ability to quickly turn turnovers into offensive opportunities in transition, typically finishing with scoring opportunties at the rim.

Today, we wrap up our Massachusetts tournament previews with a look at Division 5.