NEBL Championship Weekend: 3rd Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New England Basketball League held its championship weekend at New Balance Headquarters in Brighton, MA on Saturday and Sunday (2/15 and 2/16). I'll be doing three top teams as well as some honorable mentions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be clear, being included in previous NEBL articles does not mean you can't be included in these ones. There are many players who will be written about multiple times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here was my <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/nebl-championship-weekend-1st-team/">1st Team</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/nebl-championship-weekend-2nd-team/">2nd Team</a> from this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is my 3rd Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553689"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b508f5628ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Without Morillo in the lineup, O'Keefe's role increased and I got to see him run the show for Newman at the PG position. He has to be one of the most well-conditioned athletes in the NEBL; he's constantly pushing the pace, applying pressure defensively, and attacking the glass for rebounds, all while barely breathing hard – he just never stops moving. He was also hot from three on Saturday and does a good job relocating for threes once he gives up the ball; again, he never stops moving. He's also effective as a driver, where he understands the timing and pace needed to execute a good kick-out pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1202209"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b508f56296c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was impressed by Harper's freakish athleticism and quickness during the last NEBL session, but this weekend he showed some other areas to his game I didn't know he had, most notably his outside shooting; he has a nice-looking outside shot that he can hit consistently off of both the dribble and the catch. Additionally, he has an ambidextrous skill set that allows him to finish around the rim with touch and precision using both hands, something that's very important for a guard who likes to get into the paint. Big time player who continues to impress me more every time I see him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1529071"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b508f5629c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harrell really struggled on Saturday against the defensive pressure of PSA, but he responded in a big way on Sunday. Once he gets a smaller guard on him, he almost always gets a post touch and is able to find a solid shot for himself or others. And on the perimeter, he has a quick shot release that he makes fairly consistently. I would love to see him expand his on-ball creation game and get a little bit quicker laterally on the defensive end, two things that'll help him a lot at Providence next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1438849"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b508f562a1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hatchett is an absolute pest on the defensive end – he was giving opposing guards trouble on Saturday and even took a charge while up 25 in the second half against CATS. Offensively, he's strong with the ball in his hands and has a variety of floaters in the lane to convert over taller defenders. He can also knock down the three point shot. He's part of a PSA backcourt group that is definitely the deepest in New England. Size will be a limiting factor for Hatchett, but he brings amazing energy and defensive pressure at all times which should calm coaches' nerves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341301"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b508f562a6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Legentus didn't play Sunday, but his ridiculous scoring outburst on Saturday warrants a write-up. He is a tough shot-maker with solid isolation skills and handle; against South Kent, he hit multiple deep step-back threes that he quite frankly shouldn't have even been able to get off. The ball can stick to him at times, but he had the green light to take whatever shots he wanted on Saturday – most of what he threw up was going in. His height will limit his college recruitment at the scholarship level, but he can score it in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->