New England Basketball League: 2/1 Honorable Mentions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, February 1st, I attended the New England Basketball League at CATS Academy in Braintree, MA. Over the next couple days, I'll be naming my First, Second, and Third Teams from Saturday's session, as well as some honorable mentions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be clear, this was perhaps the best collection of high school talent that I've seen in a high school gym at once, and a multitude of other players could've been written about as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams competing on Saturday were: CATS Academy, Newman Prep, New Hampton School, South Kent, Brewster Academy (B), Putnam Science Academy, Brimmer &amp; May, Cushing Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is my <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-first-team/">NEBL 2/1 First-Team</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-second-team/">NEBL 2/1 Second-Team</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-third-team/">NEBL 2/1 Third-Team</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are my NEBL 2/1 Honorable Mentions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341292"],"_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-67a166881bcf2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Onyejiaka is one of the best rim protectors I've seen in New England. Not only is he 6'11 and impossible to move from his spot, but he's got long arms and excellent timing on the defensive end. He pairs that with fantastic leaping ability for his size. Offensively, he sets solid screens and attacks the offensive glass with reckless abandon, but he's still learning how to operate in the post and finish with touch. His athletic tools alone will earn him a slew of high major offers, and rightfully so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341338"],"_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-67a166881bd93"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tabales has one of the prettier shots in the state of Massachusetts; he gets it off quickly, and he has beautiful footwork when using screens off the ball. He also showed the ability to attack closeouts when defenders started overplaying his three-ball, and he made great decisions once he got into the lane. Tabales plays the game the right way, and he'll be rewarded at the next level as a result.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1483439"],"_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-67a166881be03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spencer is a true point-guard who comfortably runs the show for South Kent. He has great quickness and athleticism and can shoot it from deep. Most impressive, though, was his patience and IQ in the pick and roll, where he consistently bent the defense and found open three-point shooters and dunker-spot hangers. I don't know what his recruitment looks like, but he'll make a coach very happy at the next level with his pose and understanding of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Antoine u0022Buttau0022 Williams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Putnam Science Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a166881beff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The nickname “Butta” is quite fitting for Williams, who is very smooth with the ball in his hands. The lefty guard has the rock on a string and can get to anywhere he wants on the court, and he's also able to shoot it from the mid range and three. Williams' vision was on full display against the Brewster zone and he was able to carve up the defense in a variety of ways. Putting on some weight and strength would do the Fairfield commit wonders at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2325733"],"_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-67a166881bf72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Roberts has a similar skillset to his backcourt mate Williams. Another southpaw, he can stroke it from three but also has phenomenal athleticism when driving to the hoop. He had a really nice take to the rim where he used his off hand to finish amongst the trees. At times, he can get a little shot-happy, but it's tough to argue with his shot selection when he's a tough shot maker. The junior has a bright, D1 future ahead of himself.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470946"],"_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-67a166881bfdb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Payne is a dog. In a game that Brimmer &amp; May was losing by a lot early, he was constantly diving on the floor and giving everything he could on the defensive end. Offensively, he's supremely unselfish – always looking to make the kick-ahead pass and extra pass when it's open – but he can also create for himself and has a nice-looking mid range shot. The sophomore will probably continue to grow and pick up more D1 offers, but a true understanding of Payne's game warrants watching him time and time again, where you'll see that he ALWAYS competes no matter who he's playing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->