New England Basketball League: 2/1 Second-Team

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.   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.   The teams competing on Saturday were: CATS Academy, Newman Prep, New Hampton School, South Kent, Brewster Academy (B), Putnam Science Academy, Brimmer & May, Cushing Academy.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-first-team/">Here</a> is my NEBL 2/1 First-Team.   My NEBL 2/1 Second-Team is below.    Grodin does everything you'd want a role player to do; he shoots, cuts, makes extra passes, and attacks closeouts with confidence and decisiveness. He really understands how to move without the basketball and is quite active on the offensive glass as a crasher. I really enjoyed watching him on the defensive end, too, where he used his length and instincts to get into passing lanes and create havoc all game; he also slides his feet well and is stronger than he looks. Grodin will fit right into any system at Fordham next year and should play right away.     Any time it seemed like Cats needed a bucket, Harrell came through with a big time three. The Providence commit has a very quick release and can handle it well enough to create space for himself to get off his shot. Against smaller and weaker defenders, Harrell can use his strong body to bully his way to the rim. The Providence commit will be a nice role player at the next level, and some improvements in his quickness – which I imagine will be a focus for him in the offseason – could really help him on both ends.     Blackwood is the archetype of a high-level wing. He uses his exceptional strength and athleticism to bully defenders offensively, and when he gets going to his right hand, he's impossible to get off his line; he uses his off hand very well and is so sturdy with the ball in his hands. Blackwood also cuts well off the ball and is an absolute freight train in transition with the rock in his hands. Most importantly, the Penn State commit plays with an edge and intensity that'll serve him quite well at the next level.      Meyer is another archetype of a high-level wing, like his teammate Blackwood. At 6-foot-6 with great athleticism, he's a three level scorer with a very well-rounded offensive game; he can shoot it from three (although the rotation on his shot could use some work), and he can break defenders down to get to his mid range pull-up. At the rim, he has great body control and can finish quite effectively. The Wyoming commit has a bright future ahead and looks to be college-ready right now.     Diakite is maybe the most intriguing long-term prospect I saw on Saturday. For his size – 6-foot-10 with incredibly long arms – he's freakishly fluid and smooth. He can handle it on the perimeter and has a nice looking shooting stroke off both the catch and after creation. He's also willing to bang down low with thicker players, which is surprising given his slim frame. The Iowa commit will likely put on some weight and continue to get more comfortable offensively moving forward, which will skyrocket his stock through the roof. This is what NBA players look like in high school, and with the right work ethic and mindset, he can make it happen.

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.