New Hampshire’s Stretch Run Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, our <em>Stretch Run Standouts</em> series continues as we head to the <em>New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Assocation</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five prospects from across <em>New Hampshire</em> that we believe will have an impact on the state tournament race in the coming weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2811750' first='Javon' last='Massiah']","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Keene","_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-67a2a5088d3c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Massiah, a high scoring guard out of <em>Keene</em>, has helped guide his team to a 10-1 record and the <strong><em>#1</em></strong> ranking in <em>Division I</em>. Averaging 19.2 points per game, Massiah is a big time athlete that has great size and length for his position. He's at his best when playing in space, both in transition and in isolation situations on the perimeter, showing the ability to go by the initial defender and using his length to score at the rim. He does a nice job of scoring at multiple levels, showing particular skill when taking shots in catch and shoot situations. His length and quickness aids him on the defensive end where he's able to make plays on the ball and in passing lanes. <em>Keene</em> has a chance to make a deep run as Massiah has a chance to go for 25+ on any given night.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2811987' first='Nate' last='McNeff']","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Exeter","_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-67a2a5088d488"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNeff, a talented lead guard from <em>Exeter</em>, has played a major role in his team's 9-3 record, good for the <strong><em>#4</em></strong> ranking in <em>Division I</em>. Averaging 19.9 points per game, McNeff has a compact, physical build and plays with a good feel for creating space off the bounce. The lefty does a nice job of keeping a live dribble, probbing the defense with his bounce, and getting to the rim where he can finish through contact. He's a capable shooter in catch and shoot situations and makes good reads out of ball screens. He's a tough on-ball defender that isn't afraid to mix it up on the defensive glass or hit the floor for a loose ball. With a capable lead guard like McNeff, <em>Exeter</em> has a real chance to make some noise in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2711045"],"_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-67a2a5088d4e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jernigan, a big time athlete out of <em>Oyster River</em>, has managed to help his team to an 8-3 record, currently holding the <strong><em>#6</em></strong> ranking in <em>Division II</em>. Averaging 19.0 points per game, Jernigan is one of the top non-seniors in the state and has put up big scoring game after big scoring game this winter. At 6'4", he has the ability to play in the post and on the perimeter, and flashes exceptional athleticism around the rim. He scores with length in the paint, is smooth getting into his mid-range game, and can get hot in a hurry from behind the arc. His athletic gifts allow him to defend multiple positions on the other end of the floor. <em>Oyster River</em> has one of just a few prospects capable of getting 30+ points in any given night in Jernigan, which should allow them to be competitive regardless of their opponent in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2547083"],"_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-67a2a5088d54d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez, a talented forward from <em>Belmont</em>, has his team off to a 13-1 start to the season and the <strong><em>#1</em></strong> ranking in <em>Division III</em>. Averaging 18.6 points per game, Martinez is a physical post presence that has expanded his game out to the perimeter this season. At 6'5" with a wider frame, he's capable of carving out space in the post and shows a soft touch as a scorer when he catches on the block. On the perimeter, he's athletic enough to go by the initial defender off the bounce, but also shows the ability to make the occasional three off the catch. He's a strong defender that can guard in switches on the perimeter and does a great job of leaving his mark on the defensive glass. As goes Martinez, so does <em>Belmont</em>, who will look to make a run at the state championship in a few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2171760"],"_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-67a2a5088d5be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">LaBranche, a gifted scorer at <em>Newmarket</em>, has helped his team to a 10-3 record and the <strong><em>#4</em></strong> ranking in <em>Division IV</em>. Averaging 16.9 points per game, LaBranche is a good scorer from the second and third levels that knows how to create space with the bounce and keep the defense off balance with shot fakes, dribble moves, and hesitations. He operates with the ball in his hands a lot and does a nice job of leveraging his shooting to open up driving lanes, proving to have good floor vision and be a good passer when he gets into the paint. He's a good shooter off the bounce and can really get going when he gets into his mid-range game. <em>Newmarket</em> sits in a good spot right now and with a varsity veteran like LaBranche, they have a chance to win multiple games in the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->