NHIAA State Tournament Preview - Division I

Our State Tournament Preview series continues today with a move to New Hampshire.   Below, we'll take a look at eight prospects to watch in the NHIAA Division I tournament, one from each of the top eight seeds.   #1 Bedford (15-3)   Logan O'Connell - A 6'0" combo guard, O'Connell led Bedford this season with 17.4 ppg. The junior had a single-game high of 37 and made a big impact on games with his ability to make shots from behind the arc. He does a good job of moving without the basketball and running off screens to get open. He's quick to get into his shot out of catch and shoot situations and also utilizes his shot fake to get the defender in the air and open up driving lanes. Defensively, he guards both perimeter spots and rebounds in space.   #2 Portsmouth (15-3)   [player_tooltip player_id='2696709' first='Isaiah' last='Reis'] - A 6'0" point guard, Reis led Portsmouth this season with 21.6 ppg. The junior had a single-game high of 34 and proved to be one of the state's top three level scorers. He's a physical guard that shows the ability to play through contact, both as a finisher around the rim and also as a driver getting into the paint. Without the ball, he does a good job of moving into passing lanes and makes shots at a high clip from behind the arc. His physicality allows him to defend multiple positions.   #3 Trinity (14-4)   [player_tooltip player_id='2568381' first='Jordan' last='Torres'] - A 6'3" shooting guard, Torres led Trinity this season with 14.4 ppg. The sophomore had a single-game high of 21 and proved to be one of the better underclassmen wings in the region. He makes plays in space with his athleticism and length, finishing at the rim on one end and protecting it on the other. He is a versatile defender that can guard both on the perimeter and in the paint, can rebound at a high level in traffic, and consistently knocks down shots from behind the arc.   #4 Nashua South (14-4)   Joshua Caruso - A 6'2" shooting guard, Causo led Nashua South this season with 27.9 ppg. The senior had a single-game high of 41 and proved night in and night out that he was the state's top scoring threat. A true two guard, he has really developed his game to be one of the better all around scorers in the region. He has good burst off the bounce when attacking the rim, is an instinctive cutter that finishes plays in the paint with creativity, and has deep range on his jumper, showing the ability to make threes of the catch or off the bounce.   #5 Exeter (14-4)   [player_tooltip player_id='2811987' first='Nate' last='McNeff'] - A 6'0" point guard, McNeff led Exeter this season with 18.9 ppg. The senior had a single-game high of 27 and made his mark as one of the most dynamic transition players in New Hampshire. The lefty has a strong frame and the ability to play through contact, but also impresses with his feel for the game and touch as a scorer in the paint. He plays with an attacking, downhill style and has a variety of finishing moves around the rim, including a really advanced floater game. Defensively, he's a strong on-ball defender at the point of attack.   #6 Keene (13-5)   [player_tooltip player_id='2811750' first='Javon' last='Massiah'] - A 6'3" combo guard, Massiah led Keene this season with 19.1 ppg. The senior had a single-game high of 25 and is arguably the top perimeter athlete in the state. He has a great combination of positional size, athleticism, and length and uses the combination to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He's a well rounded scorer that can knock down shots from behind the arc, but is at his best when attacking the rim. He's a bouncy athlete that can finish over size in traffic or above rim with authority in space.   #7 Alvirne (13-5)   [player_tooltip player_id='2547116' first='Sammy' last='DeWitt'] - A 5'10" combo guard, DeWitt led Alvirne this season with 17.1 ppg. The senior had a single-game high of 36 and surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this winter. He's a crafty guard that knows how to score with the ball in his hands or by sliding off the ball and being a shot maker. He has the ability to make threes in bunches and does a good job of mixing up the paces he plays at, allowing him to keep the defense off balance and open up driving lanes to finish around the rim.   #8 Bishop Guertin (10-8)   [player_tooltip player_id='2633444' first='Connor' last='McGowan'] - A 5'10" point guard, McGowan led Bishop Guertin this season with 22.0 ppg. The senior had a single-game high of 35 and has the ability to change a game on the defensive end, making plays that lead to easy scoring opportunities in transition. He's a strong on-ball defender that moves well laterally and does a good job of being physical at the point of attack. Offensively, he uses his strength to finish through contact while also showing the ability to score in the mid-range and from behind the arc.

Our State Tournament Preview series continues today with a move to New Hampshire.