Roxbury Latin School vs. Rivers School Standouts

On Wednesday, February 19th, Roxbury Latin traveled to Rivers for a highly contested Independent School League (ISL) matchup. Rivers ended up pulling away for a 67-60 win behind some strong performances from three seniors.   Below are my standouts from the game.    Alekseyenko was out for a couple months with two wrist injuries, but he doesn't seem to have any rust on his game since being back. The 6-foot-8 combo forward is one of the best passers in the region and was carving up the Roxbury Latin zone all night. He often keeps the ball over his head and sees over the defense, which allows him to fully utilize his vision and passing instincts. He also has good footwork and can even take bigger players off the dribble. He'll be such a good piece next year at Colgate as a result of his offensive versatility and skill.     Altman was a complete force on the offensive glass all game for Rivers. Against RL's 2-3 zone, he did a great job finding gaps in the defense and being quicker to rebounds; he isn't a crazy vertical athlete, but he has a great second jump and some really excellent timing, both of which allow him to be an exceptional rebounder for his size. The 6-foot-6 wing can also finish well, shoot it from everywhere on the court, and is a really cerebral passer. Very impressed with Altman's do-it-all game, and I think he could have a really nice career at Penn. Also super fun to watch his chemistry with Alekseyenko.     When I first saw Fiore at the NEPSAC showcase this summer, it was his leaping ability and quick-twitch movements that really caught my eye. But it's very clear he's improved his outside shot since then – and thus his confidence – to a point where he has to be considered one of the best shooters in New England. Even after missing his first 3 or 4 three-pointers, Fiore was hunting shots and ended up pouring in probably a handful of threes by the end of the game against Roxbury Latin. He's got a lightning-quick release and can shoot it off the move, two things that'll translate quite well to Babson next season.     When I've seen Hynes play AAU, he's been a wing for White Mamba. But with Roxbury Latin, he plays more of a big-man role, something his skill set is actually quite good for. He has excellent footwork and craft in the paint, which allows him to maneuver around larger guys and finish with touch. But he's also able to step out and hit the three ball and create for himself and his teammates with the dribble. I'll be very curious to see how Hynes transitions into a role at Cushing next year, where he'll likely be more of a wing/forward. Whatever position he's playing, he can shoot it, pass it, and dribble it, so he's super versatile offensively.     I was surprised to find out Quinlan is only a sophomore after watching him against Rivers. Despite his lack of vertical size, he does a really good job using his body and is quite strong when keeping his line on drives to the hoop – something many underclassmen guards struggle with until they get older. He also has a great looking three-point shot that he can hit off the dribble, and the ability to finish at the rim with either hand. Quinlan should be a key part of Rivers moving forward, which bodes well for his recruitment in the coming years. And if he can get a few more inches, watch out.     Perri is another underclassmen in the Roxbury Latin backcourt, but he's only a freshman. Although he's on the skinnier side – which is to be expected for a freshman in high school – he's super quick with the ball in his hands and has the rock on a string. Even if you try to body him and take advantage of his lack of strength, he's able to blow by you with a quick first step and a super active off hand. And, even though he didn't make his threes against Rivers, I can tell he is a solid shooter – you can see it in his form and footwork. He pulls it together by understanding the game very well for his age, constantly looking for kickout passes and cutters.

On Wednesday, February 19th, Roxbury Latin traveled to Rivers for a highly contested Independent School League (ISL) matchup. Rivers ended up pulling away for a 67-60 win behind some strong performances from three seniors.