Program Profiles – New Haven Heat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <em>New Haven Heat</em> are the next program to be featured in our <em>Program Profiles</em> series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Based out of New Haven, Connecticut, the New Haven Heat are members of the <em>Made Hoops Circuit</em> and are led by their Director of Operations, Doc Kennedy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are a competitive grassroots basketball program that promotes skill training and college exposure, with teams ranging from 9U to 17U.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winners of the 2019 AAU D1 U19 National Championship, they have quickly become a top program in Connecticut, with prospects moving onto all levels of college basketball each year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five prospects from the New Haven Heat that have stood out so far this spring.</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":"Chris Torres Jr.","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Darrow School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"New Haven Heat","_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-68390583c84be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Torres, a member of the 17U Select squad, is a versatile scoring guard out of the <em>Darrow School</em> in New York. At 6'3", he has good size for the position, as well as a good feel for the game with the ball in his hands. He does a great job of picking his spots using and refusing ball screens, utilizes jab steps to keep defenders off balance, and is a crafty finisher at the rim. Off the ball, he does a good job of moving as a cutter, using screens to get open, and consistently knocking down shots in catch and shoot situations. On the other end of the floor, he has the ability to guard up and down a spot, uses his length in passing lanes, and can chase down rebounds in space.</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":"AJ Michalak","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xavier","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"New Haven Heat","_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-68390583c8582"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Michalak, a member of the 16U Made Hoops squad, is a shot making wing out of <em>Xavier</em> in Connecticut. A long and lean 6'4", he is at his best in catch and shoot situations. He has a unique release on his jumper, but can knock them down with consistency. He's a high motor mover off the ball, does a great job of using screens to get open, and quick squares up to the rim off the catch. He'll need to add strength to reach his ceiling, but already shows signs off a nice finishing game in the paint. He can defend either spot on the wing and has the ability to block some shots around the rim with his length.</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":"Sam Watson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Premier Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"New Haven Heat","_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-68390583c8641"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Watson, a member of the 17U Made Hoops squad, is a playmaking guard out of <em>Premier Prep</em> in Massachusetts. A tough guard, he plays with an edge on the defensive end of the floor, can guard the ball in space, and makes life difficult for opposing ball-handlers. He has a strong, compact build and is a plus athlete, all of which contributes to his two-way versatility. Offensively, he can really get downhill off the bounce, showing the ability to make plays through contact and finish with strength at the rim. He's a shot creator in the mid-range, using his bounce to create space and quickly elevating into his jumper. He's also becoming better at utilizing ball screens, both to score and to facilitate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553713"],"_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-68390583c869d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bracey, a member of the 17U Made Hoops squad, is an athletic wing out of the <em>King School</em> in Connecticut. Consider the best attributes of a big playmaking guard and a versatile 3-and-D wing and that's basically the prospect profile for Bracey. He's an above the rim finisher, can consistently knock down shots in catch and shoot situations, and shows an increasing comfort in making plays off the bounce. He breaks defenders down in isolation situations, can operate as a screener in ball screens, and is comfortable making decisions in DHO situations. Defensively, he has the length, positional size, and athleticism needed to guard four postions on the floor, making him one of the most versatile defenders in the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470979"],"_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-68390583c86ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reeves, a member of the 16U Made Hoops squad, is a shifty lead guard out of <em>Notre Dame-West Haven</em> in Connecticut. A lead guard that wins a lot of games, the lefty has elite speed in the open floor and next level vision when making plays off the bounce. He delivers passes on time and on target, throws lobs with great touch, and can manipulate defenders when making plays out of ball screens. He attacks closeouts to get into the paint, is a creative finisher around the rim, and can really score in the mid-range off the bounce. Defensively, he can guard all 94', moves incredibly well laterally, and can really pressure the ball, leading to plenty of steals and deflections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->