Zero Gravity States Standouts: Part 4

This past weekend, I attended the Zero Gravity Massachusetts State Championships. I spent my time at Dana Barros Basketball Club on both Saturday and Sunday and tried to catch as many games as possible. As always, it's impossible to see and get a good read on everyone, so these are just some players that initially stood out. Below is part four.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/zero-gravity-states-standouts-part-1/">Here is part one if you missed it.</a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/zero-gravity-states-standouts-part-2/">Here is part two if you missed it.</a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/zero-gravity-states-standouts-part-3/">Here is part three if you missed it.</a>    Volkringer was the main cog for Breakout Basketball this weekend. He was one of their biggest players — at 6-foot-3 and pretty strong — but he also created the majority of their offense from the point-forward position. He does a good job attacking downhill and uses his off-hand well to ward off defenders who try to get in his way. He also makes solid dump-down passes once the defense collapses. Volkringer played a big part on Plymouth South's varsity team this season, and the same will be the case next year; becoming a better outside shooter and improving his handle could help his college hopes.     Padden does a really nice job running the show at the PG position for Breakout Basketball and has the ability to play both on and off the ball. On the ball, he gets his shoulders low on drives to the rim and attacks the paint with ferocity and strength. Off the ball, he moves well and can knock down shots when the ball gets swung to him. Some added strength and quickness would really help his chances at playing D3 ball, so we'll see how he improves in the next couple seasons. If it's not basketball, I wouldn't be surprised if Padden is playing another sport in college -- he's an athlete.     Castro was the primary facilitator for Arsenal and showed off some really solid quickness and strength with the rock. He does a great job getting super low to the ground offensively and using his off-hand to protect the ball and hold his line on drives to the rim. Despite being slightly undersized, he manages to handle pressure very well. I also loved watching him change speeds; he goes from fast to slow seamlessly and it really throws the defense off. Castro finished his senior season for Premier Prep and is currently looking for a college squad; he can probably find one somewhere, but maybe he'll do another year somewhere else first.     Ledesma is only 6-foot-2 but has really solid length and athleticism. He really excelled in transition, where he elevated and extended his arms out to rise over the defense for easy layups and dunks. He also showed a decent-looking jumper, which he knocked down a couple times from both the three and midrange. Ledesma is weighing his options right now, but I could potentially see a D3 school taking a chance on him. I do think he could really benefit from playing another year of high school basketball at a prep school somewhere, so we'll see if the Lynn English senior desides to do so.     This was the second time I've seen Ray play and I was pretty wow'd by his athleticism and burst. He's a bowling ball going to the rim and is so physical on his drives, but he also flies when he gets to the paint and can take contact well in the air. The shooting and ball-handling skills are there, too, and he showed some flashes of solid passing instincts. Ray was playing for OBF this weekend but on his Twitter, it looks like he'll be running with New Haven Heat moving forward. Regardless, he's a force to be reckoned with and has lots of potential as a college prospect.

This past weekend, I attended the Zero Gravity Massachusetts State Championships. I spent my time at Dana Barros Basketball Club on both Saturday and Sunday and tried to catch as many games as possible. As always, it's impossible to see and get a good read on everyone, so these are just some players that initially stood out. Below is part four.