Breakout Candidates: Rhode Island

The Breakout Candidates series continues today as we move to Rhode Island.   The fifth of six states that we'll cover in this series, has a wealth of prospects that could have made this list.   Below, we'll take a look at five prospects that we expect will have breakout seasons in Rhode Island.   [player_tooltip player_id='2526248' first='Adriel' last='Cantave']   The 2028 prospect out of the St. George's School is a big time athlete with serious long term potential. Cantave, a 6'3" guard, had a head turning summer with Expressions Elite, showing off his ability to make plays off the bounce, find teammates in positions to score, and get baskets on his own with creativity around the rim. He's dynamic in transition, where his length and athleticism stand out, particularly when he rises up to finish at the rim. He's a shot creator in isolation situations, makes good reads out of ball screens, and has the ability to change a game defensively with steals and deflections. St. George's graduated a lot of talent, but should still be in the hunt in the NEPSAC as Cantave is expected to play a major role in their back-court alongside Marist-bound [player_tooltip player_id='2341299' first='Dywane' last='Chess'].   [player_tooltip player_id='2875605' first='Oneil' last='Johnson']   The 2026 prospect out of St. Andrew's School has a chance to turn heads in his post-grad season with his shot making and defense. Johnson, a 6'2" guard, does a nice job of making shots from behind the arc, while also operating as a secondary ball-handler. He moves well without the basketball, knows how to make reads out of ball screens as a creator, and can finish with some touch over size in the paint. On the other end of the floor, he's capable of guarding either spot in the back-court, knows where to be in rotations, and has the ability to be disruptive at the point of attack. St. Andrew's is primed to make a run at a NEPSAC championship and I'd expect Johnson to be a key component in their back-court.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553808' first='Ryan' last='Larsh']   The 2026 prospect out of Scituate has a chance to be among the top performers in the RIIL this winter after building on a strong junior season this spring and summer. Larsh, a 6'3" guard, is known for his two-way versatility, making an impact on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he has the size needed to guard up or down position, isn't afraid to mix it up on the glass, and does a nice job of making plays in passing lanes. On the other end of the floor, he can operate on or off the ball, has the ability to make tough shots, and is a good finisher through contact around the rim. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands and isn't afraid of the moment. Scituate will look to be competitive in the RIIL this season and if they are, Larsh will be a big reason why.   [player_tooltip player_id='2568478' first='Jaiden' last='Reuter']   The 2027 prospect out of Bishop Hendricken had a solid summer with Team Sims and looks primed to be one of the top juniors in the RIIL this winter. Reuter, a 6'3" guard, will team with Deion Ellis-Cipriano to give Bishop Hendricken arguably the top back-court in the state. He's got great positional size and is a dynamic athlete that can finish plays above the rim in space. He's got some wiggle off the bounce, can create seperation to get into his pull-up game, and is a tough finisher around the rim. Defensively, he has the ability to impact games as an on-ball defender on the perimeter, where his length, athleticism, and quickness all combine to allow him to make plays on the ball and in passing lanes. On top of that, he's a quality rebounder from the guard spot. Bishop Hendricken is seemingly always competitive in the RIIL and has big expectations on the hardwood this winter that should be within reach if Reuter continues to progress like he did this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553805' first='Nicholas' last='Tarro']   The 2026 prospect out of La Salle Academy popped this summer, showing two-way versatility, a high motor, and the ability to take over games as a scorer. Tarro, a 6'3" wing, was a key piece on a La Salle team that captured the RIIL state championship last winter and will be relied upon even more this winter with the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id='2396775' first='Liam' last='Simpson'] and Jacob Marcone. He's a high motor prospect that plays with infectious energy and takes pride on the defensive end of the floor. He's a high level rebounder, capable of chasing them down in space or mixing it up in the paint. He has the ability to be a lock-down defender with his athleticism, length, and physicality combination. Offensively, he's really good in transition, showing the ability to finish plays in a variety of ways around the rim and has taken steps to advance his shot creation abilities with the ball in his hands. La Salle is another program with a proud tradition and will look to repeat this winter behind one of the state's top seniors in Tarro.   Check back in later as we unveil the Breakout Candidates for our final state - Vermont!

The Breakout Candidates series continues today as we move to Rhode Island.