KB3 Elite/Gold Standard Summer Draft League Superlatives: Pt. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The KB3 Elite/Gold Standard Summer Draft League is one of the best summer leagues around. Their oldest division, the elite division, offers great competition for rising 8th, 9th and 10th graders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some of the elite division players who stood out in various categories. This is part two of my summer draft league elite division superlatives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/08/kb3-elite-gold-standard-summer-draft-league-superlatives-pt-1/">KB3 Elite/Gold Standard Summer Draft League Superlatives: Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Rebounder: [player_tooltip player_id='2927846' first='Michael' last='McCarthy'], Middlesex School 2029, 6'3'' PF</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCarthy is a flat out dog. He has an edge to him that's unteachable -- some kids are just able to play with tons of toughness and fight ALL the time, and some aren't. The rising Middlesex freshman uses his motor and aggression to excel on the glass, especially on the offensive end; he has a knack for tracking the ball off the rim, and he seems to always be around the ball. His hands are really strong, too. On the defensive end, he does a great job boxing out and can take the ball and run with it once he grabs the rebound. For only a 2029, McCarthy has a mental and physical toughness that's well beyond his years. Look for him to make an impact at Middlesex School this year or next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Defender: Wyatt Orraca-Cecil, Phillips Andover Academy 2028, 5'10'' CG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orraca-Cecil consistently picked up 94 feet in the SDL all star game and gave opposing guards fits. He does an excellent job sliding his feet laterally and is incredibly sturdy and strong once he beats the ball handler to the spot; even when the offensive player tries to body him or use his off hand to displace him, he stands strong. The rising sophomore was on Phillips Andover's JV team last season, but he could have a good chance to be on the varsity squad this year and his defensive instincts and toughness could even earn him some minutes. Orraca-Cecil has a bright future ahead of him and his defense is the foundation of that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mr. Little Things: Nate Smith, Shawsheen Valley Technical High School 2028, 6'0'' CG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is absolutely everywhere on the basketball court. The 6-foot guard could've had a shout for best athlete, but he finds himself in this category because of his incredible motor and desire to do whatever it takes for his team. Whether it's making the extra rotation defensively, sprinting back on defense to handle a fast break, or crashing the glass for an offensive rebound, the rising SVTHS sophomore does all of the dirty work. He clearly doesn't care about his stats and understands that the little things are incredibly important to win, so he sucks it up and does them -- for a high school sophomore, this is rare. Smith is always going to find his way onto the court because of his willingness to compete and be the garbage man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Cutter: [player_tooltip player_id='2948940' first='Caden' last='Nunez'], Eaglebrook School 2029, 6'0'' CG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Man, I love Nunez. In a summer league (and modern game) where many young high schoolers want to dribble the air out of the ball and do everything for themselves, the rising Eaglebrook School freshman is excellent at moving off the ball and really understands how to get himself open. He gets when to slip vs. when to curl, and he made multiple impressive backdoor cuts when I watched him play. Additionally, he always sprints hard in transition because he knows that even if he doesn't get the ball, he opens up driving lanes for his teammates by doing so. Nunez is incredibly unselfish, but the skills are there too. He has a chance to be a really awesome player in a few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Big Man: [player_tooltip player_id='2571913' first='Jack' last='Rousmaniere'], Brooks School 2028, 6'7'' PF</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rousmaniere was definitely the summer draft league's most dominant big man. The 6-foot-7 forward is super long and uses his size and physicality to finish around and over other big men at the rim. He's a menace in the paint and has very solid touch for his size and age. However, the rising sophomore at Brooks is also able to step out and hit the three ball, and his shot looks very consistent and pretty. And, once he gets rebounds on the defensive end, he can run the break himself and make plays for his teammates when the defense helps. Rousmaniere is a perfect example of a modern big man, and on a rebuilding Brooks squad, I could see him getting some minutes this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br></strong><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->