NEPSAC Big Board: Small-Ball Bigs

Next up in our NEPSAC Big Board series are the Small-Ball Bigs!   The Small-Ball Bigs are prospects that can guard forwards and bigs, have some versatility out onto the perimeter, and don't mind doing the dirty work. And often, have good but not elite size and measurables.   NBA Player Comp: Draymond Green    Tambedou continued to show why he's considered to be one of the top frontcourt athletes in the country, all summer long. The Putnam Science Academy forward was one of the top performers on the PUMA Pro16 League, averaging double digit rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He's an elite athlete that always has his motor running at 100% and has the ability to change games with his presence around the rim. At 6'8", he's not a true big man, but his versatility, physicality, and power allow him to play up a position and present mismatch problems on the offensive end of the floor. The Top 150 prospect is a high major recruit with offers from Iowa State, Maryland, and Oklahoma State.     Aligbe seemingly put it all together this summer, during the scholastic period and on the travel circuit with The House We Built. The St. Andrew's forward is a high level rebounder that does a great job of using his frame to carve out space and keep opponents away from the ball. He can score it at multiple levels, does a nice job of passing out of the post, and is capable of playing as a grab and go rebounder in transition. His versatility allows him to draw opposing bigs away from the rim and he does a nice job of playing in both DHOs and ball screens. Possibly under-recruited right now, he's a Division I prospect that holds an offer from Manhattan.     Archbold could quickly become a household name in the region with his high motor and penchant for making plays around the rim. The Hotchkiss School forward is a plus athlete with a physically developed 6'8" frame and isn't afraid to mix it up physically in the paint. He's got some skill with the ball in his hands and has inside-out versatility as a scorer, showing the ability to take smaller defenders into the paint and stretch bigger ones out to the perimeter. He runs the floor well in transition, plays with a high motor on the defensive glass, and can really protect the rim out of the help position. A stock riser this summer, he's turned into a Division I prospect and currently holds offers from Holy Cross and Le Moyne.     Jones was a standout performer during the scholastic period and impresses with his physicality and two-way versatility. The Williston Northampton forward is as physically developed as any 2028 in the region and packs both physicality and athleticism into his 6'5" frame. He's a tenacious rebounder, particularly on the offensive end of the floor, and has the ability to guard both in space and around the rim. He does a nice job of contesting vertically at the rim and uses his length to his advantage against taller opponents. Offensively, he has the ability to score in the paint, but also shows some developing ball-skills out to the perimeter, when he can go by slow footed bigs in space.     McCall has a chance to be one of the better young forwards in the region with his combination of athleticism, power, and skill. The MacDuffie School forward is a powerful 6'6", with good mobility and fluid movements in space. He's already an above the rim athlete, does a nice job of rolling hard to the rim out of ball screens, and can initiate from the perimeter at a straight line driver. While he lacks traditional paint presence size, his strength stands out around the rim on both ends of the floor. He's a plus rebounder, can wall up in the post without fouling, and knows how to finish through contact on the other end.    Keep an eye out for our next NEPSAC Big Board article on True Fives!

Next up in our NEPSAC Big Board series are the Small-Ball Bigs!