CATS Academy open gym: new bigs

On Tuesday, September 16th, I attended CATS Academy's open gym at their facility in Braintree, MA. As new members of the EYBL Scholastic League, they've attracted even more scholarship players to the northeast and now have one of the most stacked rosters in the country.   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/09/cats-academy-open-gym-returners/">CATS Academy open gym: returners</a>   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/09/cats-academy-open-gym-new-guards-and-wings/">CATS Academy open gym: new guards and wings</a>   Below are some new bigs ready to make an impact.    Bol Meen has a chance to be the best player on CATS Academy this season. Yes, I said it. The 6-foot-9 forward has incredible length, size, and athleticism and combines these physical tools with an exceptional skill set. He has a beautiful shot from the three point line, and he's a really solid ball handler with the agility and change-or-direction necessary to handle it against smaller wings. He also has good passing vision and unselfishness. The junior probably has some more physical development to undergo, but he should be one of the most highly sought after prospects on this CATS squad, especially if he can limit his over dribbling.     Ludvikson is mini Jokic. The 6-foot-7 forward is incredibly strong-bodied and has excellent footwork and craft in the post. He finishes well with both hands and takes his time while the defense figures out whether they'll double. When they do send a second defender, he does an awesome job finding open shooters and weak side cutters. Ludvikson's outside shot is also fluid and consistent, which allows CATS to play a 5-out system when he's at the center position. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get tons of minutes this year and eventually earn a scholarship as an undersized big. I could also see him in the NESCAC, where he would be a starter for any school in the conference right away.     Mitrovic is the tallest player on CATS but offers a really intriguing skill set. He has a beautiful looking shot from three, which makes him a potent pick and pop threat on the perimeter. However, he also does a good job making decisions in the short roll and is a solid finisher at the hoop with both hands. Some added strength and weight would do wonders for Mitrovic, who should be on the radar of D1 coaches across the country. He showed a different level of toughness and fight than I've seen in the past, too.     Kone is one of the most fascinating prospects in all of New England. The 6-foot-10 center has gotten so much more coordinated and comfortable in his body since the last time I saw him, and that's the exact type of development you want to see from a guy like Kone. He does a really good job using his size and length to protect the rim, and he's a phenomenal offensive rebounder when he really puts pressure on the hoop and is playing with intensity. The skills - shooting, ball handling, passing, etc. - will continue to come along, and the sky is the limit for Kone. He did make one short-roll pass that totally wow'd me, which is a great sign for the future.     Balkandzhiev hails from Bulgaria and has a remarkable skill set for his size and length. He might've been the best rim runner on the entire CATS squad during Tuesday's run; he consistently beat opposing bigs down the floor and was able to finish above the rim with both hands and a variety of impressive dunks. He can also grab and go if he gets the board himself. Furthermore, the 6-foot-9 senior absolutely strokes it from three and is a great ball mover and extra passer when the shot isn't initially there. He also handles the ball far better than you'd expect. D1 schools should be all over Balkandzhiev, who I would expect to play serious minutes this season for CATS.

On Tuesday, September 16th, I attended CATS Academy's open gym at their facility in Braintree, MA. As new members of the EYBL Scholastic League, they've attracted even more scholarship players to the northeast and now have one of the most stacked rosters in the country.