MIAA Preview: Forwards to Watch

Over the next week, I'll be previewing some standout players across all divisions of the MIAA. Though prep schools get lots of the love when it comes to basketball exposure, there is still absolutely a good amount of talent in the MIAA.   To start, let's look at some forwards who are primed for big time seasons.    Bey is absolutely a big man to watch this season for Springfield Central. After a really good year on the AAU circuit with Middlesex Magic, the 6-foot-5 forward has shown he has what it takes to dominate at the MIAA level. He's quite difficult to stop in the post because of his craft and density, and he has really excellent passing vision and feel when it comes to how to operate in tight spaces. The lefty senior is going to turn heads this season and is set up nicely to be a D3 player at the next level. Like many of these guys, a post grad year is a possibility, too.     Gray isn't your typical 6-foot-6 MIAA big man. In fact, he actually plays more like a wing. The senior is able to make shots from three off of both the catch and the dribble and with solid range. He uses his size and length to get shots off against basically anyone, especially with the threat of him putting it down on the floor and getting to the rim. I'd like to see Gray put on some muscle and strength in order to fully realize his physical tools; if he can balance his shooting with some more usage around the paint, he could be one of the better players in the MIAA this season. Should be a D3 player.     Vella is a really intriguing prospect who has a nice skillset for his size. The 6-foot-5 forward can pass, dribble and shoot, and he has a lot more verve to his offensive game than the average MIAA big man or even wing. He has shifty hesitation and hang dribble moves and he has some guard-like finishing instincts at the rim. Vella will be part of a very talented Masco team that should make waves this year in MA. Some big performances in the spotlight this season would probably earn him even more D3 basketball looks, some of which he should already be getting.     Mayfield boasts some really intriguing paint skills and should be one of the more dominant bigs in the entire MIAA this year. The 6-foot-7 forward gets above the rim incredibly quick, so he's always ready to dunk alley oops or dump down passes. He also has some surprisingly good touch with both hands around the basket. He's able to finish against bigger forward with his length and hops, but he can also use his strength and toughness to score over smaller wings and guards on switches. Pope Francis will make waves this season and Mayfield will be getting tons of D3 looks as a result.     Like Gray and Vella, Bernard could probably be considered a wing because of his ability to handle it and shoot it from the perimeter. That being said, the senior is 6-foot-5 and long, so he should be cleaning up the boards and scoring in the paint at the MIAA level fairly consistently. The lefty forward does a really good job being decisive and quick when he gets the ball on reversals, making me think he can fit quite well into any team concept. He can make shots from three, but he can also extend for athletic finishes at the rim. Defensively, his size and length allows him to guard a variety of positions. Some added strength would be huge for Bernard moving forward, but he'll be a star for Natick this year.

Over the next week, I'll be previewing some standout players across all divisions of the MIAA. Though prep schools get lots of the love when it comes to basketball exposure, there is still absolutely a good amount of talent in the MIAA.