MIAA Preview: Sub 6-foot Guards Ready to Break Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/10/miaa-preview-forwards-to-watch/">MIAA Preview: Forwards to Watch</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/10/miaa-preview-scoring-guards/">MIAA Preview: Scoring Guards</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/miaa-preview-wings-who-can-score-it/">MIAA Preview: Wings who can score it</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/miaa-preview-under-the-radar-guards/">MIAA Preview: Under the Radar Guards</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That being said, let's look at some short guards who are ready to break out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2711267"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690e52b6ed9a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've always been very enamored with Flemming's game. Despite his lack of size (only 5-foot-9), he makes up for it with incredible quickness, speed, conditioning and skill — everything you'd need a short guard to possess. There won't be virtually any guards in the MIAA that'll be able to contain him for a full 32 minutes; he'll eventually get off via his mid range jumper/floater and his ability to finish at the rim with contact. If you go under on screens, though, he can punish you from deep. The junior guard will be a significant piece for Newton South this season and will turn heads all year. Definite D3 prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Antonio Ciampa","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xaverian Brothers High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"A Step Ahead","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690e52b6edaca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ciampa will run the show for Xaverian this season, and he'll do it with as much confidence and conviction of almost any other guard in the entire state. He has amazing control in the paint and uses head and ball fakes quite effectively to create space for himself. He also has excellent passing vision and throws on time, on target passes consistently. Oh, and he can knock down shots from all over the floor, either on the catch or off the dribble. Ciampa should be a huge piece for Xaverian this year and a big time season would probably get him some really solid D3 looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2934192"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690e52b6edb4d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith is one of the more athletic sub 6-foot guards in the entire MIAA. The 5-foot-11 combo guard can play on the ball as a scorer and facilitator—he excels with a head of steam and really elevates at the hoop—but he can also cut off the ball and find ways to score that way. The Melrose senior is most effective in transition, where he handles the ball well going full speed and has great body control in the air. He should be Melrose's top scorer this season and will probably see a host of D3 opportunities as a result. Smith could also be one of the better point of attack defenders in the state if he really committed to it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Dom Torres","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Beverly High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"NSSA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690e52b6edc31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Torres transfers in from Bishop Fenwick and joins a talented Beverly High School team that is one of the favorites in the entire MIAA. With Klass at the helm of their offense, Torres will get to attack lots of weaker defenders off of second side actions, which will be huge for his scoring numbers. He can shoot it from three, and he's a really good downhill attacker, especially off of closeouts. The Nichols commit will give defenses another key guy to worry about on the Beverly offense, and Torres should play quite well alongside a host of talented players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Luca Verano","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Needham High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Middlesex Magic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690e52b6edd0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Verano wasn't a huge part of Needham's squad last season. But after watching the 5-foot-9 guard in AAU this fall, I'm not quite sure why. The junior is incredibly smart when it comes to making decisions at the nail, and he really knows how to operate in the pick and roll; he's the type of guy who you feel very comfortable running your offense. His size might limit some of his recruitment, but Verano should at the very least start for Needham this season and be a key part of their offensive play style. He's quite skilled and tough and will give MIAA guards' fits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->