NEBL Opening Weekend: CATS Academy Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend, the New England Basketball League held its first session of this season at the New Balance Facility in Brighton, MA. Eight teams—Newman, Brimmer and May, South Kent, Darrow, Cushing, Putnam Science, CATS, and New Hampton—were in attendance, and I'll have standouts from each of those squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To finish off, let's look at some standouts from CATS Academy. They went 1-1 with a nice win over South Kent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-newman-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Newman Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-brimmer-and-may-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Brimmer and May Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-south-kent-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: South Kent Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-darrow-school-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Darrow School Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-cushing-academy-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Cushing Academy Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-new-hampton-school-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: New Hampton School Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-putnam-science-academy-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Putnam Science Academy Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Caspian Jones","_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":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"CATS Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_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-6927a0ed5d5d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones comes from Arizona as a post grad and made quite an impact for CATS in the first NEBL session. The 6-foot-6 wing is ridiculously versatile and can do so many different things on the basketball floor. Offensively, he can make shots from three, drive closeouts, finish above the rim with both hands, and find teammates with solid passing vision. He could improve his handle a bit, but everything else is there. Defensively, his size and strength allows him to guard multiple positions and even provide some rim protection. Jones is going to be a key piece for this CATS squad and should be garnering some mid major D1 looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3033613"],"_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-6927a0ed5d697"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">CATS has found a gem in Valters, and I can't imagine he'll be coming off the bench for too much longer after his incredible performance at NEBL session 1. The 6-foot-3 point guard is so smooth with the dribble and has complete command of the other 9 players on the court when he has the rock. He can make every pick and roll read in the book, and he knows when to be aggressive and get to his floaters, mid range jumpers, or threes. Defensively, he's annoying to go against and makes multiple efforts on every possession—some added strength and weight would make him even more competitive on that end. Bright future ahead for Valters, who's only a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2396726"],"_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-6927a0ed5d721"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams-Crawford knows his role and is always going to stick to it. The 6-foot-7 wing isn't known for his handle or offensive creativity, but he's a phenomenal slasher to the rim because of his athleticism, physicality, and finishing ability. He caught multiple lobs at session 1 and is one of the better all-around athletes in the region. I was also particularly impressed with the way he saw the floor and passed the ball—he seems to have made some major improvements in that area, and it'll pay dividends for his success next season at Towson. Defensively, JWC always defends like a madman and has incredible versatility as a result of his size, length and speed.</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":"Viktor Ludvikson","_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":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"CATS Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Iceland","_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-6927a0ed5d81c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ludvikson played an important role off the bench for CATS Academy last weekend and brings a nice change of pace compared to their other bigs. Though he's a bit undersized at 6-foot-7, the post grad forward makes up for it with supreme strength and basketball IQ. He fights so hard on the offensive glass and has a real nose for the ball. The Iceland native also has great passing instincts and is a threat from the perimeter—he handles it better than you'd think, too. Ludvikson should get some scholarship looks but I could imagine him flying under the radar due to his lack of athleticism.</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":"Kaloyan Balkandzhiev","_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":"6'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"CATS Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Bulgaria","_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-6927a0ed5d8f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Balkandzhiev is a really fascinating archetype. The 6-foot-9 forward runs the floor like a deer and is probably one of the faster end-to-end bigs in the NEBL. But he also knocks down shots from the outside and has a high IQ when it comes to finding teammates and playing within the flow of an offense. Defensively, the post grad gets rebounds and protects the rim simply because of his size and length, though some added weight would do him wonders there. Balkandzhiev should play a key role for CATS moving forward as a versatile big who can do a lot of unique things for his size.<a href="https://www.threads.com/@kb._9._?xmt=AQF05CicOcJAQxTr28RUvge9NJk2qPl6DO_hM2bKL9Brc_Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.threads.com/@kb._9._?xmt=AQF05CicOcJAQxTr28RUvge9NJk2qPl6DO_hM2bKL9Brc_Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->