NEBL Opening Weekend: Cushing 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 continue, let's look at some standouts from Cushing Academy. They went 1-1 during the NEBL's first session but look to be one of the better teams in the country.</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: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-darrow-school-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Darrow School Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2465117"],"_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-6925f4f06d8be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moesch is back to his normal shenanigans—beating players off the dribble, throwing one-handed no-look passes in the pick and roll, finishing with insane athleticism and touch at the rim, and making shots from three off the dribble. He looks as comfortable as ever and seems even more intent on getting to the hoop this season, something he probably could've done more of last year. Moesch is the key cog on this Cushing team and is going to keep them in any game with any prep school team throughout the country. He might be the most exciting point guard in the nation. Appointment viewing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470882"],"_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-6925f4f06d928"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Edema continues to put everything together offensively and grow on that end of the floor. He looks more comfortable running the court and did a great job making decisions at the elbow and top of the key last weekend—he had a really nice keep on a fake DHO where he dunked it, and that play showcased his improved IQ. He also has good hands and is an awesome pick and roll partner for Moesch. Defensively, Edema is one of the more dominant forces in the region and is going to stifle tons of shots this season at the rim. It'll be interesting to see how he continues to grow this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470887"],"_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-6925f4f06d973"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was incredibly impressed with Erickson's play during NEBL session 1. The 6-foot-6 forward showed a ridiculously versatile offensive skillset which included great three-point shooting off the move, the ability to handle the rock and attack closeouts, and some post moves against smaller guards. He also has really nice passing vision and can play within a system quite seamlessly. Defensively, Erickson can guard bigs because of his strength and size but can slide his feet super well with smaller and quicker guards. He could be a big time riser this year and should be getting scholarship looks up the wazoo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2696669"],"_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-6925f4f06d9bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">O'Connell is literally the definition of a winner. He isn't going to wow you with insane athleticism or quickness, but he makes all of the winning plays you need your glue guy to make—getting loose balls, fighting for long rebounds, defending every ball handler on the floor, and hitting shots when they matter most. Against Darrow, O'Connell was relatively silent offensively for most of the game before erupting in overtime for two threes and a breakaway steal/layup. He makes the right play at the right time and is going to do whatever you ask him to do as a coach. He's a scholarship player despite his lack of size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2868674"],"_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-6925f4f06da01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blenman is an incredibly intriguing long-term prospect who has some unique skills on the offensive end. The 6-foot-8 forward has an incredibly strong base—tree trunks for legs and a super strong core—which makes him impossible to move in the paint no matter what you do. He has excellent moves in the post (and uses his physicality to put opposing centers under the hoop), but he can also step out and make shots from the perimeter. Oh, and he has really solid vision for his size. Blenman is only a junior, and I'll be very curious to see how much of an impact he has for Cushing this season, especially with Edema already playing a massive role. Definite D1 player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->