NEBL Opening Weekend: New Hampton School 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 New Hampton. 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:&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: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/nebl-opening-weekend-cushing-academy-standouts/">NEBL Opening Weekend: Cushing Academy Standouts</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341362"],"_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-69263249a6f64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harrington has a real case as the best shooter in New England. The 6-foot-4 wing has a beautiful shot release and can shoot the rock off of the dribble, off the move, and with a defender draped all over him. He also has significantly improved his handle and is an excellent closeout attacker because of his IQ and quick decision making. He also has great passing vision and is supremely unselfish. Defensively, he plays incredibly hard and is a phenomenal help side defender. Harrington is a special player who should get high major looks despite his perceived lack of athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2878905"],"_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-69263249a6ffa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merritt is a special ball-handler and creator—he looks like he was built to have the rock in his hands. He has an amazing stop and go, herky-jerk style of dribbling, and it makes him incredibly difficult to stay in front of. Even though he isn't the strongest or biggest, he can get to his spots in the mid range or at the hoop effortlessly, and he's a phenomenal shot maker in those situations. Merritt is going to play a massive role for New Hampton this season and should be garnering division 1 looks. He has an amazing feel for the game and is only a junior. Bright future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341404"],"_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-69263249a706c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cook has improved steadily since the first time I saw him play about 2 years ago. The 6-foot-8 forward is phenomenal in the post; he has nice footwork, great finishing chops, and a lot of craft. He went AT multiple high major bigs and scored on them successfully during NEBL session 1. He also handled the ball well for his size and makes some really heady passes out of the short roll. Cook is committed to Richmond and projects as someone who should be able to get on the court immediately next season. Some added outside shooting ability would be really huge for him, because everything else about his game suggests he can play on the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2875628"],"_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-69263249a70e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waddles is a SHOOTER. And when you pair his ability to make shots from the mid range and three with his 6-foot-6 frame and super long arms, you start to see the budding potential. Yes he's skinny and could certainly use some extra pounds, but he'll probably put on some weight this year and moving forward. Regardless, he brings solid versatility to both ends and can work in any system because of his ability to guard multiple positions, rebound, and hit shots from everywhere on the floor. He's an awesome plug-and-play guy for New Hampton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560936"],"_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-69263249a7150"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sanderson is a total revelation for New Hampton. A year after they lost Tillery to college hoops, it looks like they've found their point guard for this season. The 6-foot-2 senior is incredibly quick with the ball and has one of the more active off hands I've ever seen, which allows him to puncture the paint at will. Once he does so, he has phenomenal vision and can make every pass in the book with both hands. He also finishes quite well for his size and can make shots from the outside. Sanderson a definite scholarship player who will comfortably run the show all year for New Hampton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->