NEBL Opening Weekend: South Kent 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 South Kent. They lost a heart-breaker to Brimmer and May and another close one to CATS but will look to turn it around in session 2.</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: <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:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2960028"],"_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-6921db4b96128"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walker is a super fundamentally sound combo-guard who can score from all three levels and has feel for the game up the wazoo. The 6-foot junior has phenomenal footwork in the paint and uses up fakes, step throughs, and craft to throw off big men for easy finishes. From the three point line, he has a beautiful release and knocks down shots consistently. Some added strength and weight would be huge for Walker, but he should be garnering lots of college looks at the D3 level as a result of what he can bring offensively. He'll continue to play lots of minutes for South Kent this season and will have the rock in his hands a good amount.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1358460"],"_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-6921db4b961c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Birden is probably the most exciting prospect on South Kent's roster because of his combination of size, length and athleticism. The 6-foot-9 forward gets off the ground so quickly and uses his incredibly long wingspan to get rebounds, blocks, and offensive rebounds at a very high clip. Right now, he excels as a driver who can finish athletically with both hands and only needs a couple steps to get to the rim from the perimeter. Birden also shoots it well from the free throw line and could certainly improve his three-point shot as time goes on. Birden's potential is through the roof and if he can put it all together offensively, he could be a high-major level player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2898542"],"_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-6921db4b96265"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hopkins is another interesting long-term prospect because of his size, length, and open court ability. He's a 6-foot-8 wing who runs the floor like a deer and really excels as a transition finisher. The lefty can use his length to finish above other wings and guards and his quickness and full-court speed to finish through bigs. His size and length also allows him to rebound and protect the rim, not to mention guard a variety of guys on both the perimeter and in the paint. I could see Hopkins, who's only a junior, getting a lot more comfortable this year and becoming a really meaningful piece for South Kent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2955221"],"_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-6921db4b96301"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stinson has an awesome feel for the game and a really interesting and unique stop-and-go, herky-jerky nature to his offensive game. He uses change of speed and change of direction dribble moves quite effectively, and his slow steps at the rim are fun to watch. He has a way of gliding to the rim on takes and finishing with both strength and finesse. Stinson should be a relatively key part to South Kent's squad this season, and I would imagine he'll continue to see his minutes rise as the season goes on. Right now, I'd slot him in as a D3 player who will be an awesome fit at that level. But you never know how he could develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2960047"],"_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-6921db4b9639e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McDuffie is an absolute hound on the defensive end, and that end alone is where most of his value lies. He guarded Payne of Brimmer and May for virtually an entire game and consistently made life difficult for him in the full court. The 6-foot junior has phenomenal lateral quickness, and he has active and quick hands, so he's an amazing point-of-attack defender. He also has great conditioning and can guard 94 feet for the entire game. Offensively, McDuffie is solid and does what you need him to do—he starts the offense and can make open threes. He's a hustle guy who should find a D3 roster spot in a couple years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->