Week 1 Highlight Reels

MIAA High School basketball kicked off this week. I attended Cambridge vs Brockton Friday and Boston English vs Boston Latin Academy Saturday afternoon. Cambridge coming off a D1 Tournament loss to Newton North 56-42 in the Round of 32. Brockton is trying to get back into playoffs after missing last two years. English is coming off an Elite Eight run in the D5 playoffs. Boston Latin is also coming off an Elite Eight Run in D3 playoffs. Coach Daniel Bunker was telling me before the game how they got hot at the right time. Boston Latin opens the season in The Boston Globe High School Sports Top 20 teams. Each team played well for the first game of the season. Each team has a couple more players to check out, so I am hoping I can before season's end. The following players were making spectacular plays and highlight reels like they never missed a beat.    A truly amazing 2nd bounce, a combination of anticipation and great positioning on rebounds. He is strong, catching almost everything highpointing the ball like a wide receiver on 50/50 balls. I love his physicality, the way he uses his body and balanced in mid-air. He has a few post moves that were effective, plays off two feet. He communicates on defense. I predict him playing positions 3-5 at the D3 level, with improvement can play other two. Also with another year left, right coaching could be a D2 player playing the 1-3 positions.     He is crafty, gets downhill a great leader for Boston Latin. He is smart on decision making when to attack the gaps of the defense, slicing teams up like a butterball. It doesn't stop there pushing the tempo off fast breaks when his team has momemtum even taking it coast to coast himself. Finishes at the rim with success on a few moves especially his High Rip Euro or when he kept the ball high and had a scoop shot layup twisting in mid-air. He can stretch the floor with his catch and shooting. Rebounded extremely well today with 9. College prediction is D3 but with two years left can elevate himself into D2/low D1 status.     He is very springy, long strides getting to the rim from 3 point arc in two steps. Off the bounces gets up the court in a hurry, turns corners quick off the catch immediately pounding the ball. A great dribble drive penentration, splitting the defense likes atoms. Shot the ball well from behind the arc off catch/shoot situations and taking his guy off the bounce with NBA range. Even getting good college elevation on jump shots. He can play right now at D3 level in college, but two full years he is on his way to D2 with potential low D1 interest.     There was a lot to like about Nisaiah. He knew when to change the tempo of his dribble. He can handle the ball under pressure. He is a scorer at all three levels, tough finisher at the rim, making his free throw attempts. He can shoot off the bounce but also made a sweet no look bounce pass that led to one of his 8 assists. He even tried to finish mid-air opposite hand going down the right lane which was next level thinking. He can guard 94 feet. In college he is a D3 prospect.     Nyisah took over in the 3rd quarter for his team when everyone else was cold from the floor. Nyisah is a mid-range feind. He handles the ball well and can be a natural born leader. Makes good decisions with the ball making a couple nice plays with the ball in his hands off the dribble and finding ways to get into his shot making skills. Led his team in scoring, rebounds and steals. A candidate for a Prep/Post Grad, JUCO or D3 if he chooses to play at the next level.     A lean frame but controls his balance when in the air even after contact. A sophomore starter who will have a break out year. Clervens will be a Top 20 player in MIAA if not next year, in his senior year. At this moment I predict D3 in college but a lot can happen in two years. He slashes well to the basket off the dribble. He gets to the free throw line. Rebounds well for a guard with his bounce. He will alter a ton of passes and shots with his length.     Continues to be consistent in MIAA. Communicates well on defense, especially to a teammate to stay in a help defensive spot that led to a fastbreak turnover and walls up whoever he guards. He has great anticipation on defense. Offensively will be a top 3 scorer on his Cambridge team each night. He can score from all levels, catch and shoot, no dip 3 type guy. He can even make deep shots after up faking and side stepping defenders. I have had a few converations with Morris and he would be a nice D3 player in college.     Changes tempo with his dribble and quick off the bounce. A downhill player who can play through contact. He had a tough scoop shot bucket down the stretch of the game. Shooting was impressive as he can shoot off the bounce, catch and shoot in rhythm. He also had a spectacular step back three. He was playing in his first high school game back after a nasty leg injury and lived up to the hype from what teammates and coaches told me. If he continues this streak he will be an All-Star/MVP of Dual County League and an All-State caliber player. Predicition right now is a D3 college prospect with potential for D2 teams to be inquiring.

MIAA High School basketball kicked off this week. I attended Cambridge vs Brockton Friday and Boston English vs Boston Latin Academy Saturday afternoon. Cambridge coming off a D1 Tournament loss to Newton North 56-42 in the Round of 32. Brockton is trying to get back into playoffs after missing last two years. English is coming off an Elite Eight run in the D5 playoffs. Boston Latin is also coming off an Elite Eight Run in D3 playoffs. Coach Daniel Bunker was telling me before the game how they got hot at the right time. Boston Latin opens the season in The Boston Globe High School Sports Top 20 teams. Each team played well for the first game of the season. Each team has a couple more players to check out, so I am hoping I can before season's end. The following players were making spectacular plays and highlight reels like they never missed a beat.