MIAA Early-Season Round Up: Underclassman Studs

The MIAA season is in full swing, and I've gotten to watch a solid number of the higher-ranked teams so far, whether in person or via stream. There are obviously too many teams and players to see them all, but I try to get out to see as many as possible (which is difficult while being a college coach, so bear with me).   I'll be covering some of the most impressive players I've seen throughout the end of December and beginning of January.   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/12/miaa-early-season-round-up-new-names-on-my-radar/">MIAA early-season round up: new names on my radar</a>   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/12/miaa-early-season-round-up-unsigned-senior-wings-and-bigs/">MIAA Early-Season Round Up: Unsigned Senior Wings and Bigs</a>   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/miaa-early-season-round-up-unsigned-senior-guards/">MIAA Early-Season Round Up: Unsigned Senior Guards</a>   To continue on, here are some underclassman studs who have impressed early this season.    Magloire didn't play in Tuesday's 7th place game, but the 6-foot-2 sophomore impressed me during an early-season matchup against powerhouse Newton North. The wing is more than ready to play at the highest levels of the MIAA; his physicality and strength is very elite for his age, and he uses those tools to bully opposing defenders under the rim. He can also handle the ball a bit and has some solid wiggle to his movements and footwork in the paint. Magloire needs to get more under control and shore up his shot selection, but the St. John's Prep sophomore has a really solid foundation that he can build on moving forward.     Alimadhi is an extremely intriguing prospect. The sophomore is already 6-foot-3 and long, but he has a plethora of skills that players his age/size don't normally have. He has a really nice-looking release, which he can hit from the perimeter or in pull-up situations, and he uses his size and length well on the boards as a rebounder. Most impressive, though, is his ability to create shots in the mid range for himself—he has good elevation on his shot and moves very fluidly for his size. Alimadhi has a very bright future ahead and should only continue to rapidly improve.     Taku is a 6-foot-5 freshman who's already dominating the MIAA. The Malden Catholic forward is way too big and strong for opposing forwards, and when he combines those tools with his vertical pop, he's hard to stop. He has a pretty nice-looking shot (which is quite impressive for a player his age/size), but he's also able to confidently and decisively attack closeouts when the defense overplays him. Taku is a key part of a very talented Malden Catholic squad that's going to potentially make a state title run, and he should only continue to get more better as he figures out his body and how to use it.     Peltrop has always impressed me when I've seen him during the AAU season, but I was skeptical how his game would translate to the MIAA public school level. But, the 6-foot-3 do-it-all wing does all the same things he does in AAU for his Brockton squad, and it makes him difficult to take off the floor. He's a freak athlete, and he uses his athleticism and motor to track balls off the rim, making him a very talented rebounder on both ends. He also has ambidextrous finishing ability and some freakishly long arms. Peltrop is going to be a star in the MIAA for years to come, and it'll be the shooting and ball handling improvements that he makes that'll take him to the next level.     Fortier is one of my favorite players to watch in the MIAA. The sophomore guard is only 6-foot, but he's giving [player_tooltip player_id='2711407' first='Joshua' last='Roux'] of Andover a run for his money as the best shooter in state public school hoops. The St. Mary's combo guard can get his looks off both on and off the ball, and he has a beautiful release no matter how he gets into his shot. The rotation and footwork are excellent, and he has a repeatable motion. Fortier can also handle the ball very well and has surprising quickness—he's just a supremely skilled basketball player. He'll be a star for years to come and will almost certainly play college hoops.     Jean-Philippe is a star. The 5-foot-10 point guard is relatively undersized and is only a freshman, but he's probably Waltham High School's best player and is more than ready to compete at the highest levels of the MIAA. He's a three level scorer who can knock down shots from the perimeter, get lots of elevation on his mid range jumper, and finish with both his strong southpaw and his weak right hand in the lane. He can also find teammates for open looks on the perimeter when the defense collapses. Jean-Philippe is going to be a total star in the MIAA this season and moving forward, and I would be shocked if a prep school doesn't snatch him up soon.     O'Neill is big time. The sophomore guard is one of the best scorers in the MIAA and though he's doing it for small-town Swampscott, it cannot be dismissed. The 6-foot-2 CG has a flamethrower for a right hand and has range as soon as he crosses over half court. He gets his shot off quickly, and he makes them. He also has really solid strength when he's handling the ball and does a great job crafting his way to the paint for finishes and floaters. Oh, and he has excellent passing vision when the defense comes. Added quickness and size would be big for O'Neill, but man can he play on the offensive end.

The MIAA season is in full swing, and I've gotten to watch a solid number of the higher-ranked teams so far, whether in person or via stream. There are obviously too many teams and players to see them all, but I try to get out to see as many as possible (which is difficult while being a college coach, so bear with me).