End of Regular Season NEPSAC Risers

The NEPSAC regular season is coming to a close near the end of February. But before the playoffs start, there are some guys that are really rounding into form when it matters most.   Let's take a look at some guys who have been balling as of late.    In a recent win against Northfield Mount Hermon in which MacDuffie was missing a couple important pieces, Rudder rose to the occasion and really impressed. The 6-foot guard is built like a brick and does an excellent job operating in the pick and roll; he plays with good pace and change of speed, and he has a knack for getting the defender in jail and making decisions from advantageous positions. The sophomore also shot the three ball very well and showcased an ability to move without the ball quite effectively. Defensively, he slides his feet well and wants to be physical. Rudder has a bright future ahead and could be coming around during the perfect time for MacDuffie.     Ghee has been playing well all season for a very talented Hotchkiss squad, but he looks better than ever right now. The 6-foot-3 wing has a super well-rounded game and doesn't have any weaknesses offensively; he can shoot it from the outside and the mid range (he had an awesome game winner against Dexter-Southfield this week), and he has the handle and athleticism necessary to get all the way to the rim and finish. Most impressive are all the little things Ghee does, like guard multiple positions on defense and aggressively hunt down every rebound on both ends. I wouldn't be surprised to see some scholarship schools pretty interested in Ghee, who should be a key cog in Hotchkiss' tourney run.     Maxwell-Grimes has always been able to score the basketball—I noticed that from the first time I saw him play a couple years ago. The 6-foot-2 combo-guard has a knack for getting to his spots in isolation and can elevate and hit shots from anywhere on the floor. But as of late, he seems to have leveled up as a facilitator and rebounder. The senior is grabbing more boards than he ever has, and he's showing the ability to effectively run a team like a point guard, which is probably what he'll be asked to do at the next level. Maxwell-Grimes is a triple-double machine, and it's cool to see him continue to add layers to his offensive skillset.     Williams has been great all year, but he has really turned it on as of late. His superpower has always been his ability to get downhill and put pressure on the defense with a head of steam, specifically in transition situations. But his shooting, especially from deep, has really improved as the season has gone on. As defenses have started to give him a step, he has been able to consistently make them pay by knocking down threes both off the dribble and off the catch. For a guard of his size, the shooting stroke could be the difference between a D3 and D2 opportunity, so perhaps some scholarship schools will take notice of his improved shot and take a harder look at his this spring.     Crowdis has been outright RIDICULOUS as of late and has an argument as one of the best player in the entire NEPSAC over the course of the last couple weeks. The 6-foot-4 guard is lighting it up from three, both off the catch and off the dribble, but he's also showing the ability to dominate out of the pick and roll. He does an amazing job splitting the double team and finding the short roller for pocket passes, but he's also a controlled and heady finisher at the rim if you don't stop his drive. Crowdis is just going to consistently make high-level decisions for himself and others, and D1 schools are starting to notice. He should be getting some more offers shortly.     Ross is a high potential player who has good size and length, and his skillset is starting to really come together as of late—the junior has put up a couple 25+ point performances recently, and his shot looks better than ever. At his size and age, it's impressive how he's able to set his feet and get his shot off from all over the floor. He has a beautiful-looking stroke and understands what a good look is vs. when he should swing it to a teammate. Ross' size also allows him to get boards and defend multiple positions. As he continues to grow and get stronger, he should develop into a nice college prospect.     It's honestly laughable what Spellman has been doing recently. In Alex Giangregorio's new system, the senior has been absolutely lighting it up from three. He's shooting 53% from three on the season and recently went 10/11 from three in a game. Though he doesn't overwhelm with size, the 6-foot SG comes flying off screens and does a great job setting his feet. He also has a super quick release and often will just shoot right in your face out of a triple-threat position if you don't have a hand up. He has been one of the best shooters in the NEPSAC this season and deserves some flowers for his role on this surprisingly good Beaver squad.

The NEPSAC regular season is coming to a close near the end of February. But before the playoffs start, there are some guys that are really rounding into form when it matters most.