Late Season Surge: Prep Standout Scorers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The calendar is about to give way from February to March, which means that postseason play in New England's prep leagues is just a few days away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we prepare to head into the postseason here in New England, we thought it would be a good time to check in on some of the region's recent standout scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five prospects from the prep ranks that have found particular success in scoring the basketball of late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2829417"],"_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-69a1ecd06ba66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McClure, a sophomore guard out of <em>Phillips Exeter Academy</em> in New Hampshire, has been on a tear in the second half of the season. The 6'2" guard has a terrific first step off the bounce and is a tremendously creative finisher around the rim. He's done a nice job of adjusting to a higher level of speed and physicality in the NEPSAC this winter and seemingly continues to evolve as a decision maker with the ball in his hands. He does a really nice job of rebounding on the defensive end of the floor, attacks the rim relentlessly in transition, and knocks down threes in catch and shoot situations at a high clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2915911"],"_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-69a1ecd06bb02"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taggart, a junior guard out of <em>Putnam Science Academy</em> in Connecticut, has taken on a huge scoring role for his team this winter. The 6'4" guard is averaging 18.3 points per game while knocking down 69% of his two-point field goal attempts and 43% of his attempts from three. He recently broke <em>Putnam's</em> single-game record for made threes when he knocked down 10 in a win over Thetford. While his shooting certainly catches the eye, as it should, it's the other parts of his game that have elevated his play this winter. He has great positional size, the ability to create for himself and others off the bounce, and uses his length well as a finisher around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2962602"],"_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-69a254b239955"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clanton, a senior forward out of <em>Phillips Academy Andover</em> in Massachusetts, is coming off of a dominant three-game stretch in which he averaged 20.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. The 6'6" forward has a massive wingspan, that when combined with his frame and athleticism, allows him to make plays all over the floor on the offensive side of the basketball. He can knock down shots from behind the arc in catch and shoot situations, does a nice job of finishing in the post against smaller defenders, and even shows the ability to make plays from the perimeter as a straight-line driver. When his motor is all the way up, he's an incredibly tough cover for opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2878955"],"_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-69a254b2399fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wiggins, a junior guard out of the <em>Westminster School</em> in Connecticut, has been one of the region's biggest stock risers this winter. The 6'0" guard has been terrific for <em>Westminster</em> and is averaging 23.0 points per game on an impressive 37.0% from behind the arc, while also chipping in 5.0 assists per game. He can really create seperation off the bounce, allowing him to get into his shot at almost any time, and has the ability to knock them down off the bounce, out of DHO actions, behind screens, and in catch and shoot situations. He does an excellent job of moving without the basketball and has even show some ability to create out of isolations late in the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341301"],"_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-69a254b239a8a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Legentus, a senior guard out of the <em>Brimmer &amp; May School</em> in Massachusetts, is one of the top unsigned prospects out of New England in 2026. The 6'0" guard is capable of going off for 30+ points on any given night and has already done so this winter against some impressive competition, including in games against Cheshire, Newman, and Lawrence. He's a good athlete with impressive burst off the bounce, has the ability to play through contact as a driver, and finishes with a ton of creativity around the rim. He scores with touch over size in the paint and continues to evolve as a shooter in the mid-range and from behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye out next week as we take a look at the NEPSAC tournament brackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->