Prep Players of the Game

NEPSAC and Big Six conferences are home to some of the best players in New England and the following players stood out getting their team's the W! These players competed against some of the toughest competition and many I have never written an evaluation on so it was nice to see them come out on top. They all stepped up throughout the game or in big bursts down the stretch to secure the W for their team's. College coaches many of these players are looking for a home next year or in a couple years.    Malik did "Malik" things against Kimball Union, meaning one of the Top 3 players on the court against 3 D1 players on Kimball. He finished with a team high 23 points. He lures opposing players to double him easily getting out traps to find his teammates for open assists. Really understands where/when the double team is coming. He is so strong and absorbs the contact without much vibration either attacking the rim or off the dribble. Going back to his passing skills he made a beautiful transition interior pass for an assist. Malik did a good job contesting a shot at the rim without fouling. Malik is D1 talent but would thrive in D2.     The Babson commit had a second half to remember gathering a double double after a slow start. He has really improved his physicality/strength since last year. Defense stood out playing against 6'7" and 6'10" players as he walled them up, contested without fouling around the rim and perimeter. He had a few assists but the stat sheet didn't account for his perfect interior passing skills and kick outs. He has certainly climbed spots on my personal rankings.     He is slithery, quick and one of my favorite players to watch. Jonathan is a dual sport athlete and I firmly believe if he focused on football could be a dual sport athlete at the D1 level because I saw him get more snaps and be a lockdown corner on the football field this year. He runs the perimeter well in the half court to relieve pressure from teammates who are about to be trapped or picked up their dribble. Still on the offensive side he can shoot at a high percentage from anywhere on the floor today he knocked two 3's one coming off a curl just a catch/shoot and other was in transition off the catch as well. A two way player guarding 94 feet. He puts a ton of pressure on the defense with his paint touches/baseline drives with good hang time too if he is looking to score. A D1 prospect but would also thrive in D2.     He worked hard for shots, even had some good setups for backdoors. The best I have seen Idy shoot knocking down 5 3's. He rebounded extremely well today and added a couple of assists. Idy is super athletic climbing my personal rankings. Idy has interest from Merrimack and Hamilton but other schools will want to jump on board before he gets snatched up. He is more of the shooting guard in BBN's offense but he can play with the ball as well. D3 he would succeed, D2 he would be an impact player and in D1 Idy is a minute snatcher in his 2nd/3rd year. He still has one year left after this in high school so his stock should continue to rise.     Scored a career high 21 points against St. Seb's who has a couple D1 prospects. Riley is committed to Colby College. I taught Riley in 6th grade and he continues to make leaps every year I watch him play. He continues to improve his offensive skillset knocking down NBA 3's, smooth top of key transition 3 and adding a baby hook to his game. I loved watching him in the 2 man game as well lifting from the post to wing to knock down a catch 3. It is so tough to knock him off the spots he wants to get to off the bounce or playing off the ball. He made some terrific close out's on the ball, made good entry passes to low post as a big and had good strategies to get offensive rebounds off jumpers/free throws.     First impressions of Andrew were solid. He made a variety of accurate passes whether it was entry to low post, interior, pocket or in transition. The AST/TO was really high. He knocked down a couple of 3's but his quick feet helped him settle into his shots. Andrew leads Deerfield in his post grad year in points and assists. I knew he played football at Milford but, with how well he read the defense on the court (splitting screens with the ball, slicing down the lane) I thought quarterback. Turns out he played safety which makes sense with reading the offense helps translate. He is a downhill attacker that forces help defense and if you don't help Andrew will make you pay. Andrew can play at the D1 level but in D2 he will most likely have the most success.     He started the first game I saw and came off the bench today. What a spark plug to have off the bench and responded well being the 6th man. Brilliant performance with four 3's all off the catch but in various locations and in transition. He shot well from the charity strike as well going 7/9. One more year for Begad but has upside and D2/D3 schools will be lucky to have him. If he continues to improve he can be a starter on South Kent and be one of their top scorers.     Second game watching Stetson and he was solid in both games. He is with out question climbing my personal rankings after posting 19 & 22 points respectively. He is a true scorer that makes his buckets look elegant. He had a couple of gentle floaters. Has one of the softest three point touches I have seen this year, making 3's at a 45 degree angle from the wing and corners off the catch. Stetson made perfect entry passes to the low post so his guy only had to make one move. He also does it on the defensive side, having a well timed blitz and strip. Stetson will continue to grow and rise to the occasion earning D1 offers.     Ant is coming into his own at Cushing with how prepared he is on both sides of the ball. The way he understands what is happening before the play even develops. Coach Corms has done a marvelous job scaffolding Ant's game to the next level. He is going to be a stud next year and will have 20 plus D1 offers. He has college range already from deep, can shoot off the bounce and a magnificent step back all from behind the arc. I have seen Ant twice now and hoping to see more of him.     The most consistent shooter I have seen in all of the prep schools and NEBL based off seeing Jalen more than once. There are a ton of good shooters but I only have seen those other players once. I was thrilled to watch Jalen take his game to the next level since the beginning of the year watching him take his guy off the bounce to the cup. He gets seperation off the bounce and made multiple contested layups. Jalen makes contested shots from anywhere on the floor. He is a special player and only 5 D1 offers is head scratching. One more year and with lots of upside. He sits at #21 (Top 15 in my opinion) in the class of 2027 rankings but that is whack in itself because he is way better than players ahead of him.     Kamai is a stone cold killer and knows when to go for the jugular. He continues to throw body punches attacking the rim relentlessly and reminds me of Tillery out of New Hampton last year but with a bigger frame. He gets plenty of separation off the bounce to get shots off. He had all kinds of acrobatic FGM inside/out and off the catch/bounce as well against Newman. He can dribble in a phone booth and made downhill attacks especially curling hard of a DHO. Kamai has Sacred Heart and UTEP offers but c'mon coaches are you going to let this one slip your hands?

NEPSAC and Big Six conferences are home to some of the best players in New England and the following players stood out getting their team's the W! These players competed against some of the toughest competition and many I have never written an evaluation on so it was nice to see them come out on top. They all stepped up throughout the game or in big bursts down the stretch to secure the W for their team's. College coaches many of these players are looking for a home next year or in a couple years.