Newman School Dominates Their Way To NEPSAC AAA TItle

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, Newman School faced off against Hoosac School in the NEPSAC AAA championship game at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though the game looked like it could be a battle early on, Newman quickly pulled away and ended up winning the game 101-68. They will look to finish off their season on a high note with a national prep championship in West Hartford this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are 5 standouts from Sunday's championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2638999"],"_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-69af21ce6458f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morillo was his usual dominant self in Sunday's championship game. He was effective on the perimeter as a shooter from both the mid range and three, but he also excelled as an offensive rebounder and post-up threat. He's so versatile on the offensive end; his size allows him to see over the defense for passing angles but his strength and handle allows him to get downhill and score for himself as well. Morillo won MVP for Newman and will be tough to stop at the National Prep Championships this week. He's this team's best player and a truly special prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553689"],"_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-69af21ce645fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sunday's game was a championship game, so of course O'Keefe came to play. He was his usual intense self on both ends and led his team emotionally even when they got off to slow start—I find it so impressive how he acts as a coach on the floor and is always encouraging and teaching his teammates. O'Keefe hit a bunch of dagger threes against Hoosac on Sunday, and his ability to get out on the break and make excellent reads was a big part of Newman's success (and has been all season). He's great at playing fast and will look to carry that on to the National Prep Championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1532640"],"_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-69af21ce64648"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Costello was excellent on Sunday. His height and length combined with his footwork, shooting stroke, and accuracy, makes him one of the most lethal shooting threats in the entire country. You can't step off of him because he doesn't need much room to shoot and barely misses open ones, but hugging up on him allows his teammates to get easy driving angles, so the defense is in a pickle—he's a phenomenal spacer as a result of his shooting gravity. Costello's defense on Hoosac's front line was also quite impressive, and he seems to be getting stronger and tougher as the season goes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341317"],"_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-69af21ce6468c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter-Coleman comes off the bench for Newman but isn't your typical bench guy. Despite his lack of minutes, he absolutely deserves a shoutout for what he brings to this team. Every time he comes into the game, he completely changes the flow of the opposing team's offense and makes it hell for opposing ball-handlers to dribble up the floor. On Sunday, he got two quick steals for layups as soon as he got into the game and hyped up his teammates in the process. Hunter-Coleman is a stud at the point of attack and offers something different defensively than the rest of Newman's back court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2978743"],"_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-69af21ce646d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing Gros in person, and I was ridiculously impressed. The 6-foot-3 combo-guard is built like a linebacker and has excellent strength, quickness, and speed. With the ball in his hands, he's extremely crafty and shifty and is able to handle pressure from opposing guards comfortably. When the lefty gets into the lane, he has a number of interesting shots which he can make off the backboard, and he also excels at finding passing lanes for his teammates or making shots from the perimeter if you don't have a hand up. On Sunday, he was Hoosac's best player in terms of puncturing the paint, and he has a very bright future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->