NERR Northeast Hoop Festival: 16U Division Stockrisers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, one of New England's best tournament's came back to Boston—Zero Gravity's NERR Northeast Hoop Festival. There were loads of talented teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/nerr-northeast-hoop-festival-17u-division-stockrisers/">NERR Northeast Hoop Festival: 17U Division Stockrisers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/nerr-northeast-hoop-festival-17u-division-hidden-gems/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/nerr-northeast-hoop-festival-17u-division-hidden-gems/">NERR Northeast Hoop Festival: 17U Division Hidden Gems</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To continue on with my coverage, I'll be looking at some stockrisers from the 16U division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2870617"],"_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-69e3b3656439d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hill looked like a different player last weekend at Hoop Fest. The 6-foot-5 freshman has always had an intriguing skillset and the size and strength necessary to make you think he'll be a big-time player one day, but he looks like he's finally starting to understand the important of multiple efforts and motor. Against The Club, he had a good number of deflections and was simply more engaged and locked in defensively than I've seen him before, and it paid dividends for him on the offensive end as well. He made a bunch of shots from three, he was super active in the passing lanes defensively, and he consistently used his physicality to punish defenders in the paint. Hill REALLY impressed me and I'll be curious to see whether this is a permanent change for him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2893338"],"_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-69e3b36564411"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Finlayson just continues to improve his game and get even more dominant. Against The Club, he had numerous fastbreak dunks and was lethal in transition as always, but I was super impressed with his ability to slow down his offensive pace and make good decisions for himself and his teammates. He made a lot of floaters and crafty finishes at the hoop, but he also made mid range jumpers and some threes. Oh, and the way he slid his feet and protected the rim was quite impressive, too. Finlayson just needs to keep improving his jumper and scholarship hoops will be in his future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Joey Ebian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cardinal Spellman High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"The Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e3b365644b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing Elbian and he impressed me quite a bit. The 6-foot-3 guard is super shifty with the ball in his hands and has a lethal first-step when charging to the hoop. His spin move is phenomenal, too, and he just has a knack for slithering around the defender and getting to his spots on the floor. Once he punctures the paint, he has great finishing ability and showcased some really solid passing instincts. Elbian is certainly underrated, and a big season with The Club could solidify him as a college prospect. I'm not sure whether Elbian is reclassifying next year, but he definitely could if he wanted to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2630700"],"_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-69e3b36564507"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There's something so smooth and cerebal about Arache's game. The Mass Rivals' freshman never looks like he's forcing anything and can score from all three levels offensively while also getting his teammates involved. He has great length, size, and athleticism, and he's extremely skilled for his size and age. In my opinion, he was the best player on the court when his Rivals squad faced off against Middlesex Magic's HGSL team, and he should only continue to improve based on his AAU and high school situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Colin McLaughlin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hanover High School (NH)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Middlesex Magic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e3b3656458e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McLaughlin won't wow you with crazy athleticism or quickness, but he has good strength and plays at an awesome pace, so he's difficult to stop in DHO game and on drives to the rim. When he touches the paint, he is a really heady passer and makes great decisions for himself and his teammates. He can also knock down shots from the outside. McLaughlin goes to Hanover High School in NH right now, but he's transferring to Milton Academy next season. He has a very bright future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2851318' first='Jonathan' last='Bernstein']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Beaver Country Day School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Team New England","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e3b36564611"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bernstein probably has the prettiest outside shot I've seen in the class of 2028, and he's a 6-foot-4 combo-guard with tons of other offensive skills. He can handle it well for his age and size, and he's a good passer and mover without the basketball. But it's his shooting that's most impressive—he has a BEAUTIFUL release and can make shots on the move or off the dribble, which is quite lethal when combined with his height. If you overplay his shot, he'll take you to the rim and lean into his size for finishes. Bernstein is a fantastic player who should be one of the key pieces on Beaver Country Day next season and offers TNE something different than their typical hyper-athletic wings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->