Zero Gravity Rumble For The Ring: 6 High Potential Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I attended Zero Gravity's Rumble For The Ring, a tournament featuring mostly local teams who aren't competing in this weekend's UAA, 3SSB, or EYBL competitions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I posted up at Starland Sportsplex in Hanover, MA, and took in action from a bunch of the high school divisions. Below are 6 high potential guards who really impressed me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Jackson Hines","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Arlington Catholic High School","_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-69ee4bfe4d138"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing Hines in person after hearing about his high level performances as an 8th grader on his Arlington Catholic High School varsity squad from this past winter season, and it checks out. With Middlesex Magic, the 5-foot-9 guard showcased some pretty phenomenal shooting ability. Whether it was on the move, off the dribble dribbling, or after a good amount of movement, the 2030 PG was able to get his looks off comfortably, and he hit a bunch of them. Hines has a great feel for the game and is nowhere near fully developed physically, so once he puts on muscle and adds some height (which I think is coming), he's going to be an excellent college prospect.</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":"Jackson Flynn","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Nashoba Regional High School","_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-69ee4bfe4d26c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Flynn can really shoot the rock. For a freshman, he has an extremely quick and beautiful release, which he's able to hit in standstill or movement situations, and off the dribble. Against NSSA, he hit 3 threes early in the game to help create a big lead, and then it was his lateral quickness and hands on the defensive end that impressed me from there on out. He competes every possession on that end, and he has very good instincts when it comes to beating his matchup to the spot and getting his long arms in passing lanes. Flynn was a solid piece for Nashoba Regional High School this season, but his role should only grow as time goes on—extremely 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":"Kaedin Burnett","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Worcester Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"BABC National HGSL","_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-69ee4bfe4d362"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really enjoyed watching Burnett run the show for BABC National HGSL yesterday. The 5-foot-9 guard has the ball on a string and does a phenomenal job getting into the paint via his handle and dribble moves. He almost always gets to two feet, and he was pretty easily his squad's best passer yesterday, showcasing the ability to read the weak side of the floor and use his head and eyes to manipulate the defense. The shooting needs to come a along a bit, but Burnett is in a nice place to develop and should continue to improve as he gets older.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2717049"],"_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-69ee4bfe4d436"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Costello ran the show for Metro Boston's 16u squad, and he did so confidently and comfortably all day. The southpaw has excellent change of speed and change of direction dribble moves, and he does a really good job getting himself balanced and controlled in the paint when the defense collapses on him. His three-point shot is still coming along, but he has solid-looking mechanics and should continue to improve from there as he develops moving forward. Most impressive was Costello's ability to run the lane in transition and finish with a head of steam. He's a good athlete, he has a good head on his shoulders in terms of getting his teammates involved, and he's a tough kid. He should be a key part of BC High's attack next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2717027"],"_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-69ee4bfe4d4b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It seemed like every single time I looked over, Caterino was playing in another game yesterday. He played for both the BABC National HGSL squad (the sophomore will reclassify to 2029 next year and attend Darrow Academy) and also the 2028 A Step Ahead team (same program). He probably played 4 games yesterday, but he always had lots of energy and was engaged and competitive. He defends hard, and he's always moving without the ball, so he's clearly a well-conditioned athlete. Caterino's calling card is his shooting ability from three, but the lefty showcased some nice floaters on various drives to the rim as well. Darrow will be a good place for him to continue to develop his off-the-dribble and closeout-attack game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2717050"],"_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-69ee4bfe4d526"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dolan was extremely impressive in Middlesex Magic's win against Rivals Elite yesterday. The lefty guard makes awesome passes and is always under control, but he also lights it up from three and made some really nice drives to the rim. He just has an all-around skillset offensively and understands how to play the game, which is extremely valuable as a 6-foot point guard. But he also competes hard on the defensive end and was able to stonewall a good number of drives from a variety of players yesterday. He's strong, laterally quick, and tough. Dolan should play a larger role on Austin Prep next year and will be a solid college prospect when the time comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->