New England HGSL stock-risers (17U)

With the conclusion of another season of Hoop Group's grassroots circuit, it's a good time to revisit some New England 17U prospects who raised their stock on the HGSL platform this summer.    Coming in as a relative unknown outside of deeply entrenched sources in New England, Nicol used the spring and summer to assert himself as arguably the top long-term prospect on the entire HGSL circuit. The jumbo guard played up on the 17U circuit and consistently showcased a high-level blend of positional size, feel for the game, shotmaking ability, and budding athleticism. He's effective playing both on and off the ball, making quick decisions to punish whatever advantage the defense presents. His ability to create for himself and others at his size, as well as knock down shots from the perimeter at an efficient clip, makes for an enticing recipe for high-major programs to begin delving into.     Emerging later in the summer after missing parts of the early grassroots season, Wane shows signs of clear scholarship-level ability as a Swiss-army knife on the perimeter. The outlook starts with ideal size for his position and a college-ready build, which Wane pairs with a versatile skillset that allows him to plug a variety of different roles on either end. He's capable of initiating offense from the perimeter or midpost and making plays for himself or teammates off the dribble, but can also slide off-ball as a catch-and-shoot threat and strong straight-line driver or get out in transition for smooth finishes at the rim. His sturdy frame and relative foot speed allow him to carry that versatility over to the defensive end as well. With strong basketball bloodlines (Wane's father won a national title at UConn in the early 2000's) and an evolving game, he could be an intriguing option even up to the low D1 level as he continues to build momentum into his senior year.     Coming into the spring as a bit of a sleeper, Chartier emerged throughout the spring as a bona fide D1 prospect and showed he has one of the higher ceilings of anyone on the HGSL platform. In an era where size and shooting are in high demand at every level, Chartier fits that bill to a tee, bringing ideal height and length to the wing with as dynamic a perimeter jumper as you'll find in the region. He's able to connect in bunches with a versatile quick-release stroke and keen instincts for finding open space along the arc. Chartier also showed growth throughout the grassroots season in attacking closeouts off the bounce and using his size and length to mix it up near the rim on either end. He's rightfully earned a steady barrage of D1 interest with upside to continue rising up the collegiate ranks as he matures into his frame and shows he can consistently flourish on a floor full of D1 talent.     At the helm of a deep cadre of scholarship-level prospects, Grudzien emerged steadily throughout the spring and summer while quarterbacking the Magic to another HGSL title. The lead guard plays with a fun bounce in his step, confidently weaving to spots off the bounce with a blend of shiftiness and physicality. He sees the floor well as a playmaker for others once the defense collapses on him and is able to keep things honest as a respectable shooter from the perimeter. Defensively, he shows good aggressiveness getting into the ball at the point of attack but can be a bit susceptible to allowing penetration when matched up with quicker guards. Transferring to Woodstock for his senior year, he should be garnering continued scholarship-level attention heading into the fall.     A new name in the NEPSAC ranks heading to Cushing Academy (MA) as a post-grad from the Syracuse area, Prince asserted himself consistently as being among a small handful of the top-tier players and prospects across the HGSL. Prince is a well-rounded wing who fits the modern game perfectly with his ability to seamlessly slide up and down the positional spectrum. His dribble-pass-shoot skillset is able to be deployed across a variety of roles offensively and he switches defensively at a high level across '2' through '4'. Prince also flashes intriguing upside as a creator in the halfcourt that's worth continuing to explore over time. He fits the mold of former Cushing wings who have found success across all levels of the collegiate spectrum, and is thus drawing heavy attention from a wide range of D1 programs heading into his post-grad year.

With the conclusion of another season of Hoop Group's grassroots circuit, it's a good time to revisit some New England 17U prospects who raised their stock on the HGSL platform this summer.