MIAA Player Rankings: Honorable Mentions

The time is HERE! After countless hours of watching highlights and full-game footage, combing over AAU and summer league notes, and talking with dozens of high school and AAU coaches, I've whittled my MIAA rankings list down to 50 players.   As always, there are some guys who I hate to leave off the list.   Below are 10 honorable mentions who just barely missed the top 50.    Maynard returns after an all star season for a Leominster team that should be pretty sollid this year. The 6-foot-1 lefty guard has a high-level feel for the game and really understands how to operate the PG position. He uses ball and head fakes effectively to get the defense off balance, he can shoot the ball from the three (with range) or the mid-range, and he has a deep bag of finishing tricks at the rim. Maynard had a nice spring and summer for Central Flight out of Central MA, and he should be one of the better players in the middle of the state this MIAA season. His skill level is there, and some added size and strength would help out his recruitment.     Kitenda is an extremely intriguing prospect who strikes me as someone who could break out and take off this season for Lowell Catholic. For his size at 6-foot-4, he shoots the ball very well and can make defenses pay from long range. But he also has good athleticism and strength, which allows him to get into the paint effectively and even get above the rim for dunks with one or two hands. Kitenda recently played well at the Wally Seaver Invitational and showcased his potential as an MIAA stud this coming season, and though he wasn't an all-star last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him take that step this season, especially considering he's a rising junior.     Mendes-Stephens has breakout potential for a Lexington team that lost some players to the prep school transfer portal and graduation and will be looking for players to take over some of that offensive responsibility. The 6-foot-1 guard is a three-level scorer who plays at his own pace and has a nice feel for stop-and-go dribble moves and using his body to create space. He had a solid spring and summer with ASA hoops and seems ready to be a bigger part of Lexington's attack this season, where he'll be able to showcase his development. Mendes-Stephens also has a translatable game/skillset to college hoops and could improve his recruitment at the D3 level with a nice year.     Furguson returns after an all star season for a Lowell Catholic team that should be pretty sollid this year. The 6-foot-2 guard has a high-level feel for the game and really understands how to operate the PG position. He uses ball and head fakes effectively to get the defense off balance, he can shoot the ball from the three (with range) or the mid-range, and he has a deep bag of finishing tricks at the rim. Furguson had a nice spring and summer for Team Suenos, and he should be one of the better players on his Lowell Catholic squad this season. His skill level is there, and some added size and strength would help out his recruitment.     Dargon is a well-rounded, fundamental forward out of Belmont High School who seems poised to have a breakout winter. The 6-foot-4 forward has great footwork in the paint and touch around the rim—he's always on balance and has a knack for spinning off of opponents to create easy looks for himself. Once the defense collapses, he's a willing and talented passer, too. Dargon's Belmont HS squad barely made the MIAA playoffs last season, but with him (a league all-star) returning, he could bring them back to prominence. He's Belmont's only returning all-star, but he has a way of making players around him better, which I bet he'll do this season.     Padial was one of the better freshman in the MIAA last season—he was named a league all-star and started every single game at the forward position. The 6-foot-5 rising sophomore has really solid footwork and feel in the post and a knack for using his drop-step moves and strength to create easy finishing angles for himself in the paint. He can also step out and knock down the open three ball, something that'll make him more difficult to guard for opposing forwards. Padial had a nice spring and summer for Team Sims, and he has really improved his body over the last couple months, so his conditioning and speed should be the best they've been. Bright future ahead.     Lopes is returning from a torn labrum, otherwise there's no way he wouldn't have made my rankings. The rising junior was, in my opinion, Greater Lawrence Tech's best player last season and a big reason they had the success they did. The 5-foot-11 guard is in complete control of himself and the 9 other players on the floor when he has the ball—nobody can take the ball from him, and he's able to strike a perfect balance of getting his teammates involved and looking for his own offense. His physicality and athleticism is also quite impressive for his age. Lopes might not return to form right away when he gets back from his injury, but if GLTHS can stay afloat without him, they could be a sneaky team come February.     Jackson could have a breakout year for Bridgewater-Raynham and make me seriously regret not having him in my rankings. Without Cason Faulk and [player_tooltip player_id='3692097' first='Cam' last='Santos'] in the mix, the 6-foot-3 wing/forward should have a lot more offensive responsibility and will be able to showcase his strength and skill in the post. He will overwhelm opponents with his body but surprise them with his finesse and feel when it comes to finishing softly off the glass. Jackson should be one of Bridgewater Raynham's best players and will not have to deal with as much competition for shots as there was last year. He's a sleeper to have a breakout winter after a nice spring/summer with The Club.     Pichardo is an awesome watch and one of the more overlooked players in the MIAA. Though he didn't get to showcase his skills with Team Sims UA Rise squad this spring/summer because of an injury, the 5-foot-9 guard is a talented player who can effectively and confidently run your offense. Though he's undersized, he's a bulldog who takes contact extremely well on drives to the hoop, is in phenomenal shape, and does all the right things—he'll get all the way to the rim and score if no help comes, but he's also willing and able to make the simple pass when he needs to. I once saw him take 4 charges in an AAU game, too, so the toughness is clearly there. Pichardo is going to remind lots of people who he is this winter.     Garron-ciberay returns to Plymouth South as an experienced senior (and league all-star) who continues to build his body and improve his game. The 6-foot-3 forward was the best rebounder and defensive player at the MIAA Showcase I attended recently, and he has a big time motor that should help him fill up the stat sheet on the offensive end with put-backs and fast-break points. Garron-ciberay is a winning player, and he should continue to help Plymouth South make waves in the MIAA, especially with the help he has from some returners (a teammate of his will be coming up in my rankings this weekend). Excited to watch their squad this season.

The time is HERE! After countless hours of watching highlights and full-game footage, combing over AAU and summer league notes, and talking with dozens of high school and AAU coaches, I've whittled my MIAA rankings list down to 50 players.