NERR Elite 75: Big Guards And Wings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, September 11th, I attended the Elite 75 showcase at Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro, MA. Over 200 players competed on six different courts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was TONS of talent in the gym—but, as always, it was difficult to see everyone play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/6-standout-forward-from-elite-75/">6 Standout Forwards From Friday's Elite 75</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/nerr-elite-75-standouts-lead-guards/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/nerr-elite-75-standouts-lead-guards/">NERR Elite 75: Standout Lead Guards</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that being said, below are 7 of the best big guards/wings I saw on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e09ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Finlayson was the most physically-imposing guy in the gym, as per usual. The 6-foot-7 wing used his strength and athleticism to overpower defenders in the paint and in transition, but he also showed some improved finesse at the rim in terms of his finishing ability (including one lefty finish on the right baseline that wow'd me). The sophomore looks slimmer, too, which makes him feel quicker off the bounce and more explosive generally. If Finlayson keeps improving his skillset—outside shot, passing vision/feel, and handle—the sky's the limit for him. He's going to shock the NEPSAC with how difficult his is to handle this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3658833"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0a6a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peltrop continues to impress me every time I watch him play. The 6-foot-3 guard has improved his handle, outside shot, and passing ability since last season, and when combines with his length, athleticism, and motor, it makes him a really intriguing prospect. The reclass sophomore looks significantly more comfortable as a passer than I remember, and his outside shot looks more fluid, too. Peltrop is going to transition just fine to the prep school level, and I think it's going to be difficult to keep him off the floor this season for Dexter-Southfield given how many holes he'll plug for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2969369"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0ad2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Friday night was my first time seeing Souza play, and I was quite impressed. The 6-foot-5 CG has extremely long arms, quick-twitch athleticism, and a high skill level. He consistently got into the paint with his handle and then used crafty pickup moves to finish above and around opposing bigs, but he also handled ball-pressure quite well on the perimeter and showed major feel. Defensively, Souza used his long arms to get in passing lanes and was a total menace on the ball, something he'll do a lot more of at Burke this upcoming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2527210"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0b53"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNamara has what I like to call the "finishing gene." The 6-foot-5 combo-guard has a knack for converting at the rim no matter what situation he's in—he can have defenders on his back, be moving at high speeds, or have to double clutch to avoid shot blockers, but he converts at an extremely high rate. His long arms and underrated strength allow him to both keep a good line to the rim while exploding for tough finishes, and he understands how to read the second level of the defense, too. McNamara is going to be a key player for Thayer Academy this season and has a budding outside shot, too. Bright future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2969393"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0bc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Erickson was one of the more intriguing athletes in the entire gym on Friday night. The 6-foot-7 wing was throwing down ridiculous dunks in the skills and drills portion of the night—he windmills easily and has an insane combination of size, length, and hops. He also showcased an impressive motor, which he used to get offensive and defensive boards and run the floor like a gazelle. Erickson has some rawness to his game right now, but he's going to look a lot different in a few years and has insane potential.</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":"Kleyton Depina","_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":"6'5u0022","_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":"Notre Dame (Elmira, NY)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0c9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Depina is a new name on my radar after Friday night's elite 75. The 6-foot-5 combo-guard really impressed me with his ability to beat defenders off the dribble and get to his spots at the front of the rim before finishing effortlessly with either hand. He moves quite smoothly for a guy his size (6-foot-5) and clearly has the feel and agility necessary to be a point-of-attack creator. Depina also knows how to use his body in the paint and can make the right reads to teammates. He should be a key piece for Notre Dame high school this season and is a super intriguing prospect moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3729887"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa86108e0d1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For a freshman at his size, Ivey-Jones has one of the more intriguing skillsets and physical profiles I saw at the entire showcase on Friday. The 6-foot-5 wing has ridiculously long arms and a super skinny frame, but he moves fluidly up and down the court. He skies for dunks but also uses his length for extend finishes, and he can even pass the ball a bit. His combination of size, length, and fluidity is rare for his age, and Ivey-Jones could be an awesome up-and-coming prospect for St. Andrews this season and moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->