Team Preview: Milton Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's NEPSAC Team Preview season!!! What a time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NEPSAC Class A powerhouse Milton Academy projects to be excellent this season, with a host of returning players but also one big-time new face.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I got a chance to watch the team together this summer and at fall open gyms, but I've also seen a bunch of these guys throughout their AAU seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some players who should have a meaningful impact this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470857"],"_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-6aac5d9f74799"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ayala returns to Milton Academy after some time at Brewster, and he's ready to dominate. The 6-foot-5 point guard has explosive athleticism at the rim and is a phenomenal finisher with contact in the paint. At open gym this week, I was impressed with the senior's ability to make decisive reads in both the pick and roll and in transition—he's a high level processor who really knows how to deliver the ball on-time and on-target. Ayala is wracking up the D1 offers and could enter a new stratosphere of recruitment if he improves his outside shot. Oh, and he's a total beast on the defensive end at the point-of-attack. He has great strength, lateral quickness, and instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470924"],"_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-6aac5d9f74820"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McLaughlin had an excellent summer with Milton at the NEPSAC Showcases and also performed quite well at last night's open gym. The 6-foot-2 guard has a flamethrower for a right arm and can hit shots off the catch, off the dribble, and with range. But the senior also has good quickness off the bounce and good elevation at the rim. Last night, I was especially impressed with McLaughlin's passing ability out of the pick and roll. He strikes me as a borderline scholarship player who could certainly get some looks if he has a great season at Milton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470933"],"_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-6aac5d9f74872"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Noel probably took 20 threes at Milton Academy's open gym last night, and he probably made about 12 of them. The 6-foot-7 forward has great size and length, and when you combine that with his ability to get his shot off quickly, it makes him one of the more effective shooters in New England. Furthermore, the senior impressed me with his willingness to cut and move without the ball last night—he's in great shape and knows where to be on the floor. Noel should get extremely high level D3 looks and could be on the scholarship border if he proves he can do it on the defensive end as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341348"],"_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-6aac5d9f748b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Booth mans the paint for Milton Academy quite effectively on both ends. Offensively, the 6-foot-9 forward sets crushing screens, provides rolling gravity at the rim, and can post up when his squad needs a bucket. Defensively, he plays his behind off and is super physical, so he's a good post defender and provides solid rim protection. Booth is still trying to improve his outside shot, and that would add another really intriguing element to his game. He's committed to Holy Cross and should be a nightmare for opposing NEPSAC bigs this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3665694"],"_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-6aac5d9f748fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really love McLaughlin's game. The 6-foot-2 guard won't wow you with quickness or amazing explosiveness, but he makes the right play consistently and really understands how to play. The sophomore attacks closeouts extremely well and knows what he's going to do with the ball before it gets swung to him, and then he does a good job slowing down in the paint and making rim reads. He can shoot, pass, and dribble, and the game looks like it comes easily to him. McLaughlin might not get massive minutes this season, but Milton Academy can feel comfortable in their depth with a piece like him off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2832761"],"_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-6aac5d9f7493e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dellasanta was injured for open runs yesterday, but I was really impressed with his development over the summer. The 6-foot-11 forward showcased a strong ability to play on the perimeter as both a driver and passer, and he has a super intriguing skillset for his size if he can continue to build his body. Defensively, his size and length allows him to provide protection at the rim, and a lineup of him and Booth at the front-court positions will be quite daunting for opponents. Dellasanta is going to get some scholarship interest because of his potential, but I actually think he'll be more productive than people realize THIS season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2938905"],"_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-6aac5d9f74984"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stanger wasn't playing at open gym yesterday, but he projects as a kid who's right in the prime of his development and could really help Milton out this season. He has size at 6-foot-3, and he's an extremely streaky shooter from downtown, so he can get hot at a moment's notice and turn the game on it's head. He also has budding athleticism on drives to the rim and could be a lot stronger and more explosive by the end of the year. Stanger should get solid minutes off the bench and will be awesome moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->