Team Preview: Woodstock Academy

I went down to Woodstock Academy last week and got a chance to watch their squad's open gym. Woodstock Academy's squad—formerly Putnam Science Academy—will be playing in the OTE league this year as Hellstar OTE. However, they'll still play in the NEBL and will have numerous New-England area games throughout the season.   Below are some guys who I expect to make an impact this season.    Taggart brings so much to this Woodstock squad. The 6-foot-4 CG is probably their best true scorer and can do so in a number of ways. On the perimeter, the senior has an extremely quick release and can make shots off the dribble or off the catch, with lots of range and very little time or space. But in the paint, he has explosive athleticism and can take contact quite effectively at the cup. I wouldn't be surprised to see Taggart lead the scoring charge for Woodstock this season, and that could get some higher level D1 programs interested. He's also excellent on the defensive end with his length and strength.     Dawson is an electric, jitterbug point guard who I can already tell is going to be one of my favorite players in the region. Though he's undersized at 5-foot-11, he has incredible explosiveness off the bounce and the ball on a total string, so he can get to wherever he wants on the court no matter how much pressure he's facing. He's a streaky outside shooter, but he has awesome passing instincts in the lane and is a phenomenal finisher at the rim for his size. Defensively, he's a total hound who opposing guards will have nightmares having to dribble against. D1 guard.     Pannell has insane length and size that make him quite the factor on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the 6-foot-11 senior dunks EVERYTHING and is a lethal lob threat as a result of his physical attributes. Defensively, he has good help-side instincts, really good timing, and the physical attributes to be one of the leading shot-blockers in the OTE this season. Pannell is already committed to La Salle for next season, but he should have a chance to make waves as the back-line anchor for this Woodstock squad.     Delves was nursing an ankle injury on the day that I went to watch Woodstock, but the 6-foot-1 guard projects to be back at some point this season and will add to the insane athleticism in their backcourt. The 6-foot-1 guard is one of the most athletic players in the entire region and has ambidextrous finishing ability that makes him quite difficult to contend with at the rim. Much of Delves' recruitment will probably rest on how well he shoots the ball from the outside in the coming years, but he'll be in a great place to do so with all of the pressure his teammates will put on the basket.     Caughman Jr. was the best shooter at Woodstock Academy's open gym last week, and it wasn't particularly close. The 6-foot-6 SG has a beautiful shot release and is able to make shots off of movement, which is quite impressive given his size and physical profile. Caughman Jr. also projects as someone who could put on some weight and continue to get stronger as a result, which would make him an even more well-rounded offensive player. The junior should be a high-volume shooter for Woodstock this season.     Grudzien is one of the toughest players in the entire region. The 6-foot-1 CG has excellent strength, great lateral quickness, and phenomenal hands, so he's tough to get by and is lethal at the point of attack. He's also able to guard players bigger than him and is a plus rebounder for his size. Offensively, Grudzien does whatever the team needs him to do, whether it's setting up the offense as a PG, cutting off the ball, or attacking the offensive glass. He's going to be tough to keep off the court given all of the little things he does.     Olaniba transfered over from Mount Saint Charles and brings tons of physical tools. The 6-foot-8 wing has incredible athleticism—he jumps out of the gym, runs like a deer, and has excellent conditioning—but he also shows some intriguing flashes of skill and feel. He hit a ton of mid-range shots during last week's open gym and drove some closeouts before finishing comfortably at the rim. Olaniba also might be the team's best offensive rebounder because of his combination of motor and athleticism, and he can guard literally anybody because of his size and physical profile. I think he has high-major potential.     Siaisiai is a special long-term prospect. For a 6-foot-9 forward, the post-grad has ridiculous mobility and skill level. He moves like a guard and is able to handle the ball against pressure very comfortably. He's able to hit threes and pull-up jumpers in the lane, but he's also able to pass the ball if the defense collapses on him. Defensively, his size and length allow him to protect the rim while his quickness and agility allow him to stay with guards on the perimeter. Siaisiai should be an impact player for Woodstock this season and should find a D1 fit after that.

I went down to Woodstock Academy last week and got a chance to watch their squad's open gym. Woodstock Academy's squad—formerly Putnam Science Academy—will be playing in the OTE league this year as Hellstar OTE. However, they'll still play in the NEBL and will have numerous New-England area games throughout the season.