Team Preview: Rivers School

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's NEPSAC preview season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I got a chance to watch The Rivers School both this summer and at open gyms this fall, as well as seeing tons of their individual players during the AAU season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some guys who should make an impact this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2818508"],"_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-6adf63af9607e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Millward wasn't at open gyms this fall because of an injury, but the senior is a stud and getting him back will help them in every single way. The 6-foot-4 wing has a three-level scoring game offensively and the willingness and ability to play the point-forward spot. He also rebounds the ball extremely well and can defend all positions because of his strength and athleticism. For Rivers, Millward will be a high usage player and will excel as a ball handler, but he can also score and impact winning off the ball in other situations. The Middlebury commit has a chance to walk into high-level D3 hoops and play right away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470934"],"_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-6adf63af960f3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Okafor has a versatile skillset and impressive physical tools. The 6-foot-6 guard has extremely long arms and a strong body, but he moves fluidly up and down the court and has very good hands for his size. He can handle in the pick and roll and get to the basket, but it's his passing that's arguably his most translatable and intriguing skill when it comes to his college hopes. Okafor won't necessarily be a high volume three-point shooter this season, but he'll score in the paint and will be a triple-double threat, and I think he'll be able to show his versatility on the defensive end, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3690368"],"_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-6adf63af96147"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Frye is only a freshman, but I'm confident he'll have a nice season for Rivers—he just seems ready for NEPSAC hoops. The 6-foot-2 guard is a phenomenal outside shooter and is able to get his shot off effortlessly from all areas on the floor, off of tons of different off-ball actions, and off the dribble. He won't wow you with quickness, but he has improved his handle every time I've seen him and is taking more shots in the paint. At this month's open gym, I was also impressed with his ability to stay in front of bigger and older players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470874"],"_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-6adf63af961a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Costello is going to be a major leader for this Rivers squad on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he'll use his voice on the back-line to dissuade drives to the rim and alert his teammates to where he is, and his strength and size will allow him to guard tons of different players. Offensively, the 6-foot-4 junior has a well-rounded skillset and is able to score in a number of ways and from a variety of places on the court. Costello should see his recruitment rise this season as a result of having the ball in his hands, and perhaps even some scholarship schools will get involved moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3725444"],"_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-6adf63af961f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jean-philippe is well beyond his years in terms of the athleticism, strength, and toughness needed to compete at the NEPSAC level as an underclassman. The 5-foot-10 guard is undersized, but he slides his feet incredibly well on the defensive end and uses his hands quite effectively to strip balls at the point of attack. The freshman also has a knack for defending bigger players and somehow is able to compete with forwards in the paint. Offensively, Jean-philippe needs to improve his outside shot but is able to get to spots on the floor with his strong handle and can finish at the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2621104"],"_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-6adf63af96240"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Poage is sort of a wild card. The 6-foot-8 forward has incredible size and length, but he's still growing into his body and learning himself. He moves fluidly and can shoot from the outside, but he's very skinny and may get pushed around by some NEPSAC upperclassmen. Regardless, the freshman has an extremely bright future ahead and is getting better every time I watch him, so I'm sure he'll improve over the course of the season and could eventually be a really meaningful piece this year. In the years ahead, I wouldn't be surprised to see Poage absolutely jump off the page.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->