NEPSAC Showcase at Avon: Mickey’s 2027 Day 3 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round two of the biggest showcase in New England is up and off to the races! Avon Old Farms in Avon, Connecticut is now the host location and players from around the region are coming to show off their skills in front of all levels of college coaches. The talent has been impressive, so let's look at some 2027 standouts from Day 3 of the NEPSAC Showcase in Avon!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2341434' first='DJ' last='Hawkins'] (St. Thomas More, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hawkins' upside is very high and showed it on the floor in multiple instances. In transition, he runs gracefully like a deer and jumps high like a lemur, getting down the floor and throwing down slams with ease. In the half court, he handled the ball comfortably and got his spots on the court for easy mid-range jumpers. He even used his high hops to make a great block from the weak side. Oozing with potential, Hawkins should get serious attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2411216' first='AJ' last='Reinertson'] (Lawrence, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reinertson continued his impressive play on Day 3 by showcasing his smarts and passing ability. He moved the ball well for his team and everyone benefited as a result. Defensively, he was acting like a pest and making breathtaking turnovers. Additionally, he was getting and fighting for boards which showed his toughness and winning mindset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2470870' first='Caleb' last='Chapman'] (Hamden Hall, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapman's interesting blend of rim-finishing offense and impactful defense made him a standout to me. He was getting to the cup and finishing high off the glass along with taking hard contact. He did this many times and was having a field day with it. He played tough on boards and took on the challenge of difficult defensive assignments by guarding bigger, stronger, and older players. A real mensch-like effort on the hardwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2470947' first='Rowan' last='Santos'] (Kent, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santos has yet to fill out his frame, but even so, plays a resilient brand of basketball. He was a sneaky finisher at the basket, placing the ball with great touch and using angles well to efficiently get to the rim. With the ball, he contained a smooth handle and knocked down shots from deep while utilizing mid-range floaters for easy scoring opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2470872' first='Dylan' last='Coren'] (Concord, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coren's true point guard style set him apart from his contemporaries. He contains a complex dribble package and manipulates the ball well, and those attributes made him so good at making advanced reads and getting to his spots. He hit some turn-around jumpers when creating for himself in the middle of the court and got to the basket for easy layups. Defensively, he picked the pocket of the opposing ball handler for easy points the other way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->