New England School Team Preview: South Kent School (CT)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the spring and summer AAU season coming to a close, sooner rather than later the 2024-25 high school basketball season will be just around the corner as we quickly approach the fall. Schools and coaches will prepare their student-athletes for the fun and competitive season ahead all over the six states in the New England area. In this School Team Preview series, I hope to highlight individual teams in the region and give insights on which players I expect to make an impact in the upcoming season. Let's get started!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Team</em></strong>: South Kent School (CT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach</em></strong>: Craig Carter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023-24 Season Record</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The Big Dogs on Campus</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two players I expect to make a major impact on the Cardinals. Leading the squad will be senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1529070' first='Badara' last='Diakite']. Very perimeter-oriented at this stage, his intriguing ball handling, effective outside jumper, smooth-moving athleticism combined with defensive versatility give him one of the highest upsides in the entire region, and he should be tasked with a huge role. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1106053' first='Rashawn' last='Tibby'] brings stellar pace and a high IQ which should translate well in higher usage opportunities. From attacking closeouts with the ball, hitting catch and shoot threes, and thriving in the mid-range with fadeaways, his calm and cool demeanor brings a stabilizing presence on the floor at all times on offense while guarding tough wings on the other end of the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Additional Difference Makers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six other players should be very important for the Cardinals this upcoming year on a loaded and deep team. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1358460' first='Christopher' last='Birden'] is a long and lanky wing who plays with speed and explosiveness. He possesses a solid handle in transition, above-the-rim leaping ability, a solid catch-and-shoot three ball, and the ability to defend one through five with his length while having more potential upside in store with more on-ball reps. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2325739' first='Adam' last='Chiacchia'] brings scoring instincts at his size but also plays his role to a tee and keeps it simple. As a decisive driver with good touch with good passing feel and the ability to stretch the court, his high floor will help South Kent throughout offensive droughts because of his consistency. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2465120' first='Ezayi' last='Mauristhene'] is a quick twitch athlete who can run the point to perfection. His unpredictable style of play combined with his bursty speed sets up the rest of his game to get rim touches, create his own shot off the bounce, and make great reads to cutting teammates in the half-court. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2341374' first='Jackson' last='Southerland'] is another offensive weapon playing either the one or the two. He gets to his spots well on the hardwood, easily arriving at the basket or hitting jump shots in the mid-range while recognizing double teams to find open players playing on the ball. Senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2546817' first='Deng' last='Mathiang'] is a developmental big whose size and stature stand out immediately. He brings protection in the paint, a lob threat at the cup, and a strong work ethic that should improve fast in a short amount of time around this coaching staff. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1532414' first='Jaryn' last='Aguiar'] brings competitiveness to the defensive end and ball-handling offensive savvy. He is a menace in the passing lanes who contains good timing on his steal attempts while also providing the same high IQ on the offensive end with his passing and shot selection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->