ZG Rumble for the Ring Varsity Division Standouts: Part 2

I attended the Zero Gravity Rumble for the Ring this weekend and watched the American division teams compete at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, MA on Saturday.   As always, it's impossible to get eyes on every team and every kid, but here are SOME of the players that stood out. Part 2 below.   Here is <a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/10/zg-rumble-for-the-ring-varsity-division-standouts-part-1/">part 1</a> if you missed it!   Parts 3 and 4 will be coming out tonight and tomorrow, so stay tuned!    Payne is a very high IQ player who will make the right play again and again, especially when he's running the point guard spot in transition. He consistently makes the kick ahead pass and is supremely unselfish when it comes to getting his teammates involved, but he's also not afraid to drive the lane himself and elevate with contact – he's an excellent finisher with both hands. Payne has a bright future ahead as a 2-way combo guard who can handle the ball and also serve multiple roles offensively. The shot is still coming along, but he has time. He should be a scholarship player eventually.     Marzelli is severely undersized, but he makes up for it with skill, IQ and feel. He was able to effortlessly handle ball pressure all day, consistently dribbling or passing through the defense to get the ball into the front court. Once he got there, Marzelli was able to find his teammates for layups and kickouts. College basketball will be tough at his size, but I would be surprised if Marzelli can't find a low D3 fit somewhere, which is super impressive for his size and athleticism.     Padden really impressed with his vision and high IQ play offensively. He handled pressure well – whether it was against a man-to-man or zone press –  and he showcased some excellent vision once he got into the open floor in transition and into the paint. One-handed no-look passes, post feeds, pocket passes in the pick-and-roll… you name it, he can make the pass. He can also knock down the open three ball. Some added muscle would do Padden wonders and definitely help his chances of earning a D3 spot somewhere. We'll see if he can do so in the next couple years.     Pimentel was the main offensive cog for Worcester Nightmare all day and impressed with his shiftiness on the ball and his ability to create shots for himself and teammates. Defensively, he's got incredibly active hands and slides his feet very well, but his size certainly limits his ability to guard bigger combo guards and wings. I would imagine Pimentel slotting into the D3 level pretty nicely, but look for him to continue to improve once he gains a better understanding of when to be aggressive for himself and when to dish it.     He is a super solid point guard who can effectively control the tempo of the game and get his teammates into the right place at the right time. He also knows when to pick his spots and attack the teeth of the defense, oftentimes figuring out crafty ways to finish around the rim. He's so controlled in the paint and really likes to get to two-feet, which helps the 5-foot-11 guard play against bigger defenders. He can also knock down the occasional three-ball. Size will hurt his high D3 chances, but he can certainly find a fit somewhere.

I attended the Zero Gravity Rumble for the Ring this weekend and watched the American division teams compete at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton, MA on Saturday.