New England Basketball League: 2/1 Third-Team

On Saturday, February 1st, I attended the New England Basketball League at CATS Academy in Braintree, MA. Over the next couple days, I'll be naming my First, Second, and Third Teams from Saturday's session, as well as some honorable mentions.   To be clear, this was perhaps the best collection of high school talent that I've seen in a high school gym at once, and a multitude of other players could've been written about as well.   The teams competing on Saturday were: CATS Academy, Newman Prep, New Hampton School, South Kent, Brewster Academy (B), Putnam Science Academy, Brimmer & May, Cushing Academy.   Here is my <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-first-team/">NEBL 2/1 First-Team</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/new-england-basketball-league-2-1-second-team/">NEBL 2/1 Second-Team</a>   Below is my NEBL 2/1 Third-Team.    Harper is LIGHTNING quick with the ball in his hands and threw down a lefty dunk that seemingly shook the entire gym. The Rhode Island commit can handle the ball well and run the show for his squad, but he's most impressive on the defensive end. He fights through screens like they aren't even there – some of the best screen navigation I've seen – and he seems like he knows where the offensive player is going at all times, constantly beating them to the spot and using his active hands to make things tough. He's the type of guy you love to play with but hate to play against.     Williams-Crawford makes it very hard to take him off the court. At 6-foot-7 with great length, he spends the entire game glued to the opposing team's best scorer, constantly hounding them for 94 feet. On the offensive end, he can do a little bit of everything and especially excels when he gets a head of steam in transition. If NBA scouts were to draw up what a modern basketball athlete would look like, Williams-Crawford would be pretty close. Height, length, and ridiculous jumping ability. Safe to say the sky's the limit for him.     Yadd is a very skilled, 6-foot-10 big man who is a super intriguing long-term prospect as a result of his ability to step out and hit the open three. He dribbles well for his size, and he has a wonderful-looking shot release that forces the opposing center out of the paint. He also has solid footwork on the block and can finish well with both hands. Some added quickness and agility would serve him well at the next level, but his size and skillset alone will earn him high-major offers.     Edema has some ridiculous physical tools for only a sophomore in high school. Standing at 7-feet with long arms and a built upper body, he's an absolute menace on the offensive and defensive glass and a great rim protector in the paint. He's still learning how to effectively use his physical ability, but he has solid footwork for his age/size and is well on his way to being one of the best 2027 prospects in the country. He even stepped out and hit a three during Cushing's game against Brimmer & May, showcasing what his skillset could look like in a couple of years. High-major D1 scouts will be drooling over Edema.     Jones was one of the best perimeter defenders I saw on Saturday. He slides his feet incredibly well and has very active hands once he beats the offensive player to his spot. He's also very well-conditioned and doesn't take any possessions off. Offensively, Jones has some creation chops, the ability to drive closeouts effectively, and is a big time shooter from the outside – everything you could want from a role-player wing. The Penn commit will be a wonderful piece next season; I think he's pretty ready to play college hoops right now.

On Saturday, February 1st, I attended the New England Basketball League at CATS Academy in Braintree, MA. Over the next couple days, I'll be naming my First, Second, and Third Teams from Saturday's session, as well as some honorable mentions.