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<p>Today, we'll take a look at <em>Small Forward</em> position for the <em>Class of 2027</em>.</p>
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<p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2470973' first='Greyson' last='Pierce']</em></strong> claims the top ranking at the <em>Small Forward</em> spot and checks in at <strong><em>#4</em></strong> overall in the class. A big, athletic wing, Pierce has the ability to take over games on the offensive end of the floor. He can score at all three levels, finishes plays with authority around the rim, and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. Defensively, he can guard up and down a position and has the ability to make a major impact on the glass.</p>
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<p>Here are 10 more prospects of note at the <em>Small Forward</em> spot.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2470860' first='Preston' last='Bollin']</span></strong> <strong><em>#20</em></strong></p>
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<p>Bollin, a wing at the <em>Newman School</em>, is a physical presence on the wing that presents match-up problems for opposing defenders. He's confident making plays with the ball in his hands, showing the ability to get all the way to the rim as a finisher or to get into his mid-range game by playing at different speeds. He's explosive in transition, proving to be hard to slow down as he attacks the rim with a combination of size, skill, and strength. Defensively, he can guard up and down a position and provides a strong presence on the defensive glass, both in space and in traffic.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2566999' first='Curtis' last='Marshall']</span></strong> <strong><em>#41</em></strong></p>
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<p>Marshall, a wing at <em>Saint Bernard's</em>, impresses with his ability to make plays on both ends of the floor. He's a big wing with length and plus athleticism that does a great job of operating as a slasher on the offensive end of the floor. He uses a quick first step to get by defenders and can really score at the rim, showing a propensity to finish through contact. He continues to develop as a playmaker with the ball in his hands and shows the ability to make standstill jump shots in catch and shoot situations. He's incredibly versatile on the defensive end of the floor and is a good shot blocker from the help side.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2470947' first='Rowan' last='Santos']</span></strong> <strong><em>#66</em></strong></p>
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<p>Santos, a wing at the <em>Kent School</em>, makes high level plays as a scorer and an impact on the defensive end of the floor with his basketball IQ. He does a nice job of guarding in space, using his length to his advantage, but also has the ability to guard in the paint and does a nice job of walling up around the rim without fouling. Offensively, he moves well without the basketball and shows the ability to finish around the rim as a cutter. He's a crafty finisher that can score with either hand, gets it done over length, and has the ability to make high level passes when the help defense takes away his scoring opportunities.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2634195' first='Garrett' last='Org']</span></strong> <strong><em>#90</em></strong></p>
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<p>Org, a wing at the <em>Governor's Academy</em>, displays a nice combination of positional size, skill, and potential. At 6'6", he has the ability to make plays on the perimeter and in the paint. He's strong enough to play out of the post and shows the ability to finish through contact around the rim. He moves well without the basketball, particularly as a cutter, and can knock down shots in catch and shoot situations from behind the arc. Defensively, he has the ability to guard up and down a position, is a strong rebounder in the paint, and also has the ability to block shots from the help side.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2470868' first='Jervon' last='Brown']</span></strong> <strong><em>#103</em></strong></p>
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<p>Brown, a wing at <em>East Providence</em>, is a standout on the defensive end of the floor, particularly as a shot blocker. He has terrific length and plus athleticism, both of which he uses to his advantage when deterring shots around the rim. He does a nice job with his timing as a shot blocker on the ball and can really protect the rim when coming from the help side. He does a great job of running the floor in transition, can finish well with either hand at the rim, and does a nice job of making plays as a straight line driver attacking the rim. He continues to improve as a perimeter shooter.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2568442' first='Brandon' last='McCloud Jr.']</span></strong> <strong><em>#105</em></strong></p>
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<p>McCloud Jr., a wing at <em>East Longmeadow</em>, is a big time athlete that can overmatch opponents with his physicality in the paint. He has good positional size, the strength to play through contact on his way to the rim, and budding skill as a big playmaker. He continues to stretch his scoring closer to the perimeter, but continues to be hard to guard when he can get downhill and attack the basket. Defensively, he's a strong rebounder that uses his athleticism to make plays in space, can guard multiple positions with his lateral mobility, and does a nice job of making plays in passing lanes.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2470934' first='Ikenna' last='Okafor']</span></strong> <strong><em>#119</em></strong></p>
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<p>Okafor, a wing at <em>Concord Academy</em>, is a two-way standout that impresses with his ability to make plays on the defensive end of the floor. He has great length on the wing and at 6'4", has the ability to guard multiple positions. With his length and athleticism, he has the ability to make disruptive plays, both as a shot blocker and while creating turnovers on the ball or in passing lanes. Offensively, he's expanded his shooting out to the three point line and continues to show that he's a high level finisher around the rim. He gets to his spots off the bounce and has the ability to rise up in the mid-range and make shots.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2568516' first='Matias' last='Popma']</span></strong> <strong><em>#133</em></strong></p>
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<p>Popma, a wing at <em>Dexter Southfield</em>, has the ability to score the ball in a variety of ways while also making an impact on the defensive end of the floor. He's a good shooter that has the ability to make shots in bunches. He does his work without the basketball, shows his hands as a target and gets his feet set early, and then is quick into his jumper once he catches the ball. He can finish at the rim in space and does a nice job of keeping the offense moving. Defensively, he makes plays in passing lanes and has the ability to guard up and down a position.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2568438' first='Alex' last='Ste. Marie']</span></strong> <strong><em>#157</em></strong></p>
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<p>Ste. Marie, a wing at <em>Manchester Essex</em>, impresses with his feel for the game, big frame, and ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. He does a nice job of making plays from the perimeter, showing the ability to keep defenders off balance by changing speeds and directions. When he gets the ball around the rim, he's able to score turning over either shoulder and does a nice job of uses shot fakes and step throughs as a finisher. He's also a solid shooter from behind the arc, particularly from the corners. He rebounds at a high rate on the defensive end and can guard both on the perimeter and in the post.</p>
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<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='2568459' first='Will' last='Hastings']</span></strong> <strong><em>#170</em></strong></p>
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<p>Hastings, a wing at <em>Nashoba Regional</em>, continues to add elements to his game on the offensive end of the floor. While he stands out defensively with his ability to rebound the basketball in the paint, offensively, he's beginning to make plays with the ball in his hands. He's able to get a piece of the paint off the bounce, can make shots in catch and shoot situations, and is a capable finisher around the rim. He makes plays off the ball in passing lanes, generating a high number of steals that lead to easy scoring opportunities in transition. His versatility allows him to guard multiple positions, both on the perimeter and in the paint.</p>
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<p>Keep an eye out this week as we continue our position by position breakdown for the <em>Class of 2027</em> with a look at the <em>Power Forwards</em>.</p>
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Today, we'll take a look at Small Forward position for the Class of 2027.
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