Zero Gravity Fall Tip-off: 2026 standouts

On Saturday, September 13th, I attended the Zero Gravity Fall Tip-off at Starland Sportsplex in Hanover, MA. I watched every team in the top varsity division and also caught some of the top 9th and 10th grade teams.   To begin my coverage, here are some 2026 players who stood out.    Smith was the best athlete on the floor, and it wasn't particularly close. He has great end-to-end speed and can really handle the ball well in small spaces, and he also elevates super athletically at the hoop and can finish in a variety of ways. Most impressive is Smith's propensity for getting into the lane and spraying out to teammates. Players are generally taught not to leave their feet to pass, but the Melrose senior does a great job finding players in the air. I could see him finding a D3 fit somewhere, especially if he improves his outside shot a bit.     Fernandez is a hyper-athletic combo guard with some really impressive hops at the rim. The 6-foot guard doesn't have crazy size or long arms, but he elevates with the best of them off of two feet. He can finish above the rim and takes contact pretty well in the air. He's also able to knock down shots from three, both off the dribble and in standstill situations. He'll need to improve his handle and passing feel if he wants to play at the college level, but he should have enough on ball reps at East Cranston High School to do so – not to mention the fact that he's probably a solid prep school post-grad candidate after this season (if he plays well).     Delario is a total workhorse and little things guy. He's only about 6-foot-2, but he has ridiculously long arms and a desire to get every single loose ball and rebound out on the floor. He does an awesome job following up rebounds and trying to get jump balls, and his second jump allows him to contest everything on the defensive end. The offensive skills are in their infancy, but the senior does a lot of things that'll help his squad at East Cranston HS this coming season. In order to get D3 college looks, he'll have to improve his handle and shooting ability. I bet he's good at another sport, though. Heck of an athlete.     Fratto won't wow you with athleticism or quickness, but he's a really excellent passer who has great vision. Against the 2-3 zone, he used tons of pass fakes and no looks to get the ball into the middle. Against man-to-man, he did a solid job puncturing the paint and then was able to consistently kick out to shooters and find dunker-spot hangers. He just always makes the right play and sees the whole floor. His lack of size and athleticism will hinder his recruitment, but he should have a nice senior season at the helm of Nashoba High School's offense.     McNeil is a total bulldozer on the basketball court. The 6-foot-2 wing is very strong-bodied and totally moves opposing wings and guards out of the way on drives to the hoop. He also finishes solidly at the hoop and rebounds the ball quite well for his size. He'll need to improve his three point shot if he wants to play D3 college hoops, but he has a decent looking release and should be able to get tons of on-ball reps at Framingham this season.

On Saturday, September 13th, I attended the Zero Gravity Fall Tip-off at Starland Sportsplex in Hanover, MA. I watched every team in the top varsity division and also caught some of the top 9th and 10th grade teams.