The Lost Files: NEPSAC Showcase Superlatives

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Article after article of <em>NEPSAC Showcase</em> coverage has all led to this - it's time for us to unveil the event's standout performers - the third article in our <em>Lost Files</em> series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we wrap up our <em>NEPSAC Showcase</em> coverage with a look at our event <em>Superlatives </em>- highlighting twelve prospects that stood out for the ways in which they impacted the weekend-long event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further ado, let's dive in:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>MOST OUTSTANDING</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2207287' first='Alonzo' last='Archbold'] -</em></strong> <em>Hotchkiss School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archbold, a 6'9" forward, could have slotted into a few different superlatives, but at the end of the day, he simply had the best weekend of any prospect in the attendance. A hybrid forward, he plays with a ton of versatility on the offensive end of the floor and wants the ball in his hands in crunch time. He initiates offense as a creator, finds his own buckets out of isolations, and can play as a handler or screener in ball screens. His athleticism and quickness make him a tough cover for opposing forwards, while his size and strength make it difficult for guards to defend him. Defensively, he rebounds it at a high level, forces turnovers on and off the ball, and make his presence felt as a rim protector. Just the other day, he put an end to his recruitment with a commitment to <strong><em>Pepperdine</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PRODUCTIVITY</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2568341' first='Ty' last='Newsom'] - </em></strong><em>St. Luke's School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newsom, a 6'4" guard, was dominant over the course of three games, showing off his complete offensive arsenal and high compete level on the defensive end of the floor. An athletic and rugged guard, he's at his best as an on-ball creator, making decisions that lead to easy baskets for himself and teammates. He plays with terrific feel and pace, knows how to manipulate defenders in ball screens, and can score it in so many different ways that he's a tough cover for any one individual defender. He makes shots from all over the floor, is a terrific grab-and-go rebounder from the guard spot, and has the ability to defend guards, wings, and forwards with his physical attributes. He's another prospect that is now off the board, announcing his commitment to <strong><em>William &amp; Mary</em></strong> earlier this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">SCORING PACKAGE</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2234416' first='Kingsley' last='Rogers'] - </em></strong><em>Williston Northampton School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rogers, a 6'5" guard, was the most dynamic scorer that I saw in Worcester. Need someone to create off the bounce late in the clock? Rogers can do that. Looking for someone to space the floor in catch and shoot situations? Rogers can do that. Want someone that can finish over size with touch in the paint? Rogers can do that. There really didn't seem to be any way in which he wasn't able to score at the showcase as he used his physical gifts (good size, plus length, above average athleticism) in combination with his feel for the game and decision making to get basket after basket both in the half-court and in transition. One of just two underclassmen on this list, he's primed to be a breakout performer this winter and should have plenty of interest at the scholarship level going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">COMBO GUARD</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2878905' first='Stetson' last='Merritt'] - </em></strong><em>New Hampton School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merritt, a 6'3" guard, impacts games in so many different ways by utilizing his ability to create with the ball in his hands, his feel for playing at different speeds, and his combination of competitiveness, physicality, and toughness. He made good decisions as a ball-handler in screen actions, was able to keep defenders off balance on his way to paint touches off the bounce, and did a nice job of making tough shots when his team needed a basket. He's hard to guard in transition, makes good decisions as a passer in the open floor, and can shoot the ball with range when he's on the wing. Defensively, he guards both back-court spots, rebounds it in traffic, and does a nice job of forcing turnovers off the ball. Yesterday, he put an end to his recruitment with a commitment to <strong><em>Buffalo</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">LOW-POST THREAT</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Joseph Adebayo - </em></strong><em>Putnam Science Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adebayo, a 6'10" forward, plays with a terrific two-way motor and knows how to use his size and physical nature to his advantage. He's a space eater in the paint that does a nice job of establishing position early, holding space with his strong base, and scoring it with touch around the basket. He's really good as a roller in screening actions, has great hands, and has the athleticism needed to go finishing above defenders at the rim. I was impressed with his ability to run the floor in transition, how he passed out of double teams, and his commitment to owning the glass on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*After the NEPSAC Showcase, Adebayo accepted a scholarship offer to Western Kentucky and reclassed into the Class of 2026!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">MOST IMPROVED</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2553759' first='Donovan' last='Clement'] - </em></strong><em>CATS Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clement, a 6'9" forward, continued his year-long ascension with a terrific weekend at the showcase. While he has a lean frame, he has terrific length and plays with more toughness than he gets credit for. He's incredibly skill, is a fluid mover, and has continued to develop his game as a tough shot-maker. His combination of athleticism and length allows him to finish plays impressively at the rim, while his shooting touch makes him a real threat as a pop guy in ball screens. As he continues to adjust his motor, he has a real ability to make an impact on the glass and defensively as a rim protector. The one time Division III prospect has now firmly established himself as a Division I recruit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">COMPETE LEVEL</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2553690' first='Malik' last='Adamson'] - </em></strong><em>Dexter Southfield School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adamson, a 5'11" guard, plays with contagious energy, fire, and passion. He never takes plays off, finds joy in his teammates success, and puts winning above all else. Whether it's offensively or on the defensive end of the floor, he always seems to be ready for the moment. He's relentless when attacking the rim off the bounce, and once he's in the paint, uses his strength to his advantage playing through contact. He's rounded out his offensive game nicely over the last year and impressed with his speed and decision making in transition. Defensively, he hounds opposing guards, using his lateral quickness to stay in front of them and his strength to knock them off their lines, leading to plenty of 50-50 balls that he rarely doesn't come up with. Shortly after the showcases, he announced his commitment to <strong><em>Siena</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">VERSATILITY</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2716640' first='Ladainian' last='Rodrigues'] - </em></strong><em>Suffield Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rodrigues, a 6'5" guard, was a standout in his first NEPSAC appearance, leaving his mark on the game all over the floor. A bigger guard, he has great size, is physically strong, and plays with good functional athleticism. Defensively, he showed that he can play at the top of a press, hold his ground against forwards in the paint, and take opposing wings out of their comfort zones. On the other end of the floor he was able to initiate offense with the ball in his hands, knock down perimeter jumpers in catch and shoot situations, and move without the ball to finish plays with authority around the rim. Few prospects helped themselves and their recruitment at much as he did in Worcester and it'll be exciting to watch his continued development this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">ATHLETICISM</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2878537' first='Davon' last='Maloney'] - </em></strong><em>Newman School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maloney, a 6'6" wing, has the type of athleticism that leaves onlookers speechless. He had numerous plays at the rim that made everyone in the gym stop and turn, including a couple of thunderous dunks over helpless opponents. He has good positional size, an impressive wingspan, and elite explosion off the floor. All the while, he's an incredibly fluid mover that covers ground quickly and can really get out and run in transition. As a scorer, he's a tough cover when he gets downhill and has the ability to finish plays around the rim that few can. Beyond that, he's a versatile defender, strong helpside shot-blocker, and instinctive offensive rebounder that does a great job of keeping plays alive on that end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">3-POINT SHOOTER</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2407057' first='Declan' last='Griffiths'] - </em></strong><em>St. Thomas More School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffiths, a 6'8" wing, spent the spring and summer establishing himself as not just one of the best shooters in New England, but in the entire country. A solid athlete with plus length, he does a nice job of using his physical gifts to his advantage off the ball. Because he plays with good burst as a driver, opponents have to respect his off the bounce game and all he needs is a little space to get his shot off. A true multi-level scorer, he gets into his shot quickly off the bounce, knows how to use screens to get open, and has in-the-gym-range on his jumper. A high major recruit, he stands out every time he takes the floor and has turned himself into a certified <em>Top 100</em> prospect nationally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">MOTOR</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2809434' first='Rowan' last='Hoffman'] - </em></strong><em>Phillips Exeter Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoffman, a 6'8" forward, made an immediate impact in New England with his compete level and two way motor. More of a hybrid forward than a big, he took on any defensive matchup he needed, often battling opponents with multiple inches and plenty of pounds on him without giving up an inch. He hit the floor for loose balls, gave up his body to take charges, was vocal on the back line of defense, and created extra possessions offensively with his effort on the glass. On top of his effort, he showed off some skill offensively, with the ability to finish plays through contact and to knock down catch and shoot jumpers. His performance led to multiple scholarship offers and eventually, a commitment to <strong><em>Holy Cross</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>POTENTIAL</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2571883' first='Oli' last='Higgins'] - </em></strong><em>Newman School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Higgins, a 6'10" forward, oozes long-term potential with his combination of size, skill, and mobility. He has terrific instincts on the defensive end of the floor, where he's able to function as a rim protector while also making disruptive plays in passing lanes. He has a high basketball IQ which translates to a good feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he's playing more aggressively than ever before and showing the ability to not only score around the rim, but to knock down perimeter jumpers and also to attack closeouts off the bounce. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he breaks into the national rankings within the next twelve months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And with that, and months later, our coverage of the <em>NEPSAC Showcases</em> is complete. A great weekend of basketball in Worcester that led to countless opportunities and impressive exposure for prospects from throughout New England.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->