NSSA had a rough opening weekend, but Ste. Marie was a bright spot for them. The 6-foot-5 forward showcased the ability to comfortably handle defensive pressure far better than most bigs his size are able to; he makes smart, under-control decisions and does a great job using pass fakes against aggressive double teams. He’s also a deadeye shooter from three and can use his size and strength to bully smaller players in the post when he gets the chance. Most impressive is Ste. Marie’s willingness to consistently make the right play, even if it doesn’t show up in the stats. He’s an awesome get for Governor’s Academy next season and should be one of their key pieces moving forward.

#195 –> #174 (+21)

Ste. Marie has steadily improved his game over the last year or so. When I first saw him, he was hellbent on using his size to punish defenders in the paint and using his vision to find shooters and cutters once the defense came; he still does this, but has leveled up a bit athletically and is getting even smarter. What’s more impressive, though, are the advancements he has made to his off-the-dribble game and outside shooting, two skills that make him a much more difficult cover. Ste. Marie projects as an awesome D3 player, but you never know what could happen if he continues to develop physically and athletically. 

Ste. Marie, a junior forward out of Manchester Essex Regional High School, has a chance to be one of the breakout performers in the MIAA this winter. The 6’5″ forward plays with a great motor on the defensive end of the floor and combines that with a high basketball IQ to be an effective post defender and high level rebounder. Offensively, he’s an instinctive cutter, a willing ball-mover, and does a nice job of finishing with touch around the rim. His ability to do the little things helps his team win a lot of games.

Ste. Marie wasn’t a massive part of Manchester Essex’s offensive attack last season, but I would be shocked if he isn’t this year. He’s simply too effective no matter where he is on the floor; he can post up and find cutters and shooters on the weak side, he can play on the perimeter and use pump fakes and slow steps to get to his spots in the paint, and he can do everything in between. He’s just a skilled player who’s well beyond his years when it comes to decision making. Ste. Marie will be a key player for a very talented Manchester Essex team.

Ste. Marie is a really solid forward who can play the game in a variety of ways. If you want to dump the ball into him on the block and let him go to work, he can use his footwork and finishing ability with both hands to score the basketball. If you want to play a 5-out offense, the 6-foot-5 junior can space the floor with his shooting stroke but can also make plays in the paint for himself and others. He makes great reads passing the basketball and is incredibly cerebral. Ste. Marie should be one of Manchester Essex’s best players this season, and D3 schools will be interested soon enough.

Marie is a really fun-to-watch, cerebral, undersized big who can be a hub offensively and also score a bit on his own. He has nice footwork and touch in the lane but can also spray out to shooters effectively and shoot the three ball when the defense plays off of him. He’s just a really good decision maker and ball mover/connector who any teammate would love to play with. Marie is only a rising junior, so we’ll see if he continues to grow and/or get quicker on the perimeter. Even if he doesn’t, I bet he’ll be able to find a D3 fit somewhere when the time comes.