Katznelson was awesome yesterday. The 6-foot-6 point-forward showed off his handle and scoring ability all night, consistently taking opposing forwards off the dribble and getting to the front of the rim for dunks and finishes. But he also understands how to pass the ball and got his teammates open shots on a number of occasions. The true sophomore continues to get more athletic and more fluid in his movement patterns, but the jury is out on whether he can consistently hit his outside shot. Katznelson is going to be an excellent player in the MIAA this season (he made my top 50 list last month), and lots of local prep schools will be all over him if I had to guess.

Katznelson continues to improve and looked really good this weekend when I caught a bit of him. The 6-foot-5 forward is only a freshman (and he hasn’t reclassed yet), but he has significantly better feel and skill level compared to the average player his size and age. He can handle it on the perimeter, he can make shots from three, and he can finish in the paint with both finesse and strength. Arguably the most impressive part of Katznelson’s game is his ability to play as a perimeter hub and make plays for his teammates who are cutting to the hoop. He’ll probably become a 2030 at some point and will be an even more intriguing prospect once he does.

Katznelson, a forward out of Sharon High School in Massachusetts, makes his first appearance in the rankings at #21 overall. Katznelson has wasted no time making an impact at the varsity level, impressing from the first time he took the floor for Sharon. The 6’5″ forward is a fluid mover that shows the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands on the perimeter, while also using his size to his advantage when finishing in the paint. He shows advanced footwork as a low post scorer, has good instincts as a passer, and generally impresses with his versatility on the offensive end of the floor. He’s got a good motor as a rebounder and should continue to progress on the defensive end of the floor as he gets stronger and grows into his body. He’s a name to watch in the MIAA in the immediate and long-term future.