Vella was relatively dominant in the one game I watched him play so far this season against Gloucester. The 6-foot-6 forward got tons boards on both ends and is a rim deterrent because of his size and length. Offensively, he has a surprisingly good handle for his size and can finish in the paint with both hands comfortably. He has solid passing instincts and can even knock down an outside shot, too. Vella should slot in nicely at the division 3 level and could even be a star if he continues to develop his outside shot and guard/wing skills, which I wouldn’t be surprised to see him do. I wonder if he’ll find a post grad option or will go to college right away.

Vella is a really intriguing prospect who has a nice skillset for his size. The 6-foot-5 forward can pass, dribble and shoot, and he has a lot more verve to his offensive game than the average MIAA big man or even wing. He has shifty hesitation and hang dribble moves and he has some guard-like finishing instincts at the rim. Vella will be part of a very talented Masco team that should make waves this year in MA. Some big performances in the spotlight this season would probably earn him even more D3 basketball looks, some of which he should already be getting.

Vella has an intriguing skillset for a 6-foot-6 forward who looks like he still has physical development to undergo. The rising senior at Masconomet has guard skills and is able to be a post or top-of-the-key hub on offense because of his agility and passing instincts. He also does a good job attacking closeouts and taking bigger forwards off the dribble — I like his finishing bag at the rim and think some added strength would do him wonders. Vella will definitely find a D3 fit when the time comes, but this will be a HUGE year for him.

Vella really impressed me with his combination of size and guard skills. He’s 6-foot-6 but certainly doesn’t move like your typical D3 big man. He has a bunch of moves off the dribble and some really nice slow-step footwork once he gets into the paint. He’s also a solid passer and has a good understanding of how to play as part of an offense. If he can develop an even better outside shot and get some more quickness, he could potentially play at the D2 level. However, right now I’d project him as a really solid D3 player who should have an excellent college career.

He got really close to a double double with points and rebounds, must be an occasional night for him. He has a good jab step that worked multiple times tonight. He is also a force and played absolute bully ball from the wing spot driving. He was fighting for a loose ball and kept possession for his team by throwing it off the leg of the opposing player. Going into next year would love for him to work on his outside game to really stretch the floor. I would see him playing for a D3 team in a couple of years.

One could argue that Vella was Masconomet’s most consistent player in this game, as he was able to score over and over at the rim. He had plenty of touches in the first half, scoring with his back to the basket and off offensive rebounds. As the game sped up in the second and Masconomet struggled with the press, his scoring chances seemed to fade. During the fourth quarter comeback he again made his presence felt by playing solid post defense, attacking the offensive glass, and providing an outlet that could score against the press. At 6’6″, he was the biggest player on the floor and impressed by staying within himself and just being really effective at the things he did well. The frontcourt of Vella and Denton is one that most teams won’t want to see next winter.