Costello was pretty excellent all weekend. There wasn’t a single team who could effectively guard Newman’s off-ball actions, and the 6-foot-10 big man was the center of those difficulties. He does an excellent job setting the defender up for screens—whether they’re elevators, flares, or curls—and he’s virtually impossible to get a contest on when he has any amount of space because of the combination of his quick release and size. Defensively, Costello impressed against Putnam’s powerful front line and Central Florida and Blair Academy’s size and athleticism. His physical tools and shooting ability were pivotal to Newman’s run this week, and he’ll have a good chance to impact right away at Michigan next year.

Costello was excellent on Sunday. His height and length combined with his footwork, shooting stroke, and accuracy, makes him one of the most lethal shooting threats in the entire country. You can’t step off of him because he doesn’t need much room to shoot and barely misses open ones, but hugging up on him allows his teammates to get easy driving angles, so the defense is in a pickle—he’s a phenomenal spacer as a result of his shooting gravity. Costello’s defense on Hoosac’s front line was also quite impressive, and he seems to be getting stronger and tougher as the season goes on.

Costello, a senior forward out of Newman in Massachusetts, has followed up his meteoric rise last summer with a standout final season in the prep rankings. Newman sits at the top of the AAA standings with a 9-1 record in league games, with Costello playing a foundational role in their success. The 6’10” forward has the ability to take over games with his scoring, both in the paint and from the perimeter. He’s spent the winter playing harder and more physically than ever before, has turned himself into a high level rebounder, and finds ways to impact winning even when he isn’t leading his team in scoring. Costello was recently named a McDonald’s All-American and will continue his career next season at the University of Michigan.

Costello’s shooting was on full display this weekend in both the semifinal and championship games. At 6-foot-10, it’s ridiculously impressive how he’s able to come off screens and shoot on the move; most guys his size don’t have the footwork or quick release necessary to fly off screens and still get off high-quality shots with defenders on their hip. He’s also a smart extra passer and does what he needs to do defensively—he did a nice job handling Cushing and New Hampton’s front lines with physicality and strength. Can’t wait to see what Costello does next season at Michigan.

Costello is a highly touted prospect who just made the McDonald’s game roster—but that doesn’t mean he’s invincible. The 6-foot-10 forward is definitely on the skinnier side, so he may have some trouble with stronger and sturdier bigs at the next level. But Sunday’s matchup against Putnam’s incredibly physical and athletic front line gave me some confidence in the Michigan commit’s ability to be tough and strong in the paint when he needs to. He defended the post well and did a solid job on the defensive glass, and his three-point marksmanship forced PSA to guard him beyond the three-point line. Costello is so unique and will have a role ne

Costello is Newman’s most well known player and one of the biggest risers nationally as of the past year. The 6-foot-10 big man is a stretch forward who has a beautiful shot release from downtown; he gets it off quickly, he has great rotation on the ball, and he can even shoot it on the move (rare for someone his size). The Michigan commit has also improved his ability to drive closeouts and take contact at the rim, and I’ve been pretty impressed with the strides he has made in terms of rebounding and defending recently. Costello is a matchup nightmare for opposing bigs and can get flaming hot very quickly, so the defense must have eyes on him at all times.

Costello, a forward out of the Newman School, made the most of a big time matchup with Phelps on Saturday, as all eyes were on his court for the afternoon game. His buckets came in all sorts of ways during this game, showing the offensive versatility that made him a Top 50 prospect this summer. He can get his shot off from the perimeter at any time, does a great job of running the floor in transition, and is able to finish at the rim with touch, power, and athleticism. Defensively, he continues to rebound it at a high level while also providing some off-ball rim protection.

We know about Costello’s shooting ability and open-court athleticism—the 6-foot-10 forward can fly above the rim and also extends his range out past the three point line. But this weekend, he showed some really solid passing ability. He made multiple impressive passes in the short roll and showcased some good vision in small spaces, something pretty rare for a big man his age. His shooting and vertical spacing are going to be the most notable parts of his game at the next level, but his hands and IQ are going to be what eventually allows him to reach his ceiling. I’ll be curious to see whether Costello can continue to grow in these ways this season—he’s certainly in a good place to do so.

Costello is a jumbo wing and Michigan commit who creates instant mismatches with his size and skill set. He can score from all three levels, using his strength to overpower smaller defenders and his touch to finish over length. His versatility allows him to operate as both a playmaker and scorer, adapting to different matchups with ease. Costello’s combination of physical tools and polish makes him one of the most difficult covers on the floor.