Wilbraham & Monson Might Have Most Talent Yet

WILBRAHAM, Mass. – The small town of Wilbraham is most famous for a company headquartered there. Drive west on the Mass. Turnpike, and as you enter the town you’re immediately greeted on the eastbound side by a note that it is home to Friendly’s Ice Cream. But these days, that’s not all that’s going on there.

It hasn’t taken Chris Sparks long to build up Wilbraham & Monson Academy. In short order, the former Penn assistant coach has made the program a good destination, and this season he’ll have his most talented team yet.

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Suffield Academy Wants to Run

SUFFIELD, Conn. – Pushing the tempo promises to be the name of the game for Suffield Academy this year. Jeff Depelteau’s squad doesn’t have a lot of size, so the game plan will be to run as often as possible, and that was evident during some of Monday’s open gym.

The player who should lead the way is Andre King (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Springfield (MA)). A well-built guard with a mature body, he looks to be a solid fit for such an offense as on a few occasions he grabbed a rebound and headed straight up the court to try to get a fast break going. He’s not the quickest guard and his long range jump shot wasn’t going, but he used his strength and a good hesitation move to get in the lane. While hitting runners and occasionally finishing drives, he showed excellent body control and the ability to finish with the left hand.

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Young Talent Comes to BU For New England Elite 75 Frosh/Soph Event

BOSTON – The New England Elite 75 Freshman/Sophomore Showcase, now in its third year, has a name that seems a bit of a misnomer if you looked in the gym at Boston University. Each session had more than 75 players competing, all among the youngest players in the high school ranks right now with a stray eighth grader mixed in.

An event like this that includes a large number of relatively unproven players always has some element of luck to it, and this one is no different. The talent was certainly there, and how it develops will be worth watching over the next couple of years.

With that, here’s a look at some players who stood out on Saturday.

Dekeeba Battee (6’8″ So. PF, Cairns (Australia) Northfield Mount Hermon) Athletic forward was probably the most physically impressive player at the event, as he has a good body to go with his athleticism. He was active and showed some ability away from the basket, including a shot from deep.

Kahari Beaufort (6’2″ Fr. PG, East Hartford (CT) High) One of the better point guards we saw here, he has good size for the position and showed solid fundamentals for it as well. He passed well on the go, making a nice alley-oop pass on one break, used a good ball fake to finish another, and knocked down a shot from long range as well.

Jahvaney Beckford (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Woodstock (CT) Hyde School) Well-built guard is not the most athletically gifted but can be tough to stop because of his body. He leaked out a few times and looked a little more like a shooting guard than a point guard, although his size likely dictates him playing the latter position if he is to ultimately play Division I at the next level.

Patrick Benzan (5’10″ Fr. PG, Wellesley (MA) Roxbury Latin School) A floor leader who has won his share of games and is the son of a coach, he acquitted himself well as he is finally healthy. He went by his man for a layup and was content running a team, and showed that when he attacks by going north-south he can make things happen.

Henry Bolton (6’0″ So. PG, Portsmouth (RI) High) Point guard has a good body and a maturity about himself you don’t always see. Some of that comes from being in a military family, as he’s moved around a bit in his life. Here, he showed a good touch shooting the ball and made a couple of nice passes as well, getting his shots in the flow of the offense.

Justin Bristol (6’6″ So. PF, Wakefield (RI) Prout School) Although undersized for the power forward spot, he caught our eye from being aggressive and making plays. He has a good body and made a couple of baskets from different spots at the offensive end, and if he grows more could project to play inside at a higher level.

Rene Castro (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Milton (MA) Beaver Country Day School) One thing is certain: he wants the ball in his hands when the clock is running down. He ended one quarter with a long jumper as time expired on a play he created, and he created all day for himself and teammates. Not only did he score more going right to the basket where the big men were, but he also drove and dished successfully a few times, suggesting he’s moving towards being more of a combo guard.

Andrew Chrabascz (6’6″ So. SF-PF, Portsmouth (RI) Cushing Academy) A very fundamentally solid player, he had a nice showing with a little more ability from the perimeter. He scored a nice basket with a spin move and short baseline jumper, and generally showed better ball skills while continuing to play very well within the team concept to contribute in several ways.

Jake Fay (6’5″ So. SG, Lynn (MA) Brimmer & May School) Right away, a look at him will make you figure he has grown recently, as he looked noticeably taller. While he’s a capable shooter, he didn’t have his best day doing that here, and he also needs to be more ball-tough as he lost the ball often. Chalk up the shooting to an off day, while being more ball-tough is something that he must improve.

Mabor Gabriel (6’7″ So. PF, Manchester (NH) Trinity School) Intriguing prospect is long and doesn’t lack ball skills, although they certainly need a good deal of polish as he carried the ball a couple of times. He’s not the most fluid athlete and is generally raw at the offensive end, but his length and motor give him a chance if he improves the skill package.

Levy Gillespie (6’0″ Fr. PG, Hartford (CT) Capitol Prep Magnet School) One of the best point guards here, many in the gym raved about him and rightly so. He has a good frame and was perhaps the best passer we saw here, as he passed well on the move and found guys who moved without the ball while getting in the lane often. He also disrupted the fast break at the defensive end, for good measure.

Dennis Greene (6’4″ So. SG, Raleigh (NC) Winchendon School) One of the better wings we saw, he has a good body that can get better and showed a good skill package that suggests he should be a key at Winchendon this year. He showed a good touch from mid-range, including off the dribble, and did well going to the basket and handling the ball, finishing with the left hand on one drive.

Braxton Gulley Mabry (6’4″ So. PF, Arlington (MA) High) Undersized power forward has a big body and is active, but didn’t have as good a showing as he did last year at this event. He’s not the most fluid athlete, although he isn’t carrying all bad weight, and at times he wound up reaching in when his man got by him. The name of the game for him is to improve the conditioning first.

Kaleb Joseph (6’2″ So. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS) You can really see this young point guard progressing, as he’s made a clear improvement. A very coachable kid, he was still the very unselfish point guard he usually is, preferring to pass to teammates when he gets in the lane, but he looks more comfortable taking and knocking down mid-range pull-ups when he gets by his man or when a defender backs off him. Continuing to improve that will only make him more dangerous, especially as his body matures and he goes to the basket more.

Asur Madison (5’11″ So. PG, Los Angeles (CA) Worcester Academy) The baby-faced point guard had a nice showing here, driving to the basket and also showing a little touch shooting the ball out to long range. The play that stands out the most came when he was the only player back on a 3-on-1, where he made a nice read to break the play up.

Duby Maduegbunam (6’3″ So. SG, Newton (MA) Trinity Catholic) Not as well-known as his brother, he had a good showing here as he showed off some athleticism. His body has a little ways to go, but he had a bit of a breakout performance here as he finished with authority a couple of times and also knocked down a three-pointer along the way.

Michael McDevitt (6’5″ Fr. PF, Cumberland Center (ME) Greely HS) Post player has a good body for his age and showed some fundamentals at the offensive end. Unfortunately, he didn’t get many touches with a chance to score, so he didn’t stand out from the standpoint of getting a lot of baskets.

Timmance McKinney (6’3″ So. PG-SG, Milton (MA) High) Scoring is his game, and it’s clear he’s very good at it as he was going by his man to score whenever he wanted to. While there wasn’t much defense played here, his ability to drive and score is still noteworthy, and while he also made a nice pass on the break, he’s wired more to score than distribute.

Brian Mukasa (5’9″ Fr. PG, Sharon (MA) High) Lefty point guard isn’t as quick as some of the point guards he went up against, so he wasn’t able to attack often. Still, he competed and showed some of his leadership capabilities, and his body has a good ways to go physically.

Markus Neale (6’1″ Fr. PG-SG, West Roxbury (MA) High) It was a good day for this young guard as he showed off his good scoring ability and got after it the entire time. He’s such a natural scorer that you’d never guess he’s played his share of point guard, as he scored on drives and from mid-range and generally showed good basketball instincts.

Ikemefuna Ngwudo (6’5″ So. SF, Milton (MA) Academy) This talented wing has a body that’s developing and still has a ways to go, and he showed well in some of the drills. In games, he had some good moments that included a nice drive to the basket, and while he didn’t shine there’s a nice intangible about him: he wastes no time admitting he needs to get better. As such, there’s no reason to believe he won’t.

Omar Orriols (6’2″ So. SG, Charlestown (MA) High) Lanky guard showed some offensive ability playing in both sessions, although he didn’t dominate the freshmen. He looked a little shot-happy, although he was making them out to three-point range, and he’s a plus athlete. On the down side, he is very right-handed, as he had a couple chances to finish with the left hand but made the play more difficult by using the right hand.

John Powell (6’7″ PF, Ashland (MA) Brimmer & May School) Lefty post player has been trying to get stronger, and that should enhance his moves on the low post, which already look good. The biggest issue he has continues to be finishing, as he made nice moves constantly but missed his share of close shots that weren’t even contested. Making that more puzzling is that he finished with the right (off) hand successfully a couple of times.

Colin Richey (6’1″ So. PG-SG, Whitinsville (MA) Christian School) Though he’s not the quickest guard, he showed again that he has a knack for finding gaps in the defense and getting to the basket. Sometimes he also uses a hesitation to get by his man as well, and while he didn’t always finish with a man near him, that will improve with added strength as his body still has a ways to go.

Thomas Rivard (6’5″ So. SF, Worcester (MA) Academy) Very much a baby physically, as he’s quite baby-faced in addition to his body, he knocked down a couple of three-point shots, and given his size that could be a big asset down the road if more of his game develops.

Kamari Robinson (6’4″ So. SF, Springfield (MA) Central HS) After playing power forward most of the time with his travel team, he got to play on the wing here and looked good, giving an idea of what he can do since he doesn’t project as a post player. His body is getting better and the ball skills also look better, and his athleticism has already been a known quantity.

Mike Rodriguez (5’8″ Fr. PG, West Roxbury (MA) High) Small point guard played the role of pass-first floor leader very well, as he was constantly finding guys and especially when driving. He also knocked down a shot from deep, which will keep defenses honest if he can do that more, but he shined by creating for others and that’s what he’ll need to do given his size.

Damien Smith (6’1″ Fr. SG-SF, West Roxbury (MA) High) He doesn’t have a defined game, and plays more like a small forward than anything, but he was effective here. He’ll need to improve his perimeter skill set if he doesn’t grow, but right now he’s effective as a garbage man cashing in loose balls and rebounds.

Leon Tambue (5’10″ Fr. PG, Newton (MA) Fessenden School) Talented young guard showed some quickness, one time driving right by his man to score. If he can shoot like a three-pointer he later made right behind a screen suggests, he’ll be able to keep defenders honest.

Idris Taqqee (6’1″ Fr. PG-SG, Boston (MA) Cushing Academy) Athletic guard showed a nice fundamental understanding of the game, as he was constantly in motion without the ball and set good screens. He also showed a nice touch on mid-range jump shots, including off the dribble, and scored going to the basket.

Noah Vonleh (6’7″ So. SF, Haverhill (MA) High) Well-built forward was one of the most impressive prospects here, as he’s grown physically and as a player. His body is still maturing, and when you add that to his athleticism and motor you have a prospect to keep an eye on. Although he got a little too fancy at the times with his dribble in going for show instead of effect, when he drove to the basket he was tough to stop.

Tayon Watson (5’6″ So. PG, Boston (MA) Match Charter School) Quick point guard was constantly on the attack to try to make things happen. But he wasn’t just effective in the halfcourt, as he also beat everyone up the floor for a layup one time.

Other players who caught our attention in limited viewing:

Matthew Gerak (6’3″ So. SG, Monroe (CT) Masuk HS)

Zachary Gilpin (6’3″ Fr. SG, Hampden (ME) Academy)

Frank Monteiro (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Canton (MA) High)

Freddie Oliveria (6’4″ Fr. SF, West Roxbury (MA) High)

Daylon Ore (5’10″ So. PG, Hartford (CT) Public HS)

Connor Reardon (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Salem (MA) High)

Shawn Strickland (5’9″ So. PG, Middletown (CT) High)

Mo Taylor (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin School)

Jared Terrell (6’2″ So. SG, Weymouth (MA) High)

Shaine Watkins (5’8″ So. PG, Hartford (CT) Weaver HS)

New Hampton Has Plenty of Guards

NEW HAMPTON, N.H. – Not unlike Jere Quinn’s team at St. Thomas More, New Hampton has a lot of guards and thus a lot of possible combinations. Pete Hutchins, an alum of the school, has a team with only three players 6’7″ or taller and only two who resemble post players, so the name of the game will be getting production going small or getting big minutes from the three tallest players.

The more highly-regarded big man is newcomer Zach Auguste (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Marlborough (MA)), who is repeating his junior year. Auguste missed much of July with a broken wrist, but is fully healthy and was active on the day. He’s long, athletic and starting to fill out physically. He was aggressive, starting right away by splitting defenders and dunking to finish a break. While he ran the floor well and finished often with authority, he didn’t do much at the defensive end and that’s been an area for improvement.

He’ll be joined there by Will Davis (6’9″ Sr. PF, Sacramento (CA)), who has a similar body. Early on, Davis was coming up short with jump hooks in the drills, but once game action started he played well at both ends. He got offensive boards and turned them into stickbacks, and was much better with his post scoring.

Nick Paulos (6’7″ Sr. SF, Holladay (UT)) is the next tallest player and one who could be an X-factor. A very good shooter, he’s not a bad athlete and often beat others up the floor. He shot well off the catch, but did more than that and could play a couple of positions as he handles and passes well for someone playing off the ball.

The perimeter unit has plenty of possibilities, led by UMass-bound Jordan Laguerre (6’2″ Sr. SG, Manchester (NH)), who sat out Thursday’s workout with a mild groin injury. A good month of July was just more of what the athletic left-hander has already shown in his career, and as he returns for his second season at the school he figures to grab one of the perimeter starting spots.

Another perimeter player returning for his second season at the school is Carter Trent (5’10″ Sr. PG, Little Rock (AR)), a heady floor leader. He may not start, but he had a decent showing with a couple of nice passes and a deep jumper and figures to get some good minutes.

Travis Souza (6’5″ Sr. SG, Turlock (CA)) and James Dunivan (6’3″ Sr. SG, Richmond (VA)) offer different looks on the wing. Souza has a mature body and showed a touch from long range, while Dunivan’s range appears to top out at the old college three-point line. Dunivan is also a plus athlete with some decent ball skills and a good body that can still get better, so he might get some looks from the lowest levels of Division I.

Joey Ptasinski (6’3″ Sr. SG, Aurora (CO)), who knocked down some three-point shots and has a little more size than some others, should get minutes off the ball. A couple of under-sized shooting guards, Aaron Hendricks (6’1″ Jr. SG, Del Oro (CA)) and Stefano Mancini (6’0″ Sr. SG, Falmouth (ME)), will also be in the mix. Hendricks knocked down a couple of deep three-pointers off the catch and later drove through the defense for a layup, while Mancini had a nice day all around as he drove for scores including while fouled, hit jump shots from deep and passed well when leading the break.

Another who will figure into the point guard picture is Olivier Hanlan (6’2″ Sr. SG, Gastineau (Que.)), while Mancini could see some time at the point just based on his size and Seth Liebert (6’1″ Jr. PG-SG, Danville (CA)) will be in the mix as well. They would join Trent to give them some depth at the position.

New Hampton has plenty of options in the backcourt, allowing them to go smaller if they desire. If their frontcourt players improve, the lack of depth won’t be a major issue and the Huskies could win some games they probably shouldn’t from a talent standpoint.

St. Andrew’s Has Class Balance, More Size

BARRINGTON, R.I. – St. Andrew’s will have a different look this year. They will be younger, but will have more size, although one constant is that the players come almost exclusively from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. At first glance, it appears that they have a good balance between the two ends of the age spectrum.

The unquestioned leader will be Syracuse-bound Michael Carter-Williams (6’5″ Sr. SG, Hamilton (MA)). Now in his third year at the school, the lanky wing barely missed a jumper in Monday’s open gym workout but didn’t stop there. He also drove aggressively and finished well, including with the left (off) hand, and generally looked like a man among boys. As his high school career draws to a close, he now looks like he has a very complete offensive game.

Three other seniors join him, with Myles Brilhante (5’8″ Sr. PG, Fall River (MA)) being another holdover. A solid point guard who takes good care of the ball, he’s improved noticeably and that was apparent as he now looks like a better shooting threat. Besides making a couple of good passes on the go, he knocked down a shot from deep and another from about the foul line off the dribble.

The senior who could be headed for a breakout year is Aboubacar Casse (6’5″ Sr. SF, Thies (Senegal)). His body hasn’t matured yet, and he has the frame to carry more good weight to go with being a plus athlete. He shot the ball well from long range and made a nice shot off the catch from mid-range, and that’s a good start as he doesn’t yet have a good feel for the game.

The other senior is Anderson Santana (6’4″ Sr. SG, Boston (MA)), who had a decent showing before a minor injury ended his day a little early. His upper body is more developed than his lower body and he knocked down a couple of jump shots, and will give them one more perimeter threat.

A pair of juniors will give the team good size, starting with one who is repeating this year in Cedric Kuakumensah (6’7″ Jr. PF, Worcester (MA)). It hasn’t taken long for him to benefit from being at the school, as his body is in better shape and he had a very good showing on Monday. He scored some post baskets, including a nice move to his left, passed well out of the post and ran the floor well. No one rebounded better than he did, and he looks ready to anchor the frontcourt.

The other post player is Kalusha Ndoumbe-Ngollo (6’7″ Jr. PF, Paris (France)), who did not work out with the team on Monday. Head coach Mike Hart thinks Kuakumensah and Ndoumbe-Ngollo can play well off each other up front, with the latter being a more natural post player.

Another junior, Tom Garrick (6’3″ Jr. SG, Seekonk (MA)) helps round out the backcourt. The son of the former Rhode Island star, he hit several three-pointers on the day and also got some offensive boards. He still has some physical upside as well. Josh DiPietro (5’9″ So. PG, Narragansett (RI)) could be in the mix as well, but is currently out for a while due to an ACL tear in his left knee.

Two freshmen who should get some minutes have noteworthy relatives. Edson Dascy (6’4″ Fr. SF, Fall River (MA)) is the younger brother of Youri, who just finished up at the school in the spring. Unlike his older brother, he’s been playing the game for a long time and has a little different game as a wing. He had his moments on Monday, hitting a few three-pointers along the way. Bonzie Colson (6’4″ Fr. PF, New Bedford (MA)) is the son of the former Boston College assistant and projects to play in the frontcourt just like his father did. He goes up against Kuakumensah every day, and while he’s not mature physically he is carrying some bad weight that he’ll have to shed along the way. Having played in the BABC program, he’s already made his way onto the radar.

Hart likes the team he has and knows a bigger challenge is ahead in the new-look NEPSAC. The Saints won’t be as talented this year, but they should be competitive and a better team come February than in November.

St. Mark’s Has Improved on the Perimeter

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. – As is usually the case, St. Mark’s has plenty of size on its squad this year. Also not out of the norm is a large crowd of college coaches at an open gym since they typically hold just one or two. But the real development this year comes away from the basket, as the Lions appear to have the best perimeter unit they have had in Dave Lubick’s tenure at the school.

Plenty of the coaches in the gym on Sunday were on hand to see juniors Alex Murphy (6’9″ Jr. SF, Wakefield (RI)) and Kaleb Tarczewski (7’0″ Jr. C, Claremont (NH)), both of whom come off excellent off-seasons. Murphy wasn’t himself as his jump shot wasn’t falling on Sunday, but he’s shown he can knock down those shots plenty of times before and got a few baskets from driving. Tarczewski battled inside, getting a lot of offensive boards, and drew his fair share of fouls as well.

The new addition to the frontcourt is Jarred Reuter (6’8″ Fr. PF, Rochester (MA)), who is also playing football. At first glance, it’s possible Reuter could be like Tarczewski was last year, not getting many minutes while transitioning to the next level, but he’ll be too talented and give too much of a different look to not play good minutes. While it’s clear the well-built forward needs to improve his conditioning, as he looked a little winded, he held his own for much of the day against the older competition and is capable of facing the basket on offense as he’s a good passer.

The perimeter improvement starts with Nikolas Stauskas (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Ontario), who spent last season at South Kent. Stauskas might have played the best basketball of anyone at Sunday’s workout, as he showed solid ball skills, passed well on the move and drew fouls when going to the basket. He’s a capable shooter, but that wasn’t even what he did best on the day. Every time you looked up, he was in the middle of a play.

Returning for his second season, classmate Eric Greene (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Mountain House (CA)) is a plus athlete who continues to improve, knocking down several three-point shots on the day. He handled the ball at times and used his left hand on a nice finish one time. Also getting time on the wing will be Eli Lubick (6’3″ Jr. SG-SF, Southborough (MA)), who recently committed to Colgate, and Peter Kazikias (6’3″ Jr. SG, Amagansett (NY)). The son of the coach, Lubick has a more mature body and is a good role player.

Where the excitement comes in is with newcomer Kevin Zabo (6’2″ Fr. PG, Ottawa (Ont.)). The staff is high on the young man, and it wasn’t hard to see why on Sunday. He’s athletic, gets to the basket, has a good body that will certainly get better, and he showed a nice feel for the game. There’s a lot of upside in his game, and it won’t take long before he’s the best point guard the team has had in Lubick’s tenure. What’s more, Tarczewski says Zabo is constantly in the gym working, which is a big reason to believe he will get better.

Jaymie Spears (5’8″ Jr. PG, Georgetown (MA)) returns for his second season at the school and will also man the point. After playing with injuries all last season, he was healthy all spring and summer and should be ready for a better year.

This year, the Lions move into the newly-formed Class AA in NEPSAC, which is basically the old Class B plus a few schools that were in the old Class C and D. As was the case last year, there is enough talent to be in the mix for a title, and while the size will jump out at you first, the real reason to think this team can go far is the perimeter unit. It’s the best one Dave Lubick has had at the school and should make life a lot easier for the big men.

Proctor Academy Tries to Rebuild

ANDOVER, N.H. – Gregor Makechnie is up front about his team: this season may be a challenge for Proctor Academy. The Hornets lost seniors and two juniors from last season’s team, with one junior leaving a little too late to recruit a suitable replacement. The result is a team that will be small and young, and likely with some growing pains.

The Hornets aren’t lacking talent entirely. Of the mature players, Fabrizio Li Gambi (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Cordoba (Argentina)) leads the way as he showed a touch shooting the ball. His body isn’t there yet, so there’s some physical upside. Another post-graduate, De’Vaghn Millington (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Ridgefield (CT)) is a good football player who is being recruited as a running back, and didn’t work out with the team on Friday.

One football player who was in the gym was Mike Lombard (6’4″ Jr. SF-PF, Pelham (NH)). A well-built tight and and linebacker on the gridiron, he’s out for about a week with an injury although he did some non-contact drills. There, he showed a nice touch shooting the ball from deep, getting hot a couple of times.

Mike Geanellis (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Williamstown (MA)) also plays soccer, but will get plenty of minutes with this team. He struggled to finish on Friday before faring better during shooting drills. Classmate Blake Joppy (5’10″ So. PG, Gaithersburg (MD)) has a slight frame and a body that has a ways to go, and after the first time around he shot the ball very well from deep.

The youngest player on the team is also the one to keep an eye on. Jibreel Faulkner (6’5″ Fr. SF, Takoma Park (MD)) turned 14 not long ago and looks it, as he’s very much a baby physically. His play during two-on-two action included a turnaround jumper. He shot the ball reasonably well in later shooting drills, after some struggles at first. Notably, he moves his off hand when shooting the ball, something he will have to work on although he showed he can knock down some shots.

Makechnie knows this season will be a challenge, but is hopeful that his younger players can form a nucleus to build around. If that happens and they are competitive, they can manage through this season towards a brighter future, where the growing pains they will surely experience this season will then seem worth it.

Cushing Has a Veteran Presence

ASHBURNHAM, Mass. – For the past few years, Cushing Academy has seemingly been a perpetually young team. This year’s team isn’t loaded with seniors, but there’s a little more experience among the top players, and in the new-look NEPSAC Class AA they figure to be a very competitive team.

James Kennedy (6’6″ Sr. PF, Dorchester (MA)) is the most experienced player and one who’s shown a good deal of improvement since the end of last season. He spent a lot of time getting into better shape, and it shows as he is much-improved athletically with a hop to his step not previously seen. Skill-wise, he is still a little in between positions, but he’s shown improvement there with some added range on his jumper and he made a few good passes on Thursday. The Boston University commit is on his way to getting better.

Egi Gjikondi (6’9″ Jr. PF, Malden (MA)) is back to join him in the frontcourt after making nice strides during the off-season. Now more of a factor at the defensive end, especially the glass, he spent some time on Thursday doing individual activity before getting into game action and showing off an improved touch shooting the ball from mid-range and finishing assertively. Physically, he’s still not there yet but has developed since arriving on campus a year ago.

Two newcomers will help in the frontcourt. Andrew Chrabascz (6’6″ So. PF, Portsmouth (RI)) is familiar to Kennedy and Gjikondi as he also plays in the BABC program, and he gives the team a fundamentally sound player who plays well within the team concept. Chrabascz spent time on the perimeter on Thursday, having a mixed day shooting the ball. Felix Magnusson (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Sweden) is a lanky forward who finished well, including while fouled, and should function well playing off some of the other players.

The perimeter will be led by Jared Johnson (6’1″ Jr. PG, Springfield (MA)), who returns for his second season. He is now in better shape, the result of consistently running with Gjikondi, and he was more aggressive going to the basket. For good measure, he showed more of a touch shooting the ball as well, while not veering much from running the show.

Kyle Callanan (6’3″ Sr. PG, Bennington (VT)) is a lefty shooter who could get some open looks from the attention the others draw, and may get some low Division I looks. The youngest player on the team to watch is Idris Taqqee (6’1″ Fr. PG, Boston (MA)). A baby physically, he’s athletic and knocked down a couple of three-point shots in Thursday’s workout, and also made a nice baseline jumper while getting fouled. Down the road, he could be one of the next stars in this program.

Cushing will add a few players from the football team once the season begins. Right now, they don’t work out with the basketball team due to their commitment on the gridiron.

They won’t be the favorites in Class AA, but Cushing has enough talent and experience now to be dangerous. Add in the fact that several have played together in the off-season, and at the very least this team could be a dark horse.

Talented Notre Dame Prep Gets After It

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Ryan Hurd has a team that fits him. That should be the case for any coach, but his team at Notre Dame Prep put forth the best workout we’ve seen thus far with a lot of solid efforts. There is plenty of talent, but if the Crusaders play like they did on Thursday every time out, there might not be many teams who could beat them even if they have more talent. Hurd likes to play a lot of guys, and this team has plenty for him to go with.

The frontcourt won’t have much in numbers but will be a source of strength, starting with Khem Birch (6’9″ Jr. PF, Pierrefonds (Que.)), who was arguably the best player on the floor on Thursday. The long and athletic big man did things he often does, but at a higher level as he dominated in stretches. He blocked a lot of shots from the help side and didn’t bite on pump fakes, at times making it look easy. His skills are better, including with the ball as he made a couple of good passes and also took a rebound coast to coast for a dunk, and he continues to be more aggressive on offense and finish with dunks. The highlight of the day was when he leaped right over a teammate and dunked home a miss.

Joining Birch up front will be UNLV commit Grandy Glaze (6’6″ Sr. PF, Brampton (Ont.)), a well-built forward who showed a great motor. He was in the gym early and competed every second he was on the floor, as he battled for loose balls and to score inside. He has a mature body and was aggressive, and simply put, he wants it on the floor.

Much-hyped Angel Nunez (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Harlem (NY)) and Luka Radovic (6’7″ Sr. PF, Montenegro) will also be in the mix. Nunez hasn’t lived up to the hype thus far, and he didn’t do a whole lot here to dispel that. He has a good frame, while his body isn’t there yet, and he didn’t get much done on the court. Radovic’s body has a ways to go, but he showed some range on his jumper and got a stickback along the way.

The player who has an argument for the best player on the floor on Thursday is Todd Mayo (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Memphis (TN)), who had the hot hand shooting the ball for much of the day. The younger brother of O.J. Mayo is athletic with a good body that can get better, and as the day went on the shots he was making had an increasing degree of difficulty. One highlight was a play where he took a jab step, then stepped back and hit a three once he created space.

Another who shot the ball well is Myles Davis (6’1″ Sr. SG, Jersey City (NJ)), who has a reputation for that. He was hitting for much of the day, and while he handled the ball from time to time he’s still very much a shooting guard. At times, he battled with Sam Cassell, Jr. (6’3″ Sr. PG-SG, Baltimore (MD)), son of the former NBA guard. Cassell has a slight frame and is still a baby physically, and after struggling to shoot early on started to make shots later.

Matt Porter (6’3″ Sr. SG, Brunswick (NJ)) was another star of the day, in part for his defense as he really got after it on the defensive end. The highlight came when Nunez went up for a dunk and Porter came in to block it. He was a factor in transition and showed a little touch shooting the ball, though that doesn’t seem to be his forte.

Another player who had a coming-out party of sorts was Zarko Valjeravic (6’4″ Sr. SG, Serbia), who made a number of shots from deep and is a plus athlete. There was a stretch where he might have been the best player on the floor.

Shaquille Jones (6’5″ Jr. SG-SF, Providence (RI)) recently started playing again after missing time due to an appendectomy, and showed few ill effects although he has played better. He has a good frame and isn’t there yet physically, and on Thursday showed that he’s a heady player who plays well within the team concept.

Tyler Strange (5’10″ Sr. PG, Leominster (MA)) returns for his second season and had a nice day of solid basketball, making a few shots and running the show. Charles Swain (5’10″ Sr. PG, Austin (TX)) and R.J. Dempsey (6’0″ Sr. PG, Anchorage (AK)) will also figure into the mix. Swain’s body isn’t there yet, while Dempsey is more mature physically.

Notre Dame Prep has good talent and a lot of options, and it was there for anyone present to see on Thursday. If they play like this consistently, they will reflect the coach well, and they’ll be very tough to beat.

Northfield Mount Hermon Doesn’t Lack Size

NORTHFIELD, Mass. – If you’re looking for size, there’s probably not a better place to go than Northfield Mount Hermon. John Carroll’s team has six players that are 6’8″ or taller, another is 6’7″ and three others are 6’6″. The shortest player on the team is a 6’2″ guard. In other words, they’re going to be taller than anyone else they play.

This year’s team also has plenty of talent and may be the deepest team they have had. That’s attracted a wide range of college coaches thus far and will continue to as the season goes on.

The two biggest players are brothers that return for a second season. Lucas Van Nes (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Dorset (England)) and Vince Van Nes (7’0″ Sr. C, Dorset (England)) have both improved since last year and figure to get more minutes this season. Both have more mature bodies and games, with Vince spending some time this spring and summer improving on the travel team circuit.

Evan Cummins (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Westborough (MA)) also returns for a second season at the school, and his improvement in that time is very noticeable. His body is maturing, he showed a good jump hook when he was on the post and hit mid-range jumpers and a couple of three-pointers on the day. In addition, he got his share of transition baskets as he’s running the floor better.

Ethan O’Day (6’8″ Jr. PF, Mansfield (CT)) and Ethan Mackey (6’8″ Sr. PF, Voorheesville (NY)) will see minutes as well. O’Day is lanky and had some good moments in Wednesday’s workout, while the left-handed Mackey was a little more effective. Mackey’s body can still get better and he operated well inside, making some tough finishes along the way. Right now, Mackey is further along physically.

DeKeeba Battle (6’8″ So. PF, Cairns (Australia)), who showed some promise before an injury ended his day early, will also be in the mix. He appeared to cramp up and did not return. John Golden (6’6″ Sr. SF, Freehold (NJ)) did not work out due to an injury.

A year ago, Tommy Carpenter (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Greensboro (NC)) was one of the most impressive players at the open gym we attended. While he didn’t repeat that on Wednesday, it’s clear he’s developed in the past year as his body is more mature and he showed improved ball skills, bringing the ball up often.

Armani Cotton (6’6″ Sr. SF, New York (NY)) got better as the workout went on. He got a few steals that he turned into fast breaks, and finished with contact several times. His body isn’t there yet and he’s a plus athlete, and late in the workout he knocked down a three-pointer from the corner. Jvonte Brooks (6’6″ Sr. SF, San Diego (CA)) was active and has a fairly mature body, and gives Carroll one more option with good size.

The team has only two true guards. Joe Sharkey (6’4″ Sr. PG-SG, Norwood (MA)) committed to Brown about a year ago and returns for another season. He didn’t work out with the team on Wednesday due to a student leadership commitment, but Carroll is excited with what he’s seen of Sharkey thus far and thinks he’s primed to close out his prep career on a good note.

Sharkey will be joined in the backcourt by Seton Hall commit Aaron Cosby (6’2″ Sr. PG-SG, Louisville (KY)). A year ago, Cosby was clearly in transition in more ways than one, and while the transition to being a point guard doesn’t look complete, he’s on his way. After a lot of work with assistant coach Matt Pennie, Cosby’s shooting stroke is much-improved and he showed it by knocking down several shots from mid-range off the dribble and long range. His body is more mature, and he used that to his advantage with several good drives to the basket where he showed a little bounce in his step. He’s still more of a scorer than a playmaker, but not to the same degree as a year ago.

Carroll said his two guards are playing well with each other, even though both project to play the point in college. While he has the option to play any of several bigger players as the shooting guard and go even bigger, expect Sharkey and Cosby to see time together quite often.

Last season, Northfield Mount Hermon reached the semifinals in the NEPSAC Tournament and suffered a tough overtime loss in the national championship, a marked change from a year earlier when they peaked early in the season. This time around, with more depth and even more size (they were hardly small last year), they might not project as favorites in NEPSAC Class AAA but could be right in the mix again.

South Kent Ready to Challenge For Title

SOUTH KENT, Conn. – A day after seeing the defending champions in NEPSAC Class A (now Class AAA), we got a look at a team sure to be a challenger to them this time around. Head coach Kelvin Jefferson has done well getting players from New York and New Jersey as a base, and it shows as South Kent may have as much talent as anyone, with a lot of lineup options as well.

A lot of the wealth is on the wing, starting with one of the top juniors in the country in Ricardo Ledo (6’6″ Jr. SG-SF, Providence (RI)). His jump shot wasn’t falling on Wednesday like it usually is, but he made some good drives and finished in traffic and also went to his left for that a few times. Ledo is long, athletic and loaded with potential.

Ledo’s primary support on the wing will be St. John’s commit Maurice Harkless (6’6″ Sr. SF, Queens (NY)). Harkless won’t bowl you over with athleticism, but hardly lacks it and his body isn’t there yet. He’s been focused on improving his jump shot, and in July it looked like that work was paying off. Here, he hit a couple of shots from deep and from mid-range off the dribble.

The other wing might have had the best day of action. Jabrille Williams (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Stamford (CT)), the son of former NBA player Herb Williams, is athletic and competes all the time. He shot the ball better than anyone on the day, hitting from deep (including an NBA three-pointer) and mid-range off the dribble. He doesn’t get much lift when he shoots and doesn’t have the widest frame, but has some good things going for him and may be about to see his recruitment take a jump.

On the post, Jefferson has three interchangeable parts. Rutgers commits Derrick Randall (6’8″ Sr. PF, Brooklyn (NY)) and Kadeem Jack (6’8″ Sr. PF, Queens (NY)) start it off. Randall has a good body that can get better, runs the floor well and can finish, but the lefty wasn’t the factor he can be on the glass on Wednesday. Jack has plenty of physical gifts, as he has a solid body and is very athletic. He doesn’t have great ball skills, but he runs the floor very well and shot the ball well from mid-range, getting better as the day went along. With added strength, he’ll be tougher to stop inside.

The other post player is Nemanja Djurisic (6’8″ Sr. PF, Montenegro), who returns for his second season at the school. Fundamentally sound, he battled inside with a few good post baskets, rebounded well and knocked opposing post players around inside with physical play. He also ran the floor and knocked down a couple of jumpers.

They won’t be lacking in the backcourt, where the point guard spot will be manned first by Cincinnati commit Ge-lawn Guyn (6’2″ Sr. PG, Louisville (KY)). A well-built guard, he’s not jet-quick but can get by his man. He showed a good shooting touch, with more shots going down as the day went along, and he gets after it at the defensive end. His backup, Anthony Jernigan (5’8″ Sr. PG, East Hartford (CT)) showed on Wednesday that the offense shouldn’t suffer when he’s in the game. He ably battled Guyn and was finding teammates often while on the move, and he knocked down his share of jumpers. The highlight of the day for him came when he grabbed a rebound and took it coast to coast for a layup at the other end. Next year, he may find a home at the low Division I level.

The other guard who was noteworthy is Andrew Crowley (6’1″ Sr. SG, Canton (CT)), a good student who shot the ball well on the day out to long range. Although he didn’t get a ton of touches, he was in constant motion, and when he was left open he didn’t miss.

Given their personnel, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ledo and Harkless played together often, with Ledo at the shooting guard spot. That would certainly give them good size and scoring on the perimeter.

Expectations have been high for several years at South Kent. This time around, that was the case in the spring as this year’s roster began to take shape. With the interchangeable parts they have in the frontcourt and the point guards who can help make this team go, there’s enough talent to make a run come the month of March.

Brewster Has Plenty of Talent Again

WOLFEBORO, N.H. – The first thing Jason Smith notes about his team is that they have a lot of pieces. That there is talent is obvious and expected; year in and year out, his Brewster Academy team isn’t lacking in that department, and it’s helped lead to two NEPSAC Class A titles in the past three years and a national championship last year. This year’s team has a good mix that could lead to what he wants: another banner.

The first piece is the leadership, and almost as soon as you walk in the gym it’s clear whose team this is. Naadir Tharpe (6’0″ Sr. PG, Worcester (MA)) is back for his third season and runs the team in more ways than one. He’s the team’s vocal leader and showed once again that he’s a high-major floor leader, finding open shooters all day and knocking down his fair share of shots, although he wasn’t lights out like he was last year when we saw him at an open gym. His body is getting there physically, and the one-time Providence commit is wide open on his recruitment at the moment.

The main recipient of Tharpe’s passes was Max Hooper (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, Irvine (CA)), who seemed to never miss a shot from deep. He got white-hot early on and never cooled down, constantly hitting off the catch even when he didn’t appear to be in a good spot to shoot. He also hit a few mid-range shots off the dribble, and although he’s not the most physically gifted and could use some strength, he battled all day on defense. Also an excellent student, he’s caught the eye of some elite academic Division I schools like those in the Ivy and Patriot Leagues.

Elijah Carter (6’2″ Sr. PG-SG, Paterson (NJ)) will get time at both guard spots. More of a scorer than a point guard, he had his moments on the day where he showed he can put points on the board although he needs to get stronger. He’ll probably back up Tharpe from time to time at the point.

Also figuring into the backcourt will be Khalid McCaskill (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, New York (NY)) and Rudolfs Arnicams (6’2″ So. SG, Latvia). Smith says McCaskill, an athletic wing whose body isn’t there yet, has started out well, and thinks Arnicams could be productive in a year or so. Right now, the baby-faced guard is basically a player of the future, although he’s been a pleasant surprise and had a few good moments on Tuesday.

The most talented wing is Jakarr Sampson (6’8″ Sr. SF, Barberton (OH)). Very long and athletic, albeit with a slight frame, there’s lots of potential in him and there were plays where his length helped him out. The big knock on him is his jump shot, as he tends to turn his body when going up and on other occasions he didn’t square up as he shot the ball.

Pittsburgh commit Durand Johnson (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, Baltimore (MD)) will surely get plenty of time on the wing. His body can still get better and he shot the ball well on the day, and he’s shown what he can do playing for the Baltimore-based Cecil Kirk program over the years. Also on the wing is Deonte Burton (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Milwaukee (WI)), who is quite a physical specimen as he’s a well-built athlete with big hands. He’s physical and battled a bigger man much of the day, and while the lefty didn’t shine offensively he had his moments.

The low post has a couple of big bodies, starting with Villanova commit Markus Kennedy (6’9″ Sr. PF-C, Philadelphia (PA)). The well-traveled post player looks like he put some weight on over the past couple of months, but still moves his body well inside. He’s a load in the post and can overpower his man, is active and will get some stickbacks, especially when he battles like he did on Tuesday. In addition, on several occasions he zipped a quick outlet pass to a guard and has some ability facing the basket. If he gets in better shape, he’ll just get that much better.

The other post player is Mitch McGary (6’9″ Jr. PF, Chesterton (IN)), who has made a good impression since arriving in Wolfeboro. The lefty is well-built and can get stronger, and while he’s not smooth he will battle inside, although Burton was clearly testing him by knocking him around. He banked home a couple of mid-range jumpers and was around the ball often.

The talent is there, as is usually the case, for another title run. Having a shooter like Hooper will surely open up a lot for the post players and driving guards, and Johnson showed he’s a threat to knock down shots from there as well. There’s athleticism, shooting, post scoring and some toughness, meaning this team should be in the mix once again come March.

Quinn Ready to Develop More Players at St. Thomas More

OAKDALE, Conn. – It’s been the case in recent years that Jere Quinn’s teams at St. Thomas More have featured a couple of well-known players and a number of players that were at best under the radar. Those in the latter category come to Oakdale and develop under his tutelage, complementing the better talents. It looks like that same formula will be present this season.

The first well-known player is more than that, as Andre Drummond (6’10″ Jr. PF-C, Middletown (CT)) is ranked by several services as the top prospect in the class of 2012. Even before Monday’s workout, it wasn’t hard to see why. He has a man’s body, runs the floor like a gazelle and is more athletic than your average post player. It all adds up to a dominating force at times, as he can own the boards, block shots all day and score easily inside as he’s a load on the post. On Monday, when he was away from the basket he didn’t force up jumpers and instead found teammates cutting, which was a nice improvement as he’s had a tendency to fall in love with the jump shot since he can hit a few of them. At times, it all looked too easy for him; a highlight was when a pass came his way and he went up, caught it and then put it home before he came back down to the floor.

Drummond’s main support will come from Trahson Burrell (6’6″ Sr. SF, Albany (NY)), who also returns for his second season at the school. An athletic wing whose body has a ways to go, Burrell started slowly during the drills but got better as the day went along. He excelled in transition and drove often to score, not shooting many jumpers along the way.

Fairfield commit Adam Jones (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Orlando (FL)) has a good frame that can carry more weight as he matures, but he wasn’t much of a factor before a foot/ankle injury ended his day early. B.J. Cardarelli (6’7″ Sr. PF, Manchester (CT)) is a thin forward with some post fundamentals and some ability to face the basket.

A wing who played well on the day was Jarell Byrd (6’5″ Sr. SF, Lynn (MA)). He was aggressive at both ends of the floor, getting his share of rebounds and dunks near the basket and also making a couple of nice passes along the way. Elijah Bonsignore (6’4″ Sr. SF, Felton (DE)) is an athletic wing with a good body and will see minutes on the wing. Damion Lee (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Pikesville (MD)) is another player who got better as the day went along. A plus athlete, he drove to score, knocked down a couple of jumpers as deep as three-point range, and got a couple of stickbacks. Aric Dickerson (6’5″ Sr. SF, Chicago (IL)) is a thin wing who will also figure in the mix.

One player they could use in a few positions is Indiana Faithful (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Castlecag (Australia)), who may play all three perimeter positions. The lefty can handle the ball some and isn’t a bad athlete, and his body can still get better although he’s not a baby physically.

The Chancellors always seem to have a good point guard or two, and this team is no exception. The best one of them on the day was Whis Grant (6’0″ Sr. PG, Plymouth Meeting (PA)), who is a live body at the position. A plus athlete with a good body, he competed all day and showed the ability to drive quickly to the basket and hit a shot from deep along the way. Also sure to get good minutes is New Jersey native Roy Mabrey (6’1″ Sr. PG, Belmar (NJ)), who is a prototypical Christian Brothers Academy guard. Though not very physically gifted, Mabrey is fundamentally sound, has a good feel for the game and is unselfish.

Also figuring into the mix on the perimeter will be athletic wing Dominique Spann (6’3″ Sr. SG, West Babylon (NY)), Christian Walck (6’3″ Sr. SG, Lancaster (PA)) and Eric Shirvanian (6’0″ Sr. PG, Holmdel (NJ)).

Quinn has another team with a lot of bodies ready to compete, and once again with a couple of stars and a solid, unspectacular support cast full of under-the-radar players. By the time the season is over, many in the latter category right now likely won’t be there anymore.

Reilly Likes His Team at Worcester

WORCESTER, Mass. – The 2010-11 season will be one of change for Worcester Academy. After competing in Class A of NEPSAC for a while, the Hilltoppers will be part of Class AA, which is basically the old Class B with some changes. But it also looks like it will be a season with some very good talent, and head coach Ed Reilly likes the group he has. While he’s always liked the teams he has put together, you get the sense in talking to him that he feels a little better about this group than some others he’s had recently.

The Hilltoppers aren’t loaded with size, but they’re not lacking it, either, and it starts with the tallest player in senior big man Pat Ackerman (6’11″ Sr. C, Rutland (MA)). The recent Penn State commit has been getting better of late, and some of it showed on Sunday as he rebounded and knocked down a few jump shots. His body is maturing, and more importantly, he seems to be growing up from an intangibles standpoint as he was rallying the team like a vocal leader. That’s a marked change for a young man who at times in his career has looked easily rattled, and a sign that he’s becoming mentally tougher.

The best talents on the team come on the wing, led by Tavon Allen (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (CT)) and Jerel Scott (6’5″ Sr. SF, Albany (NY)). The two had a little back-and-forth going on Sunday as they often guarded each other, clearly testing the other the entire time. Allen looks like he can pick up where he left off during a solid spring and summer, as the long wing didn’t start out well but took over the second game of the day and was the best player on the floor from that point on. He showed his good touch from long range, while also scoring on the move, notably with shots like a high floater in the lane and another time where he spun around and put up a righty floater on the baseline to finish a break.

For his part, Scott is simply a junkyard dog that competes while on the floor. A plus athlete, his slight frame may fool you as he battles for rebounds and loose balls, playing stronger than he looks. He doesn’t get much lift on his jump shot, but it must be respected and he got a few jump shots to go. The highlight of the day for him was when he hit a tough off-balance jump shot from mid-range after spinning off his man.

Another wing who will get good minutes is Jordan Wejnert (6’6″ Sr. SF-PF, Lavallette (NJ)). Though not as athletic, he’s similar to Scott in that he’s very active and around the ball often. On Sunday, he was constantly in the play and a factor in transition, where he showed his unselfishness and good feel for the game. He’ll need to get stronger, but adding a decent touch shooting the ball to his intangibles means someone at the low Division I level will likely be happy to land him.

Joining Ackerman up front will be a couple of local players in Jose Cruz-Solla (6’7″ Sr. PF, Shrewsbury (MA)) and David Mack (6’6″ Sr. PF, Holden (MA)). Cruz-Solla is an undersized post player with a live, mature body, and he plays well within the team concept. He has some post moves and a little hop when going up, is a plus athlete and his ball skills aren’t bad. Mack is a thick post player who can simply be a bull inside, as he was at times too strong for anyone who guarded him and used it to get some stickbacks. The lefty isn’t the most mobile post player, but he’s not lacking in that area.

The backcourt will feature a pair of underclassmen at the point in Olivier Paul Betu (6’1″ Jr. PG, Montreal (Que.)) and Asur Madison (5’11″ Fr. PG, Los Angeles (CA)). Betu is still a baby physically, athletic and active, and on one play he stripped Allen on the baseline to prevent a likely basket. He also had a nice runner in the lane and knocked down a shot from deep along the way. Madison is the point guard of the future. Baby-faced and clearly with a ways to go body-wise, he was not afraid to go inside on Sunday. He lacks strength right now and came up shot on some jumpers, but also knocked a couple down. Reilly is high on him and raved about him before the workout began, so he’ll be worth watching as he develops.

Canaan Severin (6’3″ Jr. SG-SF, Marlborough (MA)) won’t work out with the team during football season but will give them minutes during the basketball season. He is getting recruited at a higher level on the gridiron as a wide receiver and safety. Local boys Josh Peter (5’10″ Sr. PG, Worcester (MA)) and Thomas Rivard (6’6″ So. SF, Worcester (MA)) will also see some minutes.

Reilly has a team he likes and some good personnel, especially on the wing. If the point guards give them some production and help make the others better, they should win their fair share of games and at least be a tough out in the NEPSAC Tournament.

Attempting Another Title, Tilton Has Youth, But Experience as Well

TILTON, N.H. – Our prep school tour began on Saturday with a trip to a school that has done a lot of winning lately. NEPSAC will have a new look this season, but the last three Class B titles were won by the Tilton School, and in 2009 they also took home a national championship. The talent and experience on this roster – the latter of which might sound odd considering they have two post-graduates and a host of underclassmen – suggest that a title in the first season of the new-look NEPSAC may not be out of the question.

The core of the team is unquestionably five players from the BABC team that took home a 16-under national championship in July. That winning experience will surely go a long way with this group.

The two post-graduates will both get time at the point guard spot and some interest at the low Division I level. Tilton has won with a small sparkplug point guard each of the past two seasons, and they will try to do it again this year. If this workout is any indication, Aaron Law (5’11″ Sr. PG, Chapel Hill (NC)) appears to be the favorite to start. Well-built with a good upper body, he competed all morning long as he wasn’t afraid to go inside with the trees. He moved well without the ball, which is not something that normally stands out about a point guard, as he often got open and got the ball near the basket for a score. Tony Lester (5’11″ Sr. PG, Charlotte (NC)) will also get some minutes there, and he had some good moments on the day guarding Law most of the time. Lester has a mature body and knocked down a couple of three-point shots along the way.

Mike Swanson (6’4″ Jr. SF-PF, Londonderry (NH)) is the other key role player on the roster. He got a couple of stickbacks and was active, and figures to get some minutes along the way.

The best prospect among the core of the team is newcomer Nerlens Noel (6’10″ So. C, Everett (MA)). Noel had a terrific spring and summer despite playing a lot of it on one leg, and as he got healthier he got better and more confident. He’s very long and athletic, and now he’s more aggressive at the offensive end. At times on Saturday he dominated the glass and is capable of taking over games with his shot-blocking, but it’s the signs of offensive development that show where he can go. A year ago, he had little post offense to speak of, but he showed a few moves on Saturday that illustrate his development there. It certainly needs to continue, just like he needs to get stronger, but the signs right now are encouraging and he’s one of the top prospects nationally in the class of 2013.

Noel will be joined up front by a couple of holdovers. Georges Niang (6’6″ Jr. PF, Methuen (MA)) has improved nicely since last year, and as a result the offers are coming in from colleges as he now has about a half dozen from Division I schools. The word “efficient” is often used by coaches to describe him, and it certainly fits as he almost always knows what to do with the ball. His body is getting better and he continues to show a real nose for the ball with a lot of boards at both ends, and he’s running the floor better as well. He went out of character a couple of times by not getting the ball to a guard in transition, but those were aberrations as he usually gets rid of it to a guard right away.

Goodluck Okonoboh (6’8″ So. PF, Boston (MA)) is the other holdover up front. The fundamentals are there for him to be a strong post scorer, as although he traveled a couple of times on post moves on Saturday the mobility he has inside is excellent. His body isn’t there yet and there are times he looks like he could stand to get tougher. It’s clear he’s been trying to expand his shooting range, as he faced the basket often on Saturday and had mixed results with the face-up jumpers he took.

Dominique Bull (6’3″ Jr. SG, Worcester (MA)) joins the team this year, but he’s not new to several teammates from his days with BABC. Bull has a man’s body and made a good improvement in the spring and summer, especially in transition. He showed more of that on Saturday, and continues to work to improve his jump shot as that has long been a weak spot. Saturday wasn’t much different in that regard as his jumper wasn’t going until late in the day. Right now, his college interest is a mixed bag at the Division I level, with a little from high-majors and a lot from mid-majors.

The other newcomer is Wayne Selden (6’3″ Fr. PG-SG, Roxbury (MA)). Another well-built guard, his upper body is ahead of his lower body, which could use more development. Selden has undeniable talent and athleticism and mainly has to play with a competitive motor when he’s out there as it makes a big difference in his performance. He showed some of the talent on Saturday as he knocked down a couple of mid-range pull-up jumpers and overpowered another defender to finish on another play. Though he has some tools to play both guard spots, he’ll need to improve his ball handling if he is to play the point guard spot down the road.

If the BABC players all keep growing and the Rams get the play at the point guard spot they have had the past two years, a fourth straight NEPSAC title, this time in the new Class AA, is not out of the question with this team. Although there is not a “big three” like there was two years ago, last season the Rams didn’t need it to win, and this team is perhaps a little deeper.

Big East Does Well to Preserve Double Bye in Tournament

As conference tournaments go, the Big East Tournament stands out for a lot of reasons. It has the longest-running conference tournament at one venue, as Madison Square Garden has been home to it since 1983. It has had plenty of memorable games, including the six overtime game in 2009. Another thing that makes it stand out now is that all of its teams make it, and the conference has 16 teams. That has been the subject of some debate with the tournament format, and although a few months ago it looked like there would be a change to it soon, there won’t be.

Count me among those who like that it won’t change.

Last week, the athletic directors and Big East board of directors opted to keep the current format that involves two sets of byes into later rounds. There was discussion, as well as unanimous support among the coaches, for a straight five-day, five-round tournament where no team gets a bye, but that will not happen.

For the first three seasons that the conference had 16 teams, only the top 12 made the conference tournament. That kept it at a four-day tournament with one set of byes, as the top four teams each got a bye into the quarterfinals. With it, teams were rewarded for finishing in the top four in the regular season, and the bottom teams stayed home.

The past two seasons have seen all 16 teams go to New York, but the byes changed. It made sense: why should a team that finished at or near the top have to win as many games as a team that finished at the bottom? Sure, the matchups would be better for teams at the top, but they should get some reward for finishing there. With this change, the bottom eight teams would have to win five games in five days to take home the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Teams that finished fifth through eighth got a bye into the second round, meaning they would need to win four games in four days. The top four teams all got a bye into the quarterfinals, meaning they would need to win three games in three days.

It sounds fair to me. But apparently, some coaches didn’t think so, especially after three of the top four seeds lost in the quarterfinals this past year. What that has to do with fairness is beyond me, but let’s dig deeper.

The three top seeds that lost were No. 1 Syracuse (91-84 to No. 8 Georgetown), No. 2 Pittsburgh (50-45 to No. 7 Notre Dame) and No. 4 Villanova (80-76 to No. 5 Marquette). Only No. 3 West Virginia survived and ultimately won the conference title.

Let’s think back over the past few years while the Big East has had 16 teams. We’ve heard ad nauseum about how powerful the conference is. Coach after coach, commentator after commentator has talked about how the conference is just amazing, how “there’s not an off night” or “there aren’t any bad teams” in the conference. So how come that doesn’t apply now? Shouldn’t the great depth of the conference that we’ve heard so much about be a suitable explanation for why three teams that all won at least 10 games managed to knock off one of the top seeds in a one-game elimination tournament? Why isn’t that the explanation as opposed to the setup being “unfair”?

Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon was on the mark when he told ESPN.com, “The strength of our conference means you’re going to have upsets in our conference because you’re playing Top 25 teams in the final eight (of the tournament)”.

The top four seeds go two days without playing a game, but that’s not a bad thing. Several conference tournaments have had a double bye like this, oftentimes done to protect the top seeds in mid-major conferences. The idea is that teams need to be rewarded for a good regular season and they should have as good a chance to get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as possible, short of simply putting them in a championship game only. Notably, both the Horizon League and West Coast Conference give the top two seeds byes into the semifinals, and early in August the WAC announced a change to a similar model for 2011 prior to the much-publicized membership changes that happened later in the month.

The regular season should always be rewarded, even if there’s a slim difference in the standings. In sports, teams have won by a nose numerous times, from winning a division title by one game or even in a playoff to getting the top seed in a conference tournament based on a tie-breaker. By keeping the double bye in the Big East Tournament, the regular season gets rewarded. And that’s not a bad thing at all.