Massachusetts Underclassmen to Watch
As teams prepare for the 2021 season, there are a handful of underclassmen who showed a lot of promise during the 2019-2020 season. Below are a few players who, I believe, have the potential to be major contributors to their…
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Continue ReadingAs teams prepare for the 2021 season, there are a handful of underclassmen who showed a lot of promise during the 2019-2020 season. Below are a few players who, I believe, have the potential to be major contributors to their team this season.
Braeden White – Sophomore.- David Prouty High School – Point Guard
2019-2020 Stand-Out games:
23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 three-pointers vs. Tahonto Regional High School
18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals vs. North Brookfield High School
17 points, 3 three-pointers, 2 steals vs. Phoenix Charter School
As a freshman last season, White finished third in the SWCL Conference with 13 points a game and did most of his damage beyond the three-point line. The crafty point guard uses his elite ball-handling ability to keep his defender off-balance so he can get off clean looks from the perimeter. David Prouty’s head coach, Patrick O’Connor,calls White “the quarterback of the team, who is great at reading the defense and setting up his teammates to score.” The coaching staff also raves about White’s work ethic and how he is obsessed with improving his game. He will go into the 2021 season as the captain of David Prouty, and we should expect an impressive season for his sophomore year.
Teagan Terry – Sophomore – Acton-Boxborough Regional High School – Point Guard
2019-2020 Stand-Out Games:
4 assists, 2 steals vs. Lawrence High School
7 points, 2 steals vs. Lynn English High School
What sticks out with point guard Teagan Terry is his size. Standing at 6’2, he is an automatic mismatch at the guard position. This height, combined with athleticism, helps him be a pesky on-ball defender. He has such a size advantage over opposing guards that he can get a lot of steals and deflections because he makes it difficult for teams to make clean passes. His physical presence also makes him valuable when Acton-Boxborough goes to a zone press defense. On the offensive end, he is a point guard who looks to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. A skilled and willing passer, Terry sees the floor well. hen he penetrates to the basket, he keeps his head up, scanning the floor to find what player is open as the defense collapses on him. As his usage rate increases, so should his overall production. He has the potential to have a break-out season.
Ryan Mela – Sophomore – Natick High School – Small Forward
18 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals vs. Framingham High School
23 points,7 rebounds, 3 steals vs. Fitchburg High School
15 points, 5 assists, 7 steals vs. Franklin High School
Mela is a terrific defender whether he’s suffocating ball handlers on the perimeter or anticipating passes from the weak-side help position and picking them off. He does not have the flashiest handle, but he is effective enough when possessing the ball where he can drive by his defender to get into the paint. Throughout his freshman season, Mela displayed his versatility at the wing as he is a player that can affect the game in multiple ways. If you need him to score, rebound or be a player to run the offense through in the halfcourt, Mela has the skillset to do so. Whether it be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, Ryan Mela will be a player looking to showcase his entire arsenal in 2021.
Giacomo Kaplan – Freshman – Lexington High School – Point Guard
Kaplan is a freshman who impressed the Lexington coaching staff during try-outs to secure a spot on the varsity team in his first year with the team. Although,not expected to play huge minutes this season, he has an opportunity to be a valuable depth piece to the Lexington bench. A point guard with unlimited range from the outside, Kaplan is an entertaining player to watch on the offensive end and has the potential to be a potent scorer going forward. Due to his raw talent and high ceiling, Kaplan is a player that should be on everyone’s radar.