Monsignor Martin League Player Spotlight Series: Ryan McCarthy
Western New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the…
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Continue ReadingWestern New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the individual members of the 2020-2021 Nichols Vikings.
Ryan McCarthy – F – Class of 2022
In 2019-2020, McCarthy was the team’s “swiss army knife.” He floated between the wing and the paint on offense, showcasing both a sweet shooting stroke and an ability to operate deep in the three-second area. On defense, he was versatile enough to defend 3s, 4s, and, occasionally, 5s. McCarthy finished the season scoring 6.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 1 steal per game, and half of a block per game.
McCarthy’s best attribute is his ability and willingness to pass. Standing at 6’6”, McCarthy was routinely able to see over the top of opponents to find open teammates. He excels at throwing skip passes out of the post with both hands. Additionally, he is comfortable running the break and finding his teammates in transition. He is a powerful young man who showed in 2019-2020 that he is even able to throw long, accurate outlet passes to streaking teammates.
To me, McCarthy would be best served to simply commit to being more aggressive on offense in 2020-2021. He is the team’s tallest returning player and should be more comfortable in using his strength to his advantage. Though he did not put the ball on the deck and drive all that much in 2019-2020, when he did, more often than not he either drew a foul or found a teammate open for a jumpshot.
Nichols will most likely need McCarthy to start all season long. He will be relied upon to play the majority of the game each night, meaning he will have to find a balance between being aggressive and being able to stay out of foul trouble. I can see a path to McCarthy raising his season averages across the board compared to 2019-2020. Ryan McCarthy is simply one of Nichols’ most important players.
**All Stats Come From Maxpreps.com. All Analysis Is My Own.