New England Names to Know: Part II
Part two of New England’s Names to Know features more talented athletes whose teams have had their season postponed due to Covid-19. Furthermore, I want to spotlight players who may have faced adversity caused by different circumstances, such as recovering…
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Continue ReadingPart two of New England’s Names to Know features more talented athletes whose teams have had their season postponed due to Covid-19. Furthermore, I want to spotlight players who may have faced adversity caused by different circumstances, such as recovering from injury or transferring schools.
Jaiden Soberanis – Newton South – 5’10” – 2022 – PG
The Newton South junior came into the 2020-2021 season determined to have a big year. After a sophomore season derailed by a broken leg he suffered during the team’s first scrimmage in 2019, Soberanis could not wait to get back on the court. An unselfish point guard who takes pride in getting his teammates involved, Soberanis understands the importance of making sure his shooters and big men get into a rhythm on offense. By making the conscious effort to control the pace, he has his teammates trust to be the ultimate decision-maker. Not afraid to change the tempo throughout the game, the 5’10” floor general knows when it is sensible to push the ball up the court or settle it down and run the halfcourt offense. He gets to the basket so easily with his quickness that he creates endless scoring opportunities for his team with jaw-dropping passes when the defense collapses on him. Having the ability to carve up the defense with his tight ball-handling ability and crafty finishes at the rim with either hand, he can fill up the scoring column efficiently given the opportunity. A prototypical point guard, Soberanis maximizes the 5- man unit on the court better than most floor generals.
Chris Clarke – Lexington Christian Academy – 6’3” – 2023 – PG/SG
The New Mission High transfer is a superior athlete. At 6’3”, Clarke is a physical specimen with an enormous wingspan, and his vertical leaping ability is dumbfounding. He has a lightning-quick first step on offense and can break any defender down one on one with ease. Using a combination of jab steps and crossovers, Clarke’s isolation moves help him create separation for step back and pull up jumpers. When going coast to coast, no one puts fear into a defender’s heart like the sophomore wing. Clarke’s combination of power, speed, and athleticism are too much for the opposition to handle when he is coming at you full steam. As a defender, Clarke has the potential to be elite and one of the most versatile defenders in the region. Having the physical gifts to guard four positions on the floor, the combo guard can easily find his niche at Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) by being a dominant force on that side of the ball. With the season on hold for LCA, Clarke has been keeping busy in the gym, fine-tuning his game and staying prepared for when the time comes to play competitively again.
Randy Nova – Lexington Christian Academy – 6’0” – 2022 – PG
Nova is another talented player on an elite Lexington Christian Academy team. He is the kind of floor general you can always trust to make the right play when the ball is in his hands. A brilliant pick and roll player, Nova does an excellent job setting up and freezing the defender before coming off the screen and can either pull up or feed the man rolling to the basket accurately. An undervalued aspect of his game is his use of ball fakes. The 6’0” guard creates so many opportunities for himself and his teammates by getting the defense off-balance with brilliant pass fakes. This leads to him getting an open jumper, or a cutter will flash open, and Nova can lead him to the basket to score. The junior possesses a leadership intangible, and he can max out the talent around him with the way he runs the offense. With the ability to score at all three levels, Nova is one of the most complete guards you will have the pleasure to witness. He is a strong, powerful athlete who has the physique to be a terrific on-ball defender. He moves his feet well, and with his upper body strength and awareness, he is capable of fighting through screens and making the opposing team’s life miserable.
AJ Willis – Dedham High – 2024 – 5’9” – 2024 – PG
Willis is a point guard who should be on everyone’s radar for years to come. A freshman who has a lot of confidence that shows through his ball-handling ability. When running in transition with the ball, his head is always up, scanning the floor, looking to make the right decision. The 5’9” floor general is a great isolation player. The ability to break down the defender with an array of moves to lull his man to sleep before exploding to the hoop is so fluid that Willis has the potential to be a lethal scorer at his position. An efficient shooter from the outside, Willis can also create separation with his iso play to get off perimeter shots. As he gets older, he will fill out his frame and grow a few more inches, which will help him on the defensive end, because he already has the lateral quickness and athleticism to be excellent on that side of the floor. Even though he cannot contribute to his team this year because of the pandemic, Willis has been in the gym developing his game and sharpening his craft, so he is ready to rock when he gets back on the court competitively again.