New England’s Hidden Gems
Many young up-and-coming talents in New England are flying under the radar this year. Springtime is the perfect opportunity for players to develop their game and get their name out there. Here are some sleepers looking to make a splash…
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Continue ReadingMany young up-and-coming talents in New England are flying under the radar this year. Springtime is the perfect opportunity for players to develop their game and get their name out there. Here are some sleepers looking to make a splash in the upcoming months and should catch everyone’s eye.
Sid Praveen – Melrose High/MVP East Coast – 5’9” – PG/SG – 2023 (pictured above)
Praveen is a combo guard who can protect the ball and keep it on a string, along with stretching the floor with his long-range shooting. A speedy and athletic floor general who does a lot of damage on the break. Going downhill, Praveen is hard to contain, and he will aggressively attack the basket looking to score. A talented scorer off the dribble, Praveen shows confidence hitting three-pointers off screens or isolation breakdowns. His decision-making is also noticeable. Praveen makes the extra pass and looks to get his teammates involved first before exploring defenses with his offensive package. A hard worker on defense, the sophomore combo guard, uses his blinding speed and quickness to keep the ball handler in front and force turnovers. With his athleticism combined with his offensive skill set, Praveen has the potential to be a match-up nightmare at the point guard position.
Gabe Huss – St. Pauls/TNE – 5’5” – PG – 2025
I watched Huss play at the Above The Rim Training facility in Lancaster, Massachusetts, earlier in the week, and his game immediately popped. Competing against elite high school and college-level talent, Huss did not back down from the challenge. He was one of the hardest-working kids in the gym, picking up his man full court and moving his feet well, making it hard on the ball handler. Huss is a confident offensive player who is a reliable ball handler and sees the floor beautifully hitting cutters right in the hands. A deadly floater and an automatic three-point shot add another layer to Huss’s scoring arsenal with a lot of room to grow. Huss is athletic, and his commitment to working out and improving his game at such a young age is encouraging and should make for an exciting AAU season.
Nebiyu Daniel – Melrose High – 5’9” – PG – 2023
Daniel is one of the more confident up-and-coming scoring guards. He has great body control and change of pace when attacking a defense while showing the elusiveness to avoid charges when entering the lane. Daniel does an excellent job initiating contact and finishing after the hit. His upper body strength makes him a tough cover, and he can get into the paint at will. An accurate passing floor general, Daniel zips the ball through tight windows and does an excellent job facilitating the offense and keeping it moving. His muscular build and athleticism make him a player who can defend both guard positions effectively. A potential two-way force, Daniel hasn’t scratched the surface of his potential.
Jackson Marshall – Pinkerton Academy/MV Rivals – 6’6” – PF/SF – 2024
Marshall is a stud two-sport athlete who excels at a high level in basketball and baseball. He is a terrific stretch 4 who can shoot the lights out. At 6’6”, he can see clearly over the defense and has a confident stroke to convert from any spot behind the arc. Despite being a deadly outside shooter, Marshall still bangs inside and fights for position in the post showing off his soft touch around the basket. So strong on the block, Marshall flashes hard with his defender pinned on his back and can go over either shoulder with a hook shot. An unmovable force in the paint, the 6’6” power forward gets inside position for rebounds so easily and is relentless on the glass. Marshall is tough, physical and wants to own his opponent in the paint, always sending a message with hard box outs or muscling his man out of post position. He can fly under the radar because his elite baseball talent draws a lot of attention. However, make no mistake about it, Jackson Marshall is an efficient 20 and 10 kind of player on the basketball court who should be on everyone’s watch list.
Freshman year highlights
Pinkerton Varsity Basketball @PABoyshoops@Coachchase17
Great season with my teammates
(shorter version than last one in link) pic.twitter.com/k2SSKLOy02— Jackson Marshall #25 (@25JacksonM) March 9, 2021