Names to Know @ ZG Mass State Tournament @ Dana Barros: Part 2

More impressive standouts from last weekends Mass State Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id="1081894" first="Ray" last="Johnson"] | 6’0" | Lead Guard | Wilbraham & Monson | Team New England | 2023 An intentional mover in transition, [player_tooltip player_id="1081894" first="Ray" last="Johnson"] did not shy away from contact. As both a secondary and primary ball-handler, Johnson was very patient with his decisions and did a great job creating advantages with both a pass and shot fake. He found ways to create going downhill and did a great job of turning the corner on his drives. Johnson showcased a smooth and controlled scoring game in the midrange and did a great job of generating space out of the pick and roll action. He can improvise off a live dribble and create his shot when the offense breaks down. Without the ball in his hands, Johnson made several well-timed cuts, which resulted in easy layups. A persistent defender who never gave up throughout Sunday’s game, I am excited to see what’s to come from Johnson this summer. Darius Peterson | 6’3" | Combo-Guard with movement shooting potential | St. Joes Prep | ASA-Hoops | 2022 During a Sunday matchup against BASE_Hoops, Peterson quickly found ways to impact that game on both sides of the floor. After converting on two early corner triples, his movement off the ball and high-level understanding of spacing stood out. With extremely sound mechanics on his shot, Peterson can catch and fire in tight spaces and understood the importance of catching and keeping the ball high. With one of the smoothes strokes of the weekend, Peterson filled the lanes in transition. Also willing to dive on the floor and win the possession battle, I was very impressed with his willingness to play both ends of the floor with intent. https://twitter.com/PHNewEngland/status/1388930252517302274 Keith Wilson | 5’10" | Lead Guard | St. Patrick’s | Team NE RI | 2021 Dynamic in the open floor, Keith Wilson did a great job of setting the table for others and controlling the game’s tempo. In a closely contested victory against Rise Above, Wilson found the necessary driving lanes to get downhill and created for himself and others in the process. His handle and ability to convert with an off-arm or off-leg on his finishes at the basket impressed, as he was constantly in attack mode. He also converted on looks beyond the arc and overall played with a high energy level throughout Sunday’s victory. A persistent defender at the point of attack, Wilson came away with several steals and deflections throughout the game, as his overall effort impressed. Nate Amado | 6’3" | Guard capable of guarding up | Whitman-Hanson | Rise Above | 2021 Having seen Amado play before this tournament at the NERR Hoopfest, what stands out immediately. Having already committed to Babson, Amado can set up the offense, operate off the ball as a movement shooter, or even work out of the post. He found ways to score at all three levels and down the stretch when the offense broke down with a controlled and measured shot-fake. Amado is constantly creating advantages with his diversified offensive portfolio, but what really impressed me was his point of attack defense and all-around effort guarding smaller ball handlers. Down the stretch, Amado had one of the more impressive plays of the weekend as down the stretch, he stayed in front of his matchup and made a perfectly time shot contest on a step-back jump shot, resulting in a block and change of possession for Rise Above. https://twitter.com/PHNewEngland/status/1388885518369312773 [player_tooltip player_id="1180705" first="Cam" last="Keliher"] | 6’1" | Combo guard with movement shooting capabilities | Amesbury | Mass Elite | 2022 The last time I had the chance to watch Keliher was via a Zoom stream during his season with Amesbury as he made himself known as one of the most lethal shooters in the Cape Ann League. His confidence shooting the ball from beyond the has carried over to the summer. He has already contributed with many high-scoring performances during his 2021 summer. While Keliher initially profiles as a lead guard/off-ball shooter, there is much more to his game than just spacing the floor. Since last scouting him during the winter, Keliher appears quicker and more fluid with his movements as he does a great job of running on the balls of his feet. Keliher also came away with several steals and did a great job of anticipating the play before it happens. He has great change of pace and showcased a tight handle during Saturday’s victory. Understanding the importance of moving without the ball, Keliher did a great job of setting screens off the ball and cutting within the flow of the offense. https://twitter.com/PHNewEngland/status/1388546785728241667?s=20 Ryan Dear | 5’10" | Lead Guard with off-ball capabilities | BC High | ASA Hoops | 2022 Another ASA prospect with a high-level understanding of spacing, Ryan Dear proved to be a winning formula during Sunday’s deceive victory over Base_Hoops. Dear, in my opinion, at the helm had one of the most impressive outings as a lead guard as he constantly found creative ways to get his teammates involved. The ball never stuck in his hand for too long, as he threw extremely accurate passes and rarely turned the ball over. After the initial catch, he was also aggressive with his takes to the basket. Dear did a great job of picking and choosing his scoring spots, but more importantly, he moved extremely well off the ball and found several open shooting pockets with these intentional positioning efforts. Ryder Frost | 6’4" | Stretch Wing | Beverly | Middlesex Magic | 2024 One of my favorite plays of the weekend came with Ryder Frost perfectly timing up an off-ball cut where he cupped the ball like a running back and subsequently finished with an and-1 layup at the rim. Everything Frost did on the floor was intentional with no wasted movements as he came away with a very efficient performance during Sunday’s victory. Constantly moving and cutting, he made several high-level passes throughout the game. A versatile threat who can space the floor in the pick-and-pop setting, Frost has a growing inside-out game and found ways to contribute without having the ball in his hands. That said, Frost can handle the ball when called upon and initiate the offense as a passing hub. I was also very impressed with Frost’s ability to communicate switches on defense. Out of the class of 2024, I think Frost is a name that will start to flourish with more reps this summer. https://twitter.com/PHNewEngland/status/1388910898971127813 Matthew Buchanan | 6’2" | Off-ball guard | Mt. Pleasant HS | Team NE RI | 2022 It felt as if Matthew Buchanan failed to miss from deep. With sound mechanics on his shot, Buchanan caught and fired at will as he did a great job of setting himself beyon the arc up with ample spacing. Buchanan was particularly lethal out of the corner and made the necessary crunch time shots to secure a victory. Capable of also finishing at the basket, Buchanan had to be watched at all times throughout the game. With a focused and poised demeanor, Buchanan didn’t jump on up fakes and did a great job of containing his matchup with strong and purposeful defensive slides.