A New England Summer: The Stock-Risers

The <a href="https://events.prephoops.com/info?website_id=1&event_id=503" data-type="URL" data-id="https://events.prephoops.com/info?website_id=1&event_id=503">PrepHoops Top-250 Expo</a> is this Saturday, September 10. Use the coupon code 250Expo2022E to get 50% off a subscription. I'll be there, covering the event. If you'd like to interact and connect, send me a message on Twitter @alex_walulik.   With that being said, it's time to discuss some of New England's summer stock-risers - players who have performed exceedingly well this summer and are beginning to get regional or national attention. Here are five players that have had good summers and boosted their stock:   Matt Draheim 6'0" BC High 2023   Draheim is a left-handed guard that can light it up from deep. He's got a great-looking shot that he steps in to and follows through with. Draheim can score from 3-point range via the catch-and-shoot or off-the-bounce. Again, the mechanics are amazing and they're equally as good off-the-dribble. He's more than just a 3-point shooter, as Draheim can finish through contact and he's a creative, crafty player that simply finds ways to score. He's a solid passer, too. Overall, Draheim had a fantastic summer with Rise Above Basketball, and he'll put those newfound skills to the test with BC High this upcoming season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1489336' first='Kingston' last='Walker'] 6'5" Loomis Chaffee 2024   Another lefty, Walker has a solid pull-up game that is accompanied by a pitch-perfect jumper. He's excellent in transition and reads the floor really well. In transition, he can either finish around defenders thanks to his high-level fluidity and flexibility or he can do a dribble pull-up from the mid-range. Walker is also effective and dangerous in the half court. He's got great ball-handling skills and solid footwork considering the 6'5" body. Defensively, Walker is disruptive by getting his hands in passing lanes and clogging pick-and-rolls. With a solid summer with Expressions Elite Basketball, Walker will have an opportunity to continue boosting his stock upward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1081884' first='Ahmadou' last='Ndiaye'] 6'9" Scotland Campus 2023   Ndiaye is heading to Scotland Campus alongside multiple The House We Built players. But, he's still a New England-based player in my book, and he was someone who took that next step this summer. Ndiaye is a high motor rebounder, and that combined with his excellent instincts and timing make him hard to deal with on the boards. The 6'9" length and frame makes Ndiaye a menace in terms of offensive and defensive versatility. He can play and guard multiple positions defensively, even the 5 if need be because of his elite rim protection. He also brings a ton of offensive versatility thanks to his wingspan and emerging scoring ability. His star is shining bright, but with a year at Scotland Campus, that star can shine even brighter very soon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1477868' first='Jason' last='James'] 6'0" Westminster School 2023   James has been an elite, effective offensive player for a long time. But, it's been his developing, emerging defense that lands him on this list as a stock-riser. He's truly evolved into a high-level two-way player. While playing for the 17U Team Fredette Elite team, James took his defense to the next level. He intercepted cross-court passes. He picked up ball-handlers full court. He disrupted passing lanes. James' activity and ability to turn defense into offense was critical for his development. He's going to make a ton of noise with Westminster School this season, and his stock will continue to rise.   Soloman Ball 6'3" Brewster Academy 2023   Ball, a University of Connecticut commit, was already highly-recruited and ranked. But, he's a player that greatly benefitted from the summer and increased his overall stock and ranking. He's a player that's flown under the radar, and a prospect that hasn't been discussed enough. He's extremely athletic, he posted a 40-inch vertical at the Peach Jam circuit. He's an incredible scorer. He's great at weaving his way through and around defenders. He's super creative with the basketball in his hands. He's going to be very impressive once he gets on a college stage, and he'll continue to showcase his overall great skillset.   Azmar Abdullah 6'2" Bishop Hendricken 2023   Abdullah put on a show for Basketball Club Rhode Island this summer. He exceeded expectations, and he had a lot of people talking about him. But, certainly not enough considering Abdullah's pure talent level. He's a high-level shooter from 3-point territory and the mid-range. He's a heat check-type of player, a player that hit multiple shots in a short span of time. Simply put, he's an elite scorer. He's also a solid distributor and rebounder for the position. Abdullah is starting to get some recognition, and as he continues to increase his stock, he'll get even more.

The PrepHoops Top-250 Expo is this Saturday, September 10. Use the coupon code 250Expo2022E to get 50% off a subscription. I'll be there, covering the event. If you'd like to interact and connect, send me a message on Twitter @alex_walulik.