Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Junior Boys at the All-Star Game

Akosa Maduegbunam Impressed At All-Star Game

Charlestown's Akosa Maduegbunam had an excellent showing at second annual MA & NH All-Star game. Maduegbunam showed us that he is an athletic guard that can knock down shots and can find his way to the rim. Maduegbunam is strong and incredibly quick with the potential to be an excellent finisher. What was most noticeable was the fact that he is clearly a much better shooter than a year ago. Maduegbunam is clearly a division 1 college prospect.

Javon Williams (Nashusa, NH) - Williams showed us again why we get excited when we see him play. Williams did it all again. He led the transition at an incredible speed, made some incredible passes, and showed us a smooth three point shot that he can make from extended range given the powerful body he has. If Williams can put the whole package together consistently he will find himself playing division 1 college basketball.

Adam Bramanti (Masconomet Regional, MA) - Bramanti is a talent that knows how to get it done in a variety of ways. The bottom line on this young man is that he has game. He can shoot the ball from beyond the arc but he has a very effective midrange game as well. Bramanti is a scholarship prospect and will surely have coaches in the gym this Spring and Summer.

Steve Haladyna (St. John's Prep, MA) - The day after scoring 28 points to lead St. John's Prep to the division 1 State Championship, Haladyna put on another good performance. Haladyna has a nose for the basketball that is second to none in Mass & NH High School basketball. Haladyna love to score points, and thus he gets it done in a variety of ways. Again he showed us that he is very active on the floor and is a winner. Haladyna will also have coaches watching his progress over the Spring and Summer.

Zach Karalis (North Andover, MA) - Karalis is a talented and long guard who has an exceptional stroke from behind the arc. Given that threat, Karalis is able to find his way into the paint to make plays for himself and his teammates. As a result, he continues to show us that he is a tough match-up for most guards.

Kenny Reed (Reading, MA) - Reed has a powerful body and great athleticsm. Reed showed us that he can use that athleticsm to create space and make shots off the dribble.

Kyle Lentini (North Reading, MA) - Lentini has a great body and is a physical basketball player that both attacks and protects the basket with a sense of purpose. Lentini can also score successfully around the basket and has the ability to step away from the basket.

Brad Holler (Bishop Guertin, NH) - Holler made several long range threes from well behind the arc. An improved Holler played with much passion showing us that he can find his way into the lane making plays for both himself and his teammates.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Sophomore Girls At All-Star Game

Olivia Healey Leads Cast of Sophomores

Olivia Healey (5’9” G Reading) – Healey is our #1 rated sophomore in Massachusetts and she is far beyond her years as a basketball player and she is just scratching the surface of how good she can become. Healey is a physical guard who plays the game with great intensity. She is an extremely good rebounder who loves to mix it up underneath. Offensively she is very polished and can score the basketball in a variety of ways. She loves to catch and shoot from the wing as well as drive to the whole. She has a high basketball I.Q. She is a tough defensive player who scores frequently off her defensive pressure. Healey is a natural leader and has a good way of getting teammates to play at her level of intensity.

Asia Mitchell (5’9” G Oliver Ames) – Mitchell is a strong physical point guard who plays the game with grace. Mitchell is great at over powering her opponents both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. She is very good at getting into the paint and finding an open teammate. Mitchell also has the ability to knock down the three and score in the paint at a pretty consistent rate. Look for Mitchell’s stock to rise in the ranking.

Ashley Lutz (6’0” F Lincoln Sudbury) – Lutz is a smooth versatile forward who has the ability to play on the inside and outside. Her size, strength, and savvy make her a match up nightmare for other forwards. Lutz has the ability to knock down and open three. She can also put the ball on the floor and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. We were especially pleased with her ability to push the ball out in transition after a rebound. Lutz has huge upside.

Saliah Surrette (5’10” F Weston) – Surrette is a athletic forward who thrives in an uptempo game. Surrette is a big time rebounder and defender. She was great at running the lane and getting herself free for open lay ups. Surrette also showed the ability to knock down the 15 footer. With some polishing up of her offensive game, Surrette has a chance to be the real deal.

Caitlin King (5’7” G Amesbury) - King is a smooth combo guard who plays the game with grace and at times making it look effortless. King does a great job at using her quickness to penetrate the middle and free herself up for easy shots. King has a very nice pull up jump shot from the wing. She also has the ability to knock down open shots from the three. King is a rhythm player and seems to score in bunches.

Julia Wood (5’9” G Bishop Feehan) - Wood is a tremendous athlete. Very fast and possess a great first step. Wood loves to play in the open floor and does a great job using her speed to make plays. Wood plays the game with great intensity and seems to take on the role as a defensive stopper.

Racheal McCarron (5’10” G Groton Dunstable) McCarron is a hard nose player who just seems to be in the right place on the court at all times. McCarron is a physical player who is just coming into her own as a scoring threat from the wing. She has the ability to knock down open shots along with create her own offense off the dribble. McCarron is also an exceptional offensive rebounder who plays hard every possession.

Briannca Batallas (5’10” F Narragansett) - Batallas played well both offensively and defensively, she wasn’t afraid to get physical and mix it up underneath. Batallas was very good at attacking the hoop in transition.

Brianna Hochwarter (5’5” G Attleboro) - Hochwarter is a smart player who you is automatic from the three if left open. She plays the game with great intensity and plays with a sense of fearlessness on the court. Hochwarter was the only player we saw attemptoing to take a charge. That says alot about this young talent. She is also a very good defender and she uses her quickness along with her high basketball I.Q. to make up for her lack of size.

Kelsey Brown (6’0” G Oyster River) Brown is a big versatile guard who can play every position on the floor. Brown has a silky smooth shot from the wing and is able to beat defenders off the dribble from the wing. Brown is also an exceptional passer who sees the floor very well. Brown is also a good rebounder and is great at pushing the ball out in transition. She has the ability to score in bunches. Her size and sweet stroke from the wing make her a high prospect.

Allie Hartford (5’5” G Memorial ) – One of the best guards at the event Hartford did a great job at penetrating the paint and dishing off to open teammates. Hartford seemed to be a step and a play ahead of everyone. Hartford is ultra quick and for what she lacks in size she makes up for it with her toughness and shear desire to win.

Moriah Morton (5’7” G Lebanon ) – Morton is a tough guard who has the ability to attack the hoop and knock down open shots. Morton plays the game with great intensity.

Madison Gibbs (5’7” G Bishop Guertin) – Gibbs is a tough combo guard who can knock down the open three. Gibbs is also a very efficient player and does a great job at making the right play.

Yvonne Bailey(5’10” F Portsmouth Christian Academy) – Bailey is as tough as nails and plays the game with great intensity. Has a nose for the ball and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. She is tenacious on the boards and challenges her opponent on every possession. She is still offensively raw but with some fine tuning has the chance to be a very good player. Bailey is also a young sophomore so she has time to mature.

Maggie McGowen (5’10 F Bedford High School) – McGowen is a smart guard who can knock down the open three and beat her defenders off the dribble.

Denise Giustina (5’9” G Gardner )- Giustina loves to drive off the wing position. She has a nice stroke from the wing and seems to thrive in an uptempo game. Giustina has the ability to score in bunches. She is not afraid to bang bodies and play physical.