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New England Prep Preview

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In the latest “15 in 40” season preview article Craig Leighton and Kevin Farrahar take a look ahead at the New England prep scene.

Q. Which players, Providence recruit or other, are you most looking forward to seeing this season?

CL: I’m most looking forward to seeing Sedee Keita from Putnam Science Academy. Obviously part of the reason is that the 6’10 power forward is currently PC’s top recruit, but even if he does not commit to the Friars it will still be a treat to watch the athletic forward in action. He is the prototypical current day NBA power forward combining athleticism, strength, and an outside shooting touch.

Another to watch this year is Tremont Waters, the 5’11 class of 2017 point guard from South Kent. Waters already has all the tools to be a great point guard at the next level, possessing great court vision, an exceptional outside shot with deep range, and a great handle. PC has already offered Waters and some of the blue blood schools like Duke are already taking a look at him.

I also want to see local Rhode Islander Tomas Murphy in action. I expect to see the 6’8 power forward from Northfield Mount Hermon to come into his own this year and demonstrate why many national writers had put him at the very top of the 2017 class.

KF: Some good choices there, Craig. Waters is one of my favorites in all of New England. He’s just terrific in all facets offensively.

As a Big East guy I’m dying to see Omari Spellman. He’s a top 20 2016 power forward committed to Villanova, but beyond that I expect to see significant strides in his game this season as he transfers from MacDuffie to St. Thomas More. Jere Quinn is such a terrific coach and it will be interesting to see how and where he utilizes Spellman this season.

I love Bruce Brown of Tilton. He’s just a competitive and tough player who is as enjoyable to watch as anyone in New England, but some others I’m looking at: How does Kimani Lawrence do at New Hampton? Wabissa Bede at Cushing. A potential breakout year for Aaron Wheeler of St. Andrew’s in nearby Barrington. Another local product in Preston Santos. And more under the radar recruits Azar Swain at Rivers and point guard Geo Baker.

I’m also keeping an eye on Brewster newcomer Alpha Diallo, a tough small forward out of Colorado.

Which underclassmen do you have your eye on? 

CL: Aaron Wheeler, the 6’5 small forward who is playing at St. Andrew’s in Barrington, RI is a very intriguing prospect. The class of 2017 prospect has improved his game by leaps and bounds over the past year. If his improvement continues he could wind up being one of the top players in the country.

The same can be said about Wabissa Bede, a class of 2017 point guard who will be playing this year at Cushing Academy. Bede was one of the top players in Massachusetts last year and his game continues to improve. He could wind up being a national top 100 player with continued improvement.

KF: My love of shooters has me keeping an eye on Cole Swider of St. Andrew’s. I don’t have a sense of how high his upside is at this point, but his name has seemingly popped up frequently this summer.

There will always be an intrigue factor with Javon Taylor, who committed to Providence prior to his sophomore year and just opened up his recruitment. At what level will he end up?

Santos plays locally at Bishop Hendricken and was very good when I saw him in June. He’s already 6’5, a left hander and quite an athlete.

Which teams are you most looking forward to seeing?

CL: At the top of my list would be Cushing Academy. In addition to adding Bede to this year’s squad they also have two other top Friar recruits in the 2017 class. Makai Ashton Langford is a lightning quick guard who is already one of the top ’17 prospects in the country. In the frontcourt they have another high major prospect in 6’8 power forward Jarrod Simmons.

The other team I am looking forward to seeing this year is Putnam Science Academy, a team loaded with talent that may wind up being the top prep school in the country. They are led by class of 2016 top 100 players in Keita and UConn commit Mamodou Diarra in the frontcourt, and a 2017 top 50 player Hamidou Diallo at guard. They also have Friar recruits 6’8 forward Chuba Ohams and 7’2 center Emmanuel Umoffia.

KF: I already made mention of Spellman at St. Thomas More, and that is a team that I think could end up winning at the highest NEPSAC level. Small forward Mike Sagay just committed to Boston College and they also have UNLV commit Christian Vital and a good prospect in Arkel Ager-Lamar.

Which event are you most looking forward to?

CL: Every year I always look forward to attending the National Prep School Invitational which takes place in February at Rhode Island College. Annually some of the best prep school talent in the country participate, and this year is no exception. Every player I mentioned above will be at this year’s event. In addition several teams from other countries participate as well.

Some of the teams participating this year include Brewster, Putnam Science, Cushing, Wilbraham & Monson, IMG Academy, Montverde Prep, Orangeville Prep, and St. Thomas More.

It should be a great four days of basketball.

KF: For me it’s all about the National Prep Showcase in November. So many players have broken out at this event in recent years and it happens soon after kids have signed in the fall, making way for what will eventually become the top spring targets.

There’s an endless list of NBA players who have taken part in this three day session, but it so often serves as either a launching pad for undervalued recruits, or a chance for the top young prospects in the country to serve notice.

The Showcase seems to set the tone for the rest of the prep season.

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2015-16 “15 in 40″ season preview articles:

15. Finding the Range from Deep: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/08/19/15-in-40-finding-the-range-from-deep/

14. Where Are They Now? http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/11/15-in-40-where-are-they-now/

13. Rodney Bullock’s Day Approaching: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/12/rodney-bullocks-day-approaching/

12. Learning More About the Freshmen: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/18/learning-more-about-the-freshmen/

11. Season Preview: Jalen Lindsey: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/20/season-preview-jalen-lindsey/

10. Season Preview: Ben Bentil: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/23/season-preview-ben-bentil/

9: Not Dunn Yet: Video on Kris Dunn’s Career: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/25/new-video-not-dunn-yet/

8. Season Preview: The Backcourt: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/27/season-preview-the-backcourt/

7. Season Preview: The Frontcourt: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/09/30/season-preview-the-frontcourt/

6. Big East Media Day Podcast: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/10/15/provcast-be-media-day/

5. 2015-16 Video Trailer: http://friarbasketball.com/2015/10/16/video-2015-16-trailer/

 

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