Ballers on the Rise: E-Mass
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It has been an exciting start to the 2020-2021 season and in large part due to the amount of up and coming talent breaking onto the scene. Many players have been given a chance to show what they can do…
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Continue ReadingIt has been an exciting start to the 2020-2021 season and in large part due to the amount of up and coming talent breaking onto the scene. Many players have been given a chance to show what they can do at the varsity level, and they have not disappointed. Here are some of the budding athletes who are putting Eastern Massachusetts on notice.
Yirsy Queliz – St. Mary’s High School – Soph. – G
Queliz is an absolute terror on the defensive end. Her on-ball defense is so aggressive that she makes it impossible for ball handlers to get the ball past half court! Using her lateral quickness to stay in front of any player she guards, she makes a habit of getting steals and scoring easy transition baskets. Most noticeably, in a game against Cathedral earlier in the year, she helped lead a 23-2 St. Mary scoring run in the first quarter by scoring 7 points in that span. Averaging 13 points in her last 3 games, she has provided consistent scoring that has played a massive role in St Mary’s winning 5 games in 6 days.
Hailey Garcia – Mashpee High School – Soph – F
The Sophomore is one of the most athletic forwards in the South Shore League. Monday night vs. Abington, she was electric, showing off her speed on both ends of the floor and non-stop hustle. She finished the game scoring 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and her efforts earned her a spot in the starting lineup two nights later against Middleboro. She is a player that can finish around the rim and put the ball on the floor, and get to the rim. Her transition defense is second to none as she does a great job getting back and altering layups. She is a player that should be on everyone’s radar for the rest of the season.
Orlagh Gormley – North Quincy High School – Fr – G
The freshman point guard has turned heads after dropping a career-best 31 points against Quincy High School. The performance was so eye-popping because she scored as many points as Quincy did as a team! Receiving high praise from her teammates and coaches, Gormley has been called a “star” and a “potential division 1 college player.” Coming out of the gate scoring 12 first-quarter points, the varsity standout showed no fear as she completely dominated the offensive side of the ball. Her quickness with the ball and the body control she possesses when she is weaving through defenders on her way to the basket is elite for someone her age. With her trajectory arrow pointed up, this should be one of many 30- point explosions for Gormley.
Alix Abelard – Fontbonne Academy – Soph – G
Abelard is off to a solid start for Fontbonne Academy. Averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals over the last two games, the second-year guard shows the ability to be a valuable two-way player. A great decision maker in transition, Abelard knows when to dish it off to a teammate for the layup or when to take it aggressively to the hoop to score herself. Her quick first step on offense allows her to get to the paint and has a beautiful touch on her floaters. Extremely quick with the ball, Abelard can blow by defenders who decide to pick her up full court.
Chinenye Odenigbo – Walpole High School – Soph – C
The Walpole center is going to be a walking double-double this season. Her 11 points and 11 rebounds against Milton in the season opener felt like the beginning of a dominating career. She is a strong finisher around the rim, and Walpole does a great job setting picks to open her up for points. What is impressive is that Odenigbo does a great job reading these screens and will often curl to the basket, which leads to bare open layups. On the defensive end, she is a brick wall and will not allow any easy points inside. Constantly altering shots, the sophomore center is a reliable big to anchor Walpole’s defense.