New England Names To Know
The pandemic has been the main factor in our daily activities being altered. Unfortunately, one of those activities has been high school basketball. Although many programs have got their season underway, there have been schools that have postponed their season.…
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Continue ReadingThe pandemic has been the main factor in our daily activities being altered. Unfortunately, one of those activities has been high school basketball. Although many programs have got their season underway, there have been schools that have postponed their season. Therefore, we miss out on some of the most talented athletes across the region in the short term. Here are a few of the most elite players shelved for the winter but should be on our radar as we progress through 2021.
Blake O’Grady – Dexter Southfield – 6’0” – SG/SF – 2023
The Dexter Southfield wing can score by bullying defenders attacking the basket or spot up from 25 feet out and light it up from distance. A scorer who can fill it up in various ways is one of the purest shooters you will witness. O’Grady is a corner three specialist, and her ability to snipe from either corner consistently makes her extremely valuable when opposing teams play zone defense. Her 6’0” frame, along with her strength, creates mismatches on the wing. A simple jab step is all she needs to create enough space to fire the three-ball, and if a defender takes away the jump shot, she has the confidence to drive the basketball to score. A tremendous off-hand finisher, O’Grady can score using her left hand with ease. So fluid with either hand, the sophomore star has the body control to finish through contact and is an accurate free throw shooter when she draws fouls. O’Grady is an unselfish player because she will do the little things that maximize her team’s chances of scoring on offense. For example, in transition, she will rim run and draw the defense to her, opening up the shooters on the wing to settle in and get clean looks from the outside. Her size and athleticism allow her to guard multiple positions on the defensive end. She is quick enough to guard the perimeter and big enough to defend the post. Her skillset is well beyond her years, explaining why she plays for the 2022 Bay State Jaguars AAU team rather than her class. With offers already from LaSalle and Umass, along with getting looked at from Yale, Princeton, Missouri, and Villanova, I am sure this list will grow once she gets back on the court.
Tova Gelb – Maimonides Prep – 5’8” – SG – 2021
Over her high school career, Gelb developed into one of the best scorers in girl’s basketball. She scored north of 1500 points in 3 years with a high probability to eclipse the 2000 point plateau during her senior campaign. A knockdown shooter, the 5’8” guard made a living destroying defenses with her efficient outside shooting. Another athlete who can obliterate a zone defense by spotting up in the corner, Gelb, has made many defenders pay for late closeouts. An excellent player off the ball and running off screens; the senior is a handful to keep track of if you are an opposing defense. A crafty finisher with both hands, Gelb can score easily around the basket. Watching Gelb play, you notice that no one plays harder every possession than she does. The effort on both sides of the ball and the level of aggression play a significant role in her success on the court. Her hands are always active on defense, which is why she plays the top of Maimonides 1-3-1 zone. The senior’s endless motor forces teams to turn the ball over, leading to the speedy Gelb to score easily on the fastbreak. That high octane swagger causes a trickle-down effect on the rest of her teammates, creating a monstrous defensive unit. Unfortunately, her season is canceled, but she will be taking her talents to Vassar College in the fall.
Calie Messina – Groton School – 5’7” – PG – 2022
Messina’s basketball I.Q. is off the charts on both sides of the ball. The junior guard is fascinating to watch on defense, not because of the high number of steals but because she is elite at being in the right position to attain these thefts. If you watch her help-side defense, she always tries to see the ball, and her anticipation, combined with her positioning, allows her to create easy steal opportunities. On offense, the 5’7 floor general is a magician passing the basketball. She is incredible at creating scoring opportunities for her teammates and throws pinpoint accurate passes. In transition, she can change speeds effortlessly and freeze her defender with her ball handling while she finishes dazzling layups. A skilled three-level scorer, Messina has range extending beyond the three-point line, and her mid-range pull-up game is money. Messina’s high motor makes her a perfect point guard if you want to play uptempo. Between her speed, shooting, and playmaking ability, she is almost impossible to guard. The Groton offense is electrifying to watch due to Messina’s entertaining play style. She is a great catalyst for the team on both sides of the ball, and it fuels the rest of the players on the team. Messina has an offer from Hartford and has interest from Yale and Dartmouth.
Teagan Curran – Tabor Academy – 6’0” – Combo Guard – 2022
Curran is a versatile guard who you can utilize in the post or on the perimeter. She has the perfect skillset for pick and roll action because she opens up nicely after setting the screen and is a tremendous finisher around the hoop. Capable of hitting threes, the 6’0” junior can pop after the screen, too, and be a legitimate threat from three. An under-appreciated aspect of her game is her passing ability from the post. She has a good sense of where her teammates are on the floor, and when the help collapses on her as she is back down, she can make the right decision and find open shooters on the wing. Tabor Academy was battling injuries last season, and as a result, Curran had to play more minutes and play down low a little more. Despite having the skillset to make these adjustments, a player must also possess the intangible of doing whatever it takes to win. Curran’s willingness to adapt ensued a starting spot in the lineup, and most importantly, it developed her game. Now she is a potent inside-out scorer with lots of room to still grow. Curran’s ceiling is extremely high, not just because of her physical gifts, but because of her drive to be great. With the season postponed until further notice, the athletic wing is developing her ball handling and fine-tuning her jump shot; so spring 2021 should be a huge season for Curran. Playing for the Bay State Jaguars in spring and summer AAU, Curran is looking to make a significant imprint on the team.