O-Zone Basketball: Class of 2023

The other week I highlighted the players representing the class of 2025 and 2024 who played on O-Zone Basketball’s ’23 team. Now, let’s turn the spotlight on the athletes from the class of 2023. This team has a mix of everything: size, speed, defense and shooting. The blend of all those attributes will make an entertaining product this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="184031" first="Mia" last="Molinari"] - Millis High - 5’10’’ - PF - 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9979-crop-1467x963-1616213535.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-264577 alignnone" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9979-crop-1467x963-1616213535-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Molinari is a tremendous forward coming off a season where she was a Tri-Valley League (TVL) Honorable Mention. A defensive anchor who has a great nose for the ball and is always active in the paint. Molinari is an exceptional athlete who does not need to score the basketball to be one of the most impactful players on the floor. Her versatility on defense and the ability to switch out on screens, guard the perimeter and protect the rim at a high level make her extremely valuable to O-Zone Basketball. Molinari plays with a ton of energy, and her instincts are off the charts; this results in her always being in the right position to be effective on defense. She runs the floor well for a big and is comfortable going coast-to-coast off a steal or rebound. Molinari has superior upper body strength and uses it wisely when she attacks the basket. Her high IQ mixed with athleticism makes Molinari the glue to Ozone Basketball. [player_tooltip player_id="184034" first="Chloe" last="Bindon"] - Walpole High - 5’10 - SG/SF - 2023 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-264643" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2519-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Bindon can shoot the lights out and will be an excellent floor spacer for Ava Orlando and [player_tooltip player_id="184030" first="Hana" last="Skeary"] when they penetrate the lane. Bindon’s quick release and precision from the outside will keep the defense honest, resulting in other O-Zone Basketball players getting clean looks on offense. What I like most about Bindon is that she is not a one-dimensional offensive player. She moves well off the ball, finding holes in the defense, resulting in her team’s easy scoring opportunities. She is a smart basketball player who does the little things well, such as making the extra pass and keeping the offense flowing. A physical defender, Bindon has the quickness and strength to defend three positions. Her anticipation and ball-hawking ability allow her to ignite fastbreak opportunities that shift the game’s momentum. [player_tooltip player_id="184030" first="Hana" last="Skeary"] - Dover-Sherborn - 5’6’’ - SG/PG - 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9983-crop-1043x685-1616213656.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-264579" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9983-crop-1043x685-1616213656-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Skeary is a dynamic point guard who uses her speed and quickness to get to the basket at will. She is an aggressive scorer, and her ability to finish with either hand makes her tough to defend when in the paint. Skeary’s scoring prowess allows her to slide over to the 2 guard spot and a backcourt of Ava Orlando, and she is one of the fastest and deadliest backcourts you will see. Not the biggest athlete for the shooting guard position, but Skeary is so polished offensively and so accurate, spotting up behind the three-point line that it makes up for her lack of height at the position. She is also a brilliant basketball player who rotates well on the perimeter, finding open slots to make her point guards’ lives easier when facilitating. Skeary is one of the top players in the Tri-Valley League (TVL), and her TVL All-Star nod helps validate that. Grace Ryan - Walpole High - 5’6’’ - SG/PG - 2023 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-264644" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_4686-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Ryan is a combo guard who is automatic from mid-long range. She is a great fit for this team because Ryan does not need the ball in her hand to be an effective guard. On offense, the 5’6’’ guard can be your three-point specialist, and on defense, you can trust her to lock down the best backcourt player on the opposing team. Ryan is so athletic and slides her feet well to stay in front of any guard, even if she does not have the size advantage. On top of being terrific on-ball, more importantly, Ryan is outstanding on the help side. So gritty and tenacious on defense, Ryan prides herself on being in the correct position at all times, ready to jump passing lanes and be a disruptor. She crashes the glass hard and runs the floor well, and is the type of player that coaches would kill to have. [player_tooltip player_id="184033" first="Grace" last="Burgoyne"] - Notre Dame Academy - 6’4’’ - C - 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9981-crop-600x394-1616213725.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-264581" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/IMG_9981-crop-600x394-1616213725-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Burgoyne is one of the most intimidating inside presences in Massachusetts. A nightly double-double threat, Burgoyne averaged 8.5 points and 10 rebounds during a sophomore season that ended in a Catholic Conference All-Star selection. She shows impeccable timing when blocking shots and actively patrolling the paint, making it nearly impossible for her opponent to convert inside. The 6’4’’ center has all the tools to dominate the game on both ends. Although she averaged single-digit points this year, Burgoyne showed flashes of how she can impact the game in the scoring column with a 17-point game against Malden Catholic and a 16-point outing vs. Ursaline. The combination of her length and soft touch around the rim gives O-Zone Basketball an ideal option on the block. Burgoyne took a massive jump from her freshman to sophomore year, and with the trajectory arrow pointing up, it will be exciting to see the leaps she takes this spring.