‘22 Post Winter Rankings Top 10: The Boston Mairathon

The 2021-2022 season has come to a close, and some of the region’s biggest names shined on the brightest stages. When considering rankings, I always look at how one’s talent directly impacts their respective team winning. It isn’t all about the stats but how a player’s game translates against the best competition and in the games’ biggest moments. Now, let’s look at who were the top 10 senior prospects from the winter.   #1 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403130" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/832E2692-C9D2-4E7F-BB99-279AF03C0386-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647890908-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263832" first="Taina" last="Mair"] | Brooks | 5’8’’| PG Capping off an undefeated season by hitting the game-winner in the NEPSAC Class B Championship is a good way to declare the #1 spot on the list. Mair, the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, was exceptional, leading Brooks to a historic season. She averaged a triple-double this winter averaging 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, and did so against the very best competition in New England. For the third straight update, Mair has been ranked #1 and left zero doubt that she was the most elite prospect this year.   #2 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403129" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/D8FC85B8-1888-44BD-9F73-E7FBC3D72E24-crop-1686x1108-1647890853-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263799" first="Samantha" last="Dewey"] | Brooks | 6’2’’ | PF Dewey is hands down the best defender in New England, and I do not think it is up for debate. She has the same impact defensively for Brooks that her teammate [player_tooltip player_id="263832" first="Taina" last="Mair"] has offensively. Dewey is the only person I have seen that can take over a game on defense consistently and shift the outcome. Go back and watch the Championship game vs. St Luke’s. Brooks was down 10 points heading into the 4th quarter, and St. Luke’s was rolling on offense. St Luke’s scored 12 points in the 4th quarter. What changed? Dewey locked down the paint unlike anything I have seen, and when she was anchoring the defense, it trickled down to the other four players on the court. As much as Mair’s offensive brilliance sealed the NEPSAC B title, Dewey’s defensive dominance was just as significant.   #3 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403127" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/13A571C8-DE72-4B6E-8435-E4B30FD3AD17-crop-1536x1009-1647890722-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="183929" first="Megan" last="Olbrys"] | Norwood | 6’1’’ | PF Olbrys dominated throughout the season, leading Norwood to the #1 seed in MIAA D2 and the finals. No one had an answer for Olbrys size and strength in the paint, and she wreaked havoc on the glass and the block. On both sides of the floor, Olbrys can punish teams and do so as recently as the MIAA State Tournament. Norwood fell short of the championship, but Olbrys showed her offensive versatility. Her 21 points were dispersed all over the court. Whether around the rim, in the mid-range, or extending to the three-point line, Olbrys can give you whatever your team needs.   #4 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403126" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/C842596A-624E-46E1-9032-CEE6C4C8DE2A-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647890680-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263919" first="Caroline" last="Lau"] | St. Luke’s | 5’9’’| PG The Northwestern commit was one-half of one of the best backcourts in New England. Watching her net 22 points in the Championship game vs. Brooks, it is hard to argue Lau’s scoring prowess and that she is one of the best shooters in the region. The three-point bombs are the icing on the cake to Lau’s game. The long, athletic guard will rebound at a high clip and facilitates well in the half-court. I also like how effective she can be off the ball. Lau is a natural point guard but doesn’t need to monopolize the basketball to impact the outcome of a game.   #5 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403405" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/26743312_Unknown-crop-1231x808-1647964401-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263857" first="Nique" last="Mayo"] | Notre Dame - Fairfield. | 5’9’’| CG Mayo led Notre Dame-Fairfield to a Class L Championship and put up 20+ points on the biggest stage to no one’s surprise. She has always been one of the hardest players to stop because of her size, shooting ability, and power when slashing, and she shredded the competition this winter. She moves well off the ball and is an excellent catch and shoot option on the perimeter, especially when teams go zone. However, if your team needs a big play made down the stretch, whether scoring or setting a teammate up, Mayo can undoubtedly do that.   #6 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403125" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/B5F915F7-FA4E-4BF6-8DF3-35DDBA24A215-crop-1242x816-1647890649-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="264770" first="Victoria" last="Morales"] | Proctor Academy | 5’7’’ | PG Morales was the driver to a Proctor’s team that proved they could beat and hang with some of the best teams in the region. I thought the team had an impressive year, and Morales’ efforts were the biggest reason. The electric play night in and night out from the 5’7’’ floor general sparked the team and put them in a position to win constantly. The playmaking in the open court, long-range shooting, and the energy she brought every possession had helped Proctor secure the 8th seed in the NEPSAC Class B Tournament, where they found themselves down 1 to Brooks at the half.   #7 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403406" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/20210619_184941_HDR-scaled-crop-1295x850-1647964496-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="279966" first="Shailyn" last="Pinkney"] | East Hartford | 5’8’’ | PG Pinkney led #2 East Hartford to the program’s first state title scoring 26 points against #12 Wilton in the CIAC Class L Championship. The game was tied at 25, and Pinkney scored 11 points during East Hartford’s 21-3 run to secure the title. The explosiveness and power on Pinkney’s drives are impressive, and she can score on good defense from all three levels. She is an excellent rebounder and unguardable in the open court when coming at the defense at full speed.   #8 [caption id="attachment_403119" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/BF584FB2-CD4E-4697-AEDB-45935D5BBF8E-scaled-crop-1237x812-1647890177.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-403119" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/BF584FB2-CD4E-4697-AEDB-45935D5BBF8E-scaled-crop-1237x812-1647890177-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Allison Talon[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="184091" first="Jaycie" last="Christopher"] | Skowhegan | 6’0’’ | CG Christopher capped off her senior campaign with an undefeated championship season and Gatorade Player of the Year for Maine. The big combo guard had a monster season averaging 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists during the 22-0 season. She has the complete package offensively. She can beat you in numerous ways in an isolation setting because of her size, shooting, and finishing ability. Christopher can get any shot she wants off the dribble,elevate over any contest and bury jumpers effortlessly. Her off-hand ball-handling and finishing are also impressive. Christopher is so strong going to her left that it makes her a living nightmare to defend.   #9 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403116" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/08/IMG_8883-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647889883-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263848" first="Sarah" last="Talon"] | Windham | 5’9’’ | PG It is hard to find a player who wants to win more than Talon. She will do whatever it takes to come out victorious, and you see that in her aggression defensively and on the glass. In my opinion, she is the best rebounding and shot-blocking guard in the ’22 class. Talon’s athleticism is off the charts, and her dynamic playmaking on defense leads to her getting out in the open court terrorizing teams. When Talon gets downhill and into the mid-range area, it is an automatic bucket. Her change of speed and body control when charging at the defense on the break before pulling up for a jumper is as deadly as it gets. Talon ended her high school career being named the SMAA Conference Player of the Year and was named to the All-Conference 1st team along with the All-Defensive Team.   #10 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-403115" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/FC5B8E0E-5EC2-4179-87FF-3D35D3383B02-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647889821-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263788" first="Morgan" last="Lee"] | Kent | 6’5’’ | PF Not many players at Lee’s position pass better than her, especially from the high post. She is so unselfish, and her high basketball IQ helped spearhead countless excellent Kent offensive possessions. Lee dominated teams with her back to the basket. She has great hands and is a tough finisher around the rim who can consistently stretch out to the three and knock them down. The number of double and triple teams she would see is unheard of, but with her elite vision and feel for the game, Lee could always find the open teammate spotting up or cutting.