Prep Profile - New Hampton School

Tuesday, November 19th, 2019

The 2019-20 season will be a year of firsts for the men’s basketball program at the New Hampton School.

Former assistant coach Andrew Gale will be sliding over a chair to become the program’s new head coach and taking over a team that is talented, but nonetheless very young and inexperienced.
 
The Returners

Gale has three returning veterans to rely on in Canberk Kavsuk, Kerem Ozturk, and Marcus Peterson.

Ozturk is the most experienced of the three as he enters his third season with the Huskies. His recruitment is also behind him following a recent pledge to the University of Chicago. That combination allows him to be a very mature, stabilizing presence at the point guard position.

Kavsuk, a fellow Turkish native, is back for his second season and may have more to prove then anyone else on the roster. He earned rave reviews upon his arrival last year, but has seen his recruitment plateau somewhat in the last eight months. Undeniably skilled though with the ability to operate both in the post and step-out, he will have an opportunity to be a focal point for the Huskies this year and prove himself to college coaches in the process.

Peterson is a local New Hampshire native who has split his time between the hardwood and the grid-iron in recent years but is reportedly hoping to focus on hoops at the next level where he can provide an athletic wing with untapped potential. 

The Newcomers

Jahmyl Telford, a post-graduate forward from Montreal, is widely expected to be the most impactful of the newcomers. He’s powerful, versatile, and has already made major strides in less than three months at NHS as he’s become both more skilled and assertive. That progression will need to continue this season for the Huskies to be successful as he’ll be a key piece of their plan on both ends of the floor. Also in the frontcourt, senior forward Charlie Raisin is already committed to RPI and provides a nice combination of size and skill.

The backcourt will be defined by competition as Ozturk is joined by a handful of post-graduates all looking to increase their options in their final year. Matt Becker is the most recognizable name as the Fairfield Warde (CT) alum is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his former teammate, Sean Conway, who played his way to the D1 level with a prep year at Cushing after a storied career in the CIAC. Becker has great perimeter size, floor vision, creativity, and the potential to be a big lead guard.

Mohammed Alausa is the most powerful and physically mature of the bunch with a long, chiseled frame and the potential to both play and defend multiple positions. Christian Davis, the younger brother of former Husky and current Quinnipiac forward Nathan Davis, is another late-bloomer who is already skilled and might have several more inches left in his frame. Zach Galvin is recovering from an ACL injury suffered last year but will provide a big, heady combo-guard and skilled shot-maker.

The Underclassmen

The Huskies’ two best long-term prospects might actually be the youngest players on their team. Sophomores Alex Karaban and Kyle Hicks will both need to grow up quickly and be asked to become important contributors from day one. Trial by fire in a league like Class AAA of the NEPSAC is bound to include some growing pains but both prospects have the sheer talent to hold their own and should undoubtedly benefit from the experience in the long-run. Karaban is a skilled forward who can stretch the floor and is increasingly able to produce inside the paint. Hicks is a dynamic guard with good size and physical tools who can attack off the bounce and is making nice strides with his jumper and skill-set.

The junior class features Evan Guillory and Matteo Boerries. Guillory is expected to be an important contributor this year as well with his impressive physical profile, high-motor, and ability to play and defend multiple positions on the floor.

Dining Characteristics

Yes, they’re young and inexperienced, but they’re also hungry and united by the fact that they all have something to prove, both individually and collectively. There weren’t many more enthusiastic open gyms this fall and that has carried over to the first few weeks of practice according to all reports.

Bottom Line

They may not be the favorites in Class AAA this year but this is a team that has prospects for every level of college basketball and, most importantly, the program is on very solid ground for the foreseeable future with an enthusiastic new coach and a strong base of young talent.