2024 Frosh/Soph #E75 North - The Wings

Friday, September 13th, 2024

The wings that came out to Massachusetts one week ago today look to be a very solid group with lots of upside all around. Almost perfectly half and half, this batch consists of a good mix of rising freshman and sophomores, and those in the NEPSAC and their respective state associations. 

Here's who caught our eye…

Elliot Erickson, Cushing Academy - The 2027 put his talent on full display the other night, showing off his well-rounded game. He attacked the basket and converted around the rim, made some good passes and knocked down shots. His shot creation off the dribble was notable, and we look forward to seeing his development continue.

Malachi Odugbela, St. Andrews - With Division One history in his family, Odugbela has started to make a name for himself already. He brings impressive guard skills at his size with a shifty handle, and self-creation off the dribble. On the defensive end his timing on blocks and closeouts is great. Coming off injury, continuing to get his body up to speed is a priority as he starts to make waves for the Saints.

Aidan Mcgrath, North Quincy - A 2028 of note coming into the MIAA this season, McGrath has notable upside. He stands at 6'6" and has been throwing down dunks for some time now. His 3&D presence is notable as he can knock down shots coming off screens, and meets slashing players in the paint to challenge shots.

Daniel Wheeler, Longmeadow - The Western Mass wing made a strong impact on those watching on last week. He's a knockdown shooter off the catch, hitting corner three's in bunches. He keeps the ball low and uses his body to shield defenders and create shots for himself. As an incoming sophomore with varsity experience under his belt, keep an eye out for Wheeler's continued development.

Patrick Costello, Rivers - The Natick native joins the NEPSAC Class B powerhouse at Rivers this year, and put his high upside on display. He's a powerful slasher to the basket with some handling ability, and runs the floor in transition. His communication on defense was noted by our scouts, as well his the switchability he brings on that end of the floor.

Liam Hamilton, Thornton Academy - Making the trip down from the state of Maine, Hamilton left a strong impression on those in attendance. He's got a budding three-level scoring arsenal, knocking down shots off the catch and converting floaters in the lane. His passing vision at his size is notable and he becomes a rising freshman to know in the MPA this winter.

Connor Noel, Milton Academy - Joining the Mustangs from the City of Waltham, Noel's got some notable upside. He's a true 6'6" wing with shooting prowess from behind the line, and makes for a strong catch-and-shoot threat for the young core at Milton. He's a great defender with length and footwork, which allows him to guard multiple positions on the floor.

Curtis Marshall, St. Bernard's - The high motor wing has known slashing prowess as he gets downhill with physicality and a swiftness. He's built with noticeable strength to him, making him a problem when switched onto smaller players. As he continues to grow offensively, he is an underclassmen of note as a strong contributor for the CIAC Division 1 runner-up this past season.

Jaiden Reuter, Bishop Hendricken - Out of Warwick Rhode Island, Reuter performed very well in his game sets at the showcase. He's got strong three-point shooting from all-around the arc, hitting shots both off spot-ups and pull-ups off the dribble. With some athleticism around the basket and strong defense, the 2027 is a player to watch moving forward.

Otis Crosby, Moses Brown - Joining Moses Brown in the class of 2027, Crosby should be a player of note in the RIIL. His shooting stroke from outside is fluid, he can get shots off in multiple ways, and is known to be able to guard multiple positions.

Connor Hynes, Roxbury Latin - Bringing a strong outside shooting skillset to the court, Hynes is a strong three-level scorer. He knows when to cut to the basket for layups, can score it with a hand in his face, and finds open teammates for open shots.

Jack Rousmaniere, Brooks - Growing into his 6'6" body, Rousmaniere will be a player to monitor at Brooks moving forward. His presence as a shooter with size caught our eye as he knocked down trey's, but his defensive skills are notable. He is able to switch onto guards and hold his own, but can protect the paint and block shots as well.

Michael McNamara, Thayer - Coming into Thayer Academy's class of 2027, McNamara is a Frosh/Soph returner who once again turned heads. His upside has been noted by many standing at 6'7" with a super fluid game already, he gets shots off in rhythm and hunts pull-ups. As he continues to develop his body, keep an eye on this standout wing out of Needham.

Jayden Gibson, Brooks - Incoming Freshman Jayden Gibson impressed in his appearance last Friday. He plays with a motor and does a great job of getting his teammates involved. With the ball in his hands he can get past defenders with his handle and smooth shot fake. Will be a player to watch for Brooks as he goes through high school.

Brandon McCloud Jr,  East Longmeadow - A stockriser following the event, East Longmeadow's Brandon McCloud Jr. is a name to know. He's right on the edge of the guard/wing spot, but tracking as a guard. He showed off his distribution skill, crashed the lane and finished around the basket, as well as flew around the floor with a running motor.

Matias Popma, Dexter Southfield - The rising sophomore brings some length at the wing. His three-point shooting is starting to develop, while he's got quick feet and can score it around around the basket. Keep an eye on his growth over the next three years.

Jameson Purdy, Xaverian - The 6'4" wing showed off some shot blocking instincts throughout the night. On offense, he's got some bounce to get above the rim while his shot continues to come around.

Michael Leese, Newton South - The 2028 brings a sound all-around game, especially on the offensive end. He plays off two feet, operates well as an off-ball player and has a solid handle. His playmaking stood out as he did a good job getting others involved with his passing.

Sam Kim, Groton - Noticeable strides were made in Kim's game since our last viewing one year ago. He's improved his touch around the basket, shown some playmaking ability and continued to work on his scoring arsenal.

Stay tuned as we delve into the wings who showed out in Connecticut for the second installment of the 2024 Frosh/Soph.