Bracket Buster Prospects

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

In preparation for this weekend’s Bracket Buster games, ESPN’s Scouts Inc will be releasing their list of the nation’s best mid-major commitments later today. 

We thought we would take that idea and apply it to New England to see which local products are most likely to make immediate impacts at non-BCS level schools.  Here are our top local products:

1. Jordan Laguerre, New Hampton, UMass:  This attacking guard has been one of New England’s top players for the past several years with a proven history of putting up numbers against the highest levels of competition.  With an improved basketball I.Q. and all around skill set, along with a terrific motor, he’ll make an instant impact in the A-10. 

2. Imoh Silas, Holderness, Siena: The Saints stole this big man in the fall and it’s likely to pay big dividends down the road as Silas offers the defensive impact and physical tools that are rarely felt from first year big men in the MAAC.  Give him a year or two to continue to develop his offensive game and he has a chance to be one of the league’s premier posts. 

3. Brandon Sherrod, Stratford/Choate, Yale: The reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut turned down over a dozen scholarship schools, including two in the Atlantic 10, for the opportunity to stay close to home and get a Yale degree.  His chiseled frame and face-up game should make him one of the Ivy’s top freshmen next season. 

4. Tavon Allen, Hillhouse/Worcester Academy, Drexel:  An incredibly long swingman with a world of potential, Allen had a breakout summer on the AAU circuit but still has his best basketball in front of him.  As he continues to transform potential into steady production he has all the tools to be an important part of Bruiser Flint’s puzzle. 

5A. James Kennedy, Cushing, Boston University: True power forwards are hard to find in the America East as most are typically gobbled up by higher level schools but that’s exactly what Kennedy is as his size, strength, and athleticism will create major mismatch problems playing next to another big man in Boston. 

5B. Ousmane Drame, New Mission/Marianapolis, Quinnipiac:  The southpaw big man chose Quinnipiac from his long line of summer followers and has continued to show tremendous potential in his P-G year at Marianapolis.  A lefty of his size, length, and skill is a diamond in the rough in the NEC, giving him major upside over the next four years. 

Five from the Preps: Khristian Smith, MCI, Indiana State; Jeff Short, Notre Dame Prep, Fordham; Adam Jones, St. Thomas More, Fairfield; Nick Paulos, New Hampton, UNC Greensboro; Rafael Maia, MCI, Brown.