CIAC Midseason Report Part Two

Friday, February 3rd, 2023

Notre Dame-West Haven: Tajae Jones is a 2024 prospect who has been on our radar for some time. The forward has length, finishing ability, and shows glimpses of making open treys. He recently earned HoopHall All-Showcase Second Team honors. 2023 guard Mekhi Conner is another regular scoring threat. He can hit shots at multiple levels but also knows when to create for others. 2023 wing Timaury Gay adds more shotmaking from beyond the arc. He also can absorb contact and has some bounce in space. 2023 big man Nick Preschel adds more beef inside while Abdou Toure is a freshman already getting minutes. 

Daniel Hand: Chase Geremia is back. The skilled 2025 guard who can pull up from fifteen feet, hit treys off the catch/dribble, and make heady cuts when defenders overplay him. Also an impressive track and field athlete, 2024 prospect Kyle Hoffman uses that speed on the basketball court. He stands out in an up and down game to go with being a three-point threat when spotting up. Only a 2026 prospect, Elijah Avery Turner has already earned significant minutes. His skill set on both ends allows him to be used in several different spots. 2023 forward Nick Paolella also is key to this squad’s success. He has a 6’3 205 lb frame to give value in the paint and helps the underclassmen during times of adversity. 

St. Bernard: Cedrick Similien is a 2023 guard with strength, competitiveness, and two-way impact. He recently scored his 1000th point. Another 2023 guard who plays a key role is Tyson Wheeler. He is a high-IQ shooter with floor vision. Wheeler had a 19-point outing in a win over New London earlier this season. Amare Marshall is an intriguing 2025 prospect. The southpaw forward can hit open treys, grab and go in transition, while also being a steady presence around the rim defensively. Brothers Ryan and Justin Outlow both contribute by carrying over their grittiness and physicality from the football field. 

Other Prospects of Note 

Christian McClease 6’2 Guard 2023 (Wilbur Cross): McClease is a guard who can put up points in a hurry. This led to him earning 2022 GameTime CT All-State First Team honors. McClease also recently scored his 1,000th career point. 

Chris Wilson 6’8 Big Man 2023 (Weaver): Wilson is an imposing big man who rebounds, protects the rim, and finishes inside. He currently averages 15.3 points, 12.9 points, and 4.1 blocks for the 11-2 Beavers. 

Jaysean Williams 5’9 Guard (Bloomfield): Williams is a dynamic playmaking guard who can find teammates on ball screens and make three-pointers off the dribble. Through his first ten games, he was averaging 23 points and 3.8 assists. Williams also has experience playing on the Nike EYBL circuit with Expressions Elite. 

The Manguals (Windham): Travis, Isaiah, and Tyler have Windham off to a 9-4 start. Travis and Tyler are brothers while Isaiah is their cousin. Travis and Isaiah, both 2023 prospects are the team’s leaders in scoring and rebounding. Tyler, just a 2025 prospect, has been a nice scoring compliment to the other two. He also has shown to be a playmaker on both ends.