Connecticut 2018 Rankings Announced

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017

Quite a bit has changed in Connecticut since we last updated our 2018 rankings. Filip Petrusev, who would have been a candidate for the top overall spot, has transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, while Dimon Carrigan has arrived from Cambridge Rindge and Latin for his post-graduate year at Woodstock Academy.

The changes haven’t been only due to the prep school waiver wire though as a number of players – Cantavio Dutreil, Tyler Bourne, and Matt Verretto among others – have emerged in recent months while others haven’t been able to evolve at quite the same rate.

BABC's Carrigan takes over the top spot in the state for the time being thanks to his unmatched defensive prowess and special ability to protect the rim but South Kent guard Anthony Nelson is closely on his heels after a big summer of his own with New York Lightning. Nelson’s tools and talent in the backcourt are unmatched and if the consistency of his motor, both defensively and in all the other “smaller” areas, increases he could very well be the next number one.

Loomis Chaffee and Metro Boston's Nelson Boachie-Yiadom missed the summer while returning home to play with the English national team but the skilled stretch-four man currently checks in at the third spot. There really isn’t much of a gap between him and South Kent/Castle Athletics forward Malachi de Sousa and Putnam Science/PSA Cardinals wing Jose Perez with all three expected to be recruited at the mid-major level. De Sousa is a versatile and productive scoring forward while Perez is a jack-of-all-trades and one of the toughest competitors you’ll find.

Another Cambridge (MA) alum and incoming Woodstock post-graduate, Jakigh Dottin, stuffed all columns of the stat sheet like no other player in New England during the recent EYBL season with BABC. With a college ready body and unmatched charisma, if he can run the team and improve the consistency of his jumper he could be a riser in the coming months.

Fairfield Prep alum and incoming Suffield Academy big man Patrick Harding checks in at seven following his commitment to Bryant. Harding has always been known as a skilled big man and exceptional passer, but it was his improvement on the defensive glass that took his games to new levels this summer with Middlesex Magic. Another Woodstock product, Hillhouse alum Joe Kasperzyk, comes in at 8th overall as the Expressions guard had a strong EYBL season and may have the best first step of anyone on this list.

The top ten is rounded out by Salisbury’s Bryce Daley and Trinity Catholic’s Cantavio Dutreil. Daley, who recently committed to UMass Lowell following his season with the Middlesex Magic, projects as a big point guard at the next level with good athleticism and distributing skills to match. Dutreil had a strong summer with Stamford Peace including big performances at the Elite 75 and Hoop Group Elite Camp to earn his first D1 offer with his high motor and physical tools.

Raheem Solomon missed most of the travel season with injury, and was far from his normal self when he was in the line-up for the Mass Rivals. He’s joined by Notre Dame Fairfield and New York Rens guard Tyler Bourne, South Kent and BABC guard Maurice Works, Master’s and Expressions big man Nadir Dixon-Thompson, and East Catholic and CBC forward Matt Verretto in the top 15. Verretto emerged as much as any prospect in the state over the course of July as he showed versatility and deceptive athleticism to match his always constant motor and extremely coach-able approach.

His CBC teammate Chaylyn Martin, a Weaver graduate and incoming Woodstock post-graduate, has similar caliber intangibles along with tremendous athleticism.  Amity/PTT guard Tyler Thomas and Fairfield Warde/CTPHD shot-maker Sean Conway are two other guys who came on strong in recent months and proved themselves definite scholarship caliber talents, as too did Bridgewater-Raynham alum, incoming Woodstock post-graduate, and BABC South wing E.J. Dambreville.

The final spot in the top 20 was an absolute toss up with a number of qualified candidates ranging from Choate and BABC forward Caden Dumas to Hillhouse and CBC undersized big Mekhi Warren to South Kent and BABC center Jared Whitt to St. Luke’s and PSA Cardinals guard Jonas Harper to East Coast Mavericks and Woodstock wing Tyrone Perry.

Click here to view the Connecticut 2018 rankings in their entirety.