Doucette, Folger Thrive at Elite 75
Williston Northampton returns several key contributors from the team that won the NEPSAC Class A championship last year, but there are also some new faces coming to town.
One of those is Matt Folger, a 6-foot-8 post-graduate who previously starred at Weston (CT). Folger has had a strong spring on the AAU circuit running with "The System" and was one of the most impressive frontcourt prospects at last week's Elite 75 College Showcase.
While Folger drew a steady following of college coaches before the day was done, incredibly he told the New England Recruiting Report that he hasn't been highly recruited just yet.
"It's really been just Williams," he told the New England Recruiting Report.
Expect that to change in the coming months as Folger continues to develop his game and body.
"I just try to out-work people and just do all the little things," he said. "I've gotten a lot better with my timing blocking shots. Offensively, I'm a mid-range player who can attack and get to the basket. I'm working on my hook too."
That jump hook was on full display during the competitive breakdown drills, as his long arms and developing upper body strength allowed him to consistently get it off inside the lane.
Folger's running mate next year will be Kyle Doucette, another player who was among the most impressive frontcourt prospects at the Elite 75.
The 6-foot-8 big man will return as the interior anchor of Williston's line-up next year and made tremendous strides during his only season in the prep ranks.
This spring, he's had a great AAU season running with many of his Williston Northampton teammates with "We Will" and proving himself to be one of the most improved big men in New England in the process.
"Being with Coach Shelton at Williston, being on campus and having those resources available, it definitely helped a lot," he said. "My inside post game increased a lot along with general knowledge about the game on both ends of the floor."
With a noticeably stronger frame, some extra bounce inside the lane and ability to score over both shoulders, it's no wonder that Doucette is getting a steady dose of scholarship level interest.
While he has yet to earn his first offer, he reports interest from the likes of Colgate, Brown, Dartmouth and Yale along with a lot of division III schools.
"I'm looking for a good environment with a good team and coach who can help improve my game," he told NERR, "and a really good academic school."
Together, Doucette and Folger not only promise to be one of Class A's top frontcourt tandems, but also a prime attraction for college coaches as both are in the midst of taking their respective games to new levels.