Dylan Thayer’s Standout Unsigned Seniors in the MIAA

Dylan Thayer | Monday, December 23rd, 2024

The public school season has got rolling up here in the state of Massachusetts, and there are a ton of notable players in the are still on the board. 

Here are some guys I have taken note of as the season gets underway this winter.

Kordell Philemon might be the best college prospect in the MIAA this season at Stoneham High School. Philemon has elite athleticism at 6'6", that allows him to dominate at this level. He's already had a 32 point outburst on the season where he threw down a number of highlight-reel dunks and hit shots from beyond the perimeter. Scholarship level programs looking for a steal need to check in.

Western Mass native Calvin Godbolt jumped onto our radar with his impressive play at the New England Open Gym, and shined this past week. Godbolt poured in 34 points for his Holyoke high school squad to go with five steals. The guard can get to the basket or stop on a dime for pull-ups, but his tenacity on defense is one of his best attributes.

BC High's Hilary Iyare was one of my top new names out of the New England Open Gym in October, and has kicked things off well in his senior season. He's a quick guard with a shifty game, and a knack for using his quickness to get in the lane. His on-ball defense on opposing guards is another notable aspect of his game.
 

Isaiah Andino kicked off his senior season with a bang as he dropped 24 points in a win over Chelmsford. The guard impressed us in the summer with his playmaking vision and ability to turn the corner on the defense. He's a versatile guard that thrives on or off-ball, and hits outside shots. 
 

Jamel Walker enters his senior season as one of the most prized public school players in central Mass. Walker averaged 17.7 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists last season and is ready to build upon that. I got a lot of scouts on Walkers game in the summer and have been impressed with his winning ability and confidence. He doesn't run away from contact, and in fact seeks it out to score inside. He can hit pull-up jumpers off the dribble pretty consistently as well.
 

Leominster High School's Jayden Johnson has been dubbed by some as the leading candidate for player of the year in the Central Mass area. However, Johnson is one the most explosive players in the state association, with speed and athleticism to finish with authority inside. His passing vision on the perimeter is noteworthy as well as the motor he plays with throughout the game.
 

Dropping a career high of 30 points in his senior season debut, it's safe to say that Julian Chatman is ready to take on an expanded role this season with the departure of Andrew Mabry at Putnam Tech. 15 of the 30 points Chatman had came at the free-throw line, as his ability to create contact stands out. Chatman can definitely score the ball, but his playmaking in PnR scenarios caught our eye this fall, as well as his lack of mistakes with the ball.
 

Monument Mountain's Manny Brown is on a tear to start the year and ready to let everyone know just how good he can be. In his first two games of the year, he scored 30 and 50 points, obliterating nets in Western Mass. The 5'11" point guard is a lights-out shooter from outside and plays with composure, as a key cog of the offense at point guard. Those not familiar need to tune in!
 

Matt Breen helped grow his name in New England due to his play at Shawsheen Tech and in the spring/summer. The forward has one thing you can't teach which is size, standing at 6'9". He is a monster inside that plays above the rim to finish dunks, crashes the glass for boards, and knows how to time block attempts inside. Breen had 20 points and 22 rebounds in a Friday night matchup with Lynn Tech this past weekend.

Bourne High School is on a tear to start the year, making nosie out of the top of the cape. The squad is led by seniors Nate Reynolds and Mike Dankert, both of whom have been off to hot starts to the season. Reynolds play in the post stands out with his moves to get to the rim and soft hands. Dankert had 29 points on Friday night, once again showing his shooting prowess in the mid-range and from the perimeter.
 

6'5" forward Niko Catalano is one of the leaders of a North Andover squad that is ready to make noise once again this winter, Catalano had 20 points in his senior season debut, once again showing his versatility on the court. He's a strong defender in the frontcourt, with a polished inside game to complement his growing shot from the perimeter. 
 

Playing in the small town of Hopedale, 5'10" point guard Patrick Madden has stoodout in grassroots play this year, and carried that into the season with a 26 point outburst in the opener. The senior is a floor general with the keys to the offense. He does a good job of seeing the floor to get his teammates involved, and make the right plays with the ball in his hands. Local division III schools in search of a guard should look his way.
 

6'7" big man Raheim Orleans is one of the top centers available right now in the MIAA senior class. Orleans is a rim-running big with developed physique that allows him to be a brute force on the court to haul in rebounds or power his way to the basket. The other night he made an instant impact in the paint, scoring 8 quick points in the first half around the rim. Attleboro brings spacing around Orleans led by guard Hayden Crowley, one of the top shooters in the Hockomock League. Crowley is a lethal threat from outside that knocks shots down with ease in rhythm.

Over the weekend, Groton-Dunstable got a big time performance out of their star senior guard Zach Romich. Romich had 29 points as they advanced to a 2-0 start in league play this season. The pace he plays with sets the tone when he is running the show. As a scorer, he thrives from outside, but seeks out weaknesses in the defense to get inside as well.