Goodine Sits Atop Rhode Island’s 2019 Class

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, September 1st, 2017

As we continue to update our 2019 rankings it should come as no surprise that St. Andrew's guard Brycen Goodine is the top ranked player in the state of Rhode Island.

Earlier this week we reported Goodine's offer from Syracuse following last week's elite camp, while also noting how this could be the offer that opens the flood gates for an up and coming guard who still remains somewhat under the national radar for some unknown reasons.

In the New England ranks though, he's been well known for a few years now. It began when he was at Bishop Stang and showing off his  athleticism and playmaking abilities. Those remain assets for him today, but what has been perhaps most impressive about Goodine within the last year or so has been his rate of his improvement. His skill set is developing on both a consistent and advanced rate as his jumper has made major strides in that time, making him a versatile offensive threat.

So while these rankings will both expand and add incoming prep products later this fall, Goodine looks to be relatively unchallenged for the top spot in the Ocean State for the foreseeable future.

The second spot currently belongs to Cumberland guard Tyler Kolek who really made a name for himself during the recent grassroots season. A lethal lefty shot-maker, Kolek led the Middlesex Magic 10th grade team throughout the spring and summer before being called up to do double-duty with the 11th grade squad. He proved to be as smart as he was skilled as well and earned division I interest in the process.

Another local product who has yet to really emerge is LaSalle Academy guard Aaron Gray. He missed the first half of his high school season after transferring and then never totally found his stride after joining the team mid-year. What looked to be a breakout  spring was cut short when he suffered a nasty injury in early April and so he remains a player whose natural talent is easy to spot but one who has yet to fully emerge. This could definitely be that season as his tools are among the very best in the RIIL.

Cranston East has another top player in the state in Aireus Raspberry. This lefty is perhaps as physically imposing a guard as there is in the RIIL. He's physically strong, able to overpower most defenders, but also very tight with his handle to create offense for himself and others. He's a guy who could contend for a spot as high as two and is another scholarship level prospect.

We return to St. Andrew's to round out the top five where Robert Baum joins Goodine to form a gifted backcourt duo. Baum started to emerge in the second half of last season but with a couple of key guards graduating last year, he is bound for a big junior campaign that could cause him to jump up a few spots as well. He's a two-way player who defends well, has learned to run the show, but is also capable of having big nights with his own individual offense.

There are a couple of other local products who have played their way firmly onto our radar. Steven Lora is another talented guard with the ball in his hands who made a name for himself this past spring and summer with Rhode Island Elite and showed himself on his way to being a definite college prospect. Cumerland's Jackson Zancan is another guy with a positive buzz thanks to his size and rebounding ability inside. We'll be on the lookout for these prospects and more prior to updating the 2019 rankings prior to the winter season.

Click here for the full Rhode Island 2019 rankings.