Key Takeaways from the NEBL’s Second Session

Elias Benaka | Friday, February 7th, 2025

This past Saturday, I spent the day at CATS Academy watching four high-level NEBL matchups—here are my key takeaways from each game.

The first game between the hosts, CATS Academy and Newman National, set the pace for the day. It was close the entire game, but down the stretch, CATS hit big shots to help propel them to a 73-61 victory. Jaxson Terry had an efficient performance, ending the game with 25 points, going 8-12 from the field, including 6-8 from three. Providence commit Jaylen Harrell finished the day with 20 points and 7 rebounds. The combo of Terry and Harrell was hard to stop the whole game, and 7-footer Leo Curtis helped complete the trio. He brings incredible size to the post, which opens up lanes to the hoop and creates easy jump shots for the guards.

Newman’s Lucas Morillo was one assist short of a triple-double, posting 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Morillo stands at 6’7” and uses his size to finish through tough contact at the rim. He can knock down tough shots as well and plays with a ton of confidence.

In another high-powered matchup, New Hampton’s Keyshuan Tillery went for 28 points and 8 assists. The Cincinnati commit took over at the end of the game and helped power his team to an 82-78 victory over South Kent. He has a very high IQ and always looks for the easiest shot for himself and his teammates. He shot an efficient 9-13 from the field and is not afraid of contact in the post.

Penn State commit Mason Blackwood and Wyoming commit Naz Meyer added 17 and 15 points, respectively. Blackwood has a very strong dribbling package for his size, blowing past defenders and finishing strong at the rim. Meyer had one of the smoothest jump shots in the gym. He creates opportunities for himself while also being able to knock down tough shots.

South Kent’s Badara Diakite finished the game with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Iowa commit brings a ton of athleticism to his team and works hard to rebound.

Putnam Science brought the energy against Brewster Prep with a 92-74 victory. Parrish Edmond finished with a game-high 17 points and added a few high-flying dunks to go with it. The combo of Edmond and Fairfield commit Tony Williams is very hard to stop. Edmond is a threat to score both inside and on the perimeter, while Williams is a quick and crafty guard who makes it look easy to break down the defense and find open teammates for high-percentage looks.

One thing that stood out to me about Putnam was the energy they bring to the gym. The players on the court compete with a ton of enthusiasm and effort, while the bench and coaches are extremely vocal on the defensive end, making it almost hard for the opposing team to think. This plays a huge role for opponents when facing them.

Cushing ended the day with a dominant victory over Brimmer and May to remain undefeated in NEBL play. The Penguins have a very well-rounded team, which was reflected in the box score this game. Ryan Moesch finished with 14 points, while Penn commit Jay Jones added 13, both shooting efficiently. They consistently look for smart shot opportunities and, if none are available, they look to the post.

Theo Edema ended the game with 13 points, while unsigned 2025 prospect Jacob Davis added 10. Edema brings a ton of size and athleticism to the post, making him a tough matchup for defenders. Off the bench for Cushing were John Price and Elliot Erickson. Price is an athletic wing with great hops and a nose for rebounding, finishing with 7 boards. Erickson had a monster slam and knocked down a three en route to a solid 9-point performance. His effort was unmatched on the court and evident throughout the entire game.