New England 2011 Rankings Announced

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Shabazz Napier is the new top ranked player in New England as the Lawrence Academy guard continues to produce at a frantic rate, seemingly picking up more high major interest and offers every day. 

Florida is the most recent school to offer a scholarship joining a list that already includes the likes of Arizona State, Albama, Providence, St. John’s, UMass, Miami, Virginia, and Memphis.  Additionally schools like UConn, Kentucky, and Georgetown are also said to be involved. 

Most importantly, Napier is leading his team to wins.  With only one regular season game left in their season, Napier has Lawrence Academy at a perfect 25-0 including wins over St. Mark’s, Tilton, and Northfield Mount Hermon. 

The 2011 rankings also have a new number two as Michael Carter-Williams has been on an absolute tear since returning from injury in early January.  He picked up all-tournament recognition in his first two games back at the Findlay Prep Tournament in Nevada and added MVP honors at the National Prep School Invitational to his list of accolades earlier this month.  Already committed to Syracuse, Carter-Williams is a legit six-foot-five guard who is exceptionally skilled and more explosive than he was a year ago. 

Naadir Tharpe checks in at number three on the list as the Brewster Academy point run has run the show for one of the NEPSAC's top teams for the last two years.  A pure creator with a much improved

Third ranked Naadir Tharpe and fifth ranked Derrick Wilson went head to head at NPSI a few weeks ago as Brewster defeated Hotchkiss, and while Wilson scored more points it was Tharpe who had the larger overall impact on the game, setting up his teammates at will with 13 assists against only 1 turnover.  The Worcester, Massachusetts native has also improved his three-point stroke significantly this year, making him much harder to guard on the perimeter.  As for Wilson he’s another undoubted high-major guard.  As competitive as he is powerful, he attacks the rim relentlessly and will have no problem adjusting to the physicality of the college game. 

A newcomer sits in the fourth spot as Angel Nunez made the move from New York to the Winchendon school this year.  While Nunez is only playing limited minutes off the bench for Winchendon at the moment, his talent and long term potential is absolutely undeniable with a long, athletic frame and the ability to score in bunches from the perimeter.  Nunez reportedly already boasts offers from places like Arizona, UConn, Indiana, Louisville, and West Virginia to name a few and he will be that much better upon picking his final destination because of the tough love he’s gotten this year. 

St. Thomas More’s Trahson Burrell has also impressed thus far this season.  A long and athletic swingman with some point forward type skills his improved three-point range is a major reason for his increased attention. 

Another Connecticut prep product, Eric Katenda, is in at seven after picking up his first high major offer from Notre Dame last weekend while Freddie Wilson is the CIAC’s highest ranked junior at the eight spot. 

Rounding out the top ten are two New Hampshire natives in Jordan Laguerre and Imoh Silas.  Laguerre has spent the season learning to play with and against better competition on a daily basis, but he proved last summer he can score and defend against the very best the country has to offer.  Silas is a strong, athletic, and mobile post presence who is still just learning the game but already able to dominate a game defensively. 

Just on the outside looking in at the top ten are Lee Academy big man Keith Coleman, NMH guard Aaron Cosby, and Proctor forward Grandy Glaze, all three of which are generated steady buzz from high-majors.  Coleman has virtually unlimited physical gifts and will consequently develop quite a buzz this summer.  Cosby is just starting to hit his stride at NMH after dropping a triple double in a big win over St. Thomas More earlier this week.  Meanwhile Glaze is a poor man’s Charles Barkley who has people like Iowa State, Nevada, and a host of others following his progress. 

Here is a look at the rest of the top 35:
14. Vince Van Nes, Northfield Mount Hermon
15. Anthony Jernigan, East Hartford
16. Ryan Canty, Tilton
17. Patrick Ackerman, Worcester Academy
18. Dashun Wiggins, Bridgton Academy
19. Zach Auguste, Marlboro
20. James Kennedy, Cushing Academy
21. Dennis Clifford, Milton Academy
22. Jules Tavares, Wareham
23. Andrej Pajovic, Wilbraham & Monson
24. Joe Sharkey, Northfield Mount Hermon
25. Kyle Kager, Deerfield Academy
26. Jerome Harris, East Catholic
27. Tyler Strange, Notre Dame Prep
28. Marcus Grant, Lawrence Academy
29. Pat Connaughton, St. John’s Prep
30. Chris Sherwood, Brimmer & May
31. Michael LaPlante, St. Andrew’s
32. Kevin Thomas, Proctor Academy
33. Andrew Shaw, Thornton Academy
34. Cedric Kuakumensah, Worcester North
35. Alex Furness, Cheverus