New England’s “Big 3” Remain Atop 2019

Wednesday, July 11th, 2018

Rankings are always subjective, but when it comes to New England's class of 2019 there are three players that have thus far set themselves apart from the rest - Putnam Science Academy and Mass Rivals' Akok Akok, St. Andrew's and BABC's Brycen Goodine, and Loomis Chaffee and NE6's Jaiden Delaire.

Akok separated himself during last winter's prep season, especially down the stretch of PSA's run to the National Prep Championship. Delaire was the most impressive during April's recruiting period and Goodine put up huge numbers, with gradually improving efficiency, during the second half of the EYBL season.

The truth of the matter is that all three have a very similar chance of ending up as the top ranked prospect New England's 2019 class ten months from now and it has been, and will surely continue to be, lots of fun to watch all three uniquely talented prospects continue to evolve.

Woodstock Academy and Expressions big man Tre Mitchell and the MacDuffie/PSA Cardinals duo of James Bouknight and Ismael Massoud are also top 100 prospects. Mitchell is unique among the first six, in that he is a true senior. More than that, he's a player who has improved at a rapid rate over the course of the last year as he's dropped  30 pounds, gotten himself into the best shape of his life, and accenuated the skill set that makes him so unique at his size. 

Bouknight was arguably New England's biggest stock-riser in the first half of the prep year as he quickly showed high-major talent. After missing the travel season to date, he's set to return this month and while he'll undoubtedly have to work some of the rust off, if he can develop a mentality and killer instinct to match his talent, he has the potential to keep climbing.

Massoud is as solid and reliable as they come. He's known as a shooter, and he certainly makes shots, but he's also a high character player who understands how to share the ball and play in structure. He also spent the month of June proving what he could do individually by standing out at various national camps.

NMH and PSA Cardinals' big man Max Lorca-Lloyd has had an injury plagued spring as well, which has prevented him from building off the momentum he developed down the stretch of the prep season. Make no mistake about it though, Lorca-Lloyd is a top 100 caliber talent and in control of his own destiny.

Dexter and WrightWay Skills big man Charles Coleman has also made a jump. Coleman's progression has been consistent over the course of the last few years as he too has transformed his body while developing his skill set. That has only continued in recent months as he's in the best shape of his life, changing ends, and stretching the floor with consistency.

Mika Adams-Woods and Noah Fernandes, from the City Rocks and Expressions respectively, are two point guard who have both lived up to their previous ranking this spring. New Hampton's Adams-Woods is as smooth and efficient as advertised while Woodstock Academy's Fernandes' blend of skill, feel for the game, and under-rated defense is finally being noticed beyond our rankings as well.

Click here for the full New England 2019 rankings.