Prep Profile – Northfield Mount Hermon

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Northfield Mount Hermon head coach John Carroll describes this year’s team as the Gonzaga of the NEPSAC.  With a roster full of skilled and good sized perimeter players who can make shots, move without the ball, and read screens, that appears to be a pretty good comparison. 

All 13 players on the NMH roster are very good shooters with consistent range behind the three-point line.  But that isn’t to say that this team is made up only of little guards as their roster includes a seven-footer and six other players standing 6’6” or above. 

Louisville bound shooting guard Mike Marra will clearly be the offensive anchor of the team.  While his game has diversified in the last year, he remains a player who will do the vast majority of his damage from behind the arc.  However, the key to Marra’s, and perhaps NMH’s, season will be how he fares on the defensive end of the floor. 

The interior core of this team is also very intriguing with a trio left handed players who can all shoot the three consistently and score inside as well as out.  Andrew McCarthy is extremely active rebounding and blocking shots on the interior while also deadly from his sweet spot at the top of the key.  Brian Fitzpatrick and Peter McMillan are very similar face-up four-men with extremely high skill sets.  Fitzpatrick may be slightly better on the block while McMillan may have a small edge off the dribble, and both are terrific with their perimeter jumpers. 

Chris Fitzgerald, Ollie Carleton, and Matt Goode should also challenge for minutes up front.  Fitzgerald was particularly impressive when we watched as he was making shots, finishing with both hands, and learning how to play the game at a much quicker tempo. 

In the backcourt Laurent Rivard appears poised to be a major factor for NMH this year.  He is an outstanding catch and shoot player with a terrific understanding of the game and a tremendously high motor.  He seems to be able to run forever…and make open shots for about that long as well. 

Fellow juniors Matt Brown and Hector Harold are two other perimeter players with high upsides.  Brown is splitting time between the court and the gridiron this fall but should be asked to fill a major role once the basketball season officially begins in November.  Harold is a 6’7” swingman from California who is said to be attracting interest from the likes of Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Stanford, Washington, and Texas. 

We also liked what we saw from returners Ryan Peters and Joe Sharkey who could both see time at the point.  Peters is a big and strong guard with good athleticism who makes open shots while Sharkey has developed a good amount of speed along with a knack for making good decisions with the ball when in first gear. 

Then there is Tim McKinney who was said to be playing brilliant basketball last week before going down with a leg injury.  Hopefully this is only a minor setback for the New England resident who has been playing the best basketball of his career in the last three months. 

Ultimately, this is NMH team is a group that fits well together.  Everyone on the roster fits a certain style of play and has an ability to make shots and think the game.  While living and dieing from behind the three-point line is risky business for any team, you will be hard pressed to find a team with 13 better shooters…on any level.