Top Prospects in the MIAA’s 2019 Class

Wednesday, December 12th, 2018

While the world of prep school basketball has been up and running for a few weeks now, things are just starting to get rolling in New England’s six state high school associations and there are still plenty of quality college basketball prospects to be found in those ranks.

Over the course of the next week, we’ll examine those top prospects, one state association at a time. Up first is Massachusetts and the MIAA, where we’ll break our previews into two different parts. The first features the top prospects in the senior class of 2019, while tomorrow we’ll focus on the top juniors and underclassmen the association has to offer.

Levar Williams, Jeremiah Burke – Currently the only player in the MIAA to sign a National Letter of Intent with a D1 school, Williams is a volume scorer and elite level shot-maker who can put points on the board on the board in bunches and should be an instant offense type of weapon for NJIT.

Rivaldo Soares, O’Bryant – He’s put up huge numbers for O’Bryant in each of the last three seasons and earned league all-star honors at each step along the way. Last spring, Soares showed that his strength, aggressiveness, and downhill style could translate to higher levels of competition as he made his mark on the Nike EYBL.

Hason Ward, Springfield Central – The 6-foot-8 jumping jack is as long and athletic as they come. While he’s still not physically mature or overly skilled away from the basket, his upside is undeniable as he continues to fill out his frame and learn the game. He’s toyed with the idea of a prep year…but there may be other plans on the horizon.

Luis Reynoso, Lawrence – Reynoso put up big numbers last year as a junior and walked away as the Merrimack Valley MVP. He was nowhere to be found this spring or summer though and is consequently either an enigma or an unknown to many college coaches. He’s a playmaker with good size and as tough of a match-up problem as there is in the MIAA.

Chris Camille, Brookline – An athletic 6-foot-5 wing who isn’t incapable of making open jumpers, Camille is an obvious talent but one whose production has come out in spurts over the years. He’ll look to put it all together on a consistent basis this year as he teams with Mark Barrett to lead one of the best teams in D1 South.

Spencer Aronson, Catholic Memorial – After two years at Holliston and one at Lawrence Academy, Aronson is bringing his lethal pull-up jumper and attacking mentality to a storied CM program this year, where he’ll team with sophomore guard Kurtis Henderson to form one of the best backcourts in the MIAA.

Damien Perry, Bishop Stang – An undersized guard capable of playing multiple roles, Perry is known as a skilled volume scorer at Bishop Stang, who has already collected his 1000th point, but also proved he could adapt and become more of a pure point guard during the recent EYBL campaign when he was surrounded by more talent.

Alex Stoddard, Wellesley – Stoddard is a 6-foot-6 forward, and budding big wing, who has an unquestioned weapon with his shooting stroke from behind the three-point line. He still has to fill out his frame, develop his complimenting tools, and learn to pick his spots but he has two things going for him that few others can match.

Patrick Mogan, Xaverian Brothers – The 6-foot-8 big man has made consistent strides over the years and is now heading to a Hamilton program that has rapidly ascended the NCAA D3 ranks. Mogan has always had good hands and touch with a high instinctive feel for the game to match, and is now in the best shape of his career.

Alonzo Linton, Lynn English – He’s an intriguing long-term prospect because he has good perimeter size, skill, and potentially versatile tools. That came out in flashes this spring and summer but should be much more consistent as he returns to English to play a starring role alongside Justin Fitzpatrick and Jarnel Snow Guzman this year.

Angel Price-Espada, Pope John – One of the most potent scorers in the state, Price-Espada is well known in the MIAA ranks after leading Pope John to a state championship but he’s not yet as well known beyond Mass’ borders. That may soon change as this undersized sparkplug can score in bunches but also create for his teammates.

Casey McLaren, Newburyport – A big wing with a strong frame, McLaren is a true multi-sport star at Newburyport and one of the best high school athletes you’re going to find anywhere on the cape. Next year though, he’ll head to Tufts and concentrate on the hardwood after attracting scholarship level interest over the summer.

Kevin Constant, Central Catholic – Big hands, big feet, long arms, good athleticism…Constant has all types of markers for future success. He’s also improved significantly since last year, becoming a more consistent playmaker on the offensive end with definite weapons to match defensively.

John Gates & John Lowther, Hingham – The senior tandem headlinese a Hingham team that is one of the favorites in both the Patriot League as well as D2 South. Gates had a breakout spring in which he proved himself to be an elite level three-point shooter while Lowther is a big-bodied wing who can now attack inside and out.

Jake McElroy, North Andover – He might not have the same athletic upside as others, but few high school athletes can match the type of career he’s had both on the football field and basketball court, where he’s been a true stat-stuff who impacts NA’s winning ways in almost every way imaginable.  

Lyron Bennett, TechBoston* – A smooth southpaw guard who is as skilled with his handle and playmaking skills as he is with his jumper, Bennett was a guy who could have continued to raise his stock in his senior year but is unfortunately expected to miss the season with a knee injury.