Two Point Guards off the Board
Paul Becklens a 6’0 post-graduate point guard from Bridgton Academy is headed to Toledo next year while a little farther north another point guard in Tremayne Russell is headed back home to Florida where he will attend FIU.
Becklens is an extremely tough point guard who does all the little things to make a team better. He hustles, defends, gets loose balls, makes extra passes, and knocks down open shots. In fact, Becklens was a huge factor as a spark plug off the Bridgton Academy bench during their run to their third consecutive NEPSAC championship.
Before arriving at Bridgton Academy, Becklens starred at Charlestown High School in Massachusetts, where he led his team to the Boston City League championship while being named the league’s most valuable player. He has been courted by Toledo since arriving at Bridgton in the fall, and also received a good deal of interest from the likes of Robert Morris, Wichita State, New Hampshire, Siena, and Northeastern.
Next year Becklens will be joining a Toledo program coming off a very good season. During the 2006-2007 campaign the Rockets won the MAC regular season championship, made the NIT field before losing to ACC power Florida State, saw their head coach Stan Joplin win the conference’s coach of the year award, and saw former Northfield Mount Hermon standout Kashif Payne win the conference’s defensive player of the year award.
Russell, who arrived at MCI mid-way through the season, is a player who is at his best when attacking the rim off the dribble. The super quick point guard is a jet in the open floor and has enough bounce to get up above the rim and finish. Defensively, he is also very impressive as he can lock up the quickest of guards.
Russell announced his arrival to the prep school world this February during the first day of action at the National Prep School Invitational when he sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to give his MCI team a 68-67 victory over Genesis I.
Paul Becklens
Tremayne Russell