With tournament play just around the corner, here are some local players to keep an eye on.
BOYS
Warren Keel Jr.
Lynn English (Division I)
When it comes to Lynn English point guard Keel, not many have found the answer against him. The sophomore is a triple-threat player at its finest – one who can beat you from distance, at the rim, and through his facilitating.
Keel has a rare ability to float in the air, adjust his positioning, and finish anywhere around the rim. If he wants to draw contact, he will, and if he wants to avoid it, he will. And despite his scoring ability, he doesn’t force things. His skill level is impressive, but his shot selection is even more so.
The guard – who loves to deflect individual questions and give credit to his teammates – averaged 27 points, five assists, and five steals this season to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-1 record.
Giovanni Jean
Lynn Tech (Division IV)
Whenever the Lynn Tech boys basketball team played this season, it was a guarantee Jean would do something that, as Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman once said about Larry Bird, would “really spin your head around.”
The freshman guard averaged 24 points, five assists, and four rebounds this season for the Tigers, who went 17-3. Jean, alongside fellow freshman Andy Batista, made up a tricky backcourt that has shown no signs of slowing down.
David Brown Jr.
St. Mary’s (Division III)
One of the best athletes in Lynn: Brown of St. Mary’s. After several games this season, opposing coaches jumped at the chance to applaud his game – one that’s both athletic, yet composed.
Brown loves to use his strong figure and speed to get to the rim, but can also work his way around screens to create three-point opportunities. Despite missing a large portion of the season due to injury, Brown has helped lead St. Mary’s to its 15-7 record.
The fun-to-watch Spartan averaged 15 points, six assists, six rebounds, and three steals this season.
Vic Mafo
KIPP (Division V)
In the world of basketball, there’s nothing better than a complete player – that’s Mafo. This season, he averaged 14.5 points per game alongside eight rebounds and three steals.
With Mafo leading the way among the Panthers’ best players, KIPP clinched its spot in the postseason last week and finished the regular season 11-9. Mafo has functioned well in head coach Moody Bey’s offense, and is second on the Panthers in scoring.
Alex Gentile
Lynnfield (Division III)
Well, when you’re the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Ann League (Large), you’re pretty good. Head coach John Bakopolus hasn’t been shy regarding his praise for Gentile, and the Pioneers have been led by the guard all season.
Gentile averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, and four steals, helping lead Lynnfield to a 14-6 record against some tough competition. Even when his points weren’t coming, Gentile made his presence felt with his off-ball movement and unselfishness.
GIRLS
Niya Morgen
St. Mary’s (Division III)
If head coach Jeff Newhall said she was in the gym on Christmas working on her game, you can bet it pays off for St. Mary’s Morgen. As for her playstyle, you could call her a sharpshooter, but that’d be disrespectful to her incredible ability to attack the basket.
Morgen not only reached the 1,000-point mark earlier this season, but finished averaging 17.7 points (373 total) in 21 games. The Spartan has helped lead her team to the No. 1 spot in Division III.
Ava Thurman
Lynn Classical (Division I)
The Ram who does a little bit of everything. Thurman helps run the offense, looks for her own shot, and has shown the ability to facilitate with ease. The guard averaged 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists this season – on top of strong defense and unselfish play in the halfcourt.
Thurman was heavily utilized towards the end of games, often exhibiting her free throw ability and composure beneath the basket. For Classical, which went a perfect 20-0 this season, that would’ve been hard to do without Thurman.
Peyton DiBiasio
Saugus (Division III)
Boy, have Saugus fans gotten a treat with freshman DiBiasio. And, frankly, you can get everything you need to know based on the fact she’s already eclipsed 500 points.
As her team’s go-to option this season, DiBiasio averaged 19 points and six rebounds for the Sachems. She made headlines after scoring 49 total points in back-to-back games, helping her team win two games in as many days.
She has unlimited range if you choose to back away, but is smart with her decision-making and can easily take things to the bucket. She also makes big shots whenever her team needs them, and led the Red and White to a 13-7 record.
Cecilia Kay
Bishop Fenwick (Division III)
She’s eclipsed 1,000 points, threatened opposing defenses every night, and was the heart and soul of the Fenwick girls basketball team – one that finished its season 14-7.
Kay averaged 21.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks this season.
Pick a random game – this past Wednesday, for example. Kay put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in Fenwick’s 68-48 win against Whitman-Hanson. The Crusader has been delivering strong performances since day one, and has shown no signs of slowing down as we head into tournament action.
Logan Lomasney
Peabody (Division I)
Being the reigning Northeastern Conference Player of the Year has come with different defensive schemes and challenges against her. And if you thought those would slow down Peabody’s Lomasney, you were wrong.
On top of her everlasting passion, her skills are beyond impressive. Lomsaney has great post moves in her arsenal, can take defenders off the dribble, and guards multiple positions effectively.
The star has averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists for the Tanners.
