2021 17u AAU Team Profiles: Mass Elite

* Any college coach seeking additional information on any players, including projected collegiate level, may make an inquiry at necorridorhoops@gmail.com

*All class of 2022 prospects

Florian Kuechen 6’6 Combo Forward (Newton North HS): Kuechen has a nice stroke from beyond the arc. He makes standstill three-pointers at a good rate. Also attacks closeouts well, scoring effectively in the mid-range with his smooth pull-up or at the rim from his athleticism and ability to finish through contact. Defensively, Kuechen does a nice job using his length and leaping ability to make it difficult for opponents to shoot over the top of him. Also makes his presence felt on the glass, rebounding at a solid rate with his high motor.

Theo Stangas 6’4 Wing (Wachusett Regional HS): Stangas is an effective shooter from long range. He makes treys at a good rate when spotting up and coming off screens or handoffs. While the long ball is his bread and butter, he has shown flashes of being able to get all the way to the rim when attacking closeouts for layups or drawing shooting fouls. Also is a solid passer, finding teammates for high percentage finishes around the rim on backdoor cuts. Defensively, Stangas does a nice job using his length and instincts to make it difficult for opponents to finish over him around the basket.

Max Grenert 6’4 Wing (Kimball Union Academy): Grenert is a reliable floor spacer from beyond the arc. He makes three-pointers at a very good rate on the move or when spotting up. Shows flashes making pull-up treys when opponents go under ball screens against him. Made 43 threes in only 15 games this past high school season. Grenert can also take smaller defenders into the post, showing nice touch on his jump hook. He is a good rebounder for his position, using his strong body to get advantageous position on opponents when boxing out. Averaged near eight boards per game this past high school season.

Jimmy Ball 6’1 Shooting Guard (Arlington Catholic HS): Ball is a very good shooter from long range, needing little space to get his shot off with nice elevation and a high release. He makes treys effectively off the dribble when pulling up off of ball screens or creating separation with his quick crossover move. Also is a reliable shooter from deep when spotting up and draws fouls on three-pointers at a solid rate. Ball gets into the lane well with his good burst and quick crossover move. Finishes proficiently around the rim with his comfort playing through contact and soft touch off the glass. Defensively, he moves well laterally, limiting opponents from getting straight line drives against him.

Quinten Pienaar 6’3 Combo Forward (Winchester HS): Pienaar is skilled around the rim. He has a nice jump hook and drop step move on the block that he is comfortable finishing with either hand. Can also take opposing forwards off the dribble. He uses his good burst or sharp jab step move to create penetration for amdexterious layup finishes. Pienaar can stretch the floor from deep, making three-pointers at a solid rate when spotting up. Does a good job creating second chance scoring opportunities for himself on the offensive glass, showing nice instincts being around the ball when it comes off the rim. Also has solid vision, finding cutting teammates for high percentage layups when getting doubled in the post. Defensively, Pienaar has the strength and quickness to guard either forward spot effectively. He makes his presence felt on the defensive glass as well, using his strong body effectively when boxing out to corral important rebounds.

Camden Keliher 6’1 Combo Guard (Amesbury HS): Keliher needs to be accounted for from beyond the arc, having a quick trigger with very deep range on his shot. He makes three-pointers effectively on the move, when spotting up, or from creating separation with his step-back move. If opponents close out hard on him to take away his shot from long range, he has a smooth pull-up in the mid-range. Keliher can also make others better as a playmaker, finding teammates for open treys on kickouts. Defensively, he does a nice job plucking the ball away from opponents for steals when they are weak with their handle.

Jeff DiFazio 6’0 Shooting Guard (Wakefield Memorial HS): DiFazio has a smooth stroke from beyond the arc. He makes treys at a solid rate when spotting up or coming off screens. Gets into the lane effectively from attacking closeouts, having a reliable floater in his mid-range arsenal when defenders collapse on him. DiFazio creates high percentage layup opportunities for himself from sharp backdoor cuts in the halfcourt and running the floor hard on the break. Also is a solid playmaker in transition, finding teammates for layups on push ahead passes or making the correct decisions in two on one situations.

Alex Chau 5’10 Point Guard (Lowell HS): Chau is a very good passer, getting into the lane at a solid rate to create shots for others with his good burst and tight handle. He finds teammates for high percentage layups from push ahead passes on the break or drop-offs in the halfcourt. Also does a nice job creating open three-pointers for teammates on drive and kicks. While Chau looks to get his teammates involved first, he has a reliable pull-up in the mid-range. Defensively, he is quick laterally, making it difficult for opposing point guards to get dribble penetration on him.

Andre Perez 6’0 Shooting Guard (Arlington Catholic HS): Perez is a reliable shooter from deep with compact form. He makes three-pointers at a good rate when spotting up or coming off screens. Also shows flashes of making treys off the bounce on pull-ups. Does a nice job moving without the ball. He relocates well, finding open spots from beyond the arc when teammates drive the lane along with making sharp cuts to the basket if a defender overplays him. When opponents close out hard on him from the perimeter, he has a nice pull-up in the mid-range. Perez uses his pull-up effectively in the mid-range when pushing the ball in transition as well.

Ethan Ewing 5’10 Point Guard (Westford Academy): Ewing is a good shooter from long range. He makes treys proficiently when spotting up. He has a soft floater when opponents collapse on him in the lane. Also is a solid playmaker, finding teammates for open three-pointers on kickouts or high percentage layups on push ahead passes in transition. Defensively, Ewing does a nice job jumping into passing lanes for steals when opponents telegraph where they are going to throw the ball.

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