Coleman was joined by Syracuse-commit Mike Carter-Williams on the Class B 1st team, and PC target Ricky Ledo landed on the 2nd.
The Class A selections were more debatable, as Naadir Tharpe was named Honorable Mention after leading the Class A and National Champions, while bringing home the MVP at the New Hampton Invitational (a tournament featuring four of the five 1st teamers).
Notably, the first team featured two mid-major commits, in Winchendon's Anthony Ireland (Loyola-Marymount) and Eric Ferguson (Georgia Southern), besting a number of high major targets.
Apparently, the voters agree with the Providence coaching staff's thoughts on Bryon Allen, who was named to the 2nd team, ahead of Tharpe and Jordan Laguerre.
How deep is the NEPSAC's Class A? High major talents Austin Carroll (Rutgers), Dashun Wiggins (Seton Hall), Evan Smotrycz (Michigan), Markus Kennedy (Villanova), Russ Smith (Louisville), and Angel Nunez (undecided top 40 junior) were not even named honorable mention.
For more detail, check out the New England Recruiting Report's recap.
Now that the prep season has wrapped up, here is the list of the top 10 prep players Friarbasketball saw this year. This is not a list of how these players project in college, rather their on-court production when I saw them this year.
- Will Barton, Brewster: Noted scorer can also defend when he wants to. Just ask JJ Moore, Coleman, and Tony Snell, who he shut down. MVP of Class A and National Championship. Reminds me of another Baltimore talent, Reggie Lewis-like build and game.
- Nate Lubick, St. Mark's: Total package offensively with heart to match.
- Gerard Coleman, Tilton: Close third behind Lubick. Scored at will in a season in which he was named Class B player of the year and Class B playoff MVP. Twice saw him go for over 28 points in a 2nd half.
- Shabazz Napier, Lawrence Academy: Gifted scorer and willing defender led LA's undefeated season, highlighted by Class C championship MVP performance and monsterous effort in a win against National Champion runner up Northfield Mount Hermon.
- Mike Carter-Williams, St. Andrew's: MVP performance at National Prep Invitational served as a coming out party for this rising junior. Missed early games due to injury. Slender, but able to score off of the bounce and from beyond the arc.
- Naadir Tharpe, Brewster: Distributing to a number of stars didn't help his points per game, but Tharpe kept a team of stars happy and stepped up his scoring when he needed to, most notably in the first half of the Class A championship and in an MVP performance at the New Hampton Invitational.
- Anthony Ireland, Winchendon: Undersized stature with an oversized heart. Tremendous ball handler and big-time shot maker - caught Winchendon seven times this season and he never disappointed.
- CJ Fair, Brewster: Solid two way player who went under the radar a bit, especially as Barton exploded during the postseason. Athletic finisher, good shot blocker, with a nice looking jump shot for a big man.
- Eric Ferguson, Winchendon: Sung Ferguson's praises all season, Eric first caught the attention of Friarbasketball with a big time effort versus Marianpolis in the St. Andrew's Christmas tournament. Clutch scorer who made huge plays in the final minutes of the Class A final, combining with Ireland to nearly bringing Winchendon all the way back after struggling early to score.
- Tony Snell, Westwind Prep: A dud of a performance when matched up with Barton in the quarterfinals of the National Prep Championship weren't enough to override a strong National Invitational. A one time 6'3 prospect, who shot up to 6'8 at a late age, the New Mexico commit went Oscar Robertson and nearly averaged a triple double this year at last check (20-11-8). Mans the point at 6'8. Think Marquis Daniels.
