These 15 ought to be fabulous
The high school basketball season officially kicks off Thursday.
Here are the top area players to keep an eye on this winter:
Stephen Brady, East Hampton, 5-9, Sr., G: A first-team All-Shoreline Conference honoree last season, he averaged 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Bellringers.
Ty Calloway, Enfield, 6-0, Jr., G: Averaged 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals last season. Coming off of a strong summer on the AAU circuit, Calloway is expected to take a leap and reportedly has Division I teams interested in him.
Donovan Clingan, Bristol Central, 7-0, So., C: Already with offers from UConn, Syracuse and Georgetown, Clingan averaged 21.8 points and 18.2 rebounds in his first season of high school basketball.
Matt Curtis, NorthwestCatholic, 6-3, So., G: As a freshman, averaged 17.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 steals. Over the summer, he picked up his first Division I offer from Fairfield University.
Justice Ellison, Windsor, 6-4, Sr., G: Had a few big performances for a onewin South Windsor squad, including a 56-point outing against Greenwich and a 38-point performance against East Catholic, which finished first in The Courant’s state and area rankings.
Brian Geitner, Tolland, 6-4, Sr., G: A two-time All-CCC selection, Geitner averaged 18.3 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. He shot 37% from 3-point territory for the
Eagles.
Dashon Gittens, Weaver, 6-1, Jr., G: Averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block per game for the Beavers last season. A long, athletic guard, Gittens could be in for a true breakout season.
LJ Hazelwood, Innovation, 6-4, Sr., F: Averaged 13.3 points and 12.1 rebounds for Innovation last year, which went 24-2 and won the Division V state championship.
Grayson Herr, Farmington, 6-1, Sr., G: Averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range last season for the Division III state champs. With leading scorer Makhi Hawkins graduated and star big man Bube Momah transferring out, Herr will be looked upon to step up his game.
Matt Knowling, East Catholic, 6-5, Sr., F: The lone returning starter from the Eagles’ state title team, the Yale commit averaged19 points and 13 rebounds per game a year ago.
Corey McKeithan, Windsor, 6-1, Sr., G: A Rider commit, he averaged 23.7 points and five assists for the Warriors last season.
Guy Ragland Jr., Northwest Catholic, 6-7, Sr., F: A tall and long forward, he averaged 11.5 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as a junior.
Primo Spears, Windsor, 6-2, Sr., G: One of the state’s top guards a year ago, he averaged 27.5 points and nine assists, leading the Warriors to the Division I state title game. Likely a Division I-caliber guard, Spears was an all-state football player this fall.
Kazell Stewart, Prince Tech, 6-6, Sr., F: Prince Tech’s high-flying forward averaged 22.6 points and 14.5 rebounds for the Falcons last year, leading them to the Division III state semifinals.
Aedan Using, Old Lyme:, 6-5, Sr., F: Using averaged 18 points, nine rebounds and 2.7 steals last year and led the Wildcats to the Division V state championship game. The Wildcats are expected to be a contender in the Shoreline Conference and Division V this season.