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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 6, 2020 8:10:47 GMT -5
I had the opportunity to watch Prince Moses in action yesterday, as Northfield Mount Hermon clashed with Cushing Academy in Ashburnham. A very good game between two of the perennial powerhouse programs on the New England prep scene, won by Cushing, 60-58. Pumped-up student crowd, very good venue Looks like the game is available on-line, and is well worth watching. Moses is #34 in white.
Folks with a better eye than mine may draw different conclusions. A few of my inexpert observations follow.
Moses is a sculpted 6-8, with a strong upper body - when he's finished developing, could look like Jehyve did as a senior. Good motor, ran the court really well in transition with long strides. Long-armed, agile and springy around the glass, elevated above the crowd on multiple occasions for rebounds (~12 for the game), and had a couple blocks. He seemed to free-lance at the defensive end on a number of possessions, jumping out on wings and guards, showed active hands (two steals, couple deflections), but lost his main assignment badly on a few occasions that cost a couple hoops. Offensively, I guess-timate Moses was 3-9 (1-2), 2-2 FTs. In the half-court, he set up at the foul line - screened not just on-ball but for cutters coming across the top of the key, and was very physical doing so (floored one defender). Active and engaged without the ball. Posted up a few times, but didn't score that way - had a shot blocked, got tangled up and turned over otherwise. So-so hands, made one nice pass, from mid-post to corner. Shot a number of balls deep in warm-ups and missed them all - one make in the game, one brick. Good form at the line. Definitely a work in progress here. Because he often seemed to be playing a one-man zone, I didn't come away with a clear impression of his fundamental soundness man-to-man. Likewise with his rebounding - his stat line was good, but came more from being opportunistic, rather than as a result of check-and-box technique. His speed and athleticism would certainly be welcome here, but based solely on what he showed yesterday, we might need to be patient with him, especially at the offensive end. Hope to get the chance to see him again later in the month.
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Post by dadominate on Feb 6, 2020 11:39:18 GMT -5
thanks for the report. always appreciate your "straight shot" impressions, woogray.
watching the game it looks like he has athleticism/some promise, but definitely needs polish.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 6, 2020 11:45:28 GMT -5
If he did not need polish, the line of power schools would be long
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 6, 2020 12:22:40 GMT -5
If he did not need polish, the line of power schools would be long A huge point. Key thing is that it sounds like there is a lot to work with for this guy, and a strong D1 staff should be able to get the most out of him.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 6, 2020 13:17:38 GMT -5
Worth noting that a "work in progress" at Northfield Mount Hermon - arguably the best combined academic/athletic prep program in the country - is light years ahead of somebody at a similar stage of development at other schools. We may have found him at just the right time. Many (most?) of NMH's home games are live-streamed, so multiple opportunities to watch Moses this month. Competition is consistently top-notch. Scroll down for schedule. They play Bridgton Academy tomorrow night. www.nmhschool.org/livestream
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Post by hchoops on Feb 6, 2020 13:22:57 GMT -5
All we need is his autograph on an LOI
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Post by dadominate on Feb 6, 2020 13:30:43 GMT -5
If he did not need polish, the line of power schools would be long on that note, what other offers does he currently have?
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Post by hchoops on Feb 6, 2020 13:38:38 GMT -5
If he did not need polish, the line of power schools would be long on that note, what other offers does he currently have? VC lists only Brown
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 6, 2020 14:49:18 GMT -5
Brown was there yesterday, as were Yale and a number of other schools - multiple players on both teams are D1 caliber, including Cushing's Bensley Joseph, the #2 2021 in New England, and NMH's Avery Brown, the #4 2022 in Massachusetts (according to NERR)
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Feb 6, 2020 15:46:38 GMT -5
Yale? Uh oh....don't like that.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 7, 2020 16:38:37 GMT -5
Worth noting that a "work in progress" at Northfield Mount Hermon - arguably the best combined academic/athletic prep program in the country - is light years ahead of somebody at a similar stage of development at other schools. We may have found him at just the right time. Many (most?) of NMH's home games are live-streamed, so multiple opportunities to watch Moses this month. Competition is consistently top-notch. Scroll down for schedule. They play Bridgton Academy tomorrow night. www.nmhschool.org/livestreamTonight’s Bridgton game postponed to Sunday at noon due to Maine’s weather.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 12:11:58 GMT -5
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Post by hchoops on Feb 9, 2020 12:28:06 GMT -5
Looks as if the bench will play the most minutes in this rout after a relatively close game yesterday
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 12:39:04 GMT -5
NMH got up big early, but just 42-31 in closing minutes of first half. Moses sat for about six minutes, but has been back in for awhile.
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Post by trimster on Feb 9, 2020 12:47:48 GMT -5
I watched the last 5 minutes of the first half. He really looks like someone who needs to greatly increase his intensity level to compete at the D1 level.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 12:52:34 GMT -5
May be a case of playing to the level of the competition - seemed to play harder vs. Cushing.
I'm sure he knows how to box out, but in neither game has he done it very well - - seems to rely on his athleticism (which is considerable) rather than fundamentals. Rabinovich is nowhere near as naturally gifted, but much sounder at this stage
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Post by efg72 on Feb 9, 2020 12:56:30 GMT -5
If he ends up in purple that might be an interesting practice or two
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Post by trimster on Feb 9, 2020 13:05:32 GMT -5
May be a case of playing to the level of the competition - seemed to play harder vs. Cushing. I'm sure he knows how to box out, but in neither game has he done it very well - - seems to rely on his athleticism (which is considerable) rather than fundamentals. Rabinovich is nowhere near as naturally gifted, but much sounder at this stage For all I know the kid is sick but if this is a valid snapshot, you have to wonder how he will react to the greater intensity level of D1 basketball. Athleticism alone isn't going to cut it at a higher level. Of course you can't teach 6'8" and 210 so he will obviously get looks but it appears that no one has offered him a scholarship other than us. If he played with a high motor, I would think he'd have at least a couple of offers.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 13:12:48 GMT -5
For all I know the kid is sick but if this is a valid snapshot, you have to wonder how he will react to the greater intensity level of D1 basketball. Athleticism alone isn't going to cut it at a higher level. Of course you can't teach 6'8" and 210 so he will obviously get looks but it appears that no one has offered him a scholarship other than us. If he played with a high motor, I would think he'd have at least a couple of offers. Very possible he is under the weather - he was much better vs. Cushing.
Brown has offered him. But based on the two games I've seen, can't imagine Ed Cooley doing so.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 13:17:47 GMT -5
NMH, 64-57, 6m left. Moses having trouble hanging on to the ball down low in back to back possessions.
Back to the bench.
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Post by trimster on Feb 9, 2020 13:32:49 GMT -5
For all I know the kid is sick but if this is a valid snapshot, you have to wonder how he will react to the greater intensity level of D1 basketball. Athleticism alone isn't going to cut it at a higher level. Of course you can't teach 6'8" and 210 so he will obviously get looks but it appears that no one has offered him a scholarship other than us. If he played with a high motor, I would think he'd have at least a couple of offers. Very possible he is under the weather - he was much better vs. Cushing.
Brown has offered him. But based on the two games I've seen, can't imagine Ed Cooley doing so.
I was aware of Brown but I guess I have to change my outlook on whether or not the Ivy offers scholarships. I guess now that the Ancient Eight has loosened the purse strings greatly in terms of financial aid across the board, one now has to consider an IL offer to be a scholarship.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 9, 2020 13:35:57 GMT -5
May be a case of playing to the level of the competition - seemed to play harder vs. Cushing. I'm sure he knows how to box out, but in neither game has he done it very well - - seems to rely on his athleticism (which is considerable) rather than fundamentals. Rabinovich is nowhere near as naturally gifted, but much sounder at this stage Not that I agree with it, but John Wooden taught all his teams, whether top height at 6’5 or 7’2”, to pursue the ball, and not box out.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 9, 2020 14:45:36 GMT -5
Two tough games at home next week for Northfield Mount Hermon vs. St. Thomas More (Feb 14th) and Brewster Academy (Feb 15th), both of which will be live-streamed. NMH lost to both early in the season. Four of the top five 2020s in New England play for Brewster and will be going to Kentucky, Miami, BC, and Minnesota next year - and four more will be heading to Syracuse, Maryland, UMass and Valpo.
Get well fast, Prince.
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Post by trimster on Feb 9, 2020 20:48:27 GMT -5
Two tough games at home next week for Northfield Mount Hermon vs. St. Thomas More (Feb 14th) and Brewster Academy (Feb 15th), both of which will be live-streamed. NMH lost to both early in the season. Four of the top five 2020s in New England play for Brewster and will be going to Kentucky, Miami, BC, and Minnesota next year - and four more will be heading to Syracuse, Maryland, UMass and Valpo.
Get well fast, Prince. Some of the Friar faithful are talking up the Prince or Moses or whatever he prefers. This is after watching recent videos of the Prince. They like his toughness and ability to score in the paint. Interestingly they don’t see him as all that athletic.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 14, 2020 18:11:04 GMT -5
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