Basketball is constantly evolving, but post players remain an important part of the game.
There's a top tier in the MIAA that contains post players of all different styles. Some are closer to forwards who can dribble and drive to the hoop. Others can step out and shoot the 3, and some are more old-school with crafty footwork.
The common trends: Every player here is tough to stop inside, a constant threat for rebounds and a tough defensive matchup.
Here are 10 post players to watch this winter, the third group in our series of MIAA player watch lists.
MORE:Â MIAA guards to watch | MIAA wings and forwards to watch
Tara Battaglino, Wellesley
Class of 2026, 6-1
Wellesley lost Welburn twins Shannon and Shea, who transferred to Newman just before the start of the school year. That means more will fall on the plate of Battaglino, a long, athletic talent who could justifiably be considered a forward. Battaglino is a relentless rebounder; she had 15 against Bridgewater-Raynham and 19 against Durfee in last year's state tournament. She can also handle and drive the ball when she gets an open lane.
Caitlin Boyle, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2026, 6-1
Boyle picked up two Division 1 offers over the summer from Harvard and Le Moyne. With Bishop Fenwick transitioning out of the Cecilia Kay era — and back into playoff contention following last year's ban — Boyle should take a leading role. She's more versatile than a traditional post player, but Boyle has solid footwork and great touch with both hands on layups and hook shots. She can also see the floor well and hit cutters with well-timed passes out of the post.
Ava Carroll, Sutton
Class of 2027, 6-0
Carroll has quickly become instrumental for the Suzies, who finished 20-2 before getting upset in the Div. 4 first round. She averaged 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.8 blocks last winter, and her size and skill should prove especially advantageous in the lower divisions. Sutton is a smaller school, but they could be a sleeper team to watch with Carroll leading the way.
Anna Freeman, Medway
Class of 2026, 6-0
I thought Freeman played a very solid game at the Eastern Mass. Showcase. She scored eight points, and as one of the taller players in the event, won several inside matchups with her size and ability to get good post positioning. Freeman averaged a double-double with 11.7 points and 10.7 rebounds last season while shooting 53 percent from the field. Medway reached the Div. 3 semifinals last year but might be underrated this winter. Freeman and the Mustangs could surprise some people.
Angela Hector, Springfield Central
Class of 2025, 6-0
Hector will be a pivotal piece for the Golden Eagles as they fight for supremacy in a loaded top tier of Division 1. She averaged 11.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last season as a powerful, high-motor player who seems unbothered scoring through contract. Some of Hector's best games came against Springfield Central's toughest opponents, including two 20-plus-point efforts against Northampton and 14 points in the Div. 1 quarterfinal win against Central Catholic.
Aniela Kwo, Central Catholic
Class of 2025, 5-10
Kwo probably trends more towards the forward-types of this group; she has a better handle than I initially realized, showing it off at the Eastern Mass. Showcase last month. But she's going to score most of her points around the basket and grab a ton of rebounds. Central Catholic coach Casey Grange believes a double-double average is attainable. I can get behind that with Kwo being one of the top returners on a Div. 1 contender.
Madi Lawrence, Sandwich
Class of 2025, 6-1
Lawrence helped lead Sandwich to one of its best years in program history, reaching the Div. 3 quarterfinals and ending with a 21-2 record. She scored 33 points in the Round of 16 win against North Reading, one of several explosive scoring nights from the Assumption-bound senior. Lawrence is one of the faster players at her position and runs the floor hard. She might also be the best 3-point shooter on this list.
Reese Matela, St. Mary's
Class of 2025, 6-2
Matela has been the quiet, steady presence in the paint for St. Mary's during the last three years, starting on the 2022-23 championship team. She's never been a leading scorer because the Spartans have recently fielded so much talent at the guard and wing spots. But Matela does a lot of the little things: setting good screens, finishing off easy layups chances, winning on the glass and holding her own as a physical defender. She's committed to Assumption.
Shannon McCarthy, Woburn
Class of 2025, 6-1
McCarthy's development into a confident post scorer has been neat to see over recent years. Woburn coach Steve Sullivan credited her for becoming more assertive during last year, and he wants to see even more from her as a senior. McCarthy has some high-level footwork she can use to seek shots from anywhere around the basket. She's also a physically strong, powerful center and an imposing matchup on defense.
Addie Ruter, Foxboro
Class of 2025, 6-3
Ruter has battled injuries recently and had surgery on a patellar tendon injury over the summer, but she should be ready to go by the start of the season. When healthy, she warps the game with her size and recovery skills as a shot-blocking center. But I've always been most impressed by Ruter's shooting touch. It feels like post shots, fadeaways and mid-range jumpers are automatic for her, a testament to the work she's put in to refine her game.
