WELLESLEY, Mass. — More than 600 New England-based players traveled to Babson College over three days in June with hopes of impressing college coaches.
Among them were some of the best wings and forwards the region can offer.
From June 21-23, players from 75 schools participated in the NEPSAC scholastic showcase. It was an opportunity for those teams to get some early playing together but it was also a chance for individual players to get some exposure during the NCAA live recruiting period, which allows college coaches to see them play in person.
I had a chance to attend the final two days of the showcase. There were always three games playing at once, so I didn’t have a chance to see every player. But I saw plenty of ball-dominant wings and forwards who have already proven and will continue to impress in the NEPSAC.
Here are six wings/forwards who caught my eye at Babson.
Ryan Altman
Class of 2025, 6-6 forward
Rivers School/Middlesex Magic
NCAA: Penn
A member of three consecutive Class B championship teams, Altman will be the fixture of a Rivers squad experiencing some turnover next season and the forward looked up to the task. Altman is a strong two-way player and his defensive acumen continued to be his greatest strength in a win over Lawrence Academy. The Penn commit has a long body and advanced defensive instincts and that combination helped him constantly blow up passing lanes for steals and deflections. On one sequence, he grabbed a steal at midcourt and went the other way for a three-point play in transition – a hallmark of Altman’s impact.
Altman’s playmaking was also on display as he showed an advanced awareness of the right pass to make. On one play, he saw where the defense was rotating and made a timely pass underneath to Patrick Costello for a bucket.
Landon Clark
Class of 2025, 6-8 forward
St. Paul's/Middlesex Magic
NCAA: Princeton
It wasn’t surprising to see Clark make an impact in every facet of the game in St. Paul’s game against Brewster. The Princeton commit is an absolute matchup nightmare. At 6-foot-8, he’s more than comfortable playing a point forward role and making plays for his teammates or himself. He had the quickness to get by several defenders who were hopeless in stopping his attacks to the basket, and he made some high-level reads. He was also very active on the defensive boards, which allowed him to get into the offense the other way quickly and effectively.
Badara Diakite
Class of 2025, 6-9 forward
South Kent School/City Rocks
Diakite’s physical tools are evident upon first glance and it’s easy to see why he’s such an intriguing prospect for high-major college programs. He’s a serious matchup problem, and while he hasn’t quite developed a consistent outside shot, his physicality makes it easy for him to just overwhelm defenders. At 6-foot-9 with a long frame, he’s just bigger than most players his age and he used that to his advantage early in a game against Cushing Academy, when he scored South Kent’s first 11 points, which included an impressive baseline drive and monster dunk. Diakite is still raw and developing, but he has a very strong foundation to work from.
Alex Egbuonu
Class of 2026, 6-6 forward
Lawrence Academy/BABC
Egbuonu is easily one of the polished players in his rising junior class, and it looks like he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. He’s a menace as a two-way forward, a bit more athletic than what may initially meet the eye and a confident shot-maker. He had a blazing start against Rivers with impressive plays that included a pair of blocks. I also don’t think I saw him miss a single mid-range jumper. No one was stopping him from getting to his spots on any of his pull-ups, and he was automatic with his smooth shooting stroke.
Ryder Frost
Class of 2025, 6-6 wing
Phillips Exeter/Middlesex Magic
Frost has been one of the biggest stock risers of the spring and early summer as he’s starting to generate more and more high-major interest with his strong play on the AAU circuit. There isn’t much to critique in his Exeter’s close win over Taft at the showcase. Frost handles the ball exceptionally well for his size, and I was specifically impressed with a behind-the-back dribble he made to protect the ball when he sensed pressure on a fast break. But shot-making is his greatest attribute, and he didn’t disappoint in this one. Unsurprisingly, he’s Exeter’s go-to scorer and he made good on that by getting hot from deep late, including two triples in the final minutes to seal the victory.
Jaylen Harrell
Class of 2025, 6-6 forward
CATS Academy/Expressions Elite
NCAA: Providence
Over the course of three games between Saturday and Sunday, Harrell showcased why he’s arguably the best scorer in New England. He may not be the most athletic guy in the gym, but he scores in so many different ways that it doesn’t matter. He operated out of the post, he drew fouls, he hit transition 3-pointers and pulled up for several triples with his clean stroke, and he even had a nice spin move for a bucket. In their win against Winchendon, the ball was being forced out of Harrell’s hands frequently but he always made the right pass and play, and his impact was felt on the defensive end and the glass.
