ASHBURNHAM, Mass. – If Cushing Academy seems to have a basketball team that is perpetually young, it’s not an illusion. For a few years now, it’s been a team whose best players have by and large been underclassmen. That remains the case this year, although Barry Connors’ team has an X-factor: all four of their best players are teammates in the spring and summer with the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.
Of their top four players, only James Kennedy (6’7″ Jr. PF, Dorchester (MA)) is an upperclassman. The well-built forward has continued to show gradual progress in improving his skills, and they were certainly evident as he shot the ball well and made a couple of good passes. He’s a plus athlete and is constantly working to improve, and he’s already made nice strides since he first arrived at the school. That also translates over to the team, as he’s been talking this team up as a contender NEPSAC Class B for several months.
The top prospect on the team, also in his third year at the school, is Domonique Bull (6’3″ So. SG, Worcester (MA)). The well-built power guard showed his ability to score off the bounce, and if he ever improves his jumper to become consistent with it, he’ll be that much more dangerous offensively as right now he shoots just well enough that a defender has to show his jumper a little respect. He’s the most likely player to lead this team in scoring.
A newcomer could challenge Bull for the team scoring lead. Egi Gjikondi (6’8″ Fr. PF, Malden (MA)) can put the ball in the basket and has some good fundamentals and a good motor inside. There are plenty of areas to improve, especially defensively as he’s not a major presence on the glass, but he looked good during individuals and had some good moments in pickup game play later on.
The other new addition who have a significant impact is Jared Johnson (6’2″ So. PG, Springfield (MA)). He didn’t shoot well during game play, but a lot of that can be attributed to lifting right before that started. A competitor at the point guard spot who has played with the aforementioned players with BABC, he should be their floor leader right away and make sure the team doesn’t miss a beat.
As with a number of teams, the top four will carry this team but the difference will come from the supporting cast. The leader of that group is Rob Holloman (5’10” Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA)), an excellent football prospect who didn’t work out with the team on Thursday.
The Penguins have a solid top four that has played together, and this time around Class B doesn’t have a clear favorite entering the season. With that going for them, they could contend in Class B this time around and look like more than just a young team.
