MARION, Mass. – Tabor Academy figures to be a contender in NEPSAC Class A this year. That might be quite a statement when you consider they lost their best player from last year as Jarred Reuter transferred to Brewster Academy, but the Seawolves have enough talent and a suitable replacement for how they will play to be in the mix when March rolls around.
The Seawolves have a couple of players recovering from off-season injuries, so Sunday’s open gym didn’t showcase the full team. Everyone should be ready to go come November, with plenty of perimeter players to go with their new post presence. Because of that, head coach Chris Millette wants to run often this year.
Jesse Bunting (6’8″ Jr. PF, Plymouth (MA)) is the big newcomer who will anchor the frontcourt. A solid prospect who has flown under the radar, in part from being a reserve on the deep Expressions Elite travel team, Bunting should break out this year as there’s a lot to like about him. He’s a rugged plus athlete with a good body and a motor that’s always running, and while he will force some questionable shots he will get a lot done. A constant presence on the boards at both ends, he can finish well in transition and in close, and can hit from mid-range with some consistency. He’ll help their running attack since he gets up and down the floor very well.
Bunting’s primary help there will come from Miles Wright (6’4″ Sr. SF, Boston (MA)), who is still slowed by a stress fracture that has kept him out of game action for a few months. Also an excellent quarterback on the gridiron, he is sitting out the football season because of it and they expect he will be ready to go for the basketball season. The well-built wing is more athletic than he showed on Sunday and an overall better player and prospect who can play at the Division I level either on the hardwood or gridiron. They also have Alec McBride (6’3″ Sr. SF) in the frontcourt rotation.
The glut of guards will likely be led by Rodney Morton (6’0″ Sr. PG-SG), a post-graduate who looks like an undersized shooting guard. Very athletic, he has a slight frame but was arguably the best player on the floor on Sunday as he hit an array of mid-range jumpers, including while off balance, and a couple from long range and was a constant factor. Andrew Jacobs (6’1″ Jr. SG, Needham (MA)) looks like the chief designated shooter, as the lefty has a good frame and shoots the way a free swinger in baseball goes after pitches. He hit from well behind the line and on one play made a nice hesitation move and floater.
Two other seniors will be keys on the perimeter, as Bryce Boggs (6’1″ Sr. SG) has a good body and is a plus athlete who should do well playing fast, and A.J. Maestas (6’0″ Sr. PG) isn’t the most athletic guard and didn’t have his best day on Sunday but will contribute in the rotation.
Joining Bunting and Jacobs in the junior class are two more guards, P.J. Poulin, Jr. (5’11” Jr. PG) and Matt Geneaux (5’10” Jr. PG). But it’s in the sophomore class where there’s clearly some potential behind the top upperclassmen. Jason Byrd (So. SG) is a baby physically with a little length, and he was active on Sunday. He hit a baseline mid-range jumper, hit from long range later and also had a nice drive and finish. Jeremiah Adams (5’11” So. SG) is a well-built guard who is a star on the diamond at third base. He’s recovering from a lower back injury, so he’s still a little limited, but he should get some minutes and can hit from long range.
With all of the guards and Bunting’s ability to make long passes either off rebounds or an inbounds pass, the Seawolves will try to run often. They will also try to press since they can bring fresh bodies into the game and Bunting is well-conditioned.
Tabor Academy will be challenged with their schedule. They will play in the Scholar Roundball Classic, National Prep School Invitational, and will run the Seacoast Classic along with Phillips Exeter. They also play Worcester Academy home and home, Brimmer & May, Cushing Academy and St. Andrew’s.
Class A should have some of the same contenders as last year, and Phillips Exeter had a special veteran team last year that was clearly the best team. This year, Class A looks more even, and despite Reuter’s departure Tabor Academy should have enough talent and experience to contend.
