NEW HAMPTON, N.H. – Pete Hutchins has a lot at his disposal at his alma mater this season. It’s not unusual for his New Hampton team to have a lot of bodies, but this team looks to have interchangeable parts and several options at key positions.
It’s a pleasant problem to have for a coach who has guided his team to the NEPSAC Class AAA championship game in two of the past four seasons. The Huskies have a good combination of holdovers and newcomers that will make this team go, and they have a lot of size all over the roster as well.
The best player on the floor on Tuesday night was newcomer Eddie Ekiyor (6’9″ Jr. PF, Ottawa (Ont.)), who has a good body and a great motor that was on display. He scored on the post, hit a couple of short jumpers and was all over the glass, while also making the highlight of the night as he chased down a man on the break for a block.
One player who will surely start up front is Syracuse commit Tyler Lydon (6’9″ Sr. PF, Elizaville (NY)), whose night ended early as he appeared to tweak his ankle. Lydon is long, active and showed some deep range on his jumper on Tuesday, and he’s already won over most evaluators with his motor.
Also figuring in the mix will be Jeremy Miller (6’9″ Sr. PF, Milton (MA)), who returns for his fourth season at the school. He’s long and has potential, and on Tuesday he got a couple of stickbacks from loose ball rebounds. Max Rothschild (6’8″ Sr. PF, Chicago (IL)) has a good body and was active, and he showed a couple of ways to score inside. Nick Morris (6’8″ Sr. PF, Toronto (Ont.)) has a good frame and a mature body, and the lefty will get some minutes. Jimbo Lull (6’11” Sr. C, Manhattan Beach (CA)) sat out Tuesday night’s workout but will have a role as well.
A.J. Turner (6’7″ Sr. SF, New Haven (MI)) should have the wing locked down, and if the Huskies go big he can play shooting guard. The recent Boston College commit looks to be in great shape and was constantly hitting his shots on Tuesday, especially off the catch. The most intriguing option to also play there is Bradley Jomard (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, Paris (France)), who could play all three perimeter positions. A very good student, he’s very fundamentally sound and more athletic than he looks. There was one play where he made a nice change of direction on a drive and finished with his left (off) hand. Zach Bergeron (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF, Litchfield (NH)) is also an option and had his moments on Tuesday.
While Jomard could see time at the point, the likely starter there is recent Dayton commit John Crosby (6’3″ Sr. PG-SG, Baltimore (MD)). He started the night hitting a wide array of jumpers out to long range, then showcased his game off the bounce in addition to his ability to handle the ball. Donovan Love (6’0″ Jr. PG, Cranston (RI)) returns for his second season and looks like he will be appreciably better. The lefty is quick and his body is developing, and he made a couple of nice passes on the evening.
A player the staff is high on more for the future than this season is Anthony Gaines (6’3″ So. SG, Kingston (NY)). A plus athlete with a good frame, his body has some to go, but he showed some promise during Tuesday’s workout. Danny Levitt (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Westmount (Que.)) and Quincy Aubertine (6’2″ Sr. SG, Cape Vincent (NY)) return for further depth, and Taylor Bennett (5’11” Jr. PG-SG, Denver (CO)) is a newcomer who will also be in the mix in the backcourt.
New Hampton will play in their share of big events this season. Early on, they will play in the National Prep Showcase, then will compete in Buckeye Elite National Showcase in West Virginia. Later, they will play a game in the Hoophall Classic, two games in the NPSI in Rhode Island and host their own tournament.
The Huskies have great size, especially up front, and a lot of versatility. They can go big or with a more traditional lineup, and the perimeter versatility will allow Hutchins to mix and match often. It adds up to a team that would not surprise anyone if they got to the title game for a third time in five seasons.
