Unranked… For Now: Five Underrated Offensive ’28s from Mass.

There is so much talent in the Northeast corner of the country in this '28 class, and a big part of that is the concentration of prep schools in the region. Now that the national rankings are out, we're taking a closer look at some of the players floating around the outside edges of the Top 100—and/or likely to make their way into next week's Northeast Rankings—as well as a few who have already clawed their way into the top tier.   Of note, Connor Roszkowski has left the region after starting his career at Pingree (Mass.) and transferring to Episcopal School (Va.). But as a Wakefield native, he's included here as we take a closer look at the state's offensive talent.    The last time I saw Staffiere play was at Legacy this past summer, and he had run through an entire defense, then tucked home an effortless crosshanded shot and calmly walked back to the wing. The scorekeeper, who was a current college player, called over his coach and begged him to watch Staffiere, who then delivered on the promise of that initial goal with a juke that sent a hapless long pole into dead air, only to beat the early slide with a downfield diagonal pass for another goal. Is Staffiere a hugely imposing figure? No. Is he ultra quick in the way that a first-wave ‘28 commit is? Also no. However, his game IQ is on par with some of the best players in this class.     Shaughnessy is a quintessential low-to-the-ground attackman with an eye for hitting wild shots and passes. He can run low and slow breaks with the precision of a much older player, but also explode out of a settled six-on-six set with a vicious over-the-top hammer from a tight angle. Shaughnessy, or "Dunnie" if you're familiar enough, is unpredictable in the best sense of the word. He's one of those attackmen who uses his flair responsibly. Behind-the-back passes used to be seen as "too showy", but they're also necessary at times to get the best angle. Everyone wants an attackman who can turn something into nothing, and that's who Shaughnessy is for Thayer and Laxachusetts.     Egan's ability to score is his calling card, but don't just label him as a finisher. The dude can get up over and around defenders with a variety of dodges. He's got excellent separation, which shouldn't be a surprise given his basketball background. Usually that skill set translates more ot defense than offense, but Egan shows why the physicality and spatial awareness translate to offense as well. Of course, it helps that he's got more than just height; he can play inside or outside, up top or on the wing. Oh, and he's extremely two-handed as a shooter. However, I think he shines brightest when it comes to feeding; he hits a diagonal ball to the back pipe just as well as anyone in this class, whether he is floating, driving, or bouncing out.      I don't see Honos in a lot of the rankings, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand why. It's not a surprise that he led Andover in scoring with 53 points. He is so fast with and without the ball that defenses have to commit to a slide or risk being pulled out and dashed by without landing a check. His hesitation just before he commits to a side to dodge to is body-bending. I saw him constantly split doubles at a fall tournament last year because defensemen just couldn't decide who was going to slide out to him first. Maybe he's a second-wave guy, but I think he's got a high ceiling - you can't teach his speed.     I saw Roszkowski play for the first time about two years ago at the IMLCA Players Summit in Florida. He's got a great motor, but that's almost a prerequisite to be considered for high-level looks. What I like about him most is his ability to space the field and make timely cuts and serve as reactive support to ball carriers. For Pingree, he picked his spots and regularly committed to the up-down-off shift that defines two-way midfield play. I think he's going to see a lot more of the ball this season as he heads to Episcopal (Va.), and he's already served in that role for his club team. Versatility can sometimes be a curse when it comes to this early part of the recruiting season. However, the more spots on the field that you can fit into, the more valuable you become to teams that value that adaptability.

There is so much talent in the Northeast corner of the country in this '28 class, and a big part of that is the concentration of prep schools in the region. Now that the national rankings are out, we're taking a closer look at some of the players floating around the outside edges of the Top 100—and/or likely to make their way into next week's Northeast Rankings—as well as a few who have already clawed their way into the top tier.