NE Fall Championship Standouts: Mu World Order
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This past weekend I attended Select Events New England Fall Showcase. Below are a few of the prospects who caught my attention with big-time performances. Tahira Muhammad Tahira Muhammad 5'9" | SG Noble & Greenough | 2024 State NewE…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend I attended Select Events New England Fall Showcase. Below are a few of the prospects who caught my attention with big-time performances.
Tahira Muhammad Tahira Muhammad 5'9" | SG Noble & Greenough | 2024 State NewE – Shooting Touch/ Noble & Greenough – 5’9″ – SG – ’24
It is hard to watch Muhammad and not be drawn to her competitive spirit. Every possession, she goes 100% and is one of the most intense and relentless players I have seen. It was fitting that her best performance came on Halloween because she was haunting her opponent on both sides of the floor. Defensively, she arguably is the best on the perimeter. On or off the ball, Muhammad’s defensive IQ and understanding of man-to-man principles are advanced for her age. On offense, she looks like a new person shooting the basketball compared to the spring. It isn’t just that she has become more efficient as a three-point shooter, but she is stepping up and hitting shots in crucial moments of the game. Whenever Shooting Touch needs a quality offensive possession, they can count on Muhammad to come through. Muhammad’s alpha dog mentality and mental toughness, added to her skill set, make her one of the best prospects in ’24.
Jackie Malley Jackie Malley 5'7" | SG Reading | 2022 State NewE – Evolution/Reading – 5’7’’ – SG – ‘22
Watching Malley shoot the lights out over the weekend was one of the more fun performances to witness at the New England Fall Championship. What is most impressive about Malley is how efficient a shooter she is late in the game. She is a tireless gunslinger who shoots with the same form, power, and acumen, whether at the beginning of the game or the end, which speaks to her conditioning and mental toughness. Malley’s overall feel for the game and IQ is another aspect of her game that sticks out. She has a good sense of where she is on the floor and knows how to get open and to her spots to dominate the scoring column.
Jaelyn Holmes Jaelyn Holmes 5'9" | CG North Kingstown | 2025 State NewE – Team Providence/North Kingstown – 5’8″ – CG’ ’25
After only seeing Holmes play on film, I finally got the opportunity to watch in person, and she did not disappoint. Her passing in the pick and roll was deadly accurate. The touch Holmes put on her passes to put the ball only where the screener could get it was impressive, and she completed that play multiple times throughout the game. Holmes was also assertive on offense, taking advantage of any mismatches on the outside and aggressively taking the defender to the basket at will. Holmes can shoot the three, has a floater package and crafty footwork to get around the defenders when pursuing the basket. On defense, Holmes digs in and has quick hands to disrupt passes. She forced a lot of turnovers when Team Providence would trap.
Sophia Florio Sophia Florio 5'3" | PG Tabor Academy | 2026 State NewE – Bay State Jaguars/ West Bridgewater – 5’4″ – ’25
It was awesome watching Florio over the weekend because I got to see her as the primary facilitator and ball handler of the Jaguars. She was nothing short of outstanding all game long. With more responsibility on her shoulders, Florio showed everyone how complete a scorer and player she is. Her sniping ability is elite, she was getting to the basket and finishing over taller defenders easily, and was a significant factor on defense. Her energy on defense and efforts on the glass helped lead the Jaguars to a championship win. Florio impacted winning basketball in various ways, and with her weekend efforts, her stock drastically increased. Florio can adapt and be a huge contributor on a team where she is a 3rd or 4th option but can also step up and be the lead dog of a winning team.
Emerson Allyn Emerson Allyn 5'7" | CG Wachusett | 2023 State NewE – Bay State Jaguars/ Wachusett – 5’7’’ – SG – ’23
Allyn is a player who competes hard, hustles, and does a lot of the little things to impact the game. She plays under control and takes what the defense gives her. If they sag off, Allyn will confidently take the jump shot. If the defense is overly aggressive closing out, Allyn can beat them off the dribble. She runs the floor well and always gets behind the defense for easy fastbreak opportunities. She has good court awareness on the other side of the ball and is always dialed in, ready to make a play. Allyn is a hard-working player whose game blends well with different team playing styles and individual skill sets.