As for Freshmen incoming to NESCAC teams, there are 2 from the Boston area I am aware of:

1.  Kellie MacDonald (Forward-In Eastern Mass Top 10) was called "the ultimate teammate" by her coach earlier this season.  She led her Danvers team in just about every category...scoring rebounding blocks, field goal and free throw percentage...you name it...she did it.  She scored over 14 PPG this year and also became only the 3rd female in Danvers history to go over the 1,000 point barrier for her career...kid has a great head on her shoulders as well as she heads off to play at Williams the next 4 years.
2.  Molly Brown (Guard-In Eastern MassTop 25) can flat out shoot the rock especially behind the 3 point arc.  She scored almost 23 a game this year with 8 boards and 4 assists each night...She was named a Globe and Herald all scholastic and finished her career with 1,167 points.  The night she scored her 1,000th point she did it in style going for 33 that night.  Coach Jim Murphy at Bates has to be smiling with thoughts of her playing ball there the next 4 seasons.

FYI...the recruiting web site this was pulled from is generally very reliable.  The guy who runs it sees a ton of games and knows talent.  And the fact they are both ranked in the Top 25 in Eastern Mass means they are very good players.

Since we are on the subject of coaches, anyone care to offer a view of the league's coaches?  Who are the best? I know it is easy to look at overall records and say Coach G is the best, and he may be, but are there some other coaches in the league who do well with less talent? Or their teams play hard every night and are very sound?  On the other hand, are there any coaches who appear to be outmatched? 

Quote from: Maine1 on March 12, 2011, 09:25:28 PM
No surpise. Amherst has been one of top teams in the country for the past three years-I hope they can finish with a championship.  If they play the way they have been, they should win it all

Congrats to the Lord Jeffs!  But the down side--how long can Amherst keep Coach G? I know he likes all that is good with D3/NESCAC basketball but at some point, he will get an offer too good to refuse.

Babson-Bowdoin will be a great game.  Babson last year beat Colby in OT and played Amherst very tough.  They are all back and will be much more ready for Sweet 16 pressure.  Bowdoin will have not seen 3 athletic 6 foot + kids who can run and in two cases, really shoot the 3.  IMO, it is the best front line in D3 basketball.  Always the question with Babson is guard play.  If their guards can hit some key shots to keep defenses honest, run the offense well, and limit turnovers, Babson is a very tough matchup.  And they are very hungry after last year.  

Congratulations to all 4 athletes!  Well done.

On a related note, I noticed with dismay Vermont's misfortunes this season:  2-20 record and an RPI ranking of #315 (out of 343 D1 teams).

Has anyone seen them play?  Is the talent that bad?  New coach growing pains?

Could Amherst play them competitively?

Quote from: Maine1 on January 11, 2011, 12:34:43 PM
Post Play

Looks like you have received some good advice on the board regarding the recruiting process.

In my daughters case, she was recruited primarily through AAU.  Most coaches attend the key AAU tournaments, and this is where players can stand out and make an impact.

Thanks Maine 1!   Did she end up at a NESCAC school and/or did you look at other D3 schools?

Quote from: pureshooter on January 10, 2011, 11:41:20 PM
HoopMama
Have to like the school first, in case of injury. do i want to study here if i can't play b-ball? is the question.
study the roster, see who is leaving at your child's position, and watch a few games. watch the coach closely to see how they react during games.D-3 coach's are just as whacked as D-1, and some of the egos were amazing, in nescac and outside.
see what kind of system they play.
they will tell you how much your kid will play and all that, don't believe all the bs.
AAU coaches are usually the best link to the college level, or that is what i found. Good AAU programs will have college coaches watch tournaments they are in or even go to practices.

good luck

Thanks to the great points above on recruiting....very helpful!  I appreciate it.

Quote from: Maine1 on January 06, 2011, 10:48:29 AM
Just thought I would give some perspective on D3 recruiting/ NESCAC.   Had a daughter that had a very successful career at a NESCAC school. The level of basketball at the top end of the NESCAC is very good (probably equivalent of low D/ DII in some places, players are probably not as fast, but overall verygood basketball). At the lower end of DIII, there are players that really aren't even good high school players--so a wide spectrum.

The student really needs to like the school they are going to. Coaches change, players get hurt, all Coaches promise many players that they will play alot.  It is a recruiting process. You have to try to see through that.

You should try to go to watch some games of the schools you are interested in.  See the team play, watch the Coach, gauge the chemistry.  Informal visits in the Spring of the junior year are great, probably more formal visits in fall of senior year are also good

Thanks for the advice...very helpful.  How was your daughter recruited?  Did they see her in HS, AAU, showcases, camps, etc.?

Great report on Babson.  I saw the Emmanuel - Williams game as well and while Babson's guard play is not as solid as Williams, the 3 big kids present all sorts of problems for D3 teams. They get so many close-in, high % shots and second-chance points.

But I agree -- the NEWMAC is a much weaker conference than the NESCAC and you are right, Babson will not get many games where they will be pushed.  They should run the table in the conference.  It is amazing how much better they are than the rest of the teams -- doesn't happen often in conferences to have one team far and away better than the rest.

And what happened to Wheaton?  Really slipped.  Used to always be strong...

Hi Everyone!

Well, the new season has arrived and no surprise, Babson looks like a clear repeat in the NEWMAC. 

How good are they and can they go further in the NCAA's than last year?  Their size is impressive but can their guard play improve?
Who will play for 2nd place:  Springfield?  Wheaton?

Hi Everyone--

Great perspective...thanks!

I also am guessing the visit is key -- how your kid likes the coach and team and visa versa.  Plus the facilities, dorms, etc. 

Is spring your junior year to make visits?

Thanks!

Thanks to you both!  Obtaining a DVD of a complete game makes great sense.  Also, you are the second person who mentioned the UAA as a great women's basketball conference. 

As for "recruiting", since there is not a binding LOI or scholarship deal like D1, how does recruiting work?  Does a coach say "I want you" and you are in?  That is basically the D1 model assuming your kid meets NCAA minimums --which are not that high a standard).  Or is not that clear?  I hear horror stories of D3 coaches telling a kid they are in and Admissions denies or waitlists them.  Any info on the D3 recruiting process?

Hi all--

New to the board and love the discussions!  Our daughter is a junior and is starting to look at schools and has a strong interest in the NESCACs and is a basketball player.  She plays on a HS team with 2 kids who are going D1 - -- so we know that level of ability (she is a good player but not that good).  But can someone generally categorize the ability/skill/talent of NESCAC women's  basketball?  In some NESCAC sports (womens soccer is one), you hear there is "D1 talent choosing to play D3 sports for the academics".  And we have heard NESCAC schools getting athletes in who wouldn't get in on their own.  Any thoughts?    

Quote from: sumfun on October 15, 2010, 09:44:14 AM
PostPlay, welcome.  Amherst had no seniors on the team last year.  Will be interesting to see what they added, but they will be hard to unseat in the NESCAC.  Practice can start on October 15th, but I think the NESCAC doesn't start until November 1?  Girls still having captains practices and pick up games?

Thanks!  I agree on Amherst...will be tough to unseat.  Who do you think will be in the othe top slots?

Quote from: Wydown Blvd. on October 15, 2010, 01:36:19 AM
Welcome to the boards PostPlay!

Thanks!  Happy to be part of the conversation!