Fab 5 Super Sophs Produce at the Varsity Level
Five sophomore high school players who train with Coach Robert Hunter here at No Excuse Produce recently wrapped up very impressive basketball seasons.
James McKinney (Nipmuc), Cheyton Marshall (Main South), Gabe Huss (St. Paul), Colin Spencer (Uxbridge) and Juan Aponte Jr. (Abby Kelley Foster) put their No Excuse Produce training to the test during the 2022-23 season and the positive results speak for themselves.
Here’s a recap of each player’s accomplishments as well as a few words from Coach Hunter.
Photo Credit: Dawn Barnes
James McKinney, Sophomore, Nipmuc:
McKinney led Nipmuc Regional (12-9) to the semifinals of the CMADA tournament playoffs as well as a spot in the MIAA Division 3 state tournament. He led the Dual Valley League in scoring (15.5 ppg) as a sophomore and finished the season with 310 total points on 131 field goals. McKinney poured in an impressive season-high 41 points in a win over Blackstone-Millville in February. In 14 out of 21 games he scored in double figures and reached 20 or more points five times.
Coach Hunter on McKinney: "James is a legit college wing that can score at all three levels."
Photo Credit: Siobhan Reardon
Cheyton Marshall, Sophomore, Main South:
Marshall was an offensive power for Main South (8-12) all winter. As a sophomore he finished fifth overall in Inter-High scoring at 13.5 points per game. He totaled more than 200 points for the season and scored in double figures more than 10 times for the Cougars. Marshall dropped a season-high 29 points in a win over Abby Kelley in January.
Coach Hunter on Marshall: "High-motor guard with strong handles and attacks well off the bounce."
Photo Credit: Mindy Huss
Gabe Huss, Sophomore, St. Paul:
A capable shooter, Huss was a solid contributor for St. Paul (3-17) this season. Overall, he averaged 8.4 points per game and finished the season with 159 points, including 32 three-point field goals. Huss scored a season-high 19 points in a loss to Whitinsville Christian in mid-February. He also reached double-figures in points six times.
Coach Hunter on Huss: "Plays with great pace, sees the floor well. He can also shoot it from 3-point range at a high clip."
Colin Spencer, Sophomore, Uxbridge:
Spencer’s eagle eye shooting helped lead Uxbridge (10-10) to a berth in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament in 2022-23. As a sophomore he finished seventh in South Worcester County League-B scoring with 8.3 points per game. Spencer drained 35 three-point field goals as one of just four players in the league with more than 30 trifectas this season. He scored a season-high 24 points with six three pointers in a win over Auburn and 21 points on seven threes in a win over Quaboag. He finished with 150 total points.
Coach Hunter on Spencer: "Plays under control with great big-time shot making ability."
Photo Credit: Ruby Aponte
Juan Aponte, Jr., Sophomore, Abby Kelly Foster:
Aponte, Jr., more commonly known as “Junior,” was a bright spot for the Bears (9-11) as they advanced to the MIAA Division 5 state tournament for the first time in four years. As a capable role player, he averaged 4.5 points per game in his first varsity campaign as a sophomore. Junior scored a season-high 16 points in a win over Trivium in the season opener.
"Coach Hunter on Aponte, Jr.: "Very talented young player that shoots it very well from long range."
These five sophomores all played key roles for their varsity teams all season long. The future certainly looks very promising for these players who have all improved their game immensely with the help of Coach Hunter and No Excuse Produce. Keep putting in the work guys! No excuses!