MIAA Boys' Basketball Player of the Year Watchlist: 3/5/18

Needham's Thomas Shaughnessy finishes at the rim against Arlington.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

 By SuiteSports Staff 

As the MIAA Basketball State Tournament begins to heat up, a number of the premiere players in Massachusetts have started to leave their mark on the hardwood.

Across the state, a bevy of players have turned in dominant performances, single-handedly willing their teams to victory.

Only a handful, however, have done it consistently from the season's beginning to where the season stands today.

With that said, SuiteSports is excited to introduce our updated "MIAA Boys Basketball Player of the Year Watchlist" for the 2017-18 season. These six players have proven to be the best in Massachusetts all season long, carrying their teams to the verge of a sectional championship, and the ability to contend for a state championship.

As the tournament goes on, more names may emerge as contenders for this year's award.

Here is SuiteSports' current watchlist:

MIAA Basketball Top 25 Poll: Week 8

Tech Boston is riding high after a big win over Needham.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

Our weekly rankings of the best high school basketball teams in Massachusetts, as selected by our team of editors and correspondents. Records are up to date as of 2/6/18.

MIAA Basketball: 2017-2018 Midseason All-State Team

Newton North's Ethan Wright (left) and Needham's Thomas Shaughnessy have been among the best players in Massachusetts the past few seasons..

By SuiteSports Staff

In the blink of an eye, the MIAA basketball season has reached its halfway point.

Some teams are at the point where they can jockey for tournament seeding, hoping to receive a pair of home games to start their quest a state championship. Others, meanwhile, are hoping to win just the amount of games necessary down the stretch to qualify in order to put them in the mix.

All the while, star players across Massachusetts are making their mark on high school hoops this season.

Below is SuiteSports’ midseason MIAA Basketball All-state Team and Award Winners. If your favorite player didn't make the cut, fear not. There is a LOT of basketball left to be played.

Tournament Tease: Cambridge, Newton North Headline Loaded Slate of Friday Night Games

Newton North star Ethan Wright throws one down.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

It may only be the second week in January, but Friday night will certainly feel like tournament time for many teams across Massachusetts.

A bevy of matchups are sure to appeal to even the most casual fan as in some cases historic league rivalries are set to tipoff while in others a top non-league showdown is in order.

Four matchups standout, as No. 4 Cambridge vs. No. 11 Newton North, No. 9 Mansfield vs. No. 7 Franklin, Catholic Memorial vs. No. 8 BC High, and No. 3 Lowell vs. No. 19 Lawrence, combine to feature seven teams in our latest MIAA Basketball Top-25 poll including five in the top-10.