Matt Feld: 10 MIAA Athletes Who Have Stood Out Amongst The Rest

BC High's Will Bowen is one of the better pure athletes to come through the MIAA in recent years. A star on the football and lacrosse fields, Bowen is currently in his sophomore year at UNC.

By Matt Feld (@MattyFeld612)

Throughout my tenure as a high school sports writer - first with ESPN Boston, then as a member of SuiteSports and now still with the Boston Herald - I have had the honor of covering some of the top players to come through Massachusetts across all sports.

I've covered Division 1 athletes, McDonald's All-American nominees, Gatorade Player of the Year Award winners, hundreds of state champions, and potential future professional athletes. There's nothing more humbling as a sports writer than turning on ESPN or FOX and seeing a player you covered back in high school facing off against some of the top college programs in the country.

One of the more unique aspects of high school sports, particularly here in Massachusetts, is that the players who rise to the top may not always be the most talented. The stories that grab your heart strings or make you fall in love with the game do not necessarily involve players headed for future stardom, but those who are stars right there in the moment. They may never be the top player to come out of Massachusetts, but they may just be the top player to come out of their school.

High school athletes become unique in their own way. What draws coverage towards them may be talent, an innate ability to fill out the stat sheet, or sheer dominance. There are other reasons, however, why an athlete may see a community rally around them. Whether it be their competitiveness, candor, personality, or leadership, high school sports in Massachusetts allows players to rise to town-fame when they otherwise may be forgotten.

Over the last half decade I have had the chance to cover players who fit both these descriptions. Some players who stood out from the moment they stepped on a field as a freshman, and others who blossomed as seniors. 

Here are 10 MIAA Athletes over the course of the last five years I have had the pleasure of covering who stood out amongst the rest.

MIAA Boys' Basketball Tournament: North and South Sectional Picks

Fresh off a Boston City League title, Tech Boston enters the D2 South bracket as a prohibitive favorite.

By SuiteSports Staff

On Friday morning, the MIAA released the basketball pairings for the 2018 State Tournament for the North, South, and Central Sectionals.

Upon first glance, a number of noteworthy matchups have the potential to take place. In Division 1 South, No. 5 Catholic Memorial could take a trip to No. 4 Newton North in the quarterfinal, while up North, No. 2 Lawrence would certainly love a shot to avenge a regular season overtime loss to No. 7 St. John’s Prep

Division 2 North is wide open, with No. 4 Belmont playing terrific down the stretch, and a rematch of last year’s sectional semi-final set to take place between No. 2 Arlington and No. 7 Brighton, if both can take care of business in the opening round.

MIAA Boys' Basketball Top 25 Poll: Week 10

Franklin (blue) and Mansfield (white) continue to climb in our poll, as the Panthers knocked off previously unbeaten Tech Boston, led by 31 points from sophomore Chris Edgehill (No.3, pictured). The Hornets, meanwhile, defeated a loaded Brockton squad to move into our Top-5. Not a bad week for these Hockomock rivals.    Photo by Eamon Convey

Our latest rankings of the best boys' hoops teams in Massachusetts, as selected by our team of editors and correspondents. Records are accurate as of 2/20/18.

MIAA Basketball Top 25 Poll: Week 9

Mansfield is flying high in the Hockomock Kelly-Rex after a big win over Franklin.   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.


1. Tech Boston (13-0; Last Week - 1) Bears will look to finish spotless in Boston City League play this week, before having a chance to prove themselves once again against Division 1 powers this weekend in Franklin.

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 Top 25: Week 3

Our rankings of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 1/1)

1. Needham (5-0; Last Week - 1) The Rockets handled Xaverian, 65-41, on Dec. 30 to remain undefeated heading into the New Year.

2. St. John's Prep (4-1; Last Week - 2) Huge wins for Prep over Lawrence (97-92 in OT) and Central Catholic (80-68) to take the Commonwealth Motors Classic at Methuen High over the weekend.

Everett, Cambridge, Burke, Brookline, Watertown, & Bishop Stang Get Wins at BABC Holiday Classic

BOSTON - The holidays are over, but the gift of winning for Cambridge is still ongoing.

As part of the BABC Holiday Classic at Cathedral High School on Wednesday, the Falcons picked up their 49th consecutive victory, knocking off Portsmouth (NH), 48-46.

Cambridge forward Khai Smith dominated in the paint throughout the contest, finishing with 16 points and 20 rebounds.

The Falcons held a seemingly insurmountable 34-13 lead at the half and seemed well on their way to another blowout victory.

Portsmouth, however, changed their approach in the second half and came out in a 2-1-2 zone in order to slow the game down.

Former Red Sox Pitcher Brian Rose Begins First Season Coaching Bishop Stang

By Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports)

How many MIAA high school baseball coaches can say they played alongside Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra? Not many, but Brian Rose can.

The Dartmouth native and first-year Bishop Stang head coach is a five-year big league veteran who spent parts of four seasons (primarily as a starting pitcher) with the Boston Red Sox.

Rose, who played pro ball for 11 seasons, has coached AAU teams in the past, and is an assistant hockey coach at Dartmouth High. Even so, he is excited for his first opportunity to lead a high school baseball team, even if the Spartans are one of the Dartmouth High alum’s old high school rivals.