MIAA Basketball Top 25: Week 2

Senior Jorge Torres has Western Mass power Springfield Central flying high in the season's early goings.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 12/18)

1. Needham (2-0; Last Week - 3) In a tough opener on the road, Thomas Shaughnessy and the experienced Rockets looked every bit a championship contender, running past St. John’s Prep, 72-62.

2. St. John's Prep (1-1; Last Week - 1) Dropping the opener to a Needham team that brings back several key pieces after a state semifinals appearance last year is nothing of which to be ashamed. 

3. Franklin (1-0; Last Week - 5) The Panthers continued to dominate Hockomock League competition with a 55-36 win over Milford, led by a career-high 28 points from sophomore guard Chris Edgehill.

Players With Massachusetts Ties in the NCAA Tournament

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Ok, we're a day late on this, but if you're looking for any kid with Massachusetts roots playing in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, we've got them all listed below for you. Note that these guys may be Massachusetts natives, or simply guys who prepped in the Commonwealth. Some, obviously, are both.

Also note that, while each of these former Bay State stars is on the team listed, you may not get to see each of them play. In some cases, like Newton native and Northwestern sophomore Aaron Falzon, that's due to injury, and in other cases, such as Purdue's Jacquil Taylor from Cambridge, it's just because they aren't yet a part of the usual rotation.

Anyways, without further ado, here are all the players with Massachusetts ties participating in the Big Dance. As always, if we've made an error or left somebody off, tweet me @HerewegoJoe.