Bishop Feehan senior forward Anna Shaughnessy has committed to play basketball at Assumption College. She has been a double-double machine all season for the Shamrocks.

Shaughnessy (6’0 / forward) has been a contributor at Feehan for the past three years, but really emerged as a leader this season. Shaughnessy will follow the footsteps of decorated former teammates (Maddie Jolin – PC; Lauren Manis – Holy Cross, Katie Nelson – BU; Emily Miccile- Adelphi; Marissa Fontaine – Bentley) by taking her game to the collegiate level.

Anna Shaughnessy, a North Attleboro native, was an absolutely dominant post player through her MetroWest career and transformed her offensive game once in high school to be a more complete inside-outside player.

The future Greyhound has dazzled for the Shamrocks this season, including monster efforts vs. Mansfield (24 points, nine rebounds), Bishop Guertin (24 points, 14 rebounds), Archbishop Williams (19 points, 19 rebounds) and Braintree (17 points, 12 rebounds).  

I was fortunate enough to coach Anna for nine AAU seasons. On a team full of stars, Shaughnessy was a standout and routinely led the team in the scoring column. She was a scoring machine in the paint, could step out and knock down 3-pointers and had a smooth mid-range shot. She was often tasked with guarding the opposition’s tallest player and did a phenomenal job on the defensive end and on the glass.

In addition to being stellar on the court, Anna is beloved by her teammates and coaches and will prove to be a worthy player and teammate at Assumption. She will be a running mate of local stud point guard Meghan Reen (Norwood ’17) over the next three seasons.

Anna is the seventh player from her AAU team (Mass Premier Swish / NEX Elite) to commit to playing college ball next year: Meg Hill (Mansfield/Stonehill), Maggie McCarthy (Medfield/Harvard), Kayla Raymond (OA/Stonehill), Kaylin Reen (Norwood/Roger Williams), Ashley Sampson (Adelphi) and Tess Sussman (Rivers/Harvard).

Norwood’s sharpshooting guard Kaylin Reen (class of ’18) has given her verbal commitment to play basketball at Roger Williams University in scenic Bristol, RI.

As a junior at Norwood High School, Coach Amy Lepley turned to Kaylin to run the offense as point guard when Meghan Reen (Assumption ’21) suffered a torn ACL. Kaylin responded well to the challenge and was named a Bay State Conference all-star. She was also named to the Comcast Tournament all-tournament team in February.  

When one watches Kaylin play, what jumps out is her ridiculously deep shooting range. Once she crosses half court, she’s legitimately in shooting range. However, Kaylin is much more than just a shooter. She’s a great ball-handler, rebounds well for her size and can quarterback a defense.

Kaylin is a coach’s dream. She has excellent skills, is a model teammate and thinks like a coach. She can change the momentum of a game with a single long range bomb. Her shooting range is unmatched and her communication skills on the court are invaluable.

Beyond the hardwood, Kaylin is the most thoughtful, selfless and caring player that I have ever coached. In addition to being an excellent basketball player, she is an all-star teammate and friend that considers and maximizes all aspects of being on a team.

Kaylin recently participated in the “A Shot for Life” fundraiser that raised money and awareness for cancer.  She organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to help expedite fundraising with AAU teammate Ashley Sampson (Foxboro ’18 / Adelphi ’22).

I look forward to watching Kaylin excel at RWU on the court and it wouldn’t shock me if when her playing career concludes, she seamlessly transitions into a coaching role at some level.

Kaylin most recently played AAU in the NEX Elite program for Kristen McDonnell (Braintree).

Rivers junior wing player Tess Sussman has given her verbal commitment to play basketball at Harvard. Sussman, an all-New England and all-ISL selection, had numerous Division-1 offers but ultimately chose to stay local and join AAU teammate Maggie McCarthy at Harvard.

As a freshman, Tess Sussman (6’0” / forward) joined a dominant Rivers team that already had established stars on the roster and stepped right in as a starter. This past season, she helped lead a new group of Rivers hoopsters to a 20-6 record.  

I haven’t seen Tess play since the end of July in 2016. At that time - and for at least two years prior - I would say with confidence that she was the best player in the class of 2018 in not only Massachusetts, but in all of New England.

Tess is a unique and awesome talent. As a tall left-handed ball handler, she has the ability to play all five positions and can impact the game in a variety of ways.  Her best attribute is her play making ability via delivering passes on time and on target while thinking a step or two ahead of the defensive.

During her early recruitment she had college coaches salivating despite routinely only scoring single-digits because of her unmatched ability to set up her teammates in a variety of ways. In addition to her precision passing, Sussman also abuses players off the dribble going to the rim, can hit 3’s consistently, is a ball hawk in the passing lanes and is a talented shot blocker.  

I will never forget when she tried out for my M-Plex AAU team when she was a 7th grader. We had just come off a D1 NEAAU state championship and I felt that I knew every kid in the state at this age level so I just assumed she was just another player trying out. Within minutes of the try-out, I paced the sidelines and asked the evaluators and some parents if they’re watching this kid. She was smooth, dished out no-look passes and played with extreme confidence with and against the best players in the state. Before she left, I made sure I tracked down her father and made sure she was here to stay.

Tess was a catalyst in three more state championships and countless victories over the next four years. She was an absolute pleasure to coach as a player and a person. Having a player with her versatility that can be plugged in and utilized in a variety of ways is a coach’s dream.

Sussman plays AAU for the NEX Elite program on Kristen McDonnell’s team. Sussman is the fifth player from this squad to announce her college intentions joining teammates Ashley Sampson (Adelphi), Megan Hill (Stonehill), Kayla Raymond (Stonehill), and Maggie McCarthy (Harvard).

Medfield junior guard Maggie McCarthy has given her verbal commitment to play basketball at Harvard. The back-to-back Tri-Valley League most valuable player is fresh off a monster junior season where she scored her 1000th point and led Medfield to a division-two state title.

McCarthy (5’9” / Guard) has been a stud at perennial powerhouse Medfield High since her arrival and has carried the torch passed on from former Warrior greats under Coach Mark Nickerson’s guidance.

This three-sport standout (soccer, lacrosse) could have played any of her three sports at the next level, but ultimately decided to on hoops and committed to play in the Ivy League.

Maggie McCarthy is an elite athlete and a lock down defender. She is a nuisance in the passing lanes and probably leads New England in deflections. She is a scoring machine that can get it done from behind the arc, slashing to the rim or knocking down mid-range shots with her feathery touch. Her instincts on both ends of the court are off the charts and she is truly a humble superstar.

I had the pleasure of coaching Maggie for a year in AAU and it was evident that she had the attributes to be a big time player. While recruiting Maggie to join our MPC Swish team, I knew she could only make certain tournaments and practices because of her commitment to other sports and I was satisfied with that because having her part time was well worth it. She fits into any style of play seamlessly. She is a player that has a high IQ, high motor and high character.

Maggie is currently in the middle of her spring AAU season with NEX Elite coached by Kristen McDonnell. She will look to lead Medfield to back-to-back titles next year before she heads to Harvard.

Mansfield junior center Megan Hill has given her verbal commitment to play college basketball at Stonehill College. The most dominant post player in the state will join Hockomock foe and NEX Elite AAU teammate Kayla Raymond in Easton, MA.

Hill has rewritten the record books at Mansfield High as she is already the program’s all-time leader in field goals and blocked shots. She is a double-double machine and a two-time Hockomock league all-star and has been a varsity starter since arriving at perennial power house Mansfield.

At 6’3”, Meg Hill uses her size to dominate the glass on both ends, score around the basket and alter/block shots. She is also a willing passer out of the post for open shots.

As her former AAU coach, I can attest that Meg is a fantastic player and teammate. She joined to team to add some front court depth and emerged as a game changing starter for us. Her ability as an amazing rim protector enabled us to take chances on the press because of the comfort and knowing she would have her teammates back.

Meg can score with her back to the basket and can step out and shoot the mid-range shot with consistency and she absolutely cleans up on the offense glass.

Hill is a division-one level talent that should be an immediate contributor at Stonehill, along with her NEX Elite AAU teammate Kayla Raymond. It’s going to be must watch viewing in two years!

Oliver Ames junior Kayla Raymond has given her verbal commitment to play college basketball at Stonehill College. After being courted by various D1 and D2 programs, the Easton native will be staying home to be a Skyhawk.

Raymond (6'0, forward) had a breakout season as a sophomore and her stock hasn’t stopped rising. Raymond averaged 17 points per game this past year and is a two-time Hockomock all-star.

Kayla Raymond is one of the most unique players in the state. She is an offensive dynamo and can score in a variety of ways. She is a super athletic slasher, can shoot the 3-ball, has a step back jumper and can score with her back to the basket.

Since she is so athletic, she can change a game defensively by being disruptive in the passing lanes and because she can jump so high she can dominate the glass and alter or block shots.

I had the good fortune of coaching Kayla for a year in AAU and she was even better for our team than I envisioned. During her first workout with us, it was evident we needed her on the team and by the end of that year she was one of our best players and was on the radar of many northeast D1/D2 colleges.

I expect her to be a dominant force for the Skyhawks and I look forward to watching her play at the next level.  

Kayla plays AAU for Kristen McDonnell and the NEX Elite program.

There are a number of local female basketball players contributing at various collegiate levels. Check below to see how some of the best local products fared this past 2016-2017 winter season. If I missed any players, please e-mail me at [email protected].

The Class of 2018 is probably the deepest girls' basketball class in some time in MA and players are already committing to play at the next level. Here is a running list of players that have given their verbal commitment.

Ashley Ducharme (Noble & Greenough '18) has given her verbal commitment to play basketball at Division-1 Brown University.

Ducharme has been regarded as one of the premier MA front court players in the class of 2018 since early in middle school.

This high motored and talented player runs with the MCW Starz in AAU coached by Jesus Rodriguez.