Jaylen Harrell looked around and recognized some changes were needed from him. As he entered his second season at CATS Academy, there was more talent surrounding him. Several newcomers like Jaxson Terry, Leo Curtis and Jaylin Williams-Crawford gave promise to even bigger things for the Griffins.
But it also meant more mouths to feed. Sacrifice was required for CATS to reach its goals. And Harrell saw an opportunity to expand his game.
For the last four years, Harrell has been one of the best scorers in New England prep school basketball. This winter, he became an even more complete player. The big scoring nights were still there, but he emerged as one of the best playmakers in the region. Harrell – our inaugural Class AA Player of the Year – perfectly threaded the balance between finding his own shots and setting up his teammates. It led CATS to its greatest heights as a program with a record 28 wins, and berths in the Class AA championship game and the National Prep tournament.
For Harrell, it’s always the team first; he was disappointed not to stamp his illustrious high school career with a NEPSAC championship. But he took solace in setting a high standard and leaving behind a winning culture.
“The goal was obviously to win the NEPSAC championship, obviously we fell short, but we still broke the record for wins at CATS,” Harrell said. “We finished with 28, and just being able to make it to the national prep finals. … Individually, I think I proved why I’m one of the best in New England.”
Harrell (Boston, Mass.) averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game this season for CATS, and it’s that last number that’s most significant. The Providence-bound guard increased his assists by 2.6 per game this season, which included a 16-assist effort in a December victory over Mount St. Charles. Near triple-doubles were a nightly occurrence for Harrell.
Harrell attributed the improvement to his work in the gym. Ball-screen actions were a focal point of his workouts. Experience allowed him to stay poised with the ball in his hands, and was good playing off of two feet. But his effectiveness as a playmaker came mostly from his advanced understanding of the game, and knowing how to balance scoring and facilitating. He recognized angles. He understood what to do when he was hedged or blitzed on ball screens. Depending on where a double team came from, he knew where he could find Curtis underneath or Terry for a kick-out 3-pointer.
He didn’t force anything, which was problematic at times last season. This season, he almost always made the right play.
“Coaches told me that, this season, since you have a lot of guys, focus and prioritize on shooting great shots compared to good shots,” Harrell said. “Last year, I had more of a leash. This year, you couldn’t take the crazy fadeaways and the long three-balls like you used to, so now it was more, if it’s open you shoot it, if it’s not you pass it. At the end of the day, if the game gets close, those are the times when you get to take those shots, but just prioritizing on making sure you’re taking great shots and not just good shots.”
Harrell will now head to Providence, where he’s hopeful his overall game will translate to success. He’s part of an exciting Friars recruiting class that also includes nationally-ranked guard Jamier Jones, but playing time – at least as a freshman – will likely be a battle. Providence head coach Kim English is bringing back a core of returners and taking in a surplus of talented transfers. But right now, Harrell is only worried about getting better for when he arrives on campus in June.
Harrell said most of his work so far in the offseason has focused on defense, getting lighter, quicker and more athletic.
“I think my shotmaking quality is always going to be there. I’ve developed a good handle. I’m just trying to make sure there’s no clear weakness or any weakness at all. …
“Kim’s asking me, ‘Are you comfortable? Do you feel good?’ More like trying to reassure my role on the team, but I don’t really worry about that. I know where I’m at as a basketball player. It’s not really a problem of who’s coming, it’s just making sure I’m being as impactful as I can as a freshman.”
Harrell is ready for what’s next after a storied high school career in which he accomplished nearly everything. It started at St. Sebastian’s – where he teamed up with AJ Dybantsa – before heading to CATS for his last two seasons. He finished with 2,531 career points and became a back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts this winter.
For Harrell, his individual accomplishments pale in comparison to team success. This season, his memories flood with experiences he had with his teammates, and showing New England and the rest of the country how formidable CATS has become. He pinpointed a dominant victory over Perkiomen that showed how good they could be. In November, he said they felt disrespected at a prep showcase with a late tip against the Knox School, but came together to win convincingly during a weekend that built team camaraderie. He’ll always cherish the bus rides, dinner outings and time spent with his teammates.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” Harrell said of his prep career. “Obviously came up short on the championship, but it doesn’t define the whole career that I had. … It was a whole lot of winning, it wasn’t just like standing on that one game. It’s more of the little things that I really reflect on, just different cultures and being blessed to experience all those different cultures and experiences was just an amazing opportunity. I’m never satisfied, but I’m excited for the next chapter.”
