SOUTH DEERFIELD — Both Amherst Regional’s Meikkel Murray and Hopkins Academy’s Sam’i Roe will likely play a postgraduate year at a prep school after graduation, the players said Friday.
Murray and Roe spoke about their future after the IAABO Board 28 Hampshire-Franklin County all-star game Friday night at Frontier Regional.
Neither player is 100 percent sure about which prep school they will choose, and Murray hasn’t ruled out playing for a Division 3 school.
“Prep school somewhere I am just not sure yet,” Murray said. “I have taken a couple D-3 visits but I think I want to go to prep school.”
Murray mentioned Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut as a possible destination. Roe is leaning heavily toward a post graduate year at Wilbraham & Monson.
“I am PGing,” Roe said. “It’s about 75 percent.”
Junior college and Vermont Academy could be options for Roe.
In the game, the East beat the West 135-104. Murray led the East with 34 points, while Roe had 21 points with five 3-pointers.
The exhibition featured multiple dunks by Murray and many 3-point attempts by both teams.
Defense was not a priority.
South Hadley’s Nate Poirier’s had 15 points with three 3-pointers for the East.
Amherst Regional’s Tajahn Joyner scored 12 points, and set up Murray on an alley-oop late in the game.
For the West, Hampshire Regional’s Matt Babyak had 12 points; Gateway’s Shane Mastello poured in 14 points.
In the girls game, Northampton’s Lauraine Joensen helped the West beat the East 66-60 with 22 points.
Joensen played her last game with teammate Megan McCarthy, and the two posed for pictures after the game.
McCarthy will attend Bryant University to play lacrosse when her high school career is over.
“We had three great teams,” Joensen said. “Great teammates and coaching staff.”
Joensen will play basketball at Division I Canisus next season.
“I am really looking forward to playing against those better players,” Joensen said.
South Hadley’s Sophie Gatzounas, on her way to Navy in the fall, scored 18 points for the West.
Belchertown’s Kayla Henry led the East with 12 points. Henry will attend Stonehill College to play soccer.
