When zooming out on the New England boys basketball landscape, it’s hard to find better leagues than the ISL.
The tradition, the history, the rivalries and talent are among the best in the country. Since 1948, the Independent School League has boasted one of high school’s oldest independent athletic leagues. The league is now made up of 16 members, with each playing against one another over a 15-game schedule to determine a champion.
So, it only makes sense to put a brighter spotlight on the league.
Starting this season, we’re launching our first ISL stars for each month – December, January and February – of the season, highlighting the best performances from ISL players. It will include the Player of the Month and a list of honorable mention selections.
The season has only just begun for ISL teams, which started their campaigns in early December and played a handful of games before the winter break, and most teams have only played one or two ISL games. But there are plenty of standout performances to pick from. Here’s our first batch of ISL stars from the month of December, headlined by our first Player of the Month.
ISL Player of the Month
Alex Egbuonu, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
NCAA: Marquette
This pick was almost a no-brainer. Egbuonu, considered one of the best players in New England, has taken his game to the next level as a senior, averaging 28.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game to lead Lawrence Academy to a 6-2 start. He went into winter break after producing two of the best performances of his career – he put up 43 points and 16 rebounds in a win over Worcester Academy, then two nights later, set a career-high with 46 points to go with 15 rebounds in a victory over Cheshire. Egbuonu is also averaging 2.3 blocks, 1.8 steals and 1.9 deflections per game.
Egbuonu has improved with both his offensive efficiency and 3-point shooting, which were focuses heading into the season. He’s shooting 40 percent from deep, highlighted by his remarkable 10-for-16 3-point shooting performance in the Cheshire win. Lawrence Academy coach Mike Foustoukos also said Egbuonu is facilitating at a higher level with the understanding that his teammates will need to be more involved come playoff time, and he’s made a full commitment to the details – from his body to his game – that will make him great.
“I think Alex is more and more beginning to realize and understand just the amount of work it’s going to take for him to get to where he wants to go and how mundane that work is going to be,” Foustoukos said. “It’s not always going to be pretty and flashy. You have to be perfect at the little stuff all the time and be better at that.”
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Honorable Mentions
Kenny Benedict, St. George’s
Class of 2027, 6-6 guard
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Benedict has taken advantage of an expanded role, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds for the 6-2 Dragons, the defending ISL champions. He’s shooting 51 percent from the field, including 41 percent from 3-point range. His highlights include a 20-point performance in an ISL victory over Brooks.
Solis Blue, St. Sebastian’s
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Blue has been a consistent performer for the young Arrows with averages of 22.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. That includes a 32-point performance against Proctor at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic.
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Brayden Buckley, Thayer
Class of 2028, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
One of the top sophomores in the region, Buckley averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in December for Thayer, which is undefeated in NEPSAC play at the break. He had 25 points in the Tigers’ lone ISL game, which was a victory over Tabor.
Jack Charchaflian, Nobles
Class of 2028, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
The transfer from Winchester has taken NEPSAC and the ISL by storm with averages of 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in Nobles’ 8-0 start. His top performances included a 25-point effort on five 3-pointers in the Bulldogs’ season-opening road win over Dexter Southfield, 20 points in a victory over Phillips Exeter and 18 points in Nobles’ ISL win over Belmont Hill.
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Dywane Chess, St. George’s
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Pa.
NCAA: Marist
The St. George’s star is off to an expectedly strong start, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range. He started his season with a bang, putting up a career-high 33 points with 11 rebounds in a victory over Winchendon at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic.
CJ Farrell, St. Mark’s
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Milford, Mass.
Farrell averaged 16 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.2 steals per game as a two-way force for the 5-2 Lions. He’s shooting 44 percent from the field and 42 percent from deep. His best performance came in the season-opening win over St. Luke’s when he posted 21 points on 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point range along with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Michael McNamara, Thayer
Class of 2027, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
McNamara leads Thayer with 19 points per game to go along with 3.8 rebounds, two assists and one block per contest while shooting an eye-popping 50 percent from 3-point range. He scored 27 points, including five 3-pointers, in the Tigers’ season-opening win over Suffield, and he dropped 21 points in their ISL victory over Tabor.
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Ikenna Okafor, Rivers
Class of 2027, 6-6 forward
Hometown: Brockton, Mass.
The transfer from Concord Academy has adjusted well to his new home at Rivers, where he’s averaging 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal per game. He was impressive against national powerhouse Brewster, scoring 23 points with three 3-pointers and eight rebounds. He was also named to the All-Tournament team of the Rivers Holiday Tournament, which included a 16-point, seven-rebound, three-assist effort in a semifinal victory over Frederick Gunn.
Luca Palermo, St. Mark’s
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
The matchup nightmare averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 67 percent from the field as an inside-out threat. He poured in 27 points on 12-for-18 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists in a victory over Greens Farms.
