In about a month, the NEPSAC boys basketball season will begin in the upper levels of the AAA and AA classes. Most of the region later begins its season in early December.
Soon enough, championship chases will begin to form. Surprise teams will inevitably break into the fold. Cheshire came out of nowhere last winter to become one of NEPSAC’s best teams and reach the AA title game. Hotchkiss has a ridiculous break run to win Class A.
Who could those teams be this season? We’ve compiled a list of candidates who could make a leap. These aren’t necessarily squads who missed the playoffs last year, but it also includes teams who earned playoff berths and are expected to build on that momentum.
Here are 10 breakout candidates ahead of the 2026-27 winter.
Class AA
MacDuffie
The Mustangs barely missed the Class AA playoffs last season in a race that was decided in the final weekend. Key players Brayden Harris and Elijah Avery-Turner graduated, but head coach Kurt Steiner’s squad is reloaded. Program pillar Keyshon Joyner (Worcester, Mass.) is the engine, heartbeat and one of the best pure point guards in the region’s 2027 class, and he’s surrounded by a cast of physical, versatile teammates. Newcomer Luke Scarff, a 6-foot-8 forward, will be one of their best players, 2027 forward Andrew Adegbite is trending up and 2029 Xavier McCall (Belchertown, Mass.) is fully healthy and oozing with potential. This team will be deep and motivated.
Northfield Mount Hermon
June showcase results don’t always tell the full story, but it was still notable that NMH looked really good against the likes of St. Thomas More and New Hampton there. And that was without Icelandic 6-foot-11 forward Páll Einarsson, who is expected to be an impact newcomer. Will Bryson, a 6-foot-4 newcomer from California, shined in June and recently earned an offer from Central Connecticut State, and the rise of 2028 forward Maxxwell Thorpe (North Andover, Mass.) is continuing with a recent offer from Fairfield. Freddie Bacon, who just committed to Bowdoin, Blake Bastani and Caiden Manning (Windsor, Conn.) are among some breakout individual candidates who add to winning, too.
Worcester Academy
For the first time since 2018, the Hilltoppers missed the playoffs last season, and I’d bet on head coach Jamie Sullivan’s team to have a bounce-back season. I really liked what I saw from Cole Blackburn (Winchester, Mass.), now a Dartmouth commit, at June’s NEPSAC showcases, and 2027 newcomer Kai Johnson looked like he’ll be one of the best additions in Class AA. Their backcourt has strong continuity, too, with the returns of underrated guards Chris Vinson and Jojo Reyes (Worcester, Mass.). Look out for 2028 guard Jayden Gibson (Stoughton, Mass.), a late summer addition from Brooks.
Class A
St. Paul’s
I really love the unit head coach Max Gordon has assembled this season at St. Paul’s, which has terrific size, depth and versatility. Jake Reardon (Bow, N.H.) and Liam Henaghen (Hampden, Maine) are two Division 3 recruits who can do a little bit of everything, and 2028 Quintin Eason (Scarborough, Maine) started every game as a sophomore. The Big Red also boast two of the better 2029s in the region in newcomer Lincoln Malcore (Wilton, Maine) and returner Tighe Arache (Lawrence, Mass.), who was a significant contributor as a freshman and is continuing his trajectory to the top of this class. Class A is loaded, as usual, but I can see a path for St. Paul’s to at least break into the playoff conversation.
St. Sebastian’s
There’s something to be said about a 4-1-1 record at the June showcases that should give the Arrows some confidence heading into the winter. They sneakily have one of the most electric backcourts in Class A, featuring 2027 Solis Blue (Milton, Mass.) – who was outstanding in June – and recently reclassified 2029 Ja Bennett (Boston, Mass.). Keep 2028 guard Jack Carter (Millis, Mass.) on your radar after a strong first season in NEPSAC, and Grinnell commit Tim Civello (Weymouth, Mass.), a lethal 3-point shooter, should settle into a more comfortable and efficient role this season. Seb’s returned five of its top seven scorers from last season, and that continuity combined with athleticism and shooting ability should see them have a better season even in a crowded Class A.
Williston Northampton
The Wildcats won the 2025 Class A championship before missing the playoffs last season, but there’s continuity in this group heading into 2026-27. Kingsley Rogers is a young 2028 who earned All-NEPSAC recognition in his first season last winter and it looks like he’ll be a breakout star based on what he showed in June. Max Kellogg (Amherst, Mass.) and Kyle Seltzer were members of the 2025 championship team who know what it takes to win. I expect a much better season for head coach Ben Farmer’s team.
B Large
Austin Prep
The Cougars broke through into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed last season, falling to Rivers in the first round, and Sean Ryan’s squad returns much of the core, including 2027s Marvin Avery (Lynn, Mass.) and Williams commit Izzy Wane (Lowell, Mass.), and fast-rising 2028 Will Nunes (Danvers, Mass.). Max Ryan (Melrose, Mass.), one of the top 2029s in the region, should continue taking steps, too. Sean Dolan (Lowell, Mass.) is another returner and one of the team's top defenders.
Governor’s Academy
After missing the playoffs last season, head coach Sean McGonagill is primed for a return to March this winter. While guard Seven Pridgen moved up to the 2026 class to join Montana, Gov’s has most of the starting five back, including 2027s Magezi Nkugwa (Chelmsford, Mass.), Garrett Org (Norwood, Mass.) and Isaac Rivera (Fairhaven, Mass.). Jayden Wilbon (Leominster, Mass.), a 2029 guard, also looked really promising during the June showcases. My early prediction is that Gov’s will be a top-four seed in the Class B Large playoffs, and that’s no easy task.
Masters (NY)
Masters graduated three key players from last season’s squad that made the Class B Large semifinals – Omari Levy, Luc Brongniart and Hudson Rodriguez – but brought back several returners. One is 6-foot-8 2028 wing/forward Damian Mojica, who might be the best individual talent in Class B Large after a stock-soaring summer that put him on high-major status. Noah Ferguson, a fellow 2028, is a high-level 3-point shooter with defensive versatility, while 2029 guard Jake Toomer earned valuable experience last season. Head coach Joey Kuhl’s team looks ready for another jump.
B Small
Beaver Country Day
Head coach Alex Giangregorio orchestrated an incredible turnaround in his first season last year as he guided Beaver to the No. 6 seed in the B Small playoffs, then carried that momentum into an undefeated June live period. I expect the trajectory to continue this winter, even after the departure of 2028 Jonathan Bernstein to MAI. Jalen Rogers (Boston, Mass.) was a monster in June, 2027 Peter Kumar (Medfield, Mass.), a Haverford commit, is coming off a big summer, and Giangregorio brought in several impact transfers, including 2028s Bryson Mercedes and Kingston Flemming, who I loved watching at the MIAA level.
