At every level of basketball, there’s room for a shooter.
The sport has gone through a shooting revolution over the last decade-plus, and it’s clear that elite shot-making translates. Some have carved out long professional careers because of their ability to stretch the floor and impact winning with their advanced marksmanship.
At the high school level, there are a surplus of exciting prospects who have goals of making it to the next level because of their shooting ability. Across New England, there’s no shortage of them. The region has produced the likes of Duncan Robinson, Tyler Nelson and many more whose shooting powers have translated to higher levels.
So, who are the best high school shooters in New England right now? With the school season upon us, we tried to identify the best marksmen the region has to offer. Some have established reputations, while others are scratching the surface of their potential. But they all have one common trait. This is by no means a ranking or an end-all, be-all list – there are certainly more talented shooters around the region who didn’t make the cut – but here are 20 names to start with.
Jake Blackburn, Worcester Academy
Class of 2025, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Shrewsbury, Mass.
As a key player of The House We Built this summer, Blackburn was named the Hoop Group Showcase League’s sharpshooter of the year. It was no surprise. When I watched him at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase in June, Blackburn’s ability stuck out on a Worcester Academy squad stocked with shooters. Blackburn has a fluid motion and never seems to hesitate. The Binghamton commit is elite in catch and shoot chances, flashes deep range and can pull up confidently off the dribble – all traits that should translate well to the next level.
Thomas Ferdinando, Governor’s Academy
Class of 2025, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
When Middlesex Magic director Michael Crotty appeared on the HoopWise podcast last month, he mentioned Ryder Frost (more on him soon) and Ferdinando as two shooters in the program who are practicing in the gym more than anyone. That’s pretty good company to have. Lambros Papalambros, his Magic HGSL coach this summer, remembers someone telling him when Ferdinando was in about eighth grade that he was the best shooter in the program. He’s certainly in the conversation, with fluid mechanics, a short memory, extreme confidence and limitless range that helped the Magic win the HGSL title this summer. “As long as he’s open, it doesn’t matter where he is over half court,” Papalambros said.
Preston Fowler, Brewster Academy
Class of 2025, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Bolton, Conn.
Fowler can do a little bit of everything for his size and athleticism, but his clear separator is his catch-and-shoot ability from downtown, which attracted interest from several high-major Division 1 schools before he chose James Madison. Fowler shot 41.3 percent from downtown with New Heights Lightning this summer on the Nike EYBL grassroots circuit, and similar numbers should be in his future for his final season at Brewster, where he should continue to feast from range surrounded by so much talent.
Ryder Frost, Phillips Exeter
Class of 2025, 6-6 forward
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Frost needs little introduction to this list as arguably the best high school 3-point shooter from New England entering this season. He shot an absurd 45 percent from distance this summer with the Middlesex Magic to lead the Under Armour circuit, which helped his Division 1 interest surge before he ultimately committed to Notre Dame. Frost detailed his growth, shooting strengths and regimen with us following his commitment; his dad taught him how to be a shooter and he’s worked on being elite in every area of his shooting arsenal, from coming off screens to taking guys off the dribble and knowing how to effectively attack the defense with his rare ability. Crotty said that Frost has aspirations to be a shooter like Duncan Robinson; his ability and work ethic should make him an impact player next year in the ACC, to say the least.
Chase Geremia, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
Geremia’s recruitment has not yet taken off, but the prediction here is that will change pretty soon because of his elite shotmaking, and his ability that has even surprised Newman head coach Jackson Johnson to a certain extent. Geremia never wavers in his demeanor, something Johnson said is inherent but has been drilled home by his coaches. It’s a rare trait.
“He’s completely unemotional about makes or misses,” Johnson said. “He thinks he’s going to make every shot, and when he misses, he’s going to learn from it and then he’s going to take the next shot. He doesn’t have bad days. … If he misses his first four, I wholeheartedly believe if he gets a clean look at the basket, that one’s going in, and he believes that, too.”
There are no flaws in Geremia’s shooting arsenal, either. He can shoot quickly with a fast release if he doesn’t have time. He can shoot with deep range accurately, valuable for a shorter player like him. He’s not only an elite catch-and-shoot threat, but he can shoot accurately on the move coming off pindowns or off the dribble. He’s the whole package as a shooter.
Jayden Harrington, New Hampton
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Glen Ridge, N.J.
The son of former NBA player Adam Harrington, Jayden is the best shooter on one of the best prep teams in New England – and there’s certainly room for him to grow. Harrington shot 38.8 percent from deep last year in his first NEPSAC season. And surrounded by so much talent on the Huskies – Keyshuan Tillery, Mason Blackwood and others – Harrington will certainly continue to feast off of open looks as defenses focus on those stars. New Hampton head coach Andrew Gale thinks there’s another jump to be had for Harrington this season.
London Jemison, St. Thomas More
Class of 2025, 6-9 forward
Hometown: Bloomfield, Conn.
Jemison, one of the top recruits nationally, took a huge leap this year, shooting at around a 40 percent clip from deep last season with St. Thomas More before hitting 37 percent this summer with Expressions Elite. Jemison, who committed to Alabama, told New England Basketball Journal that his improvement in that area was a focal point as he worked hard on his shot with St. Thomas More assistant Milo Luciano. He’ll be a legit 3-and-D player when he joins Alabama next season.
Ryan Kranz, Wilbraham & Monson
Class of 2025, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Bedford, Mass.
The best-looking shot on this list might belong to Kranz, a left-handed sniper with deep range. Wilbraham coach Mike Mannix said he’s one of the best shooters in the history of the program. The BCRI product, at 6-foot-5, doesn’t need a lot of space to get his shot off, and he can shoot it in so many different ways, from running off staggers to step-backs.
Charlie Pugh, Brewster Academy
Class of 2025, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Greenwood Village, Col.
I got a glimpse of Pugh at June’s NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase and noted him as one of my 10 standouts at the event. It was, of course, because of his elite shooting ability, which constantly put pressure on the defense and opened up the floor for him and his teammates as he continuously made defenders be aware of where he was. He’s calm in his release and confident off the catch.
Connor Swider, Worcester Academy
Class of 2025, 6-9 forward
Hometown: Portsmouth, R.I.
Swider’s older brother is Cole, whose shooting ability is giving him a chance at the NBA level after he shot 41.1 percent from deep as a senior at Syracuse. It seems to be running in the family. Connor is bigger than his brother as a long wing, but that benefits him as he can get his shot off over almost everyone at his level. Swider, another BCRI product who committed to Youngstown State, has a unique-looking shooting form, almost shooting from his chest, but it works. He’s a strong catch-and-shoot threat and emerging as a shot-maker off the dribble, which he showcased this summer.
10 more names to know: David Melson, Cushing; Luke Little, Winchendon; Christian Martin, Wilbraham & Monson; Drew Kahn, Nobles; Luke Soden, Phillips Exeter; Josh Caruso, Nashua South High School (NH); James Caldarella, Bishop Hendricken High School (RI); Declan Griffiths, Avon Old Farms; Greg Brooks, Northfield Mount Hermon; Josh Roux, Andover High School (MA).
