Making a strong first impression means a lot.
They matter in a job interview, at the beginning of any new relationship and yes – even at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcases.
Hundreds of prep school recruits hoped to make a first impression over two weekends at Babson and Avon Old Farms. It was especially true for the transfers who were either making their New England debuts or suiting up for a new program in the region. Not only were they trying to boost their own recruitment, but they were also trying to fit into new roles on their new teams.
Here are 10 transfers who shined on their new squads at the 2025 NEPSAC Scholastic Showcases, including some new names you need to remember.
Harrison Aligbe, St. Andrew’s
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Aligbe is an established player in the region but is looking to make the next step after a move from Winchendon. The strong forward had a nice start. He was a presence in the paint across both weekends, including an impressive performance I caught against Cheshire at Avon when the defense just had no answer for him down low. Offensive rebounds, putbacks — he couldn’t be contained, and he continuously got into advantageous opportunities with his inside positioning to draw fouls. I liked what I saw from Aligbe, as did Manhattan, who became his first Division 1 offer on July 1.
Reece Ayala, Brewster Academy
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Lawrence, Mass.
Going from NEPSAC Class A, where Ayala starred at Milton Academy, to the Nike EYBL Scholastic circuit is a big jump. And while he won’t play that elite competition until the fall, Ayala looked good in the NEPSAC Showcase, which included matchups against some of the top programs in New England, including Putnam Science, Newman and St. Thomas More. Just as importantly, he looked comfortable and was impactful alongside his new nationally-ranked teammates. The twitchy guard got to the rim at will and was disruptive defensively. I certainly didn’t doubt Ayala – who was terrific as a sophomore last winter and has carried that momentum this spring with Expressions Elite’s 16U team – but he confirmed that he was ready for this next challenge across both of these weekends.
AVON STANDOUTS: Top backcourt performers | Top frontcourt performers
Markus Kerr, Brewster Academy
Class of 2027, 6-6 wing
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Kerr threw down the best dunk I saw in either weekend; with a full runway that started from half court, he sized up a St. Thomas More defender, seemingly climbed an elevator and put him on a poster with one hand. The bouncy wing’s athleticism was only nearly matched by his teammate, Clyde Walters, but Kerr’s game is more than just highlight-reel flushes. He’s a true three-level scorer who was consistently hitting from deep and flashed a strong mid-range game. He’s a natural with the ball in his hands, possesses an advanced sense of how to get to his spots and makes tough moves look easy. He’s as smooth as they come. Get familiar with Kerr, who you’ll probably see on social media highlights pretty regularly this winter.
Cole Blackburn, Worcester Academy
Class of 2027, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Southborough, Mass.
Worcester Academy will look a bit different come this winter after star Amir Jenkins’ sudden commitment and departure to West Virginia. But the show will go on on the Hilltop, and I expect Blackburn, a transfer from BB&N, to make a sizable impact. He showed the potential over both weekends with his athleticism, defense and even an emerging 3-point shot. He swatted away a shot in the dying seconds of Worcester Academy’s thrilling win over Vermont Academy at Babson, drilled multiple triples in a win over Cushing in Avon and overall looked comfortable in his new threads.
BABSON STANDOUTS: 2026 backcourt | 2026 frontcourt | 2027 | 2028
Colton Crowdis, Bridgton
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Crowdis caught my attention at Babson, where his toughness and impactful on-ball defense were very noticeable. That intrigue carried to Avon, where I took a closer look at the rest of his dynamic offensive skillset. He’s a shifty ball handler, a terrific downhill scorer and a knockdown outside shooter. I was especially impressed by his two-man game with star Bridgton big man Cheick Sylla; Crowdis was great in pick-and-roll actions and found his big for a ton of easy looks. That connection is going to be a problem for Class AAA opponents next season.
Jack Hynes, Cushing
Class of 2026, 6-6 forward
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
The former Roxbury Latin star is taking a postgraduate year at Cushing, where first impressions suggest he’ll be a vital starting role player for the early Class AA favorites. He was consistent across both weekends while showing his defensive versatility, and he has the ability to knock down shots from the outside and get inside for touch buckets. He’s a smart player who just feels like a natural fit at Cushing, which typically gets the most out of its players and puts them in the right places to succeed.
5 STARS:Â Who helped themselves the most at NEPSAC Scholastic Showcases?
Paxton Ivy, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Rockwell, Texas
Ivy offers an exciting two-way element that was on display throughout both weekends. One of the most notable out-of-region newcomers, Ivy shot 35 percent from 3-point range in Texas and that outside ability translated quickly to the NEPSAC level, where he was hitting in diverse ways. His versatility on defense was noticeable, too; he has a big, physical and athletic body that can keep up and wear down opposing guards. Ivy, who has offers from Stanford and Pepperdine, looks to be the goods as a true 3-and-D option for a sleeper Lawrence Academy team.
Stetson Merritt, New Hampton
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Troy, N.Y.
Merritt certainly wasn’t fazed by the moment in his first foray into NEPSAC as he hit a game-winning shot in both weekends; first, a crazy buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner that somehow banked in for a win over Putnam Science at Babson before his last-second reverse layup lifted the Huskies to a win over Winchendon in Avon. Merritt is a skilled guard, strong playmaker and confident shot-maker from both the mid-range and beyond the arc, and he should give New Hampton an extra scoring boost in the backcourt this winter.
Wesley Waddles, New Hampton
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Hometown: Calabasas, Calif.
New Hampton lost a lot of production from last season’s team, and while the Huskies do return several core players, enter Waddles, who looks more than ready to fill multiple roles this winter. An secondary ball-handler: check. Crashing the glass for offensive rebounds and second chances: check. Versatile wing defender: check. Knockdown 3-point shooter: check. Need a clutch bucket in a close game? He showed he can do that, too. Waddles, who received an offer from Maine on Wednesday night, will win games for New Hampton this winter.
Greyson Pierce, St. Thomas More
Class of 2027, 6-8 wing
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
I only caught one St. Thomas More game – a late Saturday night clash against Brewster in Avon – but I liked what I saw from Pierce, who hit three 3-pointers and provided strong, versatile defense with his long frame. Reports coming out of Sunday’s action was that Pierce continued to impress with his outside shooting, which isn’t a surprise. He should get plenty of open looks alongside a star-studded 2027 class at St. Thomas More. I’m excited about Pierce, already one of the region’s best rising juniors who will get valuable development under head coach Jere Quinn and assistant Milo Luciano.
