We’ve reached the winter break after an eventful beginning to the New England prep basketball season, and there was a lot to sift through after a wild week of holiday tournaments.
Several prospects around the region entered the break on a high note. Career-best performances and dramatic game-winners defined our latest list of top performers.
Coaches and players are encouraged to submit nominations for our stars of the week. If doing so, please email me at steve.hewitt@basketballjournal.com or by connecting with us or tagging us on Twitter/X (@steve_hewitt or @nehoopjournal) and Instagram (@nebasketballjournal). Be sure to include stats and any context to the player’s performance.
Here are 12 stars from last week, covering Dec. 16-21.
PAST STARS: Nov. 17-23 | Dec. 1-7 | Dec. 9-15
Brandon Arnold, Kimball Union
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Baldwin, N.Y.
NCAA: Marist
The Wildcats are looking like a legitimate NEPSAC Class AA threat with Arnold back healthy. The star point guard hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining – a deep, step-back triple – to beat Wilbraham & Monson last week before scoring 20 points with three 3-pointers in KUA’s win over Lawrence Academy at the St. Andrew’s Holiday Classic.
Solis Blue, St. Sebastian’s
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
The Arrows’ star point guard continued his strong start to the season by averaging 20.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over a three-game stretch, including a 25-point, four-rebound and four-assist effort against Taft.
Alex Egbuonu, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
NCAA: Marquette
Surprise! Egbuonu makes the cut on this list for the third consecutive time after arguably the best week of his prep career. Last Wednesday, he scored a career-high 43 points in a win over Worcester Academy. Two nights later, he broke that career best with 46 points, including 10 3-pointers, in an astonishing shooting performance in a win over Cheshire at the St. Andrew’s Holiday Classic. He also brought down 16 and 15 rebounds, respectively, in those two victories, while providing elite defense on the interior for the Spartans.
HOLIDAY FEVER: 13 standouts from the St. Andrew's Holiday Classic
Declan Griffiths, Avon Old Farms
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Simsbury, Conn.
Griffiths, one of the best shooters in New England, did what he does best, hitting a game-winner with five seconds remaining to lift Avon Old Farms to a 65-63 win over Brunswick on Dec. 17.
Jack Louridas, Albany Academy
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Delmar, N.Y.
NCAA: Yale
Louridas had the best known scoring performance of this NEPSAC boys basketball season, erupting for a career-high 49 points on 8-for-11 shooting from 3-point range and 17-for-18 from the free-throw line, plus seven rebounds and two assists in Albany Academy’s win over Brimmer & May. A day prior, he scored 31 points with eight rebounds and four assists in the Cadets’ victory over Tilton.
CAREER NIGHT: 5 standouts from Albany Academy's victory over Brimmer & May
Jack Millward, Rivers
Class of 2027, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
A transfer from Wakefield High School, Millward has adjusted nicely in his first NEPSAC season. It showed at the Rivers Holiday Tournament. He was named the MVP after averaging 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in wins over Austin Prep, Frederick Gunn and Brooks to lead the Red Wings to their fifth consecutive holiday tournament championship. Millward scored 21 points on six 3-pointers to go along with nine rebounds in the championship clincher against Brooks.
Ryan Moesch, Cushing
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Chittenango, N.Y.
NCAA: Siena
Moesch posted 22 points on 4-for-6 3-point shooting to go with eight assists in Cushing’s come-from-behind victory over St. George’s at the Basketbull HoopsFest last Friday. The Siena commit has continued to be one of the best point guards both in New England and the country. He’s averaging 17 points and six assists per game to lead the 8-2 Penguins, including 50/40/90 shooting splits and a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio.
Patrick Otey, St. Thomas More
Class of 2027, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
One of the best offensive talents in the region, Otey scored 22 points with seven assists in the Chancellors’ victory over IMGA Ascender Elite and then posted 20 points, six rebounds and three dimes the next day in a win over Erie Prep, both games being at Basketbull HoopsFest.
Adama Tambedou, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Senegal, Africa
NCAA: Maryland
Tambedou stuffed the stat sheet with a monster two-way performance of 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in Putnam’s NEBL victory over Brimmer & May as the Mustangs went into the winter break with an 18-2 record.
NEW NEPSAC TOP 10: Darrow continues surge after signature win
Hunter Te Ratana, Darrow
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
NCAA: Mercyhurst
Te Ratana had one of the best weeks of his season as he led the Ducks to three wins. He averaged 18 points per game, including a 17-point effort in the signature win over Putnam Science, where he went 7-for-8 from the free throw line and made some clutch ones to seal it.
Jaxson Terry, CATS Academy EYBL
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
NCAA: Loyola Chicago
Terry, who missed the start of the season due to injury, is back and producing. He had a game-high 25 points, including three 3-pointers, in CATS Academy EYBL’s 70-58 victory over IMGA Ascender Elite at the Basketbull HoopsFest.
Q&A: Jaxson Terry on his commitment to Loyola Chicago
AJ Trimboli, King
Class of 2026, 5-11 guard
Hometown: Norwalk, Conn.
Trimboli filled it up all week at Basketbull HoopsFest. He had 23 points, five rebounds and four assists in King’s competitive loss to Winchendon before going off for 33 points on 6-for-11 shooting from 3-point range and 10 assists in King’s 99-74 win over St. Thomas More’s second team.
