Just like that, the 2026 grassroots season is over.
For nearly four months, dozens of programs and hundreds of prospects around New England embarked on journeys of different goals – competition, recruitment exposure, development and more. It ended this weekend with the second July live period, which marked the championship finale.
On a national stage, New England grabbed plenty of attention. The Middlesex Magic captured the 17U Hoop Group Showcase League championship down in Pittsburgh, Pa. Individually, all across the country, many prospects impressed in front of college coaches during one of the most important recruiting periods of the year. Several of them shined on major shoe circuits, too.
Here are 13 top performers with New England ties – including regional natives and prep products – from AAU championship weekend.
Donovan Clement, BCRI 17U MHC
Class of 2027, 6-8 wing
CATS Academy/Providence, R.I.
Clement continued his rise by leading BCRI to the quarterfinals of the Made Hoops 17U tournament. He scored 22 points in their opening round win and also added 21 points and seven boards in a showcase game.
Wiji Dak, BABC 16U 3SSB
Class of 2028, 6-4 guard
Tilton/Bedford, N.H.
Dak played a major role in BABC’s run to the Adidas 3SSB circuit semifinals, He scored 19 points with four rebounds in a double overtime victory over Austin Rivers Southeast before producing 22 points – including six 3-pointers – in BABC’s quarterfinal four overtime victory over Southern Assault.
CJ Farrell, Middlesex Magic 17U HGSL
Class of 2027, 6-foot guard
St. Mark’s/Milford, Mass.
Farrell went on a spectacular run to lead the Magic to the 17U HGSL championship. It included a 17-point, six-rebound, five-assist effort in the Round of 16 and a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime of Sunday’s semifinal victory over Valente Rocks to advance to the title game.
Peter Kumar, Middlesex Magic 17U HGAL
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Beaver Country Day/Medfield, Mass.
Kumar was a driving force in the Magic’s run to the 17U HGAL (Hoop Group Academic League) quarterfinals, which included a 20-point effort with six 3-pointers in a Round of 32 victory over VA Premier.
Aidan McGrath, Middlesex Magic 16U UAA
Class of 2029, 6-8 forward
Thayer/Quincy, Mass.
McGrath joined the Magic midseason and played a big role in their march to the Under Armour Association semifinals. Playing an age group up, he scored in double figures in five of the Magic’s six games – averaging 11.8 points per game – while shooting 13-for-28 from 3-point range (46.4 percent).
Stetson Merritt, City Rocks 17U EYBL
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
New Hampton/Troy, N.Y.
One of the top returners in NEPSAC Class AAA this coming winter, Merritt erupted during Nike EYBL’s Peach Invitational Tournament. Over seven games, he averaged 18.1 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 57.4 percent from 3-point range – including a masterpiece performance of 39 points on 8-for-12 shooting from deep with five rebounds and five assists in a win over Oakland Soldiers.
Enzo Mweli, Team New England 16U Puma
Class of 2028, 6-9 wing
Bridgeport Prep/Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Mweli turned heads in Team New England’s run to the 16U Puma final. The intriguing and athletic wing posted 29 points and nine rebounds in TNE’s Sweet 16 victory before putting up 32 points, six boards and four assists in the quarterfinals.
Samuel Owusu-Aduomi, BABC 17U 3SSB
Class of 2027, 6-6 guard
Tilton/Tenafly, N.J.
Owusu-Aduomi continued his strong summer with a couple of big games in the consolation bracket of the Adidas 3SSB finals. He scored 28 points on five 3-pointers against Lakeshow before finishing the live period with 22 points vs. Brookwood Lu Dort Elite.
Antonio Pemberton, Mass Rivals 17U 3SSB
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Masters Academy International/Methuen, Mass.
Pemberton had one of the best individual performances in the country, averaging 26.2 points and 3.8 assists per game to lead Mass Rivals on an incredible run to the Adidas 3SSB 17U championship game. His weekend included an absurd buzzer-beater to clinch a victory over Compton Magic and a 33-point, five-assist effort in Sunday’s title game.
Derek Swartz, Mass Rivals 17U 3SSB
Class of 2028, 6-5 guard
New Hampton/Portsmouth, N.H.
Swartz was a consistent performer in Mass Rivals’ run as he averaged 13 points and 4.8 rebounds in the tournament. That included a 19-point, seven-rebound effort in Rivals’ semifinal win over Midwest Basketball Club.
Massa Toure, BABC 15U 3SSB
Class of 2029, 6-1 guard
Hamden Hall/New Haven, Conn.
Toure averaged 22.3 points per game in four games at the Adidas 3SSB finals, including a 34-point performance in a victory over Game Elite.
Alex Weaver, BABC 15U 3SSB
Class of 2029, 5-11 guard
Windsor High School/Windsor, Conn.
Weaver was one of the top scorers on Adidas’ 15U circuit this spring and summer and he continued that into the final live period. The electric guard averaged 29.8 points and six assists over four games, including 33 points in the finale. He went for 29 points and 10 assists in a victory over Game Elite.
Kevin Wheatley, PSA Cardinals 16U EYBL
Class of 2028, 6-7 wing
Masters Academy International/Rahway, N.J.
Wheatley averaged 14.2 points per game at Peach Jam and finished off his summer with a 30-point, seven-rebound performance on Friday vs. JL3.
