WORCESTER, Mass. — There is no shortage of prep school basketball showcases to watch around New England this month, and for another year, New England Recruiting Report’s Scholar Roundball Classic delivered as one of the best.
The annual showcase at Holy Cross featured dozens of the top academic prep schools from inside and outside the region, several nationally-ranked recruits and terrific matchups filled with college prospects. Coaches from all levels of college basketball walked through the doors of the Hart Center over three days this weekend to check in with players or look for potential fits for their programs.
And this year, the event may have boasted the best high school game of the season. Saturday’s highly-anticipated matchup between Blair and Newman – considered two of the top prep programs in the country – exceeded the hype. Blair ultimately held on for an emotional 91-87 victory that was full of incredible shotmaking and big-time plays from stars. Here’s hoping these teams match up again in March during the National Prep Championship tournament.
That was just one highlight of an action-packed weekend as many prospects made big impressions in front of the coaches watching. Who were the stars of the weekend? I went to all three days of the event and came away with 14 uncommitted standouts, including seven from the 2026 class, five from the 2027 class and one from the 2028 class.
Elijah Avery-Turner, MacDuffie
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
I’ve highlighted Avery-Turner as MacDuffie’s “ultimate glue guy,” but we saw the guard take on an alpha-scoring type of role on Saturday as he exploded for 31 points in the Mustangs’ dominant 95-58 win over Bridgton. With leading scorer Brayden Harris limited after getting sick, Avery-Turner stepped up with five 3-pointers – including three in the first seven minutes of the game – and he tortured the Bridgton defense with his three-level scoring ability. He also deserves credit for strong individual defense and making it hard on Bridgton star Colton Crowdis, who was held to seven points and didn’t score in the second half. It was a terrific two-way effort from Avery-Turner.
Keyshon Joyner, MacDuffie
Class of 2027, 5-9 guard
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
It wouldn’t be right if Joyner didn’t show out in his hometown, right? The point guard finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win over Bridgton as he continued to demonstrate the high level of IQ, poise and control he plays with on every possession. One of my favorite plays of the night came when he made a hesi move on a drive, then re-accelerated to finish a pretty reverse layup. He also hit a tough 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down as he continued to score and facilitate well from all three levels with smart playmaking.
PROSPECT WATCH: Why Keyshon Joyner is one of New England's top 2027 guards
Sage Baptiste, Tabor
Class of 2026, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Wareham, Mass.
Baptiste opened the weekend with a bang, dropping 26 points, including 21 in the second half, in Tabor’s win over Williston Northampton. He was completely dominant coming out of halftime with his unique mix of strength, physicality, agility and footwork. He overpowered opponents inside with patience and tough finishes, including some putbacks and a three-point play. He stepped out to hit a 3-pointer, he made a strong baseline drive into a reverse layup and he got into the chest of a defender to create room for a mid-range pull-up. Few have helped their recruitment cause to start the season more than Baptiste, whose play should have Division 1 programs at least knocking on the door.
Mamadou Camara, Vermont Academy
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Salem, Mass.
The transfer from Malden Catholic has been a gem to start the season for John Zall’s Wildcats, and he continued to show his promise with 20 points, seven assists and three steals in Saturday’s 38-point win over Phelps.
Every time I looked up, it seemed like Camara was pushing the pace on a fast break, and he made consistently good decisions while playing at a high speed. He showed some sneaky athleticism with a one-handed poster dunk in transition, and he wasn’t afraid to attack the basket against bigger defenders. He made a nice finish off the glass out of the reach of a longer opponent, and he converted an impressive spin three-point play. He also drilled a 3 and kept the ball moving on offense. Camara is adjusting well to the prep level.
Kamari Whyte, Vermont Academy
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Harlem, N.Y.
Whyte scored 25 points with nine rebounds in Vermont Academy’s dominant win over Phelps, which should come as no surprise from one of the best scorers in NEPSAC. He scored seven points in the first 3:30 of the game – a stretch that included a second-chance three-point play and pull-up mid-range jumper – and I continued to be impressed with the way Whyte can finish in tight spaces at the rim, using his blend of explosiveness, start-and-stop acceleration ability and physicality as a bigger guard to get almost whatever he wants. I also loved his hustle on defense; he posted five steals and he got back in transition for a block.
Miles Clanton, Phillips Andover
Class of 2026, 6-6 guard/forward
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
A standout at last weekend’s Zero Gravity Prep Classic, Clanton continued to impress in Phillips Andover’s big win over Hill on Sunday. He had 15 points with several tough finishes inside, but his loudest sequence came in the second half, when he finished two one-handed dunks just moments apart.
The second one was the highlight of the weekend as he corralled a defensive rebound and took it coast to coast, made a spin move in the paint and then leapt in the air for an explosive one-handed tomahawk jam that made everyone in the arena jump out of their seat. It’s no disrespect to Clanton, but I didn’t know he had that kind of pop. Don’t underestimate his athleticism, and he’s incredibly impactful on both ends in the paint with an ability to get downhill on drives and hit from the mid-range. Aside from a couple ill-advised jumpers, it was another good day for Clanton.
ZERO GRAVITY PREP CLASSIC: 10 takeaways | Uncommitted 2026 standouts | Top 2027 performers
Nick Hailey, Phillips Andover
Class of 2026, 6-6 guard
Hometown: Matthews, N.C.
At 6-foot-6 with a long frame, Hailey has an impressive physical frame and he put it to good use in Andover’s win over Hill. The Big Blue trailed by eight at halftime before Hailey scored eight consecutive points within the first two minutes of the second half to tie the game – which included two 3-pointers – and he was everywhere as Andover held on in the final minutes. He grabbed two big rebounds, including an offensive putback, and helped seal the game with a pair of free throws with 1:10 to go.
Aidan Maguire, Cheshire
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Maguire was at the center of Cheshire’s signature victory over St. George’s to close the event on Sunday, finishing with 21 points and several crucial free throws to seal the win. At 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, Maguire gave up a size disadvantage to St. George’s bigger and more athletic guards, but he diced them up with smart back cuts to the basket and terrific passes. He even hit a big momentum-changing 3-pointer in the second half when St. George’s had rallied from a 10-point deficit. I loved the scrappiness and toughness Maguire played with, and he wasn’t afraid of the moment.
William Nunes, Austin Prep
Class of 2028, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Danvers, Mass.
A name I wasn’t familiar with before this weekend, Nunes is firmly on my radar now after his instrumental impact in Austin Prep’s overtime victory over St. Luke’s. He scored a team-high 18 points and took over late. He hit two 3-pointers, then used that to set up an impressive play where he made a defender bite on a pump fake from deep before executing a give-and-go with a tough finish off the glass. He later hit a long 2 to give Austin Prep a four-point lead with under three minutes to go, and he made a pivotal steal in the final seconds to seal the 72-69 win. A long and shifty guard, Nunes is a dangerous offensive threat — a confident shotmaker who can create himself.
Luca Palermo, St. Mark’s
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
His performance came in a last-second loss to Millbrook, but I still love what I saw from Palermo, who continued to impress me with his ability to score at the rim. It seems that no matter what defenses throw at him, he's still going to find ways to make tough finishes with his patience, advanced footwork and IQ to process coverages and get to his spots. He made a big-time move in the closing minutes, where he dribbled into a late double team in the post but had the wherewithal to adjust for a fadeaway make. He’s creative with both hands, and he’s really good at using leverage with his big frame to initiate legal contact and finish.
Merrick Rillstone, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: New Zealand
NMH coach Mike Shelton told me this fall that he was excited about Rillstone’s upside once he got up to speed and figured out how to fit in as he adjusted to the NEPSAC level, and we started to see that in two big victories for the Hoggers this weekend. The former standout from South Lakes High School in Virginia scored 22 points in an NMH win over Albany Academy, then added 15 in a win over Peddie (N.J.), which included a 30-second sequence when he hit a 3 then finished a three-point play.
He was aggressive in hunting offensive mismatches for easy opportunities, and he was an impact defender throughout the weekend, including helping quiet Albany Academy star Jack Louridas. At 6-foot-8 with a strong and athletic frame, Rillstone's a versatile defender who projects to switch 1-4 at the next level, and now he’s coming into his own on the offensive end as a Swiss Army knife who can stuff the stat sheet. His recruitment is wide open.
Deron Rippey, Blair Academy
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
I normally reserve these standout lists for New England natives or schools, but it wouldn’t feel right to not include the top talent from the weekend. Rippey, considered by some as the best point guard prospect in the country, lived up to his billing. He was sensational in Blair’s victory over Newman, finishing with 28 points – including six 3-pointers – six assists, five rebounds and four steals. I’m not breaking any news with this analysis, but Rippey’s athleticism, skill level and feel for the game is just on another level compared to his peers.
My favorite move came when he split two defenders, then hit a teammate for a perfect bounce pass for an easy two. He’s a high-IQ, high-level processor of the game, and he doesn’t shy away from the big moments. One of his 3s came from NBA range, another came on a ridiculous behind-the-back pull-up move, and he hit a huge one in the second half as Newman was making a comeback. Rippey is down to five potential college destinations – Duke, Miami, NC State, Tennessee and Texas – and he could probably walk into each of those programs and make an impact tomorrow.
Tyson Robinson, Brimmer & May
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Robinson only scored nine points in Brimmer’s victory over Loomis Chaffee, but it was less about his numbers and more about the continued evolution of his impact as a physical inside presence and elite rim protector. After missing the end of last season with a lower body injury, Robinson has started to look more and more like himself with his athleticism and the way he can move. And maybe more importantly, Robinson is imposing his will on the game. After a strong performance in Brimmer’s upset win of CATS Academy EYBL, Robinson continued to be a louder force at the rim. He finished two monster dunks, showed some emotion, and helped seal the game with a couple of important blocks. Robinson is starting to become a little tougher and meaner – in a good way – on the court, and it’s going a long way.
“He’s starting to understand a little bit more about what his presence can mean at a high level, and he’s starting to play with more passion than he has before,” Brimmer coach Tom Nelson told me last week. “You saw him dunk and flex, that’s not his normal character. He’s a nice kid who will give you the shirt off his back, and he’s really smart in school. But this is basketball. … Your body has to show the passion and desire, and you have to play with that. That’s what you’re starting to see more and more of. The confidence to believe, the confidence that he can do things. The more he plays at this level, the better, because he has a lot of great tools that can be effective.”
Devan Williams, Milton Academy
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Uncasville, Conn.
Every time I watch Milton Academy, Williams impacts winning at a high level. The latest: a 23-point outburst in the Mustangs’ win over Choate on Sunday to improve to 4-0 this season. Williams, as usual, was everywhere. Milton trailed by seven early in the first half when he erupted for eight consecutive points, including an extremely confident pull-up 3-pointer in transition, as the Mustangs retook the lead. He was relentless defensively, which included a strip-steal in the backcourt that led to a reverse layup, and he made clutch free throws down the stretch. As far as I know, Williams doesn’t have a committable Division 1 offer to his name yet – I’m not sure what I’m missing. He looks tailor-made to be an impact guard at a high-academic school in the Ivy League or Patriot League. Wherever he lands, he’s going to make someone very happy.
Honorable mention
I didn’t see everything at Holy Cross this weekend, but here are five more players who impressed this weekend, emptying my notebook with extra observations and noteworthy box score numbers.
Malik Adamson, Dexter Southfield – The Class of 2027 guard continued his hot start to the season with 20 points as Dexter took down a team in a higher class with a 70-60 win over St. Andrew’s.
Brayden Buckley, Thayer – The Class of 2028 guard scored seven points in the final minute, including a three-point play, to lead the Tigers over Phillips Exeter.
Patrick Costello, Rivers – The Class of 2028 guard scored 28 points, including five 3-pointers, in a victory over Newman’s prep team.
AJ Reinertson, Lawrence Academy – The Class of 2027 guard scored 11 points with two 3-pointers in a win vs. Wilbraham & Monson, and I was really impressed with his defensive impact as he forced some of Wilbraham’s bigs into tough misses inside despite his 6-foot-3 size.
Jabari Edmonds, Phillips Academy Andover – The big 6-foot-5 guard/forward hybrid scored 23 points in the win over Hill as he continued to use his physicality to be effective.
