It’s getting to be crunch time for the uncommitted players of the 2026 class.
As we hit mid-January, there aren’t many more showcase opportunities for them to impress in front of college coaches. But one of the biggest ones comes this weekend in Springfield, Mass. NERR’s annual Hoophall Prep Showcase – the sister event to the nationally-known Hoophall Classic – takes place Friday to Monday at American International College and Holyoke Community College.
The event features the best boys prep teams in the country, with the majority coming from New England and NEPSAC, and it will attract coaches from every level of college basketball who are both in the process of finalizing their recruiting classes and looking ahead to potential targets in future cycles. It’s a terrific opportunity – especially for those still uncommitted in this senior class – to be seen and evaluated.
Here are 15 uncommitted prospects in the 2026 class to watch for this weekend.
Full schedule for the 2026 Hoophall Prep Showcase
Elijah Avery-Turner, MacDuffie
6-3 guard
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
MacDuffie coach Kurt Steiner has likened Avery-Turner’s impact to Celtics guard Derrick White, a do-it-all glue player who contributes to winning on both ends. A three-level scorer who has erupted for big games – including a 31-point performance against Bridgton at the Scholar Roundball Classic – Avery-Turner does all the little things that coaches crave, from offensive rebounds to good screen-setting and taking on important defensive assignments. He has winning intangibles that will be valuable to any college program.
Colton Crowdis, Bridgton
6-4 guard
Hometown: Oshawa, Canada
In his first NEPSAC season, Crowdis has emerged as one of the best guards in Class AAA, a natural floor general who plays with great pace, balance and IQ, and can also fill it up in the scoring department. He posted averages of 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals per game for Bridgton through the winter break. There will be two chances to see him this weekend: vs. Perkiomen at 8:30 p.m. Friday, then vs. OSL Prep (NY) at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Holyoke CC.
Sam Fleming, Wilbraham & Monson
6-8 forward
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
Fleming’s recruitment – which was getting high-major interest – hit a pause last year after he suffered a torn Achilles, but he’s back healthy and producing again. He had back-to-back 20-plus point games at Basketbull Hoopsfest last month, including a game-winning 3-pointer to beat Bridgton. Fleming returns to his hometown this weekend for two games: Wilbraham faces Perkiomen at 6 p.m. then Saturday before a matchup with Mount St. Charles on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Quinn Gibson, Winchendon
6-6 forward
Hometown: Cherry Hill, N.J.
Gibson has been the best player for No. 9 Winchendon – which holds a 10-3 record as of early Wednesday – in his first NEPSAC season. He’s averaging 21.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, including a dominant 34-point, 13-rebound outing early this season against MacDuffie. Gibson has one of the best motors you’ll see, a relentless rebounder who refuses to lose a play. Winchendon coach Alex Popp said he’s the best competitor he’s coached since Bruce Brown, when he had him at Vermont Academy. Gibson doesn’t have a Division 1 offer yet, but that should change soon.
Brayson Green, Putnam Science
6-7 forward
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Green missed significant time this summer after suffering an injury at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase, but he’s producing at a high level again for one of the best prep teams in the country. As of Tuesday, he was averaging 7.6 points and 6.9 rebounds (3.1 offensive), including four games of at least 10 boards. He’ll play twice this weekend; Putnam takes on Vermont Academy at 6:50 p.m. Friday, then at 11:50 a.m. against Mount Zion Prep.
Jayden Harrington, New Hampton
6-3 guard
Hometown: Glen Ridge, N.J.
Harrington is one of the top available prospects in the region, a lethal shooter who’s improved his game in every area. He’s averaging 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 deflections per game while shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point range on 6.5 attempts per game. When I interviewed Harrington before the season, he said his recruitment interest has ranged from schools like Purdue to Colgate, and he said he feels like his game is adaptable to any system. He’ll play Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. against Link Academy’s postgraduate team.
Q&A: Jayden Harrington on recruitment, training with Jimmy Butler
Brayden Harris, MacDuffie
6-5 wing
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
A transfer from California, Harris has made an immediate impact at MacDuffie with his shotmaking ability. He was averaging 20.6 points per game on 44 percent shooting from deep at the winter break, which included a 30-point performance on seven triples in a victory over Lawrence Academy in December. It took some time, but Harris was finally rewarded with his first two Division 1 offers to UC Riverside and Central Connecticut State over the break. He took an official visit to CCSU on Monday.
Windston Legentus, Brimmer & May
6-0 guard
Hometown: Raynham, Mass.
Legentus is one of the best pure scorers in NEPSAC with an ability to get hot in a hurry from deep and get his shot off with a quick release from virtually anywhere on the court. But he’s also improved his game in other areas, including his defensive competitiveness, leadership and facilitating. Legentus has had big performances in big wins for Brimmer this season, including a 27-point effort in an upset victory over CATS Academy EYBL and 29 points in a win over Cheshire last week. If he keeps doing that, he’ll continue to garner deserved attention from college coaches.
Haisi Mayben, Darrow
6-1 guard
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.
Mayben is Darrow’s leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, which includes four 20-point games and a 26-point effort against Bridgton, while averaging 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. But even iwhen he doesn’t score as much, Mayben has controlled games with his reliable ball-handling and decision-making. Darrow plays twice this weekend: Friday at 1:30 p.m. vs. IMG’s postgraduate team, then at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday against Hargrave Military Academy.
Evan Mitchner, Lawrence Academy
6-3 guard
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Mitchner missed time last season and even played through injury while dealing with a stress fracture in both of his tibias, but he’s back fully healthy and has re-energized Lawrence Academy with his dynamic offensive play and leadership en route to the Spartans’ 7-2 start. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists with a 4.31 assist-to-turnover ratio, and defensively he’s averaging 1.3 deflections and 1.2 steals per game. Mitchner and Lawrence Academy will face Albany Academy on Friday night at 8:30 p.m.
GAME CHANGER: How Evan Mitchner has keyed Lawrence Academy's hot start
Darren Moore, Northfield Mount Hermon
6-3 guard
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
A former Stonehill commit, Moore reopened his recruitment and has performed well as the leader for NMH, averaging 12.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. He’s an explosive driver who puts constant pressure on defenses with his downhill ability and creative finishing, and he’s a high-level competitor with a big motor. He impacts winning, plain and simple. Moore can be seen twice this weekend: Friday at 5:10 p.m. vs. Hargrave Military Academy and Saturday at 2:20 p.m. vs. Andrews Osborne.
Brady O’Connell, Cushing
6-1 guard
Hometown: Bedford, N.H.
You won’t find many prospects in New England who fill a role for a team better than O’Connell, who’s the ultimate glue player. A starter for one of the best prep teams in the country, O’Connell leads Cushing in plus/minus and he boasts a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s shooting 46 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range and he’s one of the best individual defenders in the region, which he proved again in late December when he’s mostly responsible for locking down Blair Academy guard and Duke commit Deron Rippey Jr. O’Connell is one of the most consistent players in NEPSAC who impacts winning in every aspect of the game. He should be on Division 1 radars.
Zach Romich, Kimball Union
6-3 guard
Hometown: Groton, Mass.
A former star at Groton-Dunstable – where he was a 1,000-point scorer – Romich has assimilated himself well into a starting role at Kimball Union, where he’s surrounded by Division 1 commits Brandon Arnold, Hudson Scroggins and Merrick Smith. Romich was averaging 14.6 points per game on a ridiculous 56 percent shooting from 3-point range through KUA’s first 10 games, while also adding 4.2 assists per game and shooting 86 percent from the free-throw line. Romich will be in action Friday night at 7 p.m. vs. MacDuffie.
Jordan Skyers, Putnam Science
6-3 guard
Hometown: Middletown, N.Y.
Skyers has been outstanding in his first season with Putnam, averaging 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals in 20 games, which includes 19 starts. He has 11 games of 20-plus points, and two games where he’s hit 30. An athletic scorer and playmaker, Skyers has more than a dozen Division 1 offers and has taken official visits to Sacred Heart and East Carolina.
Devan Williams, Milton Academy
6-2 guard
Hometown: Uncasville, Conn.
Williams is the Mustangs’ leading scorer again this season at 20 points per game, which includes a 29-point effort in last Wednesday’s win over Thayer, and he’s the emotional heartbeat of Milton Academy, which is 7-1 to start the season and one of the favorites in Class A. Williams is one of the most competitive players you’ll find in New England, and on top of his obvious offensive talents, he’s improved his floor game, leadership and defense this season. He’s a consistent performer every night and should be generating Division 1 looks.
More uncommitted names to watch at Hoophall Prep: Harrison Aligbe, St. Andrew’s; Chris Birden, South Kent; Will Hoffmaster, Concord Academy; Andre Langley, Holderness; Jakub Lomicka, Suffield; Rhaki Lum, Brunswick; Marcus Maxwell-Grimes, Suffield; Chinedu Okpara, Wilbraham & Monsoon; Merrick Rillstone, Northfield Mount Hermon; David Smith, St. Thomas More; Rokas Zylis, Vermont Academy
