The 2029 class may only be incoming sophomores, but they stand out already because of their physical tools and mismatch potential.
As I look at our latest watch list, I see athletic upside everywhere. We have some guards, forwards and centers who play a lot stronger and tougher than their age suggests. Others have quickness and explosiveness that's helping them separate from the pack, and a rare few are a mix of both.
This watch list has expanded slightly from 15 to 20 players as we continue to understand where the top 2029 prospects are around New England. Four of the seven new members are reclassified sophomores from 2028. That meant it was particularly difficult to break into this watch list — and the three other 2029s who did are certainly deserving.  You can read more about my approach to building player rankings here.
Here are 20 top college prospects to watch in this class so far.
TOP 50 RANKINGS: 2027 girls | 2028 girls | 2027 boys | 2028 boys
Avery Bollin
6-3 center
Dexter Southfield/Bay State Jaguars
Hometown: Raynham, Mass.
Bollin impressed me on the grassroots circuit playing on the Jaguars' top 17U team. She's become a dependable post scorer with multiple go-to moves and her post defense has improved as well. Bollin has long been a high-major prospect and she's approaching 20 offers, including seven from this past spring and summer.
Anabel Brooks
5-9 wing
Nobles/MCW Starz
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.
Brooks continued to show physical strength, toughness and an eagerness to attack the basket while playing up a year with MCW Starz. She's also growing as a 3-point threat, and I was most impressed by some of the off-dribble passes she made. Brooks has most recently added Harvard and Providence offers.
Alana Brownstein
5-9 guard
Masters Academy International/Bay State Jaguars
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
Brownstein is an explosive athlete who helped lead Lawrence Academy to the NEPSAC Class B Large final last winter. She picked up her first Div. 1 offer this summer from Providence.
Genesis Castro
5-4 guard
Brimmer & May/Bay State Jaguars
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Castro powered Barrington to the RIIL state title last season before reclassifying and transferring. She's adept at changing pace to create separation off the dribble and is a crafty finisher at the basket. Castro should help Brimmer & May take a step forward in NEPSAC Class AA.
Saige DeJesus
5-8 guard
New Hampton/Mass Rivals
Hometown: Brockton, Mass.
A stellar June and July helped DeJesus land among our grassroots second-half stock-risers. She showed poise rising up to lead guard status at New Hampton, improving as a 3-point shooter and making smart decisions driving the ball. DeJesus was also among the top performers on Rivals' 16U 3SSB team. She reclassified after appearing on our previous 2028 watch list.
Jaliah Duplessy
5-7 guard
Brimmer & May/Team Sims
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Duplessy missed some time this spring and summer, but finished July strong and reaffirmed herself as one of the toughest driving guards in this class. Her will to get to the basket, and her touch at the rim and in shorter mid-range areas, are key strengths.
Jali Eason
5-9 guard
Governor’s/New England Storm
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
Eason parlayed her breakout prep season into a standout grassroots run, culminating in her first Division 1 offer from Boston University. She's unflappable driving in traffic and finishing. Eason also wields a comfortable pull-up scoring game and is growing as a passer.
SySy Mcausland Emmanuel
5-9 guard
St. Mary’s/MCW Starz
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
Another major second-half stock-riser, Emmanuel ran point on MCW's 16U Power 24 squad this spring and summer. She's able to create separation off the dribble even a year up with her elite change of pace off the dribble. Emmanuel is also growing as a lead playmaker and has a go-to pull-up jumper.
Ashley Fontanella
5-4 guard
Ethel Walker/Mass Huskies
Hometown: Higganum, Conn.
Fontanella ranked fourth on the 15U Nike EYCL circuit in scoring at 17.3 points per game, highlighted by some monster individual efforts. She's so quick off the dribble and plays with a consistent high tempo.
Reese Jeamel
6-1 wing
MacDuffie/iBelieve Elite
Hometown: Coventry, Conn.
The defining breakout star of this grassroots season, Jeamel reclassifying coincided with a surge in national college interest and double-digit offers, including several high-major schools. She has special movement skills and can rise up over most defenders with her mid-range pull-up. Jeamel is also a lanky and impactful defender right now. She helped Coventry win a CIAC championship last season before transferring to MacDuffie.
Q&A:Â Jeamel discussed her huge spring, development and more
Olivia Macklin
5-7 guard
Wilbraham & Monson/MCW Starz
Hometown: Waterbury, Conn.
Macklin emerged as the go-to point guard as a freshman at Wilbraham & Monson. She's added her first Div. 1 offers from Howard and Central Connecticut this summer, showing off an aggression driving to the basket and willingness to play through physicality.
Dalila Malz
5-10 forward
Kingswood Oxford/Mass Huskies
Hometown: Colchester, Conn.
Malz was a routine double-double threat as a Kingswood Oxford freshman, then continued her success on that Huskies' 15U EYCL team by averaging 7.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in circuit play. When I watched her at the NEPSAC Girls Scholastic Showcase, Malz showed off impressive footwork and craft scoring around the basket, and she's a plus defender.
Lila McCarty
5-9 wing
Newman/Shooting Touch
Hometown: Sharon, Mass.
McCarty is among the better off-ball players in this class, capable of firing away quickly and heating up behind the arc. She was a Hockomock League All-Star at Sharon as a freshman and now joins a Newman program that's ready to contend in NEPSAC Class AAA.
Nahla Perkins
6-0 forward
Nobles/Shooting Touch
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Perkins contains some of the highest upside in this class. She's a lanky forward who is super quick with her straight-line drives and an excellent finisher around the basket. Though she needs to get stronger, Perkins' compete level and length already make her a standout defender. She has a Div. 1 offer from Quinnipiac.
Mollie Puffer
5-10 guard
Phillips Exeter/Bay State Jaguars
Hometown: Sanford, Maine
Puffer turned heads throughout the grassroots season, picked up a handful of scholarship offers and was a breakout star regardless of class. She reclassified down and transferred to Phillips Exeter after a strong sophomore year at Sanford. Puffer's strength as a shooting guard and her ease getting to her scoring spots set her apart.
Giuliana Shepard
5-8 guard
Tilton/MCW Starz
Hometown: Easton, Mass.
Shepard is a natural bucket-getter with good size as a point guard, a solid 3-point shot and a sweet handle that helps her win off the dribble. Tilton graduated some significant guard talent from last year's team, so she's a possible breakout candidate as a sophomore.
Addy Sipkin
5-9 guard
Sacred Heart/NY Gauchos
Hometown: Chappaqua, N.Y.
Sipkin continues to show off an intriguing combination of perimeter shooting and power drives as a point guard. She's comfortable pulling up or hitting 3s off the catch, and she's strong for her age and position. She'll be a go-to player for the defending NEPSAC Class A champs.
Avery Terry
6-0 forward
Acton-Boxboro/MCW Starz
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Terry is another high-ceiling member of this class. She can cut and score around the basket and protect the paint, but she also has flashed an ability to handle the ball and knock down the occasional 3. Terry transfers into Tilton from Acton-Boxboro.
Zi’Yan Wallace
6-0 forward
Springfield Central/Springfield Ballers
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
The skill, size and power combination make Wallace one of the top-tier prospects in this class. She's up to four Div. 1 offers because she can shoot the ball, break down defenders with her handle, bulldoze past them on drives and make some smart passes. She'll be a leader as Springfield Central chases an MIAA Div. 1 championship.
Jen Xue
5-6 guard
Milton Academy/Shooting Touch
Hometown: Quincy, Mass.
Xue was injured for much of this past grassroots season, so I don't have much to update. But I'm still confident that she's the best 3-point shooter in this class right now and I'm excited to see her back during the school season.
More thoughts:Â We're still learning a lot about this 2029 class, hence it being a watch list for now. But despite the 20-player cutoff, I've got close to 40 players who I'm excited to keep following as they grow.
I'm increasingly intrigued by Alem Teng at Proctor, the younger sister of former local top prospect Kur Teng. Alem is a strong, powerful guard who's improving her game quickly. Maizy Desrochers at Brewster and Westerly point guard Santanaa Hamelin are also notable. A pair of forwards are on my radar in Worcester Academy's Lyla Diaz and Brookline's Skylar Makalusky.
Maine deserves its own shoutout for the great 2029 class coming up, led by Puffer. Keep an eye on Jazaiah Cleveland (Kents Hill), Kristin King (Cheverus), Lydia Lizotte (Thornton Academy) and Emma Madore (Lewiston).
Note that Olivia Breen and Zahara Wilson have both reclassified to 2030, so they are no longer on this list.
Ineligible: A reminder that to be eligible for the Best of New England rankings, a player must be a New England native or enrolled at a school based in New England for at least a full school year. I'm watching a few new NEPSAC transfers who will become eligible for this first list at the end of their prep seasons. The top two names to note for now are Newman guard Melody Vaughn and Berkshire guard Madison Greenaway.
