Who will be the heroes who lead their teams to championship glory in 2026?
Last year, the MIAA boys championships were defined by epic and memorable individual performances. Caden Sullivan delivered Franklin’s first state championship with an otherworldly tournament run. Ronan Coffey led Norwell to an undefeated season that included a season-saving buzzer-beater in the championship game. Brayden Thayer finished a storybook season for Pioneer Valley in Division 5.
The stars of the 2026 tournament have a tough act to follow, but plenty of them are capable.
Here are 20 players who could lead state championship runs.
BOYS MIAA BRACKETS:Â Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Division 5
Division 1
Javi Lopez, Central Catholic
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
NCAA: Brandeis
Regarded as the best player in MIAA boys basketball, Lopez has his eyes firmly set on a state championship to cap off his legendary career at Central Catholic, the No. 1 seed in D1. The school’s all-time leading scorer and Merrimack Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year has taken his game to the next level this winter, and after leading the Raiders to the Final Four last season – where they came up just short to eventual champion Franklin – he knows exactly what it takes to get over the hump.
Josh Roux, Andover
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
There are few players who can get on a scoring heater like Roux, who averaged 26.3 points per game in the regular season and shot 44 percent from 3-point range. Roux, the MVC Co-Player of the Year, scored 30 or more points in five of his last six games heading into the tournament, where the second-seeded Golden Warriors have plans for a deep run.
Cason Faulk, Bridgewater-Raynham
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Faulk is a nightly triple-double threat for the No. 6 Trojans, who have been among the best teams in the state all season. An athletic, physical playmaker and scorer, Faulk can take over games and he knows what it takes to make a deep run after advancing to last season’s Elite 8.
BOYS MIAA TOURNEY: Predictions for all 5 brackets | 8 sleeper teams to watch
Connor Houle, Attleboro
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
One of the best point guards in the state, Houle, the son of Attleboro coach Mark Houle, has erupted for big scoring games – including a career-high 32-point effort in a Jan. 6 win over Oliver Ames – and has shown great poise in big, stressful moments, which will be vital in the state tournament. Alongside fellow senior LaDainian Rodrigues, Houle will be the key to the No. 7 Blue Bombardiers’ hopes.
Jacob Klass, Beverly
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
The ninth-seeded Panthers are more well-rounded than years past, but Klass is still the head of the snake as the team’s point guard and top scoring threat. He can fill it up with the best of D1. He averaged 23.2 points per game in the regular season, which included a school record 49 points on Jan. 22. He scores at all three levels and gets his teammates involved to the tune of 3.3 assists per game. If Beverly makes a run, it will start with Klass.
Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan
Class of 2026, 6-9 forward
NCAA: Texas (baseball)
There’s no player in MIAA basketball like Bumila, who torched defenses all winter with 28.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. His combination of size, skill, athleticism and physicality is a nightmare for opponents. The No. 14 Shamrocks face a tough road for a championship, but Bumila – who was named the MVP of the Catholic Central League – may be the most dominant presence in the state and he’s capable of leading a run.
TWO-SPORT TERROR: How elite baseball prospect Brody Bumila has dominated in basketball
Division 2
Rolky Brea-Arias, St. Mary’s
Class of 2026, 6-5 wing
Few teams can match up with Brea-Arias’ athleticism, length and skill. He’s a two-way monster, a double-double machine who was also named the Defensive Player of the Year of the Catholic Central League. He’s the key to the No. 1 Spartans’ title run.
Justin Grimaldi, Oliver Ames
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
One of the best scorers in the state, Grimaldi was named the MVP of the Davenport Division in the Hockomock League. The senior captain has unlimited range from 3-point land, but he’s evolved into a three-level threat. After tasting the Final Four last season, he’s ready to lead the seventh-seeded Tigers on another deep run.
Sam Brigham, Pope Francis
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Brigham might be relatively unknown to most of the state because he plays in Western Mass., but don’t get it twisted – he’s one of the best players in the MIAA. He surpassed 2,000 career points last week in the same game that Pope Francis captured its fourth consecutive Western Mass. title. The senior guard averaged 23.8 points per game this season and is at the center of the second-seeded Cardinals’ hopes.
Jimmy Farrell, Masconomet
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Earlier this season, I saw Farrell put up a huge scoring performance against St. Mary’s despite playing through a fever. It came in a loss, but it showed me his will to win. Farrell is one of the best lead guards in the state and has the best mid-range game in the MIAA. He’s capable of taking over games and getting on a scorer heater, and he’s shown it all season against some of the best teams in the state.
Matty Gray, Burlington
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Gray was named the unanimous MVP of the Middlesex Freedom League as he led Burlington to a 17-3 record, including winning 13 of its last 14 games to close the regular season. At 6-foot-6, he’s a big matchup problem with his unique size and skill, and he’s motivated to lead a senior-laden Red Devils team that’s a contender as a No. 6 seed.
Division 3
Ryan Mutschler, Hanover
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Mutschler is one of the leaders of the top-seeded Hawks. It’s a balanced group, but Mutschler has popped for some big scoring games, and he’s one of the best shooters in the area. Hanover went on a 17-game winning streak to start the season behind Mutschler and a senior group that’s experienced, battle-tested and ready for a championship run.
Elian Rodriguez, Salem
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
The Witches emerged as one of the best teams in the state and a frontrunner in Division 3 behind Rodriguez, who put up some of his best performances in their best wins. The junior star had 25 points, seven assists and five steals in a statement win at Beverly and tallied 18 points and five dimes in a signature home win over St. Mary’s. He looks poised to lead Salem to the promised land.
Jonny Sullivan, Tewksbury
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
The steady leader and captain of the third-seeded Redmen, Sullivan should be motivated after a surprising first-round exit in last year’s Division 2 tournament, when they lost as a No. 8 seed. Tewksbury is one of the championship frontrunners in its first season in Division 3.
Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott
Class of 2028, 6-2 guard
O’Neill’s sophomore breakout started with a jaw-dropping 42-point performance, which included seven 3-pointers, in a December win over Winthrop. He’s been a huge reason why the Big Blue grabbed a No. 4 seed after a 16-4 regular season. O’Neill missed Swampscott’s first meeting with No. 2 seed Salem, but returned with 17 points in a rematch victory.
Division 4
Amare Rose, Wareham
Class of 2027, 6-2 guard
A complete scorer, Rose has helped Wareham – alongside senior Aaron Cote – to the top seed in D4. One of the Vikings’ most consistent performers, Rose surpassed 1,000 career points this season as a junior.
Jimmer Donnelly, Millbury
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
The son of head coach Jim Donnelly, Jimmer is a five-year player at Millbury and he’s plenty experienced in big moments and big games. He hit a game-winning shot in a victory over Doherty last month and should fuel a deep run for the second-seeded Woolies.
Brendan Loewen, Georgetown
Class of 2026, 5-11 guard
Loewen was a hero of last season’s Division 4 championship, when he scored nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, including clutch free throws in the final, to seal the title. Now, he’s back to defend the Royals’ crown, and he’s playing his best basketball at the right time. He scored 34 points to lead a shorthanded Georgetown team to a victory over Newburyport on Feb. 12.
Division 5
Jorge Bond, Drury
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
The junior guard surpassed 1,000 career points this season and has put up big scoring games. He averaged 26.3 points per game during the regular season, which included a 36-point performance and three 35-point efforts. The top-seeded Blue Devils are in good hands with Bond as they pursue a state title.
Allen Brown Jr., Holbrook
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
Brown might be the best scorer in this bracket. He surpassed 2,000 career points this season, and he put up a career-high 54 points in a win over South Shore Charter on Feb. 6. The 18-2 Bulldogs’ only two defeats both came to West Bridgewater – the No. 4 seed in Division 4 – and they’re poised for a deep run behind their senior star.
12 more names to watch: Ben Marino, No. 3 Needham (Div. 1); Diego Montanari, No. 5 New Bedford (Div. 1); Duke Cherry, No. 8 Malden Catholic (Div. 1); Gabe McIntyre, No. 5 Mansfield (Div. 2); Cal Atherton, No. 9 Newburyport (Div. 2); Jadon Beatty, No. 10 Archbishop Williams (Div. 2); Thomas Behrmann, No. 8 Medfield (Div. 3); Kingston Maxwell, No. 14 Abington (Div. 3); Mike Ekweanya, No. 5 New Mission (Div. 4); Jayden Rubio, No. 4 David Prouty (Div. 5); Isaiah Richmond, No. 7 Prospect Hill Academy (Div. 5)
