The NEPSAC boys basketball season has entered the final month of the regular season, and as teams jockey for playoff pushes, it’s bringing out the best performances from players across the region.
There were upset victories, game-winning shots and monster individual performances from the league’s top stars. This edition of our prep boys stars of the week features 20 standouts, which is our longest list of the season. It goes to show the depth of the talent the region boasts.
Coaches and players are welcome to submit nominations by emailing Steve Hewitt at steve.hewitt@basketballjournal.com or by messaging him on Twitter/X (@steve_hewitt).
Here are this week’s stars from Jan. 27-Feb. 2.
Malik Adamson & Alex Dudley. Dexter Southfield
Adamson: Class of 2027, 5-10 guard; Dorchester, Mass.
Dudley: Class of 2026, 6-4 guard/forward; Needham, Mass./NCAA: Babson
Dexter Southfield, a Class A program, is now 3-0 in games against Class AA competition after Saturday’s massive 83-79 road victory over No. 9 Winchendon. The Shields got contributions from several players, and Adamson and Dudley may have been the most impactful. Adamson finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Dudley went for 15 points and 10 boards against the Wapiti’s terrific frontcourt.
Lorcan Bailey Morrow, St. Andrew’s
Class of 2028, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
The sophomore posted an eye-opening stat line, finishing with 20 points and 20 rebounds in a wild 105-102 double overtime victory over Worcester Academy. Bailey Morrow is receiving Division 1 interest.
Zach Baum, Nobles
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
NCAA: Bowdoin
Baum had a breakout stretch, averaging 13.7 points, 15.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field over Nobles’ 3-0 week in wins over St. Sebastian’s, Roxbury Latin and Phillips Andover. It included an 11-point, 21-rebound, five-assist effort vs. Roxbury Latin and a 16-point, 13-rebound, five-assist performance against Andover.
Dywane Chess, St. George’s
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Pa.
NCAA: Marist
Chess continued his impressive final season with another game exceeding 30 points, scoring 32 points as St. George’s beat Wilbraham & Monson. The big guard went 12-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range as the Dragons kept rolling.
Riley Clarke, Brooks
Class of 2026, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: Colby
Brooks had a 3-0 week with wins over Marianapolis, Beaver Country Day and BB&N behind the strong play of Clarke, who averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2 percent from 3-point range. Brooks has now won six consecutive games.
Colton Crowdis, Bridgton
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
If I were to pick a singular player of the week, it would have to be Crowdis. He had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in Bridgton’s 76-71 victory over No. 1 Newman, which included a ridiculous step-back dagger 3-pointer in the final minute. He went on to dominate in the Bridgton Winter Classic, posting 12 points and 14 assists in a win over Lee Academy before erupting for 40 points on eight 3-pointers with five rebounds and four assists to beat St. Andrew’s. Crowdis remains uncommitted while quietly emerging as one of the best guards in Class AAA this season.
Alex Egbuonu, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
NCAA: Marquette
Egbuonu put on another show in Lawrence Academy’s 73-68 overtime road victory over Mount St. Charles, scoring 37 points. He scored all of the Spartans’ nine points in the extra session to secure the win as they improved to 12-4 this season.
Begad Ibrahim, South Kent
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Clifton Park, N.Y.
Ibrahim led the way off the bench for South Kent in its first NEBL win on Sunday over Darrow. He finished with 23 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range to go along with nine rebounds as the Cardinals held on for a 90-85 victory.
Caspian Jones, CATS Academy
Class of 2026, 6-6 guard/wing
Hometown: Laveen, Ariz.
Jones was dominant, scoring 27 points in CATS Academy National's upset 86-76 victory over New Hampton in NEBL action. A skilled point forward who can score from all three levels, Jones remains uncommitted in the 2026 class.
Trey Miller, St. Paul’s
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Concord, N.H.
NCAA: Wesleyan
A three-win week for St. Paul’s was spurred by Miller, who tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds vs. Proctor and 16 points and 13 boards vs. Groton. He then capped an 11-point second-half comeback win over Thayer with a go-ahead hook shot in the final minute of the 62-58 victory.
Darren Moore, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Potomac, Md.
Moore had a special milestone week, posting 12 points and five assists in a win over Worcester Academy before scoring his 1,000th career point in a close loss to Brewster Academy. He finished with 16 points and three dimes against the Nike EYBL Scholastic program.
Tyler Newsom, St. Luke’s
Class of 2027, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Monroe, Conn.
Newsom averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and three assists per game over three St. Luke’s victories; he led the Storm in scoring and rebounding in all three games while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. His performance included a 27-point, 15-rebound effort vs. Marianapolis, including three 3-pointers.
Connor Noel, Milton Academy
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.
The shot of the week belongs to Noel, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to propel Milton Academy to a 62-61 road victory over Phillips Andover. Noel finished with 14 points.
Final @ma_boys_hoops 62 @PABoysBball 61
Connor Noel with the go ahead three pointer as time expired to give the Mustangs the victory. Noel finished with 16 points.
.@devgetbusy3 led the way for the Mustangs with 18 points
Miles Clantor led all scorers with 24 points. pic.twitter.com/rYfWjiXgur
— Mukala Kabongo 🇨🇩 (@mukala_K) January 29, 2026
Chinedu Okpara, Wilbraham & Monson
Class of 2026, 6-6 forward
Hometown: Bronxville, N.Y.
Okpara has one of the best motors in the region, and it was on display as he put up 25 points and 17 rebounds in Wilbraham’s 88-73 victory over Redemption Christian.
Justin Robinson, Frederick Gunn
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
A week after scoring a career-high 31 points vs. Kingswood-Oxford, Robinson contributed 26 points, four assists and three steals in Frederick Gunn’s important Class B victory over Millbrook.
Kamai Samuels & Jordan Skyers, Putnam Science
Samuels: Class of 2026, 6-2 guard/Montreal, Canada
Skyers: Class of 2026, 6-3 guard/Middletown, N.Y.
Skyers electrified for 33 points on 7-for-9 shooting from 3-point range in a victory over South Kent, and Samuels was instrumental in Putnam’s two NEBL wins over Cushing and Newman over the weekend. He had 20 points and nine assists vs. Cushing and scored 17 points, including a dagger 3-pointer, vs. Newman. Both athletic guards are uncommitted and receiving Division 1 interest.
NEBL THRILLER: 7 standouts from Putnam Science's wild win over Newman
Jared Strand, Canterbury
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
Strand averaged 18 points per game, including 13 total 3-pointers as he shot 40 percent from 3-point range, in Canterbury’s 2-1 week. The Saints are now 12-6 this season.
Julien Wiggins, Westminster
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Wiggins posted another big stat line in a win over Avon Old Farms, finishing with 33 points, four assists and five steals. He went 14-for-14 from the free-throw line.
