In a way, the split of Class B into Large and Small divisions helped shine a brighter spotlight on some programs that may have been previously underlooked.
In Class B Small, this was especially true from my perspective. The big takeaway was that there were a lot of college-ready recruits or promising prospects that deserve attention. When Holderness beat Kingswood-Oxford for the league crown in March, there were a handful of players on the floor who are going to make their future Division 3 schools – or even higher – happy. It didn’t stop with them.
Our class awards include All-Class B Small first and second teams in addition to four individual honors; Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Marksman of the Year, recognizing the top 3-point shooter.
Let’s hand out our 2026 awards for Class B Small.
Player of the Year: DJ Biggins, Kingswood-Oxford
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
NCAA: Boston College (football)
Biggins did everything for Kingswood-Oxford, which captured the top seed in Class B Small and made a run to the championship game. He averaged 20.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game as he led the Wyverns to 22 wins. Coach Brad Seaman likened Biggins’ unselfishness to NBA star Jimmy Butler when he was on the Heat, because he let his teammates get involved first and then took over when he needed to. He was the biggest reason for K-O’s breakout winter.
Defensive Player of the Year: Lino Sanchez, Beaver Country Day
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
NCAA: Union
Sanchez was arguably the best on-ball defender in the class, taking on the toughest assignments every night, whether it was Biggins at K-O, AJ Trimboli at King, Mason Paquette at Holderness or Niklas Boateng at Lexington Christian. He was quick and instinctual defensively, making it difficult for him to be screened and consistently blowing up passing lanes. His winter box score highlights included a five-steal game vs. Portsmouth Abbey, three steals and two blocks vs. KO and four steals vs. Berwick.
Coach of the Year: Woody Kampmann, Holderness
With a strong crop of returners, Kampmann nurtured a strong environment and culture that showed up in a big way as Holderness won 19 games and captured the Class B Small championship. The Blue Bulls punched above their class, too, beating Rivers, St. Paul’s, Tilton and Austin Prep to highlight their impressive resume.
This was a competitive award, too. Brad Seaman deserves attention for the job he did at Kingswood-Oxford with a group he helped develop since they were younger middle school players. In Year 1 at Beaver Country Day, Alex Giangregorio guided an incredible turnaround. After winning eight games in 2024-25, the Beavers more than doubled that with 17 victories and won the Eastern Independent League championship.
Marksman of the Year: Luke Spellman, Beaver Country Day
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
Hometown: Dover, Mass.
After barely seeing the floor as a junior, Spellman erupted with one of the biggest breakout seasons in NEPSAC. He shot 54 percent from 3-point range as he connected on 89 of his 164 attempts from deep. Giangregorio said he’s the best shooter he’s ever coached.
All-Class B Small First Team
DJ Biggins, Kingswood-Oxford
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
NCAA: Boston College (football)
Our Player of the Year was also named the Founders League Player of the Year. He’s going on to play wide receiver for Boston College football, but he was also a Division 1-caliber basketball recruit who held offers from Bryant and Holy Cross.
Finn Brennan, Holderness
Class of 2026, 6-4 forward
Hometown: Newburyport, Mass.
NCAA: Connecticut College
Brennan averaged 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. He was the leading scorer for Holderness in its championship run.
Jayvian Cruz, Holderness
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
One of the most electric ball-handlers in the class, Cruz averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the Class B Small champions.
Tyler Newsom, St. Luke’s
Class of 2027, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Monroe, Conn.
Newsom was one of the most dominant performers in the class all winter as he averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.
AJ Trimboli, King
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
Hometown: Norwalk, Conn.
NCAA: Florida Southern
Trimboli was one of the best scorers and playmakers in B Small, averaging 22.5 points and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 44.1 percent from 3-point range for third-seeded King. He also added 1.5 steals and 2.1 deflections per game. Trimboli leaves King as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,710 career points.
All-Class B Large Second Team
Niklas Boateng, Lexington Christian Academy
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Dracut, Mass.
Boateng stuffed the stat sheet all winter for LCA, posting 17.4 points, 8.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game to lead the Lions to the No. 7 seed in Class B Small.
Alex Hickey, Millbrook
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
NCAA: Case Western
Hickey averaged 16 points per game while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range for Millbrook, which reached the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.
Mason Paquette, Holderness
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Hookset, N.H.
NCAA: Brandeis
Paquette averaged 11 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from 3-point territory, and he stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 22 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 steals per game while shooting 63 percent from deep to earn Class B Small tournament MVP honors.
Lino Sanchez, Beaver Country Day
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
NCAA: Union
Our Defensive Player of the Year was a two-way force, averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and six assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. He was named the EIL’s Player of the Year.
Stryckland Whittley-Ligon, Kingswood-Oxford
Class of 2026, 6-5 forward
Hometown: Avon, Conn.
NCAA: Washington U.
Whittley-Ligon was an anchor of K-O’s big year, averaging 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals per game while providing defensive versatility. He went off for 30 points in a win over King in January in a game played at TD Garden.
Honorable mentions: Jonovan Bracey (King), Jakari Clark (Lexington Christian Academy), Myles Dickerson (New York Military Academy), Zach Fallquist (Greens Farms Academy), Seann Katubi (New York Military Academy), Andre Langley (Holderness), Jordan Maxson (Pingree), Hezi McCoy (Millbrook), Will Parkhouse (Kingswood-Oxford), Massa Toure (Hamden Hall)
