WORCESTER, Mass. — We're approaching the pinnacle of the recruiting calendar for the 2027 class, and that means college coaches at all levels are on the hunt for frontcourt prospects.
These players, from big wings to centers, are always in demand. At this year's NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase, spanning June 18-20 at Worcester Academy, we saw several forwards step up, from nationally-ranked stars to possible steals at the mid-major Div. 1, 2 and 3 levels.
I attended all three days and watched a wide range of frontcourt archetypes. Almost all of the below standouts, save for two centers, could feasibly slot in at multiple positions. That versatility is primarily why many of them project to contribute in college.
These 2027 forwards impressed me during my time at the Scholastic Showcase.
MORE SCHOLASTIC SHOWCASE STANDOUTS: 2027 guards | 2028 | 2029 & 2030
Lauren Fitzgerald, Tabor
6-1 wing
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
NCAA: Colgate
Tabor logged a great team showing Friday against New Hampton, and it was one of the better defensive efforts I’ve seen from Fitzgerald. She got her long arms on a couple of big blocks and deflected an inside pass. When Fitzgerald is dialed in, she has the physical tools to be a defensive menace. She also continued to drive the ball well and knocked down a corner 3.
LaLa Goode, Loomis Chaffee
6-0 forward
Hometown: Derby, Conn.
This was the most dynamic I’ve seen Goode as a scorer in a while. She was consistently looking to attack with the ball and is a stronger driving forward than I initially realized. Goode also knocked down a pull-up 2 and a corner 3 when I was watching her. She has natural shooting touch as a lefty and uses a variety of moves and footwork to create shots. After Goode dealt with an injury last winter, I think she’s on track for a bounce-back campaign. She's picked up a Siena offer so far since the Scholastic Showcase.
Alexa Huckaby, Hamden Hall
6-0 forward
Hometown: Bristol, Conn.
I think Huckaby is stronger than her frame indicates, and I loved the decisiveness she had when she rolled or cut to the basket. She's fast and aggressive, and she converted on a couple of difficult scores through contact at the rim. Those physical tools also help Huckaby defensively, where I noticed some big-time blocks. She's drawn Div. 2 interest from Queens College following the showcase.
Corinne Lomax, Tabor
6-0 forward
Hometown: Watertown, Conn.
Lomax and Bella Owumi went toe-to-toe as top New England prospects Friday morning, and then Lomax thoroughly dominated her afternoon game against New Hampton. At this point, we want to see top rising seniors feel otherworldly compared to competition, and Lomax did here. ESPN's 90th-ranked 2027 prospect effortlessly grabbed rebounds over everyone and was automatic scoring at the rim, along with some highlight-reel defensive plays. It appears Lomax has tightened up her handle further, which helps her get almost anywhere she wants on the floor.
Kensley Malcore, Kents Hill
6-0 forward
Hometown: Farmington, Maine
Malcore capped the Scholastic Showcase with a quality Saturday afternoon effort against Kingswood Oxford. She's tall and strong enough to defend in the post, and forced a turnover on one possession, but she plays like more of a stretch forward than a true post player. Malcore can step out behind the arc, but I liked her footwork around the basket, which included a couple of nice up-and-under layups. She runs the floor hard and projects as a versatile two-way talent.
Amaya McNeil, Hotchkiss
6-2 center
Hometown: Meriden, Conn.
I cannot tell you how many college coaches are searching for 2027 post players. In a local class with fewer top options compared to 2026’s loaded post group, McNeil might be an underrated find. She had her post game working on the Austin Prep/Hotchkiss mixed team against Northfield Mount Hermon, consistently getting to her righty hook shots and working back to some counters and left-hand scores. McNeil puts in effort on the glass and is strong at her position.
Bella Owumi, Tilton
6-0 wing
Hometown: Lynn, Mass.
One of my favorite moves of the weekend came Thursday afternoon against New Hampton, when Owumi put her back to the basket behind the arc, spun into a crossover, then stepped back on a dime for a 3-point splash. On Saturday, she was near-unguardable offensively against Darrow and Tabor. Her hesi moves and spin moves are devastating to defend, and she was dialed in behind the 3-point line as well.
Having watched Owumi develop for several years, I’m amazed at the bag she can now dig into as a scorer. Owumi can separate from almost any defender at this level. Though I think she can still grow more consistent finishing at the rim, she’s so creative around the basket too. Add in some more highlight-reel defensive plays, and Owumi backed up her status as New England’s top 2027 prospect.
Lucianna Parrotta, Sacred Heart
6-0 forward
Hometown: Armonk, N.Y.
Sacred Heart will lean on Parrotta even more as a senior, and one thing I (and some colleges) noticed was her bringing up the ball and looking to create more off the dribble than we’ve seen in the past. Parrotta has a solid handle for her position, and with natural scoring touch, things look promising. She made a nice pass in pick-and-roll to Ava Estes as one example. As a cutter, Parrotta showed great chemistry on backdoors with point guard Addy Sipkin. Parrotta’s clear versatility left a strong impression as Div. 1 coaches continue to circle her.
Maliah Pierre, Dexter Southfield
5-9 wing
Hometown: Whitman, Mass.
Before we get to the evaluation — Pierre stood out for the best shoe game by far at the NEPSAC Girls Scholastic Showcase. She was rocking the Jordan Poole “Milk and Cookies” Nike GT 3s. They are absolutely fire.
Anyway, in her Dexter debut event, Pierre was at her best Friday against Hoosac. I was interested to see how her off-dribble explosiveness would translate to NEPSAC AAA, and it certainly did. Pierre attacked driving lanes hard, used Euro-steps to get past defenders and had one standout sharp crossover into an and-1 runner. She competed on the offensive boards and battled defensively against some physical Hoosac post players. Pierre will add an element of toughness and energy that should help Dexter contend this winter.
Payton Scurry, St. George’s
6-0 forward
Hometown: Warwick, R.I.
We saw a lot of Scurry’s best tools in Thursday’s opening contest against Brimmer & May. She can put the ball on the floor, drive and get to some Euro-step moves. Scurry kept her head up and made some nice reads, including a no-look kick-out pass to Elin Fitzgerald for a corner 3-pointer. I want to see Scurry’s at-rim efficiency improve, but there’s a lot to like with her length and array of skills. I also saw her knock down a spot-up 3 and a long mid-range shot Friday.
Jessie Lee Toxey, Holderness
6-3 center
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Toxey and her twin, Kennedy (who did not play this week) are new postgrad transfers to Holderness. I was told Toxey has only played basketball for a few years, and she's already improving quickly. I thought she finished well around the basket Saturday on a variety of different looks. I caught three blocks just in my viewing: one on an opponent's drive, one in transition and one more where Toxey then ran the floor and got the ball back for a contested layup. If Toxey can stay consistent as a rim-runner and defensive anchor, she'll be a difference-maker both in prep and at the college level.
Quick shouts: Sadly, Thursday's tornado warning stoppage shrunk my planned opportunity to watch Choate/Hopkins and Brooks. I did enjoy briefly watching Choate wing Skyelyn Schoen-Rene (Colchester, Conn.) and continue to appreciate her high motor and well-rounded skill-set. ... Sidney Anderson (Marianapolis/Brooklyn, Conn.) made some statement defensive plays with closeout blocks and forced turnovers during my abbreviated viewing of Marianapolis. Sara Santimaw (Taft/Halifax, Nova Scotia) was another impact wing defender. At 6-foot-2 and quick, she picked up a couple of deflections when I watched Saturday. Santimaw also made a great baseline drive-and-kick to the opposite wing and cut successfully for layups. ... I thought Addie O'Connor (Worcester Academy/Shrewsbury, Mass.) was among the better cutters this weekend and is strong for her position. ... Hoosac's next postgrad transfer to watch is definitely Akarri Gaddy (Albany, N.Y.), a strong, physical forward who can fight for points in the paint. ... Newman will also get a boost from a senior transfer in Navy commit Khalia Lewis (Newfield, N.J.), an athletic forward who can stretch the floor. ... A final sleeper prospect: Nyeerah Padgett (Kents Hill/South Portland, Maine), a 6-foot-2, physically strong center who can protect the rim and knock down a spot-up 3.
