The unofficial start to the 2025-26 NEPSAC boys basketball season is here.
The first of two NEPSAC Scholastic Showcases tips off this Friday through Sunday at Babson College, where more than 600 college prospects will join their prep schools for multiple games. The second showcase comes June 27-29 at Avon Old Farms. Both take place during NCAA live weekends, meaning college coaches from every level will be in the building making evaluations. It’s two of the most important weekends of the year on the recruiting calendar.
With 123 games spread across three days, there will be four courts used at Babson with four games playing simultaneously throughout the weekend. Prospects will be playing to impress the college coaches watching them, and just as importantly, these two weekends serve as a crucial precursor to the fall as teams integrate new players, gain chemistry together and prepare for the new season.
I identified 25 players I’m intrigued to watch over the next two weekends. For this list, I avoided including the top established players that most of the region is already familiar with. For that, you can check out our Class of 2026 and 2027 watch lists from earlier this spring. These 25 include exciting transfers and returning players who are expected to have bigger roles next season.
Let’s dive in.
Full schedule for 2025 NEPSAC Boys Scholastic Showcase at Babson
Harrison Aligbe, St. Andrew’s
Class of 2026, 6-8 wing
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Aligbe reclassified from the 2025 to 2026 class and transferred from Winchendon to St. Andrew’s, and he’ll be one of the top players for an exciting group under head coach Mike Hart. An athletic, two-way wing, Aligbe is having a monster spring with The House We Built – which included averaging 29.7 points at the Pitt Jam Fest in April – and he’s ready to prove himself as a Division 1 prospect. His first test comes Friday at 4 p.m. against reigning ISL champion St. George’s.
TJ Allen, Darrow
Class of 2027, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Watertown, Mass.
Allen averaged 20 points per game for St. Sebastian’s as a sophomore before announcing his transfer to Darrow in Class AAA. One of the best scoring guards in New England’s 2027 class, Allen has had a strong spring with BABC and I’m excited to see what he can do against bigger, more athletic and better competition.
CJ Azor, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Azor averaged 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range last season and will now be a focal point for a new-look NMH squad. He’s a dynamic guard who brings high-level shooting.
Sage Baptiste, Tabor
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Wareham, Mass.
The big-bodied forward can score at all three levels and has a strong inside physical presence. After the departure of Daithi Quinn to East Carolina, Baptiste should see a bigger role at Tabor, where he’ll look to carry the momentum from a big spring with Team Sims.
Cole Blackburn, Worcester Academy
Class of 2027, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Southborough, Mass.
The cousin of Jake Blackburn – a starter on last season’s Class AA championship team at Worcester Academy – Cole is transferring in from BB&N. He has a different game; he’s an athletic wing who can get downhill and lives above the rim with big dunks, and is an impactful defender with his length, size and quickness. He’s had a strong spring with the Middlesex Magic’s top 16U team and seems to be scratching the surface of his potential.
Karell Brown, Frederick Gunn
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Stratford, Conn.
I caught my first glimpse of Brown at the NERR Northeast Hoops Festival, where he made a ton of two-way plays for Rhode Island Elite. Now, after winning back-to-back CIAC state championships at Bunnell High School, Brown is elevating to NEPSAC. His first test comes this weekend.
Brayden Buckley, Thayer
Class of 2028, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
Buckley is a name to know in the 2028 class after he scored 13 points per game and shot 41 percent from long range as a freshman at Thayer. He’s carried that into a strong spring with Expressions Elite’s 15U team. He’s a high-level lead guard who can score at all three levels and make plays for others, and should see his responsibilities increase even more as a sophomore.
Carson Gretz, Phillips Exeter
Class of 2026, 6-5 wing
Hometown: Newburyport, Mass.
Gretz was a two-time Cape Ann Player of the Year at Newburyport High before announcing he’ll take a postgraduate season at Exeter. A good shooter who can play multiple positions, he should see plenty of opportunity after Exeter graduated some key pieces and the program starts a new era under head coach Harry Rafferty.
Declan Griffiths, Avon Old Farms
Class of 2027, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Simsbury, Conn.
Griffiths is starting to unlock his potential. The Middlesex Magic wing was selected to the Under Armour Future 60 earlier this month as one of the best underclassmen in the UAA, and he’s coming off a big winter after averaging 12.5 points as one of the best 3-point shooters in the region. He’s a definite Division 1 prospect who should see his stock continue to rise over the next two weekends.
Trokon Harris, Brooks
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: Lowell, Mass.
A key contributor for Brooks the last two seasons, Harris averaged 9.6 points per game last winter as their third leading scorer. With top two scorers Alex Wilkins and Emersen Davis departed from the Class B championship team, more will be on Harris’ plate next season. I’m excited to see what Harris, who also led Brooks with 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season, can do with an expanded role.
Jakare Innocent, Tilton
Class of 2027, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Taunton, Mass.
Innocent has had a monster spring with BABC, and he’ll be counted on for a big role at Tilton, where head coach Marcus O’Neil returns. The athletic guard is a dynamic scorer with a reliable 3-point stroke, and he’s a steals machine on the defensive end.
Paxton Ivy, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Rockwell, Texas
Ivy is one of the most intriguing out-of-region prospects entering NEPSAC. He averaged 13 points per game on 35 percent shooting from 3-point range last season for Rockwell High School and comes to New England as a ready-made, athletic scorer with high-level instincts and winning attributes. He holds offers from Stanford and Pepperdine and I’m intrigued to see his fit on a talented Lawrence squad that includes nationally-ranked prospect Alex Egbuonu.
Jerry Johnson, Jr., Williston Northampton
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
Williston is reloading a bit after losing four starters from last season’s Class A championship team, and Johnson should be a big help in filling the void. The Team Final guard averaged 19 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game at La Academia Partnership Charter School and recently picked up an offer from Albany. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects in the region’s 2027 class.
Brendan McDonald, Pomfret
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Somerset, Mass.
One of our All-MIAA first team selections last season, McDonald – who’s doing a postgraduate season at Pomfret – powered Somerset Berkley to the Division 2 state championship after averaging 14.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. I loved his game as a strong and quick lead guard who’s a blur in transition and has a high motor on both ends. Pomfret won’t be at Babson this weekend, but you can catch them at Avon Old Farms.
Cherif Millogo, CATS
Class of 2027, 7-4 center
Hometown: Burkina Faso, West Africa
I’ve heard some buzz building about Millogo, and it all starts with his height; it’s obviously rare to see a recruit of his age standing at 7-foot-4. A projected high-major prospect, he has shooting ability and his size makes him a natural impact player at the rim. I’m curious to see how well he runs the floor and mixes in with CATS’ guard and wing talent.
Tyler Newsom, St. Luke’s
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Monroe, Conn.
Newsom might be one of the more underrated prospects in the region after an All-NEPSAC season in Class B in which he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and shot 38 percent from 3. The son of head coach Tony Newsom, Tyler impacts the game on both ends and has an advanced feel for the game. He’ll have some good chances to continue to prove himself at Babson with matchups against Rivers, Brooks and Millbrook.
Ethan Ostane, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Team New England guard is transferring into Putnam Science after a standout season at Abraham Lincoln High School in New York, and he’ll be an immediate impact player for the Mustangs. Ostane is a naturally gifted scorer with high-level athleticism and IQ. He has several mid-major Division 1 offers and should fit in well to Putnam coach Tom Espinosa’s guard mix.
Luca Palermo, St. Mark’s
Class of 2027, 6-6 forward
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
The former Andover High standout missed most of last season due to an injury but still returned to play 16 games, and was selected an ISL honorable mention after averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per game. Fully healthy entering the new season, I’m excited to see the new level he can take on a talented St. Mark’s team.
Tyson Robinson, Brimmer & May
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Robinson missed the end of last season and the start of the spring due to a leg injury but has come back and held his own playing a year up on Mass Rivals’ 17U team. He remains one of the most intriguing prospects in the region’s 2027 class with his combination of elite shot blocking, strong post play and a confident 3-point shot. I’m looking for him to embrace more physicality as he continues to put himself on the Division 1 radar.
Isiah Rose, Vermont Academy
Class of 2026, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.
A member of Vermont Academy’s 2024 championship team, Rose has enjoyed a strong AAU season with Crown and offers a unique skill set that has attracted interest at the low Division 1 level. He’s terrific at scoring around the rim and has demonstrated a consistent touch and game sense with his footwork, post presence and sneaky playmaking. There’s a ton of upside with Rose, whose jump shot has also become more reliable.
Jared Strand, Canterbury
Class of 2026, 6-5 forward
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
Stand might be a bit under the radar; the Class B honorable mention is also ranked among ESPN’s top 50 small forwards nationally in the 2026 class. Strand possesses a strong scoring mentality and game and should see a jump in his usage and production after Canterbury graduated stars Andreo Ash and David Dix.
Ty Tabales, New Hampton
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
Tabales was a critical piece last season for New Hampton, but after the departure of the Huskies’ star trio of Keyshuan Tillery, Mason Blackwood and Nasir Meyer, Tabales will have a bigger role this winter. He’s one of the best shooters in the region, but I’m expecting to see the ball in his hands even more as he shows more of his skill set as a lead guard.
Jaxson Terry, CATS
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Terry is the one exception on this list of including a player from one of my watch lists. He’s certainly an established commodity in New England, but I’m intrigued by his role after the departure of star Jaylen Harrell; I expect Terry to take more of the ball-dominant duties alongside guard Desmond Bellot. Terry is the one of the best two-way prospects in the region and he’s had a good spring with Expressions Elite after missing the start of AAU season with an injury. I’m ready to see a Terry breakout.
Anthony Vick, Cushing
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
I’ve seen Vick get hot offensively almost every time I’ve seen him; he has a lethal mid-range, and confidently shoots from deep (and sometimes from NBA range), and he’s only getting started. With his move to Cushing, he and Ryan Moesch could form NEPSAC’s most exciting backcourt. We’ll get our first look at Babson.
Devan Williams, Milton Academy
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Uncasville, Conn.
Williams was Milton’s leading scorer at 16 points per game last season and added 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 38 percent from deep – and there may be another level he can reach. Reece Ayala’s transfer to Brewster should give him even more opportunities with the ball to show his high-level scoring and playmaking abilities.
