The NEPSAC girls basketball scholastic showcase, held at Loomis Chaffee from June 13-15, was a prime opportunity for prep school basketball players to make a statement with the eyes of college coaches on them. A select few underclassmen also showed they belong as competitors.
I had the chance to watch 11 full basketball games between 14 teams during the Thursday and Friday portions of the showcase. More than 100 college coaches also sat on the sidelines, taking advantage of the "live period" window to watch these athletes in person.
In addition to the juniors and seniors they scouted, these coaches now have some new names to put on their radars.
We've covered the 2025 and 2026 standouts already; here's a look at some of the showcase's rising stars.
Aliyah Allston
Nobles, 2028 forward
Allston (Randolph, Mass.) drew some tough assignments against bigger and taller forwards, but I thought she battled. She has excellent touch around the basket and a physically strong presence already. She can also put the ball on the floor to get to the paint and finish.
I took note of some underrated passing reads Allston made. When she drew two defenders, she twice was able to find an open shooter on the weak-side wing, and she also dished off to a cutter for an assist. The overall versatility stood out to me with Allston, especially at her age. I'm excited to see her in a larger role during the prep school season.
Avery Bollin
Dexter Southfield, 2028 forward
Bollin, the younger sister of Illinois wing Shay Bollin, is already receiving Power Five verbal offers. She's a 6-foot-2 post player from Raynham, Mass. who can stretch the floor, but my big takeaway was her effort on defense. Bollin was the loudest communicator I heard across all games. She backed it up with some great work defending ball screens, particularly when Dexter Southfield had her playing up on the screen, hedging or trapping. Even an opposing NEPSAC coach sitting near me remarked to her team about Bollin's ball screen defense. She was also generally disciplined as a rim protector, keeping her hands up without fouling.
Bollin plays with another 2028 star in Ella Peper, and though Peper also played well, this was my first time getting in a good watch of Bollin. She left a great impression.
Alannah Morantus
Cushing Academy, 2027 guard
Morantus led her Cushing/Winchendon team in a fun game against Austin Prep/Choate/Phillips Andover. The 5-foot-10 guard from North Attleboro was often tasked with defending 2026 star Fope Ayo, a 6-foot-4 center who is generating tons of Power Five interest. That's a hard assignment, and Morantus wasn't perfect, but I thought she did a great job of being physical and denying easy entry passes to Ayo.
Then on offense, Morantus mostly ran the show. She smoothly picked her spots to score in the mid-range and comfortably knocked down a designed relocation three-pointer. Like the rest of the players here, Morantus showed poise and confidence beyond her years.
Anna Moser
Hoosac, 2027 guard
Moser generated some of the most buzz of the entire showcase. The Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year from Rutland just reclassified and joined Hoosac, and she's going to be a problem.
First off: Moser is ridiculously quick. She can take a player one on one, use a dribble move or a spin move and leave them in the dust. Though a right-handed shooter, some of her best drives came on the left side, where she'd drop off a floater or continue to the rim for a reverse layup. Moser can pull up behind the arc, but she'll shred teams moving without the basketball. Hoosac routinely drew up plays where Moser would fly off exit screens, or use pin-downs and flare screens to shoot threes off the catch. She also took a handoff along the baseline and sped to the rim for another reverse layup.
Casey Stores
New Hampton, 2027 guard
Stores had some nice moments playing alongside 2026 standout Elyse Ngenda. In contrast to Ngenda, who is a more fluid guard, Stores excels with her speed and quick changes of direction. That helps her push the pace in transition, where she is super effective, and also keeps defenders guessing when she drives. Stores also looked comfortable shooting threes off the catch — another positive for a player who won't always have the ball in her hands. She'll be key as New Hampton tries to take a step forward next season.
