It’s still more than three months away, but the 2024-25 prep school season in New England already promises to be exciting.
The top squads in the region have bulked up their rosters for the upcoming season, and several of them have done it with the addition of transfers. At the prep school level, it’s common to see an abundance of transfers every spring and summer as they seek better competition and more exposure in their pursuit of a college scholarship.
The talent switching schools this year includes some of the most exciting prospects in the region. Some are arriving in New England from the outside, others are leveling up within the region, and there are even several making a jump from MIAA to NEPSAC who could be impact additions.
Here are seven notable prep school transfers to watch for this season.
Jakye Rainey, Vermont Academy
Class of 2025, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Cheektowaga, N.Y.
The electrifying guard was one of our standouts at the Babson NEPSAC showcase in June after he put up a monster scoring performance, and he figures to make a big impact in the league this winter. Vermont Academy head coach John Zall has been trying to recruit the under-the-radar guard for a while, he said, and after Rainey broke Christian Laettner’s scoring record at Nichols High in Buffalo, N.Y., he made the move. Rainey is a bit undersized, and he’ll have to adjust to being surrounded by much more talent, but he has great potential. He should certainly see his college recruitment – which has been surprisingly low to this point – increase, and he’ll help fill Vermont Academy’s scoring void left by Arizona State-bound Joson Sanon as they defend their NEPSAC Class AAA title.
Amir Jenkins, Worcester Academy
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
Hometown: North Worcester, Mass.
A move was almost expected for Jenkins after he led Worcester North to back-to-back MIAA state championships as a freshman and sophomore. North went 24-0 as Jenkins averaged 14 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 assists for the repeat. Now, after a big stock-rising summer that included being selected to represent Team USA in this week’s FIBA U18 3x3 World Cup, Jenkins will look to continue his winning reputation at the NEPSAC level.
Jaylin Williams-Crawford, CATS Academy
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
Williams-Crawford averaged 19.2 points to lead Charlestown to an MIAA Div. 3 state championship as a junior before reclassifying into the 2026 class in his move to CATS. After being a star for Charlestown, Williams-Crawford will need to adjust to play more roles alongside talented teammates like Jaylen Harrell and Jaxson Terry. But after playing up on the Expressions Elite 17U team, there is some familiarity for Williams-Crawford, whose scoring and defensive ability should translate well to the prep school level.
Warren Keel, Putnam Science Academy
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
Hometown: Lynn, Mass.
A year after transferring from Lynn English to Bradford Christian – where he helped them win the NEPSAC Class AA championship as an all-league selection – Keel announced a somewhat surprising move to Putnam Science Academy, one of the top prep schools in the region’s recent history. A true floor general and one of the best guards in New England, Keel will fit right in on head coach Tom Espinosa’s talented squad that also includes star big Ben Ahmed as they look to win their third national prep school championship in the last four years.
Jaylen Hunter-Coleman, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2026, 5-11 guard
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
A co-star with Williams-Crawford on the Charlestown state title team last season, Hunter-Coleman also leveled up with a transfer to the prep level as he joined Mike Shelton’s squad at Northfield Mount Hermon, a program looking to return to its rich history after the departure of legendary coach John Caroll a few years ago. They certainly have an exciting backcourt to watch. Hunter-Coleman, who had a strong AAU season for Expressions, will join a roster that includes Greg Brooks and Nasir Rodriguez, and his shooting and slashing ability will make him a difficult matchup.
Darien Moore, Brewster Academy (EYBL)
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Troy, N.Y.
After three standout years at Catholic Central High School in New York where he led the team in scoring as an eighth-grader, freshman and sophomore, Moore’s move to Brewster Academy will allow him to play against some of the best schools in the country on the national Nike circuit. Moore, who has already verbally committed to Seton Hall, is a three-level scorer and defensive force who will give Brewster head coach Jason Smith another impact addition.
Ryan Moesch, Cushing Academy
Class of 2026, 5-11 guard
Hometown: Chittenango, N.Y.
Moesch is a sleeper name on this list, but certainly deserving. He scored the ball at an incredibly high level last season, finishing as the state of New York’s leading scorer at nearly 40 points per game for Chittenango. He’ll take those talents to NEPSAC Class AA, a league that will pose much better competition for him. He may not have the same scoring numbers at Cushing, but he produced strong performances at the NEPSAC showcases in June and his ability as a strong three-level scorer who isn’t afraid to attack the rim should still translate. He’s an early stock rising candidate this winter who should see his recruitment pick up.
Five more transfers to watch: Ebuka Okorie (Brewster Academy EYBL, 6-1 guard), Josiah Adamson (CATS Academy, 6-3 guard), Chris Birden Jr. (South Kent, 6-8 forward), DJ Hawkins (St. Thomas More, 6-7 guard), Blake Bastani (New Hampton, 6-5 guard)
