MANSFIELD, Mass. — The next wave of talent in New England is coming fast.
That much was evident on Friday night at the Fieldhouse in Mansfield, where some of the best underclassmen in the region converged for the annual New England Recruiting Report Frosh/Soph Elite 75 showcase. The event has been a summer fixture in the area over the last two decades. The likes of Andre Drummond and Donovan Clingan have participated in it over the years.
More than 150 players – all freshmen and sophomores – made it to Friday’s event in Mansfield, and there were several future Division 1 prospects showcasing their talent. It was an opportunity for them to continue to establish themselves as the next up-and-coming stars in the region, and some of them certainly didn’t waste it.
The event lasted about three hours and included some drill work before scrimmages. The prospects were split into 16 teams, and each played two 30-minute games. With four games being played simultaneously, I did my best to run around the facility and observe as much action as I could. Here are 10 players from the classes of 2027 and 2028 who stood out to me.
Josiah Adamson
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
CATS Academy/Expressions Elite
Hometown: South Dorchester, Mass.
I was excited to see Adamson for the first time – his hype has quickly been building after a standout freshman season at Catholic Memorial that led to his transfer to CATS – and I wasn’t disappointed. He was the best player I saw Friday night. Adamson’s physical maturity clearly stood out among groups of his young peers, and his ceiling looks limitless as he continues to grow and develop.
Coaches crowded around the courts he played on as he dominated both ends and electrified onlookers with countless dunks. Adamson can do everything offensively as a three-level scorer, and he was relentless with his defensive pressure. Expect his recruitment to rapidly pick up over the next year, especially if he can make an instant impact in the NEPSAC.
TJ Allen
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
St. Sebastian’s/BABC
Hometown: Watertown, Mass.
The best playmaker in New England’s 2027 class? It might just be Allen, who was pretty much unstoppable throughout Friday’s showcase. He dominated the 3-on-3 scrimmages and then carried it over to games, where he was getting buckets with ease thanks to his dizzying crossovers, elite rim attacks and pull-up shotmaking that generated buzz around the gym. Allen has a very bright future ahead of him, and his scoring ability is going to continue to get him on the radar of college coaches.
Reece Ayala
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Milton Academy/Expressions Elite
Hometown: Lawrence, Mass.
It probably helped that Ayala was playing with several of his Milton Academy teammates, including backcourt mate Ryan McLaughlin, but nonetheless, he was very impressive as a lead guard facilitator. In the moments I watched him, Ayala just looked confident whenever he had the ball as he balanced finding teammates with hunting his own shot. He was always in control as he made plays with both hands and finished some tough takes at the rim.
Preston Bollin
Class of 2027, 6-6 forward
Newman School/White Mamba
Hometown: Raynham, Mass.
A warning to defenders: Use your discretion when you get in Bollin’s way. He’s just a bruiser in the paint, a relentless body on the glass who on several plays on Friday wouldn’t stop until he finished a play. Bollin also showcased his ability to shoot from deep and his potential to be a reliable stretch big at the next level. After transferring from St. Sebastian’s to Newman, I’m excited to see how he continues to develop against Class AAA competition this winter.
Raul Cruz
Class of 2027, 6-2 guard
Noble & Greenough/Expressions Elite
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
Cruz was a freshman captain at Nobles and it’s easy to see why new head coach Lambros Papalambros is building around him. The guard does everything, a mold of Celtics guard Derrick White in the way he has a nose for the ball and always makes the right play. He went toe-to-toe with Adamson in one scrimmage and more than held his own with his playmaking and shooting ability. I was really impressed by one sequence in which he got the ball in the corner in transition, flipped it to a teammate as a defender quickly closed on him and then made a backdoor cut and finished while taking contact for a three-point play. Cruz is a high-IQ player who plays with a maturity beyond his years.
Kyle Delves
Class of 2028, 6-2 guard
Mt. Saint Charles/Team New England
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Delves isn’t a true freshman – he reclassified to 2028 upon his transfer to Mt. Saint Charles after a breakout season for Juanita Sanchez High – but either way, his potential is scary. He was one of the best playmaking guards of the night. Delves was bigger than most of his backcourt counterparts, and he used his strength, quick-twitch movements and advanced feel for the game to get to the basket or set up teammates. His nickname “Bright” is fitting. He received his first Division 1 scholarship from Fairfield earlier this year and there are certainly more coming in his future.
Theo Edema
Class of 2027, 7-0 center
Cushing Academy/Team New England
Hometown: Nigeria
If you don’t already know about Edema, it’s time to get familiar. He was easily the best big man in the building on Friday night, and it was almost insane to think he’s still just a sophomore with the plays he was making. His strong post game and rim-protecting abilities were already known – and both were on full display in Mansfield – but he even showed his ball-handling skills on the break with plays that were mind-blowing for his size. There were multiple times when Edema pushed the ball in transition, including one play in which he sized up a defender from midcourt and delivered a wild poster dunk on him. Edema is a monster in the making, and his continued development will be fun to watch.
Jayden Gibson
Class of 2028, 6-3 guard
Brooks School/Students Before Athletes
Hometown: Cambridge, Mass.
While 2027 prospects mostly dominated Friday’s event, Gibson was one freshman who stood out. He was terrific in pick-and-roll opportunities, patient with his decisions and threading perfect passes between defenders, and he also looked strong with both hands as he continuously got to the basket with relative ease. Gibson, who arrives at Brooks as a transfer this fall, will be worth monitoring.
Josiah Reyes
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Worcester Academy/Team New England
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
While Amir Jenkins has gotten most of the attention for his incoming transfer to Worcester Academy, his new backcourt mate will make them a tough duo to guard. Reyes, who played last season at Doherty High School, was a consistent playmaker on Friday night whenever he had the ball with his hands. He was difficult to contain with his advanced dribbling skills, quick changes of direction and ability to go to both hands to make tough downhill drives for strong finishes.
Xavier Sanchez
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Newman School/Expressions Elite
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
There’s a certain calmness and smoothness to Sanchez’s game. He oozes confidence and never seemed to get flustered as he continuously got to his spots and made plays, highlighted by one play when he drove on a defender with his left hand toward the baseline and was shut off before he calmly stepped back, spun and drilled a tough turnaround jumper. He’s a master of creating space for himself with crossovers, jab steps and quick moves that allows him to get to the basket or pull-up jumpers, which he hit consistently. Sanchez has an advanced offensive skill set that already looks very polished.
Five more prospects who caught my eye: Curtis Marshall (St. Bernard’s, 2027 forward), Keyshon Joyner (MacDuffie, 2027 guard), Tyson Robinson (Brimmer & May, 2027 forward), Jack Gedroge (Kents Hill, 2027 forward), Jalen Rogers (Beaver Country Day, 2027 forward)
