Those who follow the NEPSAC are familiar with the stars of the region. Some of them shined at NEBL opening weekend a few days ago, and others appeared on our preseason teams.
But who are some of the players who look ready to take the next step in their development this winter?
Across New England, there are players hoping to make a bigger name for themselves this season. Some are post-graduates looking to make a final attempt at impressing college coaches, and there are plenty of juniors who have potential to break out and establish themselves ahead of a big spring and summer, when their college recruitment will really pick up.
So, who are some of the breakout candidates in NEPSAC this season – names who may be stars by the time March rolls around? Let’s take a look at eight of them.
Julian “JuJu” Dent, MacDuffie
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Hometown: New Haven, Conn.
A transfer from Wilbur Cross High School in Connecticut, Dent reclassified to the 2026 class and possesses some raw, intriguing characteristics. He’s long with a 6-foot-9 wing span, can defend positions 1-4, and MacDuffie head coach Kurt Steiner and his staff are hoping to build him into a 3-and-D player. He’s receiving low-major Division 1 interest now, but Steiner believes he’ll blow up this winter.
Jaylen Hunter-Coleman, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Hunter-Coleman transferred to NMH from Charlestown High School, where he averaged an eye-popping 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals per game as he led the Townies to a state championship. He’s expected to start alongside Greg Brooks in what will form an incredibly talented NMH backcourt. Head coach Mike Shelton said he believes in his new guard so much that if Brooks hadn’t returned this season, he would have had full confidence in giving Hunter-Coleman the keys to the offense. But even with Brooks in the fold, Hunter-Coleman should still have a massive impact this season as a dynamic scorer, strong defender and relentless offensive rebounder.
Osa Idada, Brimmer & May
Class of 2025, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Brockton, Mass.
Idada transferred out of CATS Academy last season and found a new home at Brimmer, where he’ll have an opportunity to fully showcase his skillset for head coach Tom Nelson. I saw flashes of it last weekend at the NEBL, where he impressed with his footwork and touch around the rim. He’s super agile and athletic for a big man of his size; he has a bit of former NC State big man DJ Burns to his game. Idada is coming off a rough year in which he tore his meniscus, but he’s healthy now and ready to prove himself this winter.
Frederik Jellum, Cushing
Class of 2025, 6-9 forward
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Jellum is one of the most unique prospects in NEPSAC this season, because he already has professional experience having played in Denmark. At 6-foot-9, he’s very skilled and a tough matchup as someone who can shoot and drive effectively. He looks like a high-major Division 1 player, but will need time to adjust to the American style of play and the physicality of the game here.
Payton Kamin, Worcester Academy
Class of 2025, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
On a very talented Worcester Academy that made our preseason Top 10, Kamin might be the Hilltoppers’ most underrated player. As head coach Jamie Sullivan said, he’s “probably one of our best players that no one knows about.” Kamin missed 15 games last season due to a torn labrum, but he’s back and should be very impactful as a do-it-all player with a scorer’s mentality. Sullivan described him as a “quiet assassin,” and predicted that Kamin could score 35 points in a game this season.
Lucas Morillo, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Morillo may not be the most athletic prospect, but as Newman head coach Jackson Johnson said, “he’s one of the best players in every gym he walks into.” He doesn’t have a hole in his game, and he impacts it in every way. He can score, rebound and pass – which he has proven early this season, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist performance in Newman’s win over Putnam Science last weekend. And he does all the little things, like setting screens and defending multiple positions effectively at his size. Simply put, Morillo just impacts winning,
Jaxson Terry, CATS Academy
Class of 2026, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Terry isn’t exactly an under-the-radar name; he’s already receiving high-major interest in the 2026 class, and he cracked the Top 150 of 24/7 Sports’ national rankings. But I really believe he has a big winter ahead of him and has a chance to establish himself as a star in the region. He’s one of the most dangerous two-way threats in NEPSAC, a polished scorer who can defend multiple positions. All the attention at CATS Academy will be on Jaylen Harrell (Boston, Mass.), which means there will be nights when Terry has the opportunity to shine.
Noah Walker, Brooks
Class of 2026, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
A transfer from Darrow, Walker might be the missing piece for a Brooks squad looking to get over the hump in Class B, an athletic 6-foot-7 forward who can shoot, score and provide defensive versatility. With Rivers in its way, he’s the defender they didn’t have in prior seasons to match up with star Ryan Altman (Brookline, Mass.). I know head coach Kenya Jones is excited about the addition of Walker, who can be a bit of a Swiss Army knife for Brooks, and I’m intrigued with how he can unlock them this winter.
