With 16 teams of college-level recruits, NEPSAC Class AA is loaded with talent. Fifth-seeded Worcester Academy’s run to the championship showed the strength of the league’s depth, too.
It made the selection of our inaugural postseason awards quite challenging.
As part of our first awards season, we’re recognizing the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and first and second All-Class teams in every NEPSAC class from AAA to B. Class AA had plenty of talent at the top – there were four players with a legitimate Player of the Year case – and the first and second teams included several tough choices and cuts to the honorable mentions.
Our selection process is all-encompassing, with season-long production, winning impact, consistency, team success and postseason performances all playing a role. Let’s dive into Class AA’s 2024-25 honorees.
Player of the Year: Jaylen Harrell, CATS
Class of 2025, 6-6 guard/forward
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
NCAA: Providence
Harrell became the first back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts in 15 years as he led CATS to a program record 28 wins, a berth in the Class AA championship game and the Griffin’s first selection to the National Prep Championship Tournament. The Providence-bound guard/forward averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists as he put an emphasis on improving his playmaking.
Read more about Harrell’s season in our Player of the Year profile as he capped an illustrious high school career.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaylin Williams-Crawford, CATS
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
After transferring from Charlestown High School, Williams-Crawford immediately became a full-time starter at CATS because of his defense. His length allowed him to be disruptive in individual matchups and passing lanes, and he possessed the speed and lateral quickness to keep up with smaller guards. CATS coach Cary Herer routinely put Williams-Crawford on the opponent’s best offensive player; he often shut them down, and if he didn’t, he made them work hard for their production on a nightly basis.
Coach of the Year: Jamie Sullivan, Worcester Academy
A self-proclaimed players’ coach, Sullivan empowered his Hilltoppers, picked his spots in motivating them and got the most out of them at the most critical point of the season. After suffering a few injuries throughout the season, Worcester Academy came together in late February and March, and Sullivan listened to his players’ input after they endured some struggles. The result was the Hilltoppers’ third championship in four years – which included two road playoff victories as they eliminated top-seeded Cushing – as Sullivan pressed all the right buttons to get the job done again.
All-Class AA First Team
Ryan Moesch, Cushing
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Chittenango, N.Y.
One of the most uniquely gifted prospects in the country with his blend of scoring, shiftiness, playmaking, court vision and basketball IQ, Moesch transitioned seamlessly in his first NEPSAC season. He averaged 17 points, six assists and four rebounds per game as he drove Cushing to a 26-6 record, Class AA regular-season championship and NEBL championship. His winter highlights included an electric takeover in a signature win over Newman at TD Garden, and a scintillating 23-point performance in a Hoophall victory over Mount Zion.
Amir Jenkins, Worcester Academy
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
After winning back-to-back MIAA state championships, Jenkins transferred to Worcester Academy and just picked up where he left off. In his first NEPSAC winter, he cemented himself as one of the best guards nationally in the 2026 class as he averaged 21.7 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game while leading the Hilltoppers to the Class AA championship. He was named the tournament MVP after making the difference in the championship game, grabbing a couple of late steals to secure the title.
Alex Egbuonu, Lawrence Academy
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
Egbuonu backed up his status as a high-major recruit with a dominant winter, averaging 25.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.7 blocks per game as he carried a Lawrence Academy team that was shorthanded for some of the year to a playoff berth as the No. 8 seed. Egbuonu had eight games of 30 or more points, including a 41-point outburst early in the season against Wilbraham & Monson.
Jaylen Harrell, CATS
Class of 2025, 6-6 guard/forward
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
NCAA: Providence
Harrell is our first Class AA Boys Player of the Year. Read about his season here.
Leo Curtis, CATS
Class of 2025, 7-1 center
Hometown: Reykjavik, Iceland
Curtis made a move from Iceland to CATS in September and made an immediate impact in his first and only NEPSAC season. He scored 12.6 points and added 9.7 rebounds per game as he gave the Griffins great size and production on both ends of the court at the rim. He caused matchup problems throughout Class AA and was a big difference-maker for CATS as it won 28 games and earned the No. 2 seed.
All-Class AA Second Team
Christian “Mouse” Williams, Kimball Union
Class of 2025, 6-0 guard
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
NCAA: Cal State Fullerton
The entire package as a point guard, Williams was the engine of Kimball Union’s strong winter that resulted in the No. 3 seed in Class AA and a berth in the semifinals. Williams shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range and recorded more than two steals per game as a two-way weapon for the Wildcats. His highlights included a 26-point performance in KUA’s first-round victory over Northfield Mount Hermon.
Nasir Rodriguez, Northfield Mount Hermon
Class of 2025, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
NCAA: Fairfield
On a team rich with Division 1 talent, Rodriguez stood out the most this season. The Fairfield-bound guard had a team-leading 16.8 points and 3.6 assists to lead NMH as the Hoggers clinched the No. 6 seed in the NEPSAC playoffs. He also added 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Payton Kamin, Worcester Academy
Class of 2025, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
A year after missing 15 games due to a torn labrum, Kamin returned with a vengeance as he lit NEPSAC on fire with his three-level scoring ability. He played in every game for Worcester Academy in its run to the Class AA championship, totaling 27.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point territory. He also added 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Kamin’s breakout winter included a career-high 37 points in a victory over Mount St. Charles and a 27-point performance in a signature win over Blair.
Dylan Veillette, St. George’s
Class of 2025, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
NCAA: Merrimack
Veillette stamped a strong prep career with team-leading averages of 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game to lead St. George’s to the ISL championship and the No. 4 seed in the Class AA playoffs.
Jacob Davis, Cushing
Class of 2025, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Huntington, N.Y.
Davis was the backbone of Cushing’s regular-season championship team as he averaged 11 points and nine rebounds per game for the Penguins, but his impact was felt beyond the box score. Head coach James Cormier described his senior forward as arguably the best leader that’s ever come through Cushing’s basketball program.
Honorable mentions: Jaxson Terry (CATS), Theo Edema (Cushing), Jay Jones (Cushing), Isaiah Henderson (Kimball Union), Vincent Chaudhri (Northfield Mount Hermon), Chinedu Okpara (Wilbraham & Monson), Windston Legentus (Brimmer & May), Kyle Benjamin (St. Andrew’s), Dywane Chess (St. George’s), Enzo Boudouma (Tilton)
