Our commitment database for New England’s boys 2026 class has only just cleared 30 names, but many of the region’s biggest stars are off the board.
Eight of the 10 recruits on our watch list from August have now committed, including Abdou Toure’s pledge to Arkansas on Oct. 3. The fall is typically the time for the top high school seniors to make their commitments, especially those getting high-major recruitment. While the NCAA transfer portal has certainly impacted the timeline for most high school prospects around the country, the top-ranked recruits rarely need to worry about finding a place, and they generally want to get their commitments locked in before the season starts to clear their minds, have clarity on their future and avoid unnecessary risks that may come with injury.
Now, as we quickly approach the beginning of the new season, who are the top 2026 prospects in New England still available?
Two high-major recruits from August’s watch list are closing in on their decisions, and there are a flurry of Division 1 talents behind them who are sorting through their recruitments. A handful are still getting over ill-timed injuries that have impacted their situations.
Here are the 15 biggest boys names who are – as of now – still uncommitted, and what we know about them. These are not rankings, and we’re only including New England natives or players who have played at least one prep season in the region on this list. We’ll update this in the spring with a list that includes transfers.
Alex Egbuonu, Lawrence Academy
6-6 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
Egbuonu, a watch list member and a consensus nationally-ranked recruit, has taken visits to Marquette, Auburn, Boston College and Stanford. As I’ve written several times, Shaka Smart and Marquette have been his strongest pursuers, but BC seems to be making an aggressive push to keep the BABC wing in Massachusetts. The Eagles’ entire coaching staff visited him at Lawrence Academy last week. Egbuonu’s decision is expected before the start of the season.
Q&A: Alex Egbuonu on summer development, relationship with Marquette
Lucas Morillo, Newman
6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Our reigning NEPSAC Class AAA Player of the Year took an official visit to UCLA this weekend, adding to a list that includes Marquette, Minnesota and Illinois. Texas and Virginia are also among his six finalists. Like Egbuonu, Smart has traveled to Newman this fall to make a hard push for the Golden Eagles.
Harrison Aligbe, St. Andrew’s
6-8 wing
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Aligbe earned his first Division 1 offer from Manhattan in July, and he’s been getting heavy low- to mid-major interest since. Aligbe, a transfer from Winchendon, is a very physical presence inside, and St. Andrew’s head coach Mike Hart is making him more of a complete wing who can guard his position. With continued success shooting the ball and rebounding at a high level, Aligbe’s recruitment could jump at least a level to the Atlantic 10 or CAA.
Chris Birden, South Kent
6-10 forward
Hometown: Gretna, La.
A standout at this summer’s NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase at Avon, Birden recently took an official visit to Miami. The 6-foot-10 forward is a dynamic two-way threat who protects the rim, plays as an offensive initiator and is emerging as a dangerous 3-point threat.
Chad Cook, New Hampton
6-7 forward
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
Cook suffered an ill-timed injury that kept him out of the July live period with the Middlesex Magic, but he remains one of the best bigs returning in NEPSAC. A versatile two-way threat, Cook is a fluid and skillful offensive player who can play inside and out, defend multiple positions and hold his own against bigger interior players with his athleticism. He grabbed Division 1 offers from Richmond, Stonehill and Fairleigh Dickinson before the injury and picked up an offer from Western Carolina in August.
Sam Fleming, Wilbraham & Monson
6-8 wing
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
Fleming’s recruitment is in a strange place. He had offers from schools like West Virginia and Xavier last year, and even made an unofficial visit to Michigan State around this time last October. But then he ruptured his Achilles midway through last winter, a brutally-timed injury that cost him his spring and summer with BABC. He’s now back and looking good with no restrictions at open gyms but his recruitment has essentially started over. Fleming’s highest interest is from Providence, and he’s having serious talks with Atlantic 10 schools Rhode Island, George Washington and Saint Louis, but to this point it hasn’t translated to an offer. At this stage, it looks likely that Fleming will play the season uncommitted and make a decision in the spring.
Fleming has always been a skilled player who is impactful around the rim with great footwork, and he can play out of the post or at the top of the key with advanced vision and passing ability. He hasn’t lost any of that or his high IQ and feel for the game. But now, because of the injury, he’s become a better shooter than he was pre-injury. If he can put that all together and produce a strong senior season, the bet here is that he’ll eventually land in a good Division 1 spot.
Brayson Green, Putnam Science
6-6 wing
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Green was another victim to tough injury luck this summer when he suffered an injury during the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase at Babson. He’s close to full health now – about 90 percent, according to Putnam Science coach Tom Espinosa – and has looked good during open gyms. But the injury slowed down the momentum of his recruitment, which included an offer from UMass in May. Green is one of the most athletic players in this class who is a monster on the glass.
Jayden Harrington, New Hampton
6-5 guard
Hometown: Glen Ridge, N.J.
Harrington doesn’t have any publicized offers but he’s a clear-cut Division 1 prospect. One of the best shooters in New England, he shot 38.4 percent from deep with New Hampton last season and he impacts the game on both ends. He should make another leap in his final prep season as one of the Huskies’ two returning starters.
Will Higgs, Northfield Mount Hermon
6-11 center
Hometown: Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
The talent and upside is there for Higgs, who earned an offer from Texas A&M last year before suffering a torn ACL. He’s back healthy and rounding into shape now, and he should be a force as one of NEPSAC’s best bigs this winter.
Editor's note: Higgs has committed to Princeton.
Chinedu Okpara, Wilbraham & Monson
6-7 wing
Hometown: Bronxville, N.Y.
Okpara made our list of underrated frontcourt talents last week. A versatile two-way wing with an inside-out game, I think he has one of the highest ceilings of the remaining prospects available.
Hunter Te Ratana, Darrow
6-5 guard
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Te Ratana was voted as one of the most underrated players in our NEPSAC coaches’ survey this summer, and the skilled combo guard is back as Darrow’s best returner this season after a solid spring and summer with BABC. He holds recent offers from East Carolina, Towson, UMBC, Stonehill and Mercyhurst, the latter of which he's visiting this upcoming weekend.
Jakub Lomicka, Suffield
6-10 forward
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Another inclusion on our underrated list, Lomicka got his first Division 1 offer from Florida A&M recently and has one of the most unique skillsets in NEPSAC. As he grows into his body and starts embracing physicality more often, he should have more D1 schools calling.
Markus Maxwell-Grimes, Suffield
6-1 guard
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Maxwell-Grimes might be the most underrated floor general in the region; he’s a high-IQ guard with elite feel for the game. He also led Suffield guards in assists, steals, deflections and offensive rebounds last year, proof of his two-way effort and winning impact. He made a visit to Central Connecticut State and he should have more D1 programs knocking on his door.
Nelson Mboudijika, CATS Academy
6-10 forward
Hometown: Doula, Cameroon
Mboudijika makes his largest impact on the defensive end of the floor, where he’s an elite rim protector with a high motor and effort on the glass. He holds Atlantic 10 offers from Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure, the latter he earned in June.
Jack Hynes, Cushing
6-6 wing
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Hynes also made our list of the most underrated frontcourt recruits in New England. He has a Division 2 offer from Bentley and has fringe Division 1 interest. He certainly has the opportunity to play himself solidly into D1 if he can produce a strong winter with Cushing, where he’ll play an integral role for one of the best teams in the region.
Five more names to monitor: Sage Baptiste (Tabor/Wareham, Mass.); Evan Mitchner (Lawrence Academy/Providence, R.I.); Christian Martin (Wilbraham & Monson/Amherst, Mass.); Windston Legentus (Brimmer & May/Raynham, Mass.); Alex Echeverria (St. Mark’s/Penuelas, Puerto Rico)
