A year from now, New England’s Class of 2027 will be beginning to make their college commitments. But there is, obviously, a lot to be sorted out before then.
The upcoming school season and ensuing grassroots spring and summer will play a significant portion of defining their recruitment and ultimately, their future college plans. But these rising juniors are also in a unique position. They now have several cycles of school and AAU seasons under their belt, and their college recruitment is in the early stages since the official June 15 contact period. It’s not a complete picture, but we’re starting to get a good idea of where these prospects fit.
In August, we updated our 2027 watch list of the top 10 prospects in the class. Now, we’re digging further into this group as we continue to identify the most underrated players in the region. These names include those who have been overlooked to varying degrees; maybe they have shined for their schools or AAU programs but play in a lower NEPSAC class or less recognizable league, or their recruitment hasn’t matched their success yet but we believe it’s coming. Others look ready to take a big leap this season and put themselves more firmly on the radar.
The common denominator: They deserve more love and attention. First up is the guards from the 2027 class. Here are 10 who are flying under the radar.
UNDER THE RADAR: 2026 guards | 2026 frontcourt
Marvin Avery, Austin Prep
6-0 guard
Hometown: Lynn, Mass.
Avery burst onto the NEPSAC scene last winter as one of Class A’s best scorers, averaging 18 points per game while shooting 38 percent from deep, which included 34-point performances against Tilton and St. Paul’s. He’s a difficult matchup as a physical, skilled guard who uniquely thrives in the open court and has the quickness and change of pace ability to get downhill and make plays while also possessing the size, physicality and motor to impact the game inside on both ends. He’s a name to remember as he continues to build off his early success.
Solis Blue, St. Sebastian’s
6-0 guard
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
A twitchy, athletic lead guard, Blue is a playmaking and scoring hybrid who can fill it up at all three levels and play above the rim; in his first NEPSAC season, he averaged 16.1 points per game while shooting 43.6 percent from 3-point range last year to earn All-ISL and All-NEPSAC honorable mention honors in Class A. His athletic traits are elite, and he's looking bigger and more filled out physically as he enters this season. Blue, who's starting to find his voice, will be a captain for St. Sebastian's as a junior and I'm looking forward to seeing how he can build off of last season.
Karell Brown, Frederick Gunn
6-5 guard
Hometown: Stratford, Conn.
Brown led Bunnell High School to back-to-back CIAC Division 3 championships and it makes sense, because whenever I watch him, all I see is him impact winning. He’s a high-level, disruptive defender, athletic finisher and unselfish playmaker who just makes plays on both ends. The Rhode Island Elite guard should be one of the best impact transfers in NEPSAC Class B Small this season at Frederick Gunn, where he’s expected to take lead guard responsibilities.
Jayvian Cruz, Holderness
6-0 guard
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
There has always been a mature poise about Cruz, who has been getting minutes at Holderness since he was 14 years old and has been recognized twice as an All-NEPSAC Class B selection. The lefty lead guard has a knack to score the ball, handles pressure well and has an advanced feel around the rim, where he plays well off of two feet, and Holderness coach Woody Kampmann loves the way he has grown over the years with his improving communication, maturity and preparedness. The next step for Cruz is to be a more consistent 3-point shooter, but he continues to trend in a positive direction.
Raul Cruz, Nobles
6-3 guard
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
When it comes to true floor generals in NEPSAC, you can’t do much better than Cruz, who’s a natural point guard who consistently makes the right plays on the offensive end. He was named MVP as he led Team White Mamba to the MADE Hoops 16U championship this summer, and head coach Mike Perry described his play as flawless, comparing him to NBA guards like Kyle Lowry and Andre Miller because of how reliable he is. Nobles coach Lambros Papalambros recently appeared on the HoopWise Podcast and told a great story about how Cruz was even teaching him things, and described him as one of the smartest people he’s been around. He has a unique ability to engineer the offense, find the right balance of sharing the ball and getting his own while also controlling the game and leading his squad in tough, stressful situations. Nothing seems to faze him – which was clear when he led White Mamba back from 19 down in the MADE title game.
Cruz told me earlier this summer that he’s proud that the work he’s put in is starting to pay off and I’m excited to see the momentum he can build going into his junior season. He’s hearing from schools ranging from the Ivy League to NESCAC in Division 3 and should generate more interest as he continues to develop this winter.
Jabari Edmonds, Phillips Andover
6-5 guard
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
In 2024, Edmonds led the Wheeler School to the Class C championship with a school record 44 points in the semifinals before scoring 28 in the clincher. He missed most of his first season with Phillips Andover last winter with an injury but now back healthy, he should be one of the best scorers in Class A. A downhill scorer who can step out to 3-point range, Edmonds has a fiery edge about him. He’s a breakout candidate this winter.
Jakare Innocent, Tilton
6-1 guard
Hometown: Taunton, Mass.
Innocent was one of my favorite players to watch this spring and summer with BABC, and it was mostly due to his activity on the defensive end. He was a terror on the press and the combination of his 6-foot-7 wingspan, instincts and quickness make him a steal machine. He’s also a confident 3-point shooter who’s capable of going on hot streaks from distance. Innocent is always impacting the game in some way with his effort and skill. He’s primed for a big role in his first season at Tilton.
Max Kellogg, Williston Northampton
6-3 guard
Hometown: Amherst, Mass.
The son of former UMass player and now Creighton assistant Derek Kellogg, the 6-foot-3 guard has a natural feel with the ball and seems to be getting more and more confident. He’s a shifty ball-hander who can get downhill and make tough, difficult finishes at the rim, and defensively he has strong instincts and disrupts opponents on the perimeter with his length and pressure. Kellogg earned his first Division 1 offer from Holy Cross in September and will step into a starting role this season after coming off the bench for last season’s championship team at Williston. His future continues to look promising.
Tyler Newsom, St. Luke’s
6-5 guard
Hometown: Monroe, Conn.
Newsom is a unique prospect, an athletic power guard who’s comfortable with the ball, can push the ball and make plays in the open floor and also punish opponents inside with his physicality and motor. He broke out during Peach Jam in July with the New York Lightning as he ranked third in the Nike EYBL 16U division with 21.2 points and 10 rebounds per game, including a circuit-leading five offensive rebounds per game. He was a late stock-riser, earning offers from Lafayette, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Northeastern and Boston University – and he might just be scratching the surface of his potential. He played through the last year with an injured wrist and had successful surgery in August. A fully healthy Newsom is scary news for Class B.
Jonathan White Jr., BB&N
5-11 guard
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
Good luck staying in front of White or slowing him down once he gets an inch of space; the lefty guard is as twitchy and explosive as they come, and has impressive body control and elite change of direction. He can score at all three levels and has good court vision, too; he scored 16 points per game to go along with four assists per game as a sophomore as he was named an All-ISL first team selection. The Team Spartans guard is one of the most exciting players to watch in NEPSAC and he’s ready to make some more noise in Class A this winter.
