The last week of NEPSAC boys basketball featured several high-profile matchups.
The New England Basketball League (NEBL) completed its season, with Newman defeating Cushing in the final. Cushing also faced defending prep national champion Putnam Science for the second time in a week, and Vermont Academy hosted Brewster Academy in an exciting matchup between two of the region’s best.
There were important matchups in NEPSAC Class AA, Class A and down the list, too, as teams continued to shuffle for playoff positioning. The games brought out the best for some of the region’s top stars.
Coaches and players are welcome to submit nominations by emailing Steve Hewitt at steve.hewitt@basketballjournal.com or by messaging him on Twitter/X (@steve_hewitt).
Here are this week’s stars from Feb. 3-9.
Miles Clanton, Phillips Andover
Class of 2026, 6-6 guard/forward
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Clanton strengthened his Class A Player of the Year case with two more big games in Andover’s two wins last week, posting 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals vs. Thayer before tallying 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting with 13 rebounds vs. Dexter. The uncommitted guard/forward is averaging 17.1 points and 10.6 rebounds in 14 games for Andover.
Dušan Erić, Hoosac
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Cacak, Serbia
Eric continued his strong winter for Hoosac, which grabbed two important home wins over Vermont Academy and Bridgton last week. He scored 29 points with six rebounds and three steals vs. VA before tallying 27 points, six boards and three assists vs. Bridgton.
Chase Geremia, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
NCAA: Penn
One of No. 1 Newman’s most important players, Geremia came off the bench to give the Cardinals big minutes last week as he led them in scoring twice. He scored 28 points on 6-for-10 3-point shooting, with 11 of his points coming in the game’s final four minutes to close out a road win over CATS Academy National. He had 11 points on three triples in Newman’s NEBL semifinal win over New Hampton before fueling the Cardinals’ NEBL championship victory over Cushing, scoring an efficient 19 points in 18 minutes on 4-for-5 3-point shooting. He also added six rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.
Lucas Morillo, Newman
Class of 2026, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
NCAA: Illinois
Morillo was named MVP of the NEBL championship playoffs after posting 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in the clincher over Cushing. He was also responsible for Newman’s hot start in its semifinal victory over New Hampton as he collected 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Ryan Moesch, Cushing
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Chittenango, N.Y.
NCAA: Siena
Moesch was brilliant in Cushing’s NEBL semifinal victory over Putnam Science, finishing with 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting and 2-for-4 from 3-point land, which included several clutch shots down the stretch and ridiculously tough, athletic buckets that Moesch has become known for. He added 19 points, seven assists and three steals in the NEBL championship game.
Luca Palermo, St. Mark’s
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Another week, another standout stretch for Palermo, who posted big numbers in two more wins for St. Mark’s. He had 25 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 71-59 victory over Belmont Hill and then 22 points, six rebounds and two assists vs. Thayer.
Tavin Penix, Winchendon
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
Penix had a terrific stretch in a 2-0 week for the Wapiti as he averaged 21 points, three assists and committed zero turnovers in wins over MacDuffie and Kimball Union. He scored 19 points vs. MacDuffie as he surpassed 1,000 career points. Penix previously played at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y, before transferring to Winchendon this season and emerging as a critical piece for coach Alex Popp.
Christopher Ross, Kents Hill
Class of 2027, 6-7 forward
Hometown: Eastham, Mass.
The Kents Hill junior captain scored 31 points to lead an 80-74 victory over Storm King. He went 7-for-10 from 3-point distance and added five rebounds and six assists.
Luke Spellman, Beaver Country Day
Class of 2026, 5-11 guard
Hometown: Dover, Mass.
Spellman caught fire in a 3-0 week for Beaver as he averaged 25 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 20-for-29 from 3-point range. The uncommitted senior has quietly been one of the best 3-point shooters in New England this season. He's made 50 of 95 attempts from distance this season, a 53 percent clip. That includes a 34-point performance in a victory over Middlesex on Jan. 31, when he went 10-for-11 from behind the arc.
Adama Tambedou, Putnam Science
Class of 2026, 6-8 forward
Hometown: Senegal, Africa
NCAA: Maryland
Tambedou was one of the best players in the NEBL this winter and he showed up again in the final weekend. He had 17 points and 15 rebounds in the Mustangs’ semifinal loss to Cushing before taking over with 18 points, 15 rebounds (5 offensive) and five steals as PSA stormed back for a late comeback victory over New Hampton on Sunday.
Kamari Whyte, Vermont Academy
Class of 2027, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Harlem, N.Y.
Though the Wildcats dropped back-to-back games to Brewster EYBL and Hoosac, Whyte was brilliant in the two games. He had 34 points and five steals in the overtime loss to Brewster before going for 28 points, six rebounds and three steals the next day at Hoosac. Whyte became the fourth player to surpass 1,000 career points in a Vermont Academy uniform, joining program greats Bruce Brown, Joson Sanon and Chike Ndefo.
Devan Williams, Milton Academy
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Uncasville, Conn.
The uncommitted guard continued his torrid senior season, putting up 30 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a win over St. Mark’s before contributing 18 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the next day’s victory over Brooks.
