Who’s up next in New England?
The region’s 2027 class is well established, the 2028 class is beginning its journey as upperclassmen and we’ve had a first impression of the 2029 class. For the first time this winter, we’ll turn our focus to the 2030 class. That’s not a typo.
‘
Several names in the 2030 class already have high school experience as 2029s last season who have since reclassified. But we’re still in the very early stages of learning about this group. With the season around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of some prospects who could make an early impact at their schools. This isn’t meant to be our official watch list – that will come in the spring – but more of an introduction on some names to look out for.
Here are 10 prospects in New England’s boys 2030 class to get on your radar.
Nico Arria, Malden Catholic
5-10 guard
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
Arria played meaningful minutes as an eighth-grader last season at Malden Catholic – one of the top teams in MIAA Div. 1 – and impacted winning, including hitting four 3-pointers in a win over St. John’s Shrewsbury. A small guard with quickness, handles and three-level scoring ability, Arria played his club basketball this summer with Mass Rivals’ 15U 3SSB team.
Justin Frye, Rivers
6-3 guard
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
Frye, who shined on the Jr. EYBL circuit with Expressions Elite this summer, is already a special 3-point shooting prospect and one of the best deep threats in this class, at least locally, and he proved that at June’s Scholastic Showcases with a 17-point performance in a game vs. Loomis Chaffee. He’s also a high-IQ player with a motor; he was Rivers’ third leading rebounder during the June live period.
Trevor Gardner, Dexter Southfield
6-1 guard
Hometown: Quincy, Mass.
A transfer from Xaverian, Gardner has some special tools. His length and athleticism make him a dangerous slasher who can get into the paint and create for himself and others, and he’s also impactful defensively as a ball-hawking pest who gets deflections and rebounds. He also has strong leadership qualities for his age and a high competitive edge. He’s in line to earn minutes this season at Dexter and he won’t be afraid of any assignment.
Josh Harris, Newman
6-1 guard
Hometown: Wellesley Hills, Mass.
The lone 2030 prospect at Newman, Harris is a strong young piece who head coach Justin Perron describes as a “bulldog.” He’s a physical, competitive guard who makes open shots consistently and high-IQ reads on and off the ball. Harris might not see a lot of playing time on Newman’s top national team this season, but his development in a program that has a high track record of churning out stars should be monitored.
Tadhg Howard, Thayer
6-7 forward
Hometown: Canton, Mass.
Thayer will be young this season, and Howard should be one of head coach Evan Carlson’s best players even as a 2030 prospect. At 6-foot-7, he already has the size and feel for the game that should impact the prep level right away. He’s a dominant paint presence who swallows rebounds and defends well at the rim, and he has shooting range offensively.
Tekye Ivey-Jones, St. Andrew’s
6-5 forward
Hometown: Pawtucket, R.I.
There’s already buzz mounting for Ivey-Jones inside St. Andrew’s, where longtime coach Mike Hart has compared him to Saints great Demetris Nichols, who went on to play at Syracuse and then the NBA. Ivey-Jones played this summer for Cape Verde’s U16 national team and with Expressions Elite’s 2030 squad, where he showcased his versatility on both sides of the ball. He could find the floor this winter at St. Andrew’s.
Junior Jean-Philippe, Rivers
5-10 guard
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.
Jean-Phillipe, a Dual County League All-Star as a freshman at Waltham High School last season, has a good chance to start at point guard in his first season at Rivers and be a central piece of new head coach Jacob Werrick’s backcourt for the next several years. A member of the Middlesex Magic’s UAA team, he blends scoring ability with playmaking.
Aidan Landers, Austin Prep
6-4 forward
Hometown: Dracut, Mass.
Landers impressed me at the Summer Draft League with his high IQ and scoring ability to make difficult finishes and plays through traffic and contact. He has a strong feel for the game at a young age, and he’s only growing at 6-foot-4. Austin Prep, a contender in Class B Large, has several strong upperclassmen in its starting lineup, but Landers is expected to play an important role as a freshman.
Aviv Noah Augustin, CATS Academy
6-1 guard
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Augustin was another impressive performer this summer at the Draft League, where he dominated games with his physicality and downhill scoring ability. He can also play on the perimeter, hit reliably from 3-point range and make plays off the dribble for himself and others. He’s an advanced scorer for his age with his feel and body control.
Aiden Richard, Brooks
5-11 guard
Hometown: Tewksbury, Mass.
A member of Mass Rivals’ 3SSB team, Richard was a Merrimack Valley Conference second team selection last season as a true freshman at Tewksbury before transferring to Brooks. He’s an electric lead guard who plays with a high pace and wiggle; he’s explosive to the rim and can knock down 3-pointers consistently. He’s also an absolute pest defensively, which I saw firsthand during the June showcases when he dominated the second half of a game with his activity and pressure.
