The 2023-24 season in New England boys prep basketball has long been closed. But if the upcoming season is anything like its predecessor, then this winter will be a treat to watch.
Vermont Academy rode a dominant season en route to its first NEPSAC Class AAA title, the Rivers School won a third consecutive NEPSAC crown in Class B in thrilling fashion, and throughout New England, there were so many exciting stars, teams and storylines to watch.
New England is home to some of the best prep basketball in the country – both from a pure talent and team perspective – and while several stars have departed and some teams are in rebuilding mode, the 2024-25 season promises to be can’t miss basketball.
Who will be competing for championships? Which returning stars will be required viewing? Which newcomers are ready to leave their mark? With open gyms starting across the region, it's a perfect to look ahead to five early storylines to watch for the prep season this winter.
1. Who will compete for the NEPSAC Class AAA title?
Led by Joson Sanon (Fall River, Mass.), one of the best players from New England, Vermont Academy nabbed the top seed and rolled to last season’s Class AAA title. But Sanon is now off to Arizona State, and in all, Vermont Academy lost nine players from last year’s squad who are heading to play college basketball. Head coach John Zall’s group will look much different, and they’ll stay competitive with a roster that includes transfer addition Jakye Rainey. But the door is wide open for a new champion this season.
New Hampton will enter the season as the clear-cut favorite after knocking on the door the last few years. Head coach Andrew Gale brings back nine players – including a nucleus of Keyshuan Tillery, Mason Blackwood and Nasir Meyer – from a team that won 30 games last season and lost to Vermont Academy in the Class AAA final. The Huskies are ready to win now.
Don’t sleep on the Newman School, either. They were one of the most impressive squads during the NEPSAC showcase at Babson in June, and head coach Jackson Johnson has an exciting and dynamic group that includes Jalen Harper, Quinn Costello (Boston, Mass.), Chase Geremia (Madison, Conn.) and Collins Onyejiaka that will challenge for the league crown.
2. Is this CATS’ year?
Cary Herer, the head coach at Cambridge, Arts, Technology & Science (CATS) Academy, has a simple hashtag that he uses with most of his program’s social media posts: #WeComing.
The slogan should be taken even more seriously this season. CATS is indeed coming. Herer, who has been the program’s head coach since 2021, may just have his best team yet. The roster is loaded with Division 1 talent. Jaylen Harrell (Roxbury, Mass.), a Providence commit and the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, headlines a group that includes dynamic and highly recruited guards Desmond Bellot Jr. (Quincy, Mass.) and Jaxson Terry (Boston, Mass.).
Herer is not afraid of a challenge – he scheduled Cooper Flagg’s Montverde Academy last season – so it will be interesting to see what CATS’ schedule looks like. But this group is ready to take on all challengers and compete for its first Class AA championship.
3. Will Rivers four-peat?
The Rivers School will once again have a big target on their backs as they chase a fourth consecutive NEPSAC Class B championship, and it certainly won’t be easy to pull off the feat.
Ryan Altman (Brookline, Mass.) – who told the Basketball Journal that one of his goals is to become the first player in school history to win four straight titles – will lead Rivers in their quest, but it will be harder after the departures of Jay Jones (Brookline, Mass.) and Class B Player of the Year Amir Lindsey (Framingham, Mass.). Andrew Alekseyenko (Brookline, Mass.) – who recently committed to Colgate – will make a strong duo with Altman, but Rivers will need guys like senior guard Robby Fiore (Acton, Mass.) to step up.
Rivers will have plenty of hungry challengers, especially rival Brooks, which came close to knocking them off in last season’s Class B semifinals. Alex Wilkins (Charlestown, Mass.) is back to lead a strong returning core for Brooks that seems ready to take the next step.
4. Which returning stars will be must-watch?
The likes of Sanon, Kur Teng (Manchester, N.H.), Bryce Dortch (Somerville, Mass.) and Andre Mills (Dorchester, Mass.) from a strong 2024 class in New England are off to play college basketball, but there are plenty of talented players returning who are ready to lead their teams to big seasons and who will be appointment viewing for local hoops fans.
The aforementioned Tillery, Blackwood and Harrell will be exciting to watch this season before they head off to college next fall. London Jemison (Bloomfield, Conn.) will be the unquestioned lead star for St. Thomas More after Tyler Betsey (Windsor, Conn.) graduated. Sebastian Wilkins (Canton, Mass.) is arguably the best rising junior in the region as he returns for Brewster Academy’s national team alongside Dwayne Aristode, Ebuka Okorie (Nashua, N.H.) and the rest of a loaded group for head coach Jason Smith. Badara Diakite and Kelvin Odih (Providence, R.I.) are an exciting duo for a strong South Kent squad.
Ben Ahmed reclassified to the 2025 class for one last hurrah at Putnam Science Academy, where he hopes to lead the Mustangs back to glory. Ryder Frost (Beverly, Mass.), arguably the best shooter in New England, will lead Phillips Exeter’s chase for back-to-back Class A crowns, while the aforementioned will look to lead Rivers to glory again. Wilbraham & Monson's Sam Fleming (Springfield, Mass.) and Lawrence Academy's Alex Egbuonu (Nashua, N.H.) are two 2026 names that will be making headlines this winter, too. Wherever you look in the region, there’s plenty of high-major talent to be found.
5. Which former MIAA stars will make an immediate impact?
Last season, Warren Keel (Lynn, Mass.) – who transferred from Lynn English – was one of several NEPSAC newcomers to take the league by storm as he helped lead Bradford Christian to the Class AA title. Who could make a similar impact in 2024-25?
Amir Jenkins (Worcester, Mass.) is the headliner of several MIAA boys stars who made the leap to NEPSAC as he transferred from Worcester North to Worcester Academy. His winning habits – a two-time state champion at Worcester North – could be a big difference-maker for head coach Jamie Sullivan’s group.
Keel, who transferred again to Putnam Science, will have a chance to take another guard under his wing who’s in the same shoes he was last year. Jaeden Roberts (Dorchester, Mass.), after a successful run at Burke High School, recently transferred to Putnam Science and the rising senior could certainly be a key for the Mustangs. CATS received two MIAA transfers – Josiah Adamson (South Dorchester, Mass.), one of the top sophomores in the region from Catholic Memorial, and Jaylin Williams-Crawford (Charlestown, Mass.) from Charlestown High School – who will make a loaded roster that much stronger.
