If there’s one thing that coaches across Connecticut can agree on, it’s that two-time defending Division 1 state champion Notre Dame-West Haven is the team to beat.
The Green Knights have only lost twice, by a combined three points, in the last two seasons, and have their entire team returning from last year.
The debate begins at No. 2, and every coach has a slightly different answer to the question of who poses the biggest threat to ND-WH.
Five conferences are represented in this top 10 — the Central Connecticut Conference, the Eastern Connecticut Conference, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the Southern Connecticut Conference, and the South West Conference. The CCC and SCC each have three teams represented.
Eight teams in Division 1 and two in Division 2 made the list. Now, let’s get to the rankings.
1. Notre Dame-West Haven
Division 1
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last season: 18-2
Coach: Jason Shea
To nobody’s surprise, Notre Dame-West Haven tops this list. The Green Knights are the two-time defending Division 1 state champions, and after winning the title with zero seniors last year, they return their entire roster.
Notre Dame-West Haven has eight seniors this year, led by four-star Arkansas commit Abdou Toure. Toure, a 6-foot-6 small forward, is the 31st-ranked recruit by ESPN in the class of 2026 and was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year last season. Senior Landon Krygier, an All-State selection committed to Sacred Heart, is a physical 6-foot-5 wing who averaged 15.5 points and shot over 40 percent from deep last season. Lefty junior Kadrian Reeves is one of the better point guards in the state. Coach Jason Shea will run a deep rotation, featuring at least 10 players, if not more, due to the abundance of talent throughout this roster.
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2. Notre Dame Prep
Division 1
South West Conference
Last season: 17-3
Coach: Brian Kriftcher
The Lancers have been turned away by Notre Dame-West Haven in the Division 1 semifinal in each of the last two seasons, including a double overtime loss in the 2023-24 season. Notre Dame Prep graduated All-State guard Kamryn Salters, but still has a talented returning group, albeit with less depth than last season.
Junior 5-foot-11 guard Josh Charlot, a returning All-State selection, is widely regarded as the top point guard in the state. Fellow 5-foot-11 junior guard Jaise “Speedy” Greaves can score and facilitate on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he disrupts opposing point guards for 94 feet. Senior Jameer Reed, a 6-foot-6 wing from New Zealand, completes the Lancers’ big three. He is a three-level scorer garnering college interest who played for New Zealand’s U18s at this summer’s NBA Academy. Notre Dame Prep hopes that this trio and a collection of talented role players can finally get them over the hump.
3. East Catholic
Division 1
Central Connecticut Conference
Last season: 16-4
Coach: Luke Reilly
The Eagles, winners of five state championships in the last 10 seasons, are perennial powers in Connecticut. They lost in the CCC title game before reaching the Division 1 semifinals last season. This season, however, East Catholic had four players it was expecting to return opt to play elsewhere, including 6-foot-8 forward Brayden Jones, who has eight Division 1 offers and is now at Brewster Academy.
Size was an area of strength last season, but the Eagles no longer have a true big man. Still, they have a great group of guards led by All-State 6-foot senior point guard Sincere Folk, a strong defender with good vision and an ability to get into the paint with ease. A pair of sophomores, 6-foot-3 Omar Torres and 6-foot-2 Jamaul Padilla, will be relied on heavily. Torres is a three-level scorer, and Padilla is a high-motor athlete in a college player’s body.
4. Windsor
Division 2
Central Connecticut Conference
Last season: 14-6
Coach: Ken Smith
Windsor reached the CCC tournament semifinals, losing to East Catholic, and the Division 1 quarterfinals, falling to Notre Dame-West Haven, last season. The Warriors notably dropped down to Division 2 this season, where they will be a serious threat to win that bracket.
Windsor’s three CCC All-Conference selections from last season, Missoni Brown, Alex Weaver, and Ji Gary, are all returning for another year. Brown, a 6-foot junior, is an all-around athlete who gets to the rim. He was selected to the CHSCA Division 1 All-State team last season. Weaver, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, had a phenomenal freshman year and should continue to improve with age. Gary, a 6-foot-1 junior, is a sharpshooter with serious range and a quick release.
5. Staples
Division 1
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Last season: 17-3
Coach: David Goldshore
Staples won the FCIAC tournament title and reached the Division 1 quarterfinals last season, all without All-State point guard Sam Clachko, who got injured before the playoff run. Clachko, a senior committed to Connecticut College, is back this season, as the Wreckers look to defend the FCIAC title and go deeper in the state tournament than they did last season.
Clachko controls the tempo and is an above 40 percent 3-point shooter across his career. Around him, Staples returns four of its five starters from the end of last season. Senior 6-foot-2 forward Mason Tobias, a Seton Hall baseball commit, was an All-FCIAC third team selection last season. Junior 6-foot-3 wing Dhilan Lowman is a sharpshooter who won Connecticut’s 2025 A Shot for Life challenge in August, shooting 87 percent across the two-hour competition, and 6-foot-4 senior forward Matt Corrigan and junior guard Austin Heyer round out Staples’ starting five.
6. Northwest Catholic
Division 1
Central Connecticut Conference
Last season: 18-2
Coach: John Mirabello
The Lions are coming off their first CCC title in program history after defeating East Catholic, 54-51, in the title game. Northwest Catholic graduated three CCC All-Conference players, including Ryan Tolliver, a 6-foot-7 wing now at Northern Kentucky. But the Lions return six seniors, including a core four for this season. The headliner is 6-foot-4 guard Drew Dargati, who's one of the best shooters in Connecticut, and 6-foot-1 guard Cooper Steele is another knockdown shooter with a high basketball IQ and an ability to create off the dribble. In the frontcourt, the Lions have a pair of 6-foot-5 standouts, Tyler Uveges and Thomas Rushin. Uveges is physical down low and can stretch the floor. Rushin does a bit of everything.
7. West Haven
Division 1
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last season: 15-5
Coach: Ty Sullivan
West Haven not only returns three All-SCC selections, but also adds two more as transfers, creating a loaded top five as it moves up from Division 2 to D1.
Senior 6-foot-2 guard Aaron Johnson, Jr. was a CHSCA Division 2 All-State selection and an All-SCC first teamer last season, averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals per game. Senior 6-foot-6 guard Loshon Roman, a first-team All-SCC selection last year, is a three-level scorer unafraid to use his size to his advantage, and 6-foot-2 junior point guard K’Naan Morris, an All-SCC second teamer, is a fantastic 3-point shooter who can create for himself off the dribble. Senior guard Jordan Sirabionian was on the All-SCC first team and transferred to West Haven from Hillhouse. He can score from all areas. Senior 6-foot-2 guard Trew Kitson, an athletic defender and a three-level scorer, transferred from East Haven and was on the second team All-SCC last year.
8. Ridgefield
Division 1
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Last season: 16-4
Coach: Drew McClellan
Ridgefield has won the FCIAC regular season title six years in a row and projects to be in the mix once again. The Tigers graduated CIAC All-State guard Alex Hickey and All-FCIAC first team 6-foot-7 forward Peter Szpakowski, now at D3 Albertus Magnus. This year, Ridgefield will be led by 6-foot-1 junior point guard Jayson Genova, a skilled three-level scorer who started as a sophomore last season. Senior 6-foot-3 forward Patrick Foley is a versatile defender and strong offensive rebounder who can stretch the floor a bit, and 6-foot-5 Joseph Humphrey, a strong finisher inside who can shoot, started every game for the Tigers last season. Senior Jack Winstanley is an athletic combo guard who can get to the rim and shoot the 3.
9. New London
Division 1
Eastern Connecticut Conference
Last season: 17-3
Coach: Dave Cornish
New London moved up to Division 1 this year after falling to Manchester, 77-74, in last season’s Division 2 state final. The Whalers return senior guard Jayvon Robinson, a CHSCA Division 2 All-State selection last season after he averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. Senior twins Amir and Jamir Hall will be in the backcourt. Amir averaged 8.6 points per game last season, while Jamir netted 3.6 and has more of a defensive identity. Junior wing Cayden Simonds-Gaskin has averaged 6.7 points over the previous two seasons and should be a key contributor this year.
10. Hillhouse
Division 2
Southern Connecticut Conference
Last season: 16-4
Coach: Renard Sutton
Hillhouse is a perennially strong program, and the only CIAC team to defeat Notre Dame-West Haven in the last two seasons. However, first-team All-SCC players Jared Coleman and Avery Sutton, coach Renard Sutton’s son, graduated, and first-team All-SCC guard Jordan Sirabionian transferred to West Haven for his senior season. The Academics have 6-foot senior guard Ty’Jhuan Rogers, a talented floor general and a problem in transition, as a key returning piece. Senior 6-foot-7 forward Fadel Toure is a physical rebounder who can finish around the basket. Senior guard Mamady Kourouma and junior guard Jabari Edwin should factor in as important contributors.
