ASHBURNHAM, Mass. — For the last two seasons, much of Cushing’s success centered around the superstar duo of Ryan Moesch and Theo Edema, which was arguably the best guard-big duo in New England. Their talents ultimately steered the Penguins to the NEPSAC Class AA championship last spring.
Now Moesch (Syracuse) and Edema (St. John’s) are off to high-major college basketball, but Cushing has plenty ready to carry the torch as one of the region’s best prep programs.
Despite returning a handful of players, the Penguins will have a different look from both a personnel and strengths perspective this season, but they remain incredibly deep and talented. Here’s what to expect from Cushing in 2026-27.
State of the program
After knocking on the door for several seasons, Cushing broke through last winter in dominant fashion, going a perfect 17-0 against Class AA opponents en route to the NEPSAC championship victory over Cheshire. The Penguins, however, will not have the ability to defend their NEPSAC crown after the league’s ruling last month to prohibit teams competing in the NEBL.
But Cushing will still have an opportunity to chase glory this season. The 2025 NEBL champions should be in the mix for the national prep championship.
The coach
James Cormier enters his 11th season as the head coach at Cushing, where he’s built the Penguins into one of the winningest programs in the region. They won the NEPSAC title in 2017, again in 2026, and have won multiple regular-season championships. Included in his high-level college placement, Cormier has coached some of the best guards from New England during his time at Cushing, including Wabissa Bede, David Duke, Ebuka Okorie and Moesch.
The star players
Following the departures of Moesch and Edema, there are a slew of Division 1 players ready to take sizable leaps. One is Nate Blenman, who is one of the best remaining uncommitted players in New England’s 2027 class. The 6-foot-9 forward has had rough injury luck; he missed significant time last season, and he’s missed the entirety of this fall with an injury.
But at full health, Blenman is a game-changer. He was voted by coaches this summer as NEPSAC’s best post player, a skilled and physical powerhouse who dominates in the paint and on the glass and can make passes and plays out of the post and in actions. It’s unclear exactly when he will return – the Penguins are being cautious to protect his long-term health – but he should be back early in the season.
“When he comes back and he’s right, he is as good as anyone I’ve coached at that position, and as good as anyone we’ve had in New England basketball as a true back to the basket, post presence,” Cormier said. “He’s going to demand double teams, his passing ability is unbelievable and his ability to dribble out of the post and get into an action. … We will look a lot different with him.”
Somewhat quietly, one of Cushing’s newcomers could be one of its best players this season. Eli Prince, a versatile 6-foot-6 guard/wing and Colgate commit, has impressed with his high IQ, playmaking and athleticism. He has the ability to defend every position with elite offensive efficiency.
“There was an open gym, I think he had 10 points and he took three dribbles,” Cormier said. “Super efficient, quick first step, can finish through contact, can float in the air and finish acrobatically, great mid-range game, can play coming off a ball screen. … On top of that, the best part is his ability to process and make the correct reads consistently. That’s why I think he’s special, and probably some colleges missed the boat on him.”
The under-the-radar players
The Penguins are excited to welcome back 6-foot-6 senior wing Elliot Erickson (Gardner, Mass.), who missed about seven months this year after fracturing and then re-injuring the same foot. He has returned and impressed during fall open gyms as he continues to get his wind back, and he’s noticeably physically stronger. A multi-year player in the program, Erickson should make a major impact this winter as he looks to get back on the Division 1 radar.
“(He’s a) super bright player, team guy, he makes a lot of sacrifices,” Cormier said. “He’s a lot better than what people sometimes give him credit for because he really does play the right way all the time and when he’s out on the floor, I just feel so much more comfortable with making the right decisions, being in the right spots, communication defensively, being able to make up for some of the newer guys who I know are going to have some defensive lapses.”
In addition to Erickson, Navy commit Coley Mark (Brookline, Mass.) is in line for a leap, too. The 7-foot center has been primed with practice battles against Edema and valuable experience over the last two years, and he’s been a consistent producer in open gyms with his ability to shoot, make plays around the rim and understand angles and cutting that allows him to complete plays.
“I think people will be impressed with how he’s developed,” Cormier said.
In the backcourt, returners Anthony Vick (Boston, Mass.) and Mikey Chiara are looking to build off the momentum from strong summers. Vick, a premier scorer and shooter, committed to Detroit Mercy in October and is continuing to add layers to his game, while Chiara, a promising 2028 prospect, impressed with his shotmaking this summer with New Heights. Returner Romain Elisseeff, a 2027 guard/wing, was described as a “Swiss Army knife” by Cormier and should add to the Penguins’ depth.
Top newcomers
Outside of Prince, Cormier brought in two talented guards in 2027 Sam Brigham (Springfield, Mass.) and 2028 Josh Charlot (Bridgeport, Conn.). Brigham, a 2,000-point scorer in the MIAA with Pope Francis, earned his first Division 1 offer from Mercyhurst this fall. He impressed right away during June’s NEPSAC showcases with his scoring ability and defensive toughness. Cormier was surprised more prep schools didn’t recruit him for a postgraduate season and sees some similarities to Moesch as an undersized guard who plays with an edge.
“I think people are caught up with his size but what he lacks in physicality, he makes up for in speed, (he’s an) incredible athlete, finishes above the rim and defensively, (he’s) so savvy,” Cormier said.
Cushing also added Josiah Broko, a 6-foot-8 transfer from the Peddie School in the 2029 class. He has very exciting potential as one of the best prospects regionally in that class.
“Josiah Broko, by February, is going to be, if not the best prospect in his class, certainly in the top tier because he is so skilled and so physically gifted and he’s very smart,” Cormier said. “Now it’s just … playing in a more intense environment and finding that urgency and just the competitive spirit that develops over the years. He’s going to find that.”
Our expectations
For the last decade, Cushing has prided itself on the defensive end and dominating opponents on that end; the Penguins should still be good on that end, but Cormier admitted they may give up more points than usual, at least early on, as they continue to implement concepts with their additions. But he’s excited about the possibilities offensively; there’s firepower, floor spacers and depth that should allow them to push the pace and score a lot of points. Moesch will certainly be missed, but they’ll have more offensive initiators this season that should let them play more freely.
There may not be high-major star power on this year’s Cushing team, but Cormier will have a skilled, deep group of high IQ players that can beat opponents in different ways. It will take time for this roster to reach its defensive ceiling; that will be the No. 1 thing to watch as they look for success in the NEBL and national prep championship chases.
