The 2025 class is in the books and off to college. Now, the spotlight is firmly on New England’s star-studded 2026 class.
It’s time to reveal our latest watch list for the 2026 class, which identifies our top 10 college prospects among the region’s rising seniors. This class is loaded at the top, with a handful of recruits who we’ve watched develop into high-major talents in our backyard over the last few years.
When we released our first 2026 watch list last summer for the launch of New England Basketball Journal, I didn’t have a deep catalog of scouting notes yet. But after a full season of watching them, I have a better handle of the region. Five names remain from last summer’s watch list, and there are a few new names who made the cut after strong debut seasons playing in NEPSAC. Still, this list was difficult to narrow to 10; there were close to 20 names who were under strong consideration. But each of these players are undoubtedly Division 1-level prospects.
A quick explainer on how I determine our watch lists: While there’s no perfect formula, I look for consistency and winning impact as the greatest predictors of success at the next level. Physical tools, transferable skills and even intangibles like leadership, toughness and work ethic all factor into the equation, too. The best prospects put all of these components together on the court.
To qualify to be on our watch lists, a player needs to be a native of New England, or has played at least one season of high school in the region. To be clear, these are not rankings. These names are listed in alphabetical order.
Here’s our 2026 watch list for May.
Quinn Costello
Newman/Middlesex Magic, 6-10 forward
Hometown: Medford, Mass.
What college program couldn’t use a 6-foot-10 shooter? Costello was an important piece of Newman’s Class AAA championship team with his ability to stretch the floor and consistently hit from downtown. He’s continuing to develop other elements to his game, too, with his ability to run the floor and make plays in transition. Costello has continued to elevate his toughness and aggressiveness by constantly putting pressure on the rim and crashing both ends of the glass while also forming into a strong rim protector. A big grassroots season has already begun for Costello, who holds double-digit Division 1 offers and could certainly reach high-major status.
Alex Egbuonu
Lawrence Academy/BABC, 6-6 wing
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.
Universally recognized as a nationally-ranked prospect across the major recruiting outlets, Egbuonu is a certified high-major talent. He stamped that label with a massive junior campaign at Lawrence Academy, where he posted 25.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.7 blocks per game as one of the best two-way players in New England.
At 6-foot-6, Egbuonu is a physical and athletic specimen who can score at all three levels, handle the ball like a guard and defend every position. He took his game to even greater levels this winter with consistently monster performances despite being the focal point of opposing defenses, and he took a leap with his leadership as he guided the Spartans to a NEPSAC Class AA playoff berth. Egbuonu currently holds offers from Marquette, Auburn, Texas and several more high-major schools.
Amir Jenkins
Worcester Academy/BABC, 6-2 guard
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
Jenkins cemented himself as one of the best winners in recent New England basketball history, following up back-to-back state championships at Worcester North before leading Worcester Academy to the Class AA championship in his first NEPSAC season. One of the most dynamic guards in the region, Jenkins has proven to be almost impossible to defend with his pace, change of direction, playmaking and ability to play off two feet as a creative scorer and facilitator. He’s also a suffocating defender on the perimeter, and a charismatic leader whose energy is infectious with his teammates – all traits that make him an ideal point guard at the next level. Providence, Boston College and George Washington have taken notice.
WOLF OF WORCESTER: How Amir Jenkins blossomed as one of country's top prospects
Ryan Moesch
Cushing/Middlesex Magic, 6-0 guard
Hometown: Chittenango, N.Y.
After putting up massive numbers at Chittenango High School in New York, Moesch took his talents to Cushing and made a national name for himself in his first NEPSAC season. The electric guard posted 17 points, six assists and four rebounds per game as he led the Penguins to the Class AA regular-season title and a run to the semifinals of the National Prep Championship. A guard with elite quickness, twitchiness and athleticism, Moesch can do it all from the point guard position, from strong finishes with both hands at the rim to making plays for others in transition or in half-court sets at a high level; he possesses an advanced game sense and always seems to be one step ahead of the defense, and his shooting got better as the season progressed. Moesch now holds nearly 20 Division 1 offers.
Darien Moore
Brewster Academy/City Rocks, 6-3 guard
Hometown: Hudson, N.Y.
An early commit to Seton Hall, Moore transferred to Brewster this winter and became an important member of the Bobcats’ rotation as they advanced to the semifinals of Chipotle Nationals. After a preseason injury to Dwayne Aristode that ended his season, Moore found himself in Brewster’s starting lineup throughout the winter where he showcased his three-level scoring ability and versatility as a lockdown defender. He has a natural flow offensively, with a lethal pull-up and 3-point game to go along with his true athleticism that makes him unguardable at the rim.
Lucas Morillo
Newman/City Rocks, 6-7 guard
Hometown: Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Morillo quickly asserted himself as one of the best prospects coming out of New England this winter as he led Newman to the Class AAA championship, which included an incredible 35-point title-winning performance to capture MVP honors. He averaged 16 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a constant triple-double threat. At 6-foot-7, he’s proven to be a matchup nightmare with his ability to score from all over the court while making plays for his teammates, and he emerged as a more vocal leader towards the end of the season to guide Newman to a championship. After proving himself at the highest level of NEPSAC, Morillo has seen offers roll in from Marquette, Georgetown, Creighton and several more high-major schools.
STAR IS BORN: How Lucas Morillo broke out as one of NEPSAC's best prospects
Collins Onyejiaka
Newman/Team New England, 6-11 center
Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria
At 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds, Onyejiaka is an overwhelming physical presence on both ends of the interior and a monster producer who plays above the rim. He finished the season with averages of 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game and his performances were more consistent as the winter progressed. Onyejiaka possesses some sneaky skill, too, with an ability to make reads and good passes out of the post and make floaters from inside the paint. With high-major interest from the likes of Alabama and West Virginia, the future continues to be bright for Onyejiaka as his game matures with his body.
Jaxson Terry
CATS/Expressions Elite, 6-5 guard
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Terry was the second-leading scorer for CATS this season, averaging 13.3 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists. A three-level scorer, he continued to improve as a knockdown shooter with several big 3-point shooting games this winter, and he’s one of the best two-way players in the region with his versatility on the defensive end. A player CATS head coach Cary Herer simply can’t take off the court because he impacts the game in so many ways, Terry’s recruitment should continue to pick up at a high-major level as he becomes a focal point for Expressions Elite this summer and CATS next winter.
Abdou Toure
Notre Dame West Haven/BABC, 6-6 wing
Hometown: New Haven, Conn.
After a breakout performance with his home country of Guinea at the FIBA U17 World Cup last summer, Toure continued to leave a legacy as one of the best players to come out of Connecticut in recent memory. The scoring wing was named the Gatorade Player of the Year and averaged more than 25 points per game as he led Notre Dame West Haven to a second consecutive CIAC state championship, and he’s continuing to impress after joining BABC for his final AAU season. Toure’s slashing ability and athleticism are his greatest strengths – he can score in a variety of ways and lives above the rim – and his 3-point shot is continuing to improve. He’s ranked within the Top 50 nationally across the major recruiting outlets, and he holds offers from several high-majors, including UConn, Arkansas and Florida State.
Sebastian Wilkins
Brewster Academy/Mass Rivals, 6-8 wing
Hometown: Canton, Mass.
It’s very possible that Wilkins reclassifies into the 2025 class, but for now, he remains a 2026 prospect – and he’s arguably the best prospect in the region from this class. Wilkins enjoyed a breakout winter on Brewster Academy’s national team, earning Nike Scholastic first team honors while leading the Bobcats to the semifinals of Chipotle Nationals. In a bigger role this winter, Wilkins took his game to the next level as the go-to player for Brewster with his versatility and leadership. A walking double-double every night, Wilkins – who recently earned an offer from Duke – showcased his ability as an elite scorer while also mixing it up down low as he showed his competitive toughness against some of the best frontcourt players in the country.
MORE: How Sebastian Wilkins, Brewster 'surprised' as one of country's best
Five more names to know: Adama Tambedou (Putnam Science/Rhode Island Elite); Sam Fleming (Wilbraham & Monson/BABC); Warren Keel (Putnam Science/Mass Rivals); Desmond Bellot (CATS/Expressions Elite); Cheick Sylla (Bridgton Academy/The Club New England)
