Can anyone beat Cushing?
That’s the prevailing question as the NEPSAC Class AA boys playoffs begin this week. The top-seeded Penguins went unblemished in class games this winter, going 14-0. Their top competitors include St. George’s – which clinched its second consecutive ISL championship over the weekend – Cheshire and Winchendon.
The race to make the Class AA playoffs came down to the final weekend. There were essentially six teams fighting for the last three spots; Lawrence Academy, St. Andrew’s and Albany Academy lived to see another day this season.
Let’s break down the teams that make up this year’s Class AA boys playoffs.
BRACKET TRACKER: Class AAA bracket | Class AA bracket | Class A bracket | Class B Large, B Small and C brackets
1. Cushing (25-5)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 6-0
Headlined by arguably the best guard-big duo in New England with Ryan Moesch and Theo Edema, the Penguins fulfilled their expectations as the best team in Class AA. Injuries across their roster – including Elliot Erickson (Gardner, Mass.) missing significant time, and Edema and fellow big Nate Blenman out for parts of the season – have threatened to trip them up but they never wavered. The talent of Moesch and Edema, their depth and the complete buy-in to coach James Cormier’s system and culture separates them from the pack. Beyond their top two, Bentley commits Brady O’Connell (Bedford, N.H.) and Jack Hynes, shotmaking 2027 guard Anthony Vick (Boston, Mass.) and 2026 wing Jake Nosek make up how dynamic this roster is, with an elite defense that has held opponents to 55 points or fewer in 13 games this season. Last season, Cushing was the No. 1 seed and bowed out at home in the semifinals to eventual champion Worcester Academy; this group should be extra motivated to get over the hump.
2. St. George’s (26-3)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 5-2
After losing four starters from last season, St. George’s didn’t miss a beat this season en route to its second consecutive ISL championship – and the Dragons even improved their Class AA seeding from No. 4 to No. 2. Marist commit Dywane Chess leads their cast of returners, and the big guard has embraced and excelled in his new role as a lead star while improving his offensive efficiency. Kenny Benedict, Casey Bazzano (Jamestown, R.I.) and Jelani Middleton have each taken leaps, guards Ethan Njenga (Lowell, Mass.) and Adriel Cantave (Carver, Mass.) have improved and help SG push the pace, and 2029 forward Chance Finlayson (Newport, R.I.) has already proven he’ll be a force for years as an immediate contributor. Winning the outright ISL title should give this group momentum going into the playoffs.
BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Class AAA | Class A | Class B Large | Class B Small
3. Cheshire (19-4)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 4-2
The Cats are making their first playoff appearance since 2020, when they qualified for the tournament as a No. 7 seed – but this is by far coach Jim McCarthy’s best team since he took the job in 2018. Cheshire has been a revelation this winter; after winning just 10 games last season, the Cats are one win away from doubling that. They have one Division 1 commit – Air Force pledge James Caldarella (Barrington, R.I.) – but this roster is made up of mostly unheralded prospects, including Trinity commits John Spinoso and Justin Brown and emerging 2027 star Aidan Maguire. They’re arguably the most unselfish team in NEPSAC, with high IQ players and high-level shooters all over the court.
4. Winchendon (22-6)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 3-3
After a one-year playoff hiatus, the Wapiti are back in the mix under first-year coach Alex Popp, who has the program buzzing again in his return to the region. A brand new roster gelled almost immediately, with Elon commit Brady Sehlhorst and 2027 prospects Cam Blankenburg and Tavin Penix making major contributions in their first year. Quinn Gibson has been a revelation in his debut NEPSAC season; a nightly double-double threat, he earned a commitment to Cornell and embodies Winchendon’s toughness and versatility. The Wapiti are one of the hottest teams in Class AA entering the tournament; they haven’t lost since Jan. 31 and won all eight of their games in February, including beating Lawrence Academy and Kimball Union.
5. Kimball Union (15-11)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 2-5
A model of consistency in Class AA, the Wildcats have now made five of the last six tournaments. After making the semifinals last season as the No. 3 seed, they’re poised to make more noise this week with multiple returners, led by Marist commit and point guard Brandon Arnold, and impact additions in Hudson Scroggins and Zach Romich (Groton, Mass.) who have given coach Cory McClure an extra offensive punch. Scroggins, a Valparaiso commit, has been unstoppable in the paint in his first NEPSAC season, while Romich – still uncommitted in the 2026 class – has displayed an elite shooting touch.
6. Lawrence Academy (22-7)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 2-5
Late-season victories over Brimmer & May and Wilbraham & Monson helped the Spartans just enough to earn a playoff berth – but don’t get it wrong, this group is very dangerous as a No. 6 seed. Lawrence always has a chance with star wing Alex Egbuonu (Nashua, N.H.), the Marquette commit who’s continuing to put up video game numbers as arguably the best prospect in New England. The return of point guard Evan Mitchner (Providence, R.I.) from injury this season has been critical to the Spartans’ success, 2027 prospects Caleb Baker (Whitman, Mass.) and Paxton Ivy complement their stars well, and 6-foot-6 forward Matt Tybor (Tolland, Conn.), a UMass football commit, has given terrific minutes all winter with his rebounding and toughness. LA should have confidence heading into its first-round matchup at Cheshire, who they beat in December.
7. St. Andrew’s (13-12)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 2-3
The Saints needed a win in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Albany Academy to keep their playoff hopes alive – and they got it with a 69-60 triumph. Coach Mike Hart believes his team is peaking at the right time, with wins over Northfield Mount Hermon, MacDuffie and Albany to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He has a young and dynamic group that includes emerging 2027 stars Talib Martin and Elijah McNair, 2026 forward Harrison Aligbe, 2028 guard Malachi Odugbela (Providence, R.I.) , 2028 rebounding machine Lorcan Bailey Morrow and 2026 guard Ramere Brown, a microwave scorer off the bench.
8. Albany Academy (12-13)
Record against Class AA playoff field: 2-5
In their first season in NEPSAC, the Cadets made immediate noise with an opening night win over MacDuffie before impressing throughout the winter with victories over defending champion Worcester Academy, Lawrence Academy and Kimball Union. This is a well-coached and well-balanced group led by Jim Driggs. Yale commit Jack Louridas emerged as one of the best pure scorers in NEPSAC this season, which included a 49-point performance in a win over Brimmer & May. Daeman commit Jamar Macon and promising 2027 prospects Logan Rodriguez and Elijah Taylor are names to watch going forward.
