Two weeks have passed since the end of the NEPSAC season, when the region’s premier prep school league gave us a memorable Super Sunday.
The boys side was a treat, as three of the top four classes delivered epic finishes to their championship games. It was a fitting close to the winter, as New England’s best teams and stars were central to defining the NEPSAC’s playoff sprint. The champions certainly earned their hardware, needing to win three games in five days, including back-to-back days, to claim glory. And for several playoff teams, they needed to regroup quickly to play in the national prep championship tournament that began the following week.
Our final NEPSAC Boys Top 10 reflects the final two weeks of the season and the results of the NEPSAC playoffs and national prep championships, but takes the entire season’s body of work into account.
Let’s dive into the rankings one last time this season.
1. Newman (31-9)
Previous ranking: 4
The Cardinals return to the top spot after claiming their first Class AAA championship in an epic overtime victory over top-seeded New Hampton. Two days later, they won another incredible overtime game in the national prep championship over IMG Academy – trailing by 19 before forcing the extra session – and they ran out of gas in their season-ending loss the next day to St. Thomas More. It’s a well-deserved ranking for Newman, which proved itself all winter and set a program record for wins in addition to the championship.
2. Cushing (26-6)
Previous ranking: 1
The Penguins didn’t win any further hardware after claiming the NEBL championship, losing in the NEPSAC Class AA semifinals to Worcester Academy before dropping a heartbreaker to St. Thomas More in the semifinals of the national prep championship tournament. But that shouldn't take away what was a dominant winter for Cushing, which boasted one of the best defenses in the country.
3. New Hampton (29-6)
Previous ranking: 2
The Huskies came one free throw short of winning the Class AAA championship after making an improbable comeback from 16 points down with less than four minutes to go. The star trio of Keyshuan Tillery, Mason Blackwood and Nasir Meyer leave New Hampton without a championship, but were still one of the winningest groups in the region over the last two seasons.
4. St. Thomas More (27-12)
Previous ranking: 7
Even though the Chancellors limped to the finish line of the regular season, they saved their best for the postseason. Head coach Jere Quinn’s squad played well in a road NEPSAC semifinal loss to New Hampton before making a memorable run to the national prep championship game, where they came up just short against Putnam Science. London Jemison’s game-winning 3-pointer to beat Cushing in the semifinals is one of the highlights of the winter. St. Thomas More may not have always shown it this year, but its quality was on display in March.
LONDON JEMISON with the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds to go to send St. Thomas More to the National Prep Championship game.
Incredible scenes. What a game. pic.twitter.com/RE6vQZY0F8
— Steve Hewitt (@steve_hewitt) March 13, 2025
5. Worcester Academy (24-9)
Previous ranking: 8
I’m sure some will take issue with Worcester being three spots lower than Cushing – a team the Hilltoppers beat on the road en route to the Class AA championship. It’s reasonable to think that, but I give the Penguins the edge with their overall body of work, the consistency they played with this winter and their resume of wins, even if they came up short in the playoffs. It takes nothing away from Worcester, which won a deserved championship as the No. 5 seed in Class AA and proved why it’s one of the best teams in the region.
6. CATS (28-7)
Previous ranking: 3
The Griffins came up just short in the Class AA championship game, but it was still the best season in program history for head coach Cary Herer and his group, which was without second leading scorer Jaxson Terry for the final month of the season. Jaylen Harrell was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts for the second consecutive season.
7. Darrow (26-10)
Previous ranking: 5
In their first season in Class AAA, the Ducks defied expectations by winning 26 games, earning a No. 3 seed in the playoffs and nearly bounced Newman in the semifinals. Head coach Antonio Anderson did an incredible job this winter, and there’s a strong feeling that Darrow is only getting started.
8. Vermont Academy (24-12)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach John Zall had a tall task in replacing the core of his NEPSAC championship team last winter. It took time to gel but the Wildcats had a strong end to the season, ultimately winning nine out of their final 13 games as they finished with a semifinal loss to Putnam Science in the semifinals of the national prep championship. Zall will have a nice building block moving forward in Kamari Whyte, who was terrific as a sophomore.
9. Williston Northampton (24-1)
Previous ranking: 9
It was a magical winter for head coach Ben Farmer and the Wildcats, who lost just once – to Class AA champion Worcester Academy – as they rolled to the Class A championship. Farmer will always cherish this group, led by seniors Preston Edmead, Ashton Reynolds, Ricardo Nieves and Ore Odutayo, who gelled perfectly and were on a mission ever since their emphatic season-opening victory over Bridgton. It will be hard to replace them, but Williston has Kyle Seltzer and Max Kellogg returning.
10. St. George’s (25-6)
Previous ranking: NR
The Dragons lost four of their last seven games – including a heartbreaking home loss to Worcester Academy in the quarterfinals of the playoffs – but still had a big winter in Rhode Island as they won the ISL and earned a top-four seed in Class AA. Head coach Dwayne Pina will lose program cornerstones Dylan Veillette and Barrett Loer, but Dywane Chess and Ethan Njenga are among those who will be back to make St. George’s a contender next season.
NEXT UP: Kimball Union, Phillips Exeter, Northfield Mount Hermon, Tabor, Brooks
