Earlier this week, we released our first NEPSAC boys Top 10 on the dawn of the new season.
But who are the best of the rest in NEPSAC?
Over the last few years, the top boys NEPSAC teams have generally included the same teams in the Top 10 – teams like Newman, Cushing, New Hampton and several of the AAA squads. It’s time to open the lens a bit.
Here, we’re ranking the teams from 11-20, a group we’ve named the “Next 10.” They are teams we can realistically see cracking the Top 10 this season, and they represent the NEPSAC basketball’s strength in quality teams.
Here’s our first “next 10.”
11. Bridgton
Last season: Class AAA quarterfinals
The Wolverines might have the single-most dominant frontcourt threat in NEPSAC with the addition of Virginia commit Mahamadou Landoure, a 6-foot-10 center who will present great challenges to any opponent this season. Favour Nkemka – a 6-foot-4 guard from Canada who scored 22 points with eight assists in a win on Sunday over CATS Academy – looks to be an impact newcomer in the backcourt, and there’s a lot of length and size on this roster to be intrigued by under new head coach Paris Horne.
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12. Hoosac
Last season: Class AAA runner-up
It’s another new-look roster for Hoosac, which will compete in the NEBL and not be eligible for the Class AAA playoffs. But coach Aleks Miljenovic is hoping to build on the program’s first AAA title game appearance with more international experience and size, and the Owls had a good start with a one-point overtime win over New Hampton on Wednesday.
CATS Academy transfer guard Avery Council is expected to run the show with his blend of playmaking and scoring, while 6-foot-8 forward Aleksandar Dikić has experience in the top leagues of Serbia and Austria and 6-foot-10 forward Mihajlo Malinić has played for Serbia at the U18 level. CJ Johnson, Samuel Li, and Lazar Milovanović bring them more athleticism and defensive versatility to the roster.
13. St. Andrew’s
Last season: Class AA quarterfinals
Coach Mike Hart’s squad nearly pulled off a first-round road upset against St. George’s last March and there are plenty of motivated returners in wing Talib Martin – an All-NEPSAC selection – guard Elijah McNair (East Providence, R.I.), rebounding monster Lorcan Bailey Morrow and, of course, Malachi Odugbela (Providence, R.I.), one of the top 2028s in New England. Don’t overlook the additions of Dom Taylor (Somerset, Mass.), Deion Ellis-Cipriano (Cranston, R.I.) and Chris Blakely. I can easily see this team breaking into the top four of the Class AA playoffs.
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14. Kimball Union
Last season: Class AA semifinals
KUA has made back-to-back runs to the Class AA semifinals, but it’s almost starting over with nearly all new faces following the departures of top players Brandon Arnold, Hudson Scroggins and Zach Romich, among others. But coach Cory McClure feels like his team is extremely dynamic in the backcourt with the additions of 2028 guards Ian Van Wagner and Roxbury Latin transfer Jackson Perri (West Roxbury, Mass.), and 2027 postgrad Charlie Pomis, who’s explosive offensively. Adam Anwar, a 6-foot-7 2027 forward, was impressive at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase, too, and McClure believes he’ll be one of the best shooting bigs in New England, and Hoosac 6-foot-9 transfer Daniel Balde-Hernandez gives the Wildcats more size. McClure has a well-rounded group with a high ceiling.
15. Vermont Academy
Last season: Class AAA semifinals
Is Mamadou Camara (Salem, Mass.) the most underrated guard in New England? Vermont Academy lost star Kamari Whyte from last season’s squad but new head coach Patrick Ewing Jr. should have plenty of confidence with Camara leading the charge. He’ll also inherit plenty of experience with nine 2027s on the roster, which includes more underrated prospects in Matthew Jernigan (Durham, N.H.), Michael Bradley (Manchester, Conn.), Cam Santos (Bridgewater, Mass.), Trey Ambrozich and Martin Boua (Pittsfield, Mass.).
16. South Kent
Last season: Class AAA quarterfinals
I’m expecting an improvement for South Kent after a frustrating 2025-26 season, and it looks like it starts in the backcourt. Reclassified 2029 guard Michael Parris, who was an All-NEPSAC honorable mention last season, returns alongside the additions of Eliezer Delbrey (Providence, R.I.), the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year, Zerek Johnson (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Aidan Knight (Nashua, N.H.), among others. I was also impressed with 6-foot-7 Kareem Hopkins at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase, where the Cardinals looked promising.
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17. MacDuffie
Last season: Missed Class AA playoffs
I’ve pegged the Mustangs as a sleeper team in Class AA, and I know Kurt Steiner’s group will be motivated after a promising 2025-26 season slipped late as they missed the playoffs. Keyshon Joyner (Worcester, Mass.) is the pillar and one of the best pure point guards in the region, and he’s surrounded by plenty of size and athleticism with the additions of Luke Scarff and Larry Brown and returns of a much improved Andrew Adegbite and fully healthy Xavier McCall (Belchertown, Mass.). Look out for guard Darien Rudder (Springfield, Mass.) and the addition of Maine product Akol Maiwen (Auburn, Maine), too. This group will be dynamic and physically tough on both ends.
18. CATS Academy
Last season: Competed in NEBL
The CATS prep team – the second team alongside the school’s national team that competes in the Grind Session – is still technically a NEPSAC member that will compete in the NEBL. A two-point loss to Bridgton on Sunday shows this squad will be a hard out. Missouri State commit Donovan Clement (Pawtucket, R.I.) – who won the Class B Large tournament MVP last season with St. Mark’s – is among the team’s best prospects in addition to Div. 1 prospect Sonny Batchelor and big men Sidy Kandji and Filip Mozoul (Milton, Mass.).
19. Hotchkiss
Last season: Won Class A championship
Yes, Hotchkiss lost Preston Merrick and Jordan Ghee, last year’s Class A Player of the Year, from its championship team. But I think coach Joe Busacca’s team could be just as good, if not better, this season. Pepperdine commit Alonzo Archbold, a difficult inside-out matchup, is back, and the Bearcats have terrific size with 6-foot-9 Milos Vasic and the much improved 6-foot-9 Leo Fauver. A deep bench that includes the addition of sharpshooter Dhilan Lowman (Westport, Conn.) and dynamic guard Naas Griffin puts this squad in the conversation for the Class A title again.
20. Worcester Academy
Last season: Missed Class AA playoffs
I considered a few teams for this final spot, but I’m betting on a bounce-back season for coach Jamie Sullivan and the Hilltoppers. I love their frontcourt versatility, headlined by Dartmouth commit Cole Blackburn (Winchester, Mass.) and newcomer Kai Johnson, a 6-foot-8 wing from Texas. Underrated 2027 guard Chris Vinson, a top 3-point shooter, and the return of Jojo Reyes (Worcester, Mass.) give them experience in the backcourt, and I love the late pickup of 2028 guard Jayden Gibson (Stoughton, Mass.), who had a great summer. I think this will be a motivated team that could surprise some people.
5 more teams to watch: Milton Academy, Albany Academy, Lawrence Academy, Phillips Andover, Wilbraham & Monson
