There’s a new No. 1.
The top five teams of the NEPSAC power rankings have stayed true through the early portion of the schedule, but a matchup between two of them necessitated a change this week after Newman took down New Hampton at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic two weekends ago.
With a week of games left before prep teams head out on winter vacation, it’s a good time to update the NEPSAC power rankings before we soon turn the calendar to 2025. The new rankings include a somewhat surprising team entering the Top 10, too.
Let’s dive in.
1. Newman (11-2)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: vs. IMG Academy, Dec. 19, 6 p.m.
The Cardinals claim the top spot after their 12-point victory over New Hampton at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic, unseating the Huskies after they had been No. 1 through the first month of the season. Newman lost to Blair Academy over the weekend at the Scholar Roundball Classic, but this group has yet to lose a game in regulation this season.
MORE: 10 takeaways and standouts from Newman's win over New Hampton
2. New Hampton (11-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: vs. Darrow, Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Huskies didn’t play up to their standards in the loss to Newman, and head coach Andrew Gale and his group came away from their first defeat knowing some things they need to work on. They head into the winter break after three strong victories by an average margin of 20 points.
3. St. Thomas More (10-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: vs. Hotchkiss, Dec. 18, 4:45 p.m.
London Jemison (Bloomfield, Conn.) has looked like the best player in New England while leading the Chancellors on a six-game winning streak. Their 22-point victory over a strong Vermont Academy team was very impressive.
4. Cushing (6-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: vs. Northfield Mount Hermon, Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m.
No Ryan Moesch, no problem. The Penguins were without their electrifying point guard due to a minor injury, but still handled the Pennington School with a 62-48 win at the Scholar Roundball Classic over the weekend. Cushing has dug in on defense, a staple of its program, holding opponents to fewer than 50 points in three of its last four games, including 39 last week vs. Tilton.
RELATED: 13 standouts and takeaways from the Scholar Roundball Classic
5. CATS Academy (8-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: at Masters, Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m.
Jaylen Harrell (Boston, Mass.) has been the star of the show, but CATS have continued to get big contributions from complementary pieces like Jaylin Williams-Crawford (Boston, Mass.) and Yeshua Kesse-Beda. CATS have won seven straight since its opening weekend loss to Cushing.
6. Darrow (8-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: vs. Putnam Science, Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m.
The Ducks had a chance to move up in these rankings with an opportunity against CATS at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic, but lost a very competitive, back-and-forth affair. The Ducks rolled with two big victories over the weekend in Ohio against Andrew Osborne and Western Reserve.
7. Northfield Mount Hermon (8-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Next game: vs. Cushing, Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m.
NMH has overcome the loss of big man Will Higgs, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury, and has continued to look like a legitimate challenger in NEPSAC Class AA. The Hoggers grabbed a huge win at Blair Academy – giving Blair its second home loss in seven years – and haven’t missed a beat. Head coach Mike Shelton has five starters who can score 20-plus points on any given night.
8. Vermont Academy (8-3)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: vs. Canada Topflight Academy, Dec. 18, 8 p.m.
The Wildcats suffered a tough loss at St. Thomas More last week, but rebounded nicely at the Scholar Roundball Classic with wins over Peddie and Perkiomen, the latter in which they had to overcome a late deficit. Uncommitted 2025 center Zack Scherler had 18 points and nine rebounds in the Perkiomen win, and 2027 guard Kamari Whyte continued his stellar season with 23. This group recently welcomed the return of 2025 guard Emmanuel Cheung, who dislocated his ankle late in the summer. He’ll add more depth in their talented backcourt.
9. St. George’s (4-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: vs. Wilbraham & Monson, Dec. 20, 5:15 p.m.
The Dragons look like the early ISL frontrunners and a sleeper in Class AA after a strong undefeated start, winning their first four games by an average of 22 points, including a 40-point blowout over Brooks at Scholar Roundball. Merrimack commit and 6-foot-7 forward Dylan Veillette (Ridgefield, Conn.) does a little bit of everything, and 2026 guard Dywane Chess leads a very dynamic backcourt as one of the most promising guards in New England.
10. Williston Northampton (4-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: vs. Phillips Exeter, Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m.
The Wildcats are no fluke after following up its massive win against Bridgton at the Prep Classic with a 30-point win over Tabor on Friday and then beating Class AA opponent Wilbraham & Monson on the road a day later. The trio of Preston Edmead, Ricardo Nieves (Springfield, Mass.) and Ashton Reynolds might be the most electric in the region, and they play with a swagger. A win against Exeter, the reigning Class A champion, on Friday could firmly supplant Williston as the Class A favorite.
On the radar: South Kent, Worcester Academy, Phillips Exeter, Millbrook, Wilbraham & Monson
